In this interview with Maryann, you’ll learn more about their fascinating adventure.

 

Michael, my husband, and I joined the ship in Fiji and traveled through the South Pacific, stopping at several remote ports, including Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Alotau/Samarai Island, Dili, and Komodo Island, where we visited the Komodo dragons. We eventually disembarked in Bali.

 

The route was fascinating from a historical perspective; we had the opportunity to visit the Guadalcanal battlefields and go scuba diving on World War II wrecks. Following the cruise, we flew to Yogyakarta to visit the Borobudur temples before concluding our trip with four days in Singapore.

 

We were away for a month, but because the cruise ship was equipped with Starlink, we were able to work throughout the journey. As a business owner, I can’t be completely off the grid, so we always look for trips that offer this level of connectivity. This allows me to stay in touch with my clients while I am traveling.

               

Mid-January to mid-February was a great time of year: not too crowded and with warm weather.

 

This trip reminded us so much of our honeymoon when we went scuba diving in Australia and Fiji. It is quite rare to find a cruise that visits all of these specific locations, so when we saw this repositioning itinerary, it felt like a perfect fit for us.

 

The Paul Gauguin is a small, French luxury cruise ship designed specifically for the South Pacific and typically based in Tahiti. We chose this cruise because the ship was being repositioned to Singapore for a major renovation, which gave us the unique opportunity to visit remote islands aboard a vessel that was only about half full. The ship's compact design was ideal for accessing these remote ports, and the French wine and cuisine onboard were exceptional.

 

We flew from LA to Fiji, sailed from Fiji to Bali, flew to Yogyakarta, and took another flight to Singapore, before returning to Denver via Seattle.  

 

Our journey included scuba diving at the wreck of the President Coolidge in Vanuatu, hiking the battlefields of Guadalcanal, and exploring the jungle by dugout canoe. We also went scuba diving and toured native villages in New Guinea, hiked with Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island, and visited the Borobudur temple complex in central Java after our cruise.

 

We concluded the trip by spending Valentine’s Day with dinner at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. Singapore is always a delight. It’s the cleanest city we’ve ever visited, impeccably organized with an outstanding transportation system that makes getting around effortless. And the Singapore light show is absolutely not to be missed!

 

Becoming immersed in WWII history was a highlight of the trip, especially since it is typically difficult to visit these remote sites without extensive travel. Getting up close with Komodo dragons was also a unique experience, and visiting Singapore is always enjoyable.

 

The only minor disappointment was how overbuilt and touristy Bali has become. However, we were able to find a nice break from the chaos by escaping to the mountain town of Ubud.

 

The local culture throughout this trip was truly amazing. Since some of these ports host only one cruise ship per year, it was a unique opportunity to visit people in places that still retain their authentic traditions. The villages in New Guinea, for example, are still governed by local chiefs and remain largely unchanged by time.

 

From a macro perspective, traveling through these islands also illuminated the growing competition between the U.S. and China, as China is investing significant capital to become a leading player in the region.

 

The trip went very smoothly, although the wildfires in Los Angeles nearly disrupted our plans at the start. Fortunately, the fires did not reach LAX. It was truly inspirational to meet firefighters from across the country who were staying at the airport hotels while working to contain the fires.

 

The exceptional cuisine and wine offered on board the Paul Gauguin meant we were typically walking off meals when we were on land, rather than trying the local cuisine!  We did get a bit adventurous and tried Kopi Luwak (or Civet Coffee) while in Indonesia.

 

Yes. I’d skip Bali, except as a travel hub, but Fiji, Singapore, Komodo Island, and the temples of Central Java are all worth a visit.  And the diving in the South Pacific is exceptional.  

 

When you visit the remote islands, please keep in mind that traveling to off-the-grid locations is all part of the adventure. You will not have access to polished tourist attractions, air-conditioned vehicles, or standard tourist boats; instead, transportation will involve vans with open windows and dugout canoes. If you approach this sort of trip with a sense of adventure, you will enjoy this unique and authentic experience.