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Interesting Islands
www.cruisepassenger.com.au WINTER 2008 4746 WINTER 2008 www.cruisepassenger.com.au
Big ones, small ones, dry ones,
wet ones, busy ones, lonely
ones. Islands come in all shapes
and sizes, from a humble rock
in the ocean to mini continents bursting
with diversity. They almost always present
a unique culture or ecosystem that can
often set them apart from their closest
neighbours. Many islands, even tiny ones,
have animal and plant species not seen
anywhere else on the planet.
Islands are popular destinations for cruise
vessels large and small. Often the only way to
visit these fascinating places is by sea, making
them exclusive and sought after, and the ever-
increasing popularity of cruising is opening
up many of them to tourists.
We’ve put together a Top 10 with a
difference and dug deep into the world’s
cruise itineraries to find great island
destinations you may never have heard of or
considered as a cruise destination. There are
bound to be some surprises!
ISLANDDreamsWORDS: RODeRick eiMe
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Yangtze River
Malta
Sicily is one the best
Mediterranean island
destinations, even if you don’t
consider it a gastronomic attraction. You’ll
enjoy fabulous food with lashings of rich
history and culture against a stunning
natural backdrop. Strolling through any of
the local food and produce markets is an
experience in itself as you are confronted
with beautifully presented fish, fruit,
vegetables and even packaged delights.
Sicilians love their food and wine and you’ll
find their passion translates into the many
restaurants, cafés and bars.
Acclaimed food and wine author, Sally
Hammond, author of Just a Little Italian,
explains why she loves Sicily.
“Sicily has been over-run and colonised
by many nations over its long history.
Ancient Greeks and
Romans, Goths, Vikings,
Turks, Spanish and
North Africans have all
had a hand in the mixing
pot which now constitutes
Sicilian cuisine.
“So in western Sicily you’ll see
signs announcing couscous is being served
that day, in the south, it’s almond granita
(a flaky ice) and a sort of brioche for
breakfast, and some of the best chocolate,
while everywhere there are food markets
that would be at home in the Middle East.
“In the countryside expect to see
prickly pear laden with red fruit on the
roadside and olive and orange groves.
Sicily is a fragrant, colourful, absolutely
delicious island.”
Palermo and Messina are the popular
ports, but cruises also stop at Catania. Well
serviced by all the major cruise lines such
as MSC, Costa Cruises and NCL.
NATIVE CULTUREshortlist: Trobriand Islands (PNG), Hokkaido (Japan), San Blas Islands (Panama)
The islands (note plural) of Papua
New Guinea deliver some of the most
fascinating and hypnotic cultural and
indigenous experiences anywhere on our
planet. From the wild and mysterious Huli
wig men, mud men and duk duks, the tribal
diversity and sheer visual spectacular of
Papua New Guinea is sometimes matched,
but never surpassed.
Just to the north of the eastern-most
tip of the mainland, into the Solomon Sea,
are the Trobriand Islands, a fabled land
of sorcery, black magic and entrancing
damsels to rival the Tahitians. And binding
the many outer islands together is the
ancient and secret art of kula.
Medang-based Melanesian
anthropologist, Dr Nancy Sullivan,
explains:
“Kula is nothing if not a game of
influence. And, just as women will
achieve reputations for being alluring and
influential, men gain renown for their skill
at kula. Indeed, in a matrilineal society,
where land and titles are reckoned through
the mothers and sisters of a family, and
where men work for their nieces and
nephews rather than their own children,
it is kula that makes men famous. They
gain status in life and live through history
by their achievements at kula. And with
the valuables they have worked so hard to
win – but which must eventually be traded
away – men will decorate their sons and
daughters for ceremonial occasions. In
this way, while bequeathing them nothing,
they give them the gift of adornment and
beauty, and in so doing provide that very
important edge in the competitive art of
persuasion.”
Nancy regularly travels as a guest
lecturer aboard Coral Princess and Aurora
Expeditions journeys to PNG. See also
Orion Expeditions and North Star Cruises
for more great itineraries.
The tiny island of
Malta is tantalisingly
placed amid the
dense archaeological
wonders of the eastern
Mediterranean. Surrounded by
the rich and complex Roman, Greek,
Egyptian, Phoenician and Arabian
histories, Malta maintains a set of
impossibly ancient ruins that appear
not to relate directly to any of the
encompassing cultures. Among
the most fascinating of these is the
Hypogeum in Paola.
Inscribed onto the UNESCO
World Heritage list in 1980, the
Malta National Museum of
Archaeology describes the site,
albeit dryly, thus;
“The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
is a unique structural masterpiece
carved in the living rock. The
monument seems to have served
primarily as a cemetery over a
period spanning several generations.
The origins of the monument are
unclear, but pottery fragments dating
to the Zebbug phase suggest that
the site may have become a cemetery
by around 4000BC. The Hypogeum
remained in use till about 2500BC.”
The Hypogeum is but a gateway
to many more sites on this historically
rich island. Don’t go past the Knights
Fortifications around the harbours,
the catacomb complexes, Mdina (Città
Vecchia), Qawra/Dwejra or the Victoria
Lines Fortifications. Furthermore, Malta
can legitimately claim to possess the
planet’s oldest still-standing buildings.
Local resident Paul Zammit compares
the ruins to Stonehenge, saying “the
megalithic temples situated on the
Maltese archipelago are older, much
more grandiose, more instructive
(less fantasy is involved in their
interpretation) and must-see-to-believe
relics than the mere Stonehenge in
many people’s opinion apart from
mine!”
Malta is well serviced by the major
cruise lines. See Costa Cruises, MSC
Cruises, Cunard and P&O.
Malta
CLASSIC HISTORYshortlist: Cyprus, Malta, Sicily
FOOD & WINEshortlist: Sicily, Tasmania, North Island (NZ)
Sicily
TriobriandIslands
The balmy island
republic of Vanuatu
has been on the
list of tropical
paradises
since forever
and especially
since James A
Michener made the
whole place famous in
Tales of the South Pacific.
Although it may not have the wartime
shipwrecks of PNG, the Solomons or
Micronesia, Vanuatu and Hideaway
Island in particular has allowed many
regular cruise passengers the opportunity
to sample some of the best diving and
snorkelling anywhere in the world.
Graham Selleck of Frog Dive, Sydney
has travelled the world in search great
diving spots and needed no prompting
when asked his favourite.
“There are few places around the
world where you can get off a cruise
ship, large or small, and be diving
among really beautiful coral and
underwater marine species so close to
port. The added advantage is that even
folks who can’t scuba still have a great
time just snorkelling in the marine
reserve where the water is so clear
and clean it’s amazing. Novice scuba
divers can have an easy dive in warm
water with plenty to see and there are
even ‘first timer’ lessons available too
with the fully endorsed PADI Scuba
Experience.”
P&O is a regular visitor to Port Vila.
Be sure to get your name down for the
Hideaway Island excursion early, it’s
bound to be popular.
SNORKELLING & DIVING shortlist: Lizard Island (Qld), Hideaway Island (Vanuatu), Galapagos
#1
Sicily
#2
HideawayIsland
#4
#3
Triobriand Islands
Hideaway IslandC
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The enormous flocks of King Penguins on South Georgia are one of theworld’s wildlife highlights
The incurably romantic Caribbean
island of Cuba is one of the last true
Communist redoubts of the 21st century
and has captured the imaginations of
artists, poets and musicians for as long as
we can remember.
Cuba is almost always in the news.
The legendary revolutionary, Fidel
Castro Ruz, who turns 82 this year, is
clearly on a short countdown until his
ultimate term expires.
The resilience of the Cuban
revolutionary government has created a
nation that almost stands still in a time
of cold war. With his imminent
passing, and especially
since the withdrawal of
Soviet aid, Cuba will
inevitably be drawn
into the broader world
economic community.
Cuba’s attraction as
a tourist destination is
due in part because of the
world’s curiosity with this
stubborn regime. But Cuba, in
its own right, is a vibrant and
exciting destination blessed with
idyllic beaches and fascinating
early Spanish history dating back to
Columbus. More recent figures like Ernest
Hemingway, Desi Arnaz, Celia Cruz and
Gloria Estefan reinforce the romance and
passion of the island. Cuba’s rich musical
heritage has reached world popularity with
musicians such as the Buena Vista Social
Club and the Afro-Cuban All Stars.
Glenn A Baker, popular music
historian and social commentator
says “There is a constant, inescapable
sensuality to the entire Cuban experience.
For all the crumbling decay, the tarnished
and faded glamour, and the shortages
and sacrifices of a country whose
economy virtually collapsed when the
Soviets cut off the drip-feed more than a
decade ago, there is nothing dormant or
moribund about the place.
“Take Latin vibrancy and pride, wind
it up a few notches with classic Cuban
machismo, stir well with history, intrigue
and uncertainty, garnish with a siege
mentality, serve warm with Spanish
style and you have the very core of
the Caribbean, its only truly essential
destination.”
It’s still tough for Americans to
visit, but all that will shortly change.
Visit Cuba now – before the revolution.
Cruise lines Fred.Olsen, Hapag-Lloyd
and Voyages of Discovery are among the
lines that visit Cuba.
The impossibly remote island of South Georgia is now a regular inclusion on the more comprehen-sive Antarctic itineraries, bringing eco-tourists from around the world to visit the abandoned whaling stations and outrageously overpopulated wildlife sites.
A honey pot for naturalists, the
once-threatened seal and penguin
populations have more than bounced
back thanks to rigorous conservation
policies and an abundant marine food
source.
Dubbed “Survival Island” by Sir
Richard Attenborough, he says of
South Georgia: “The sub-Antarctic
island of South Georgia is the
only island suitable for breeding
for thousands of miles in the
Southern Ocean. Each spring,
animals as disparate as the elephant
and fur seals, king and macaroni
penguins, albatross, and giant
petrels visit the island to reproduce.”
And do they ever!
The hundreds of thousands of
noisy king penguins on Salisbury
Plain, the raucous, boisterous herds
of fur seals or the poetic, sublime
choreography of the Wandering
Albatross’s mating dance will leave
you changed forever and a with a deep
appreciation for the delicate balance of
nature.
You’ll find the better Antarctic
operators visit this island just once or
twice each season. Look for itineraries
from Adventure Associates,
Peregrine, or Aurora.
WILDLIFEshortlist: South Georgia, Galapagos, Madagascar
ROMANCEshortlist: Bora Bora, Cuba, Hawaii
Cuba
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SouthGeorgia
#5
Cuba
#6
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South Georgia
DRAMATIC SCENERYshortlist: South Island (NZ), Réunion, Tasmania
PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE shortlist: Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, Ibiza, Whitsunday Islands (Qld)
MYSTERYshortlist: Malta, Easter Island, Wrangel Island
Reunion
Characterised by an
aggressive, active Characterised
by an aggressive, active volcanic
landscape, Réunion is the
Hawaii of the Indian Ocean with
towering, thickly wooded peaks
and a couple of decent beaches.
Almost overlooked by its better-
publicised Indian Ocean neighbours,
Mauritius and Madagascar,
Réunion is small enough to be
romantic and civilised enough to
offer a comfortable, European-
style experience. After all, it is part
of France, yet with a sultry and
tropical Creole flavour.
Réunion’s interesting,
predominantly French colonial
history serves as a fascinating
counterpoint to the jaw-dropping
terrain on this 2500 square
kilometre island. A ‘must-do’ among
the serious trekking community, it
is mentioned in the same breath as
the Himalayas and New Zealand,
with the three ‘cirques’ (natural
amphitheatres) providing stunning
venues for energetic strolls. The
Cirque de Salazie, the Cirque de Cilaos
and the Cirque de Mafate each evolved
from the original Piton des Neiges
volcano (3000m) that formed the island.
There is also fascinating hiking around
the active Piton de la Fournaise, a shield
volcano on the eastern end that rises
above than 2631 metres.
Most of the population is arranged
around the coastal perimeter, but three
tiny villages form superb little micro-
destinations on their own; Cilaos,
Salazie and La Nouvelle (in the Cirque
de Mafate), which is only accessible
only by foot or helicopter.
There are around 30 cruise visits
to the island annually with P&O, MSC
and Silversea the
most regular.
The main
port is
Pointe
des
Galets.
Let’s face it, parties and cruise
ships go hand in hand, but where
can you get some sophisticated
nightlife ashore without hordes of
inebriated yahoos?
The Caribbean is alive with party
atmosphere catering to all types of cruisers.
But for classy, grown-up fun it’s hard to
go past the island of Saint Martin, divided
almost equally between France and the
Netherlands, where you can combine all
your favourite daytime shore activities and
dining with a round-the-clock, laissez-faire
party scene.
Laced with casinos, nightclubs and
resorts, adults have the luxury of choice
from mild to wild. Live music, like the
whole Caribbean, is an essential part of
life after dark. Check out the hotspots: the
News Music Café, Greenhouse, Indiana
Beach, Amnesia and Cheri’s Café.
Local knowledge says the Dutch of
Sint Maarten have the better nightclubs,
while the French have better restaurants.
You be the judge.
Like any good Caribbean island, there
is carnival. Curiously the French and
Dutch sides celebrate different dates
with the Dutch just after Easter and the
French almost all of February with one
event or another – so this little island
really goes off.
Most cruise ships will visit Sint Maarten,
docking at the popular port of Philipsburg.
Stuck for starters? Try the St Maarten Party
Bus aka The Macarena Choo Choo.
Cruise Lines: Carnival, Celebrity and
Royal Caribbean visit regularly.
Many people were introduced to
the enigmatic stone Moai of Easter
Island (Rapa Nui) via the outrageous
extraterrestrial claims made by Erich
von Daniken in his controversial book
and documentary, Chariots of the Gods,
where he suggested the great idols were
constructed by aliens.
That theory is all but debunked, but as
the truth behind the statues was revealed,
the real mystery was just as engaging.
How could an entire population, once
thriving and healthy, destroy themselves
so comprehensively? How did such a
remote and under-resourced community
construct these enormous carvings and
then transport them overland to all corners
of the island?
To visit Easter Island is to view not only
an enduring archaeological mystery but an
anthropological one as well. The famous
20th century explorer, Thor Heyerdahl,
proposed that the population arrived from
South America and even floated the raft,
Kon-Tiki, there to prove his theories. But,
thanks to modern DNA, the few remaining
indigenous Rapa Nui are undoubtably
Polynesian.
With just basic infrastructure and a
relaxed, even lazy lifestyle, Easter Island
is a fascinating landing. Minibus tours,
Ibiza
walking, horse-riding or 4WD hire
is the best way to explore. Be sure to
visit the excellent little museum and as
many Moai sites as possible.
Easter Island’s incredible remoteness
makes a shipboard visit there unusual and
is most often part of a round-the-world
itinerary. Start with Princess and Seven
Seas.
Surprisingly, there are several almost
unbelievably remote islands that still attract
the occasion visit by cruise
ship and tiny (98 sq km) Tristan
da Cunha is one. Its volcanic
peak, rising to just over
2000m, is 2800 kilometres
from the nearest mainland
(South Africa) and there is
even a sign identifying it
as the most remote island in
the world.
The tiny community
of 270 shares just eight
surnames and has only recently
been granted a postcode by
Britain, to whom the islanders owe
their allegiance. All residents live
in the capital: Edinburgh of the
Seven Seas.
The island’s message to
intending visitors is: “There are
no package tours for independent
travellers, no hotels, no airport,
no holiday reps, no nightclubs,
no restaurants, no jet skis nor
safe sea swimming. Nevertheless,
Tristan da Cunha is one of the world’s
most sought-after destinations for
travellers determined to find a special
place.” There you have it.
In the last few years, the island has
received visits from Professor Molchanov,
MV Corinthian II, MV National
Geographic Endeavour and the sailing
vessel, Europa. Needless to say, you need
to book well ahead.
Easter Island
Reunion
#7
Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, Ibiza
#8
Easter Island
#9
Tristan da Cunha
#10
Tristan da Cunha
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MOST REMOTEshortlist: Pitcairn Island, Tristan da Cunha, Marquesas
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