If you are interested in going on this trip, please RSVP so the trip leader will know to contact you when the trip opens for registration. Please note signing up to indicate interest is not registering for this trip.
New Guinea Odyssey Cruise from Cairns to Darwin, Australia
- October 24th – November 9th, 2026
- 16 Nights
- Trip Leader: Jeff Koss;
Ponant Cruise Lines' Trip Page:
Cruise New Guinea Odyssey from Cairns to Darwin - October 2026 | Ponant
Your club is planning a cruise trip from Cairns to Darwin to explore the areas of Northern Australia, New Guinea and Southern Indonesia. This cruise will be on the Ponant Cruise line's Le Soleal, a 264-passenger small, luxury cruise ship with 132 staterooms and suites. The small size allows it to navigate to many small ports. This is an ice-rated exploration ship with a fleet of rubber zodiac boats to reach unique travel ports and isolated beaches.
In New Guinea, the traces of the modern world end at the edge of impenetrable rainforests, mysterious volcanic fjords and pristine coral reefs. These last wild frontiers are home to countless communities with ancestral and secret traditions. In Papua New Guinea, on the shores of Alotau, Tufi, Madang and Kopar, at the mouth of the Sepik River, meet them amidst traditional ceremonies and fascinating landscapes. In Indonesian territory, unspoilt nature reveals its treasures: whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay, the karst islands of Triton Bay and the immaculate beaches of the Kai Islands are all invitations to explore. There will be many opportunities to snorkel and SCUBA dive some of the world's most beautiful and pristine coral reefs.
Current plan is to arrive in Cairns on 22 October and depart Darwin on 11 November after the cruise. Due to the cruise length, no club organized pre- or post-cruise tour packages are being planned.
Trip details are being prepared with a 15% cruise fare discount on ten cabins total on deck 3 and 4. With sufficient club member interest, trip registration would open in late June 2025.
This cruise is not designed for anyone with mobility issues. Hiking on unimproved paths, Zodiac wet beach landings and many snorkeling opportunities make this a poor choice for those needing walking assistance.