Asia / Pacific Indonesia Cruise

Aqua Blu Ambon & Spice Islands Cruise

Embrace culture, nature and wildlife on this 8-day Banda Sea cruise aboard the 30-passenger luxury Indonesia yacht Aqua Blu. Cruise among the Spice Islands, famous for their nutmeg with some of the oldest spice plantations on Earth. Enter a living museum where time appears to have stood still for decades and centuries-old relics, such as the Dutch Fort Belgica, exist alongside rich Indonesian local traditions such as nutmeg cultivation and kora-kora war canoe racing.

Swim, snorkel and dive (great wall or reef) almost daily; visit local markets; participate in village tours and try your hand at fishing. Set out in search of unique bird species first identified by Alfred Russell Wallace; watch for the dugong, or Asian manatee; and visit the easternmost volcano of Indonesia, Pulau Manuk, whose terrain rises from nearly 10,000 feet deep in the Banda Sea.

Four alternative departures complete positioning routes, each offering some unique stops over 13 days, for a longer cruise that blends two of Aqua Blu’s regularly occurring itineraries. Motor between Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands to seek out endemic and rare bird species, experience the most diverse marine habitats in the world and discover centuries-old traditions at the former center of the global spice trade. Alternately, cruise between Flores and Ambon to discover intriguing native tribes, active volcanoes, rare and unusual marine habitats, and the epicenter of the Old World spice trade. The unlisted Spice Islands, Raja Ampat & West Papua itinerary goes further, adding time exploring West Papua’s waterfalls, beaches and whale sharks.

Cruise Indonesia in style aboard the 30-guest, all-suite, luxury yacht Aqua Blu. Her brass-and-beige appointments, 5-star cuisine, inviting Jacuzzi, collection of adventure gear and attentive crew will ensure an unforgettable experience. And her history as the former British Naval Explorer HMS Beagle means she is equipped for this expedition to lesser-visited parts of Indonesia. This vessel is an AdventureSmith favorite for private charter cruises due to her private yacht feel and size.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Indonesia cruises.