Papua New Guinea is growing in
popularity as a unique
adventure cruise destination.
PAPUA New Guinea Tourism Promotion
Authority’s Australian representative Michael
Woods told Cruise Weekly that cruising was
emerging as the best way for travellers to
combine adventure, culture and nature with
the onboard comfort of a ship.
“We have seen a more varied and increased
cruise offering to PNG over the last decade,
with larger operators now cruising in the
country,” he said.
“Cruising opens up many parts of the
destination previously considered too difficult
to access, such as the remote islands of the Milne
Bay province and the Sepik River,” he added.
Woods said the value is “excellent” for such
a remote destination which offers an
authentic cultural insight.
“What you experience is not just for tourist
eyes, it is actual reality for the majority of
Papua New Guineans,” he said.
“Now is the time to experience the ancient
cultures and remote pristine islands, beaches
and jungles, while they still exist in all their
raw and rugged beauty.”
Companies offering PNG voyages include Orion
Expeditions Cruises, Coral Princess Cruises,
North Star Cruises and Aurora Expeditions.
Orion and Orion II will set sail in March and
October 2012 and are currently offering 25%
off all 2012 PNG voyages booked before 30
November 2011.
Normally $8,995 per person twin-share, the
reduced rate is $6,745.
Coral Princess Cruises’ Oceanic Discoverer,
which can sail in the shallow Sepik River, has
fares from $8,690 per person twin-share for
10 nights from Alotau to Rabaul or $9,090 for
12 nights departing from Cairns.
North Star Cruises has also announced halfprice
upgrades for PNG cruises departing this
year – valid for new and existing bookings on
True North.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of
Australia’s involvement in the war at Kokoda,
Aurora Expeditions has launched a special
voyage to run in April 2012 that ends with a
dawn ANZAC Day service in Rabaul.
The 13-day trip starts at $5,690 per person
quad-share, including shore excursions and
lectures by an onboard war historian.
