Page 20 - Demo

20www.noble-caledonia.co.ukA voyage from Tahiti to Fiji aboard the MS Island Sky 22nd February to 10th March 2027 Nomadsof the WIndIsolated by miles of ocean over thousands of years, the islands of Polynesia, the world%u2019s first island cultures, developed a pantheon of gods, myths and legends and this voyage tells the story of Polynesia and uncovers its history as we visit the captivating islands. Our expedition begins in French Polynesia and our journey to Fiji takes us through the Cook Islands and Tonga all of which embody the laid-back lifestyle and idyllic surroundings of the South Pacific.Our expedition aboard the MS Island Sky promises to be a marvellous island hopping adventure and an enjoyable undertaking for those who relish travelling off the beaten track to remote and extraordinary islands. From coral reefs teeming with life to powerful legends that shaped history, each island group we will visit is unique, each culture distinct. The description defying beauty and remoteness of the islands have attracted generations of adventurers, explorers and travellers to their shores. The real age of European exploration did not take place until the 18th century and many of the islands we will visit have changed little since that time. Their sheer isolation has been their saving grace and apart from an influx of missionaries in the late 19th century, western culture has made few inroads.The only comfortable way to explore this beautiful and intriguing region is by sea and sailing aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky with just 100 fellow, like-minded travellers, we will be able to use the onboard Zodiacs to explore inlets, bird sanctuaries and land in otherwise inaccessible places accompanied by our expert expedition team including naturalists, marine biologists and ornithologists who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm during forays ashore and whilst on board. Our days will be spent on nature walks, searching for endemic birds, beachcombing, snorkelling or swimming from the beautiful beaches, interacting with the locals and learning about their way of life and traditional handicrafts or, simply experiencing some of the most pristine tropical scenery to be found anywhere in the world.WHAT TO EXPECT...Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day%u2019s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and to provide you with an idea of what to expect, below are extracts from the ship%u2019s log from when the MS Island Sky last visited the region.Nuku%u2019alofa, Tonga: Our first day in the Kingdom of Tonga and we begin with the capital, Nuku%u2019alofa. The police band played us off the MS Island Sky and dancers greeted us on the wharf as we made our way to the interesting assembly of vehicles of diminishing size. Our first stop on our tour was at Ancient Tonga where we spent time learning about the kava ceremony in depth, making of tapa cloth, weaving, traditional medicine and cooking. Some energetic dancing from the men and some less energetic but nonetheless lovely dancing from the women. We were invited to taste the food and ask lots of questions, some of us were even dressed up in traditional garb. Leaving Ancient Tonga behind we then had a tour of the island including stops at the spot Captain Cook landed, past a two-headed palm tree, a blowhole and the royal palace.TahitiBora BoraAitutakiCOOK ISLANDSNiueVava%u2019uPOLYNESIATONGAFIJIFulagaNuku%u2019alofaLautokaLevukaNeiafuNuku IslandRarotonga Atiu Papeete INTERNATIONALDATELINEFRENCHPOLYNESIANuku%u2019alofaSwimming hole, NiueExploring by Zodiac