Islands and cultures of Papua New Guinea

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Day 1 – Cairns

After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at the port by our local representative.

Cairns is only 140 years old, and the first Europeans and Chinese came to the area in the rush for gold. The fortune hunters braved the crocodile infested waters, the dense rainforests, the heavy monsoonal rains, the stingers, and the heat, to build what is still the last city on the road going north from Sydney. All sorts of adventurers have followed including escape artists and alternative lifestyle seekers. Prior to that, and to this day, the Yirrganydji and the Yidinji Aboriginal people walked this land. The Cairns of today is a chic tourism town with cafes and shops during your panoramic drive your guide will point out the historic buildings, natural sights and the special places that have created this tropical paradise.

Arrive at the Cairns Museum, which has amazing stories to share about living in the tropics through a collection of objects, photographs, and archival records. You will learn of stories of heat, sweat and hard work, of cane, railways, rainforests, and reefs. As well as discovering the history of white Australia, Aboriginal resistance, and European isolation.

The tour will continue with a visit to the lovely Botanical Gardens for a stroll, some people watching and to enjoy a variety of green and blooming plants, including a large orchid and carnivorous plant collection.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

You will then be transferred to the hotel Shangri-La the Marina 5*.

Afternoon at leisure.

Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 – Cairns

After breakfast and check-out, time at leisure depending on your flight schedule.

You will then be transferred to the airport in time for check-in for the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

Your hotel:

The five-star Shangri-La The Marina hotel is located on the waterfront at Marlin Marina, connected to the Pier shopping complex and adjacent to the Trinity Bay Esplanade. You will also find close by, Cairns Convention Centre and Cairns Esplanade. The hotel features a restaurant and two bars, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, a sauna and a solarium. It offers a free Wi-Fi access.

Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.

Your programme includes:

·        1-night accommodation in Deluxe Seaview room at the five-star Shangri-La The Marina Hotel 5*, local standards (or similar), breakfast included. 

·        Meals as mentioned in the programme.

·        Beverage package during meals (bottled water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer or 1 glass of wine and 1 coffee or tea).

·        Transfers, visits, and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.

·        The services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

·        Personal expenses.

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note:

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        As respecting the environment is important to us, we highly recommend you take your filled Ponant water bottle with you after your cruise, so you can use it on shore and avoid the use of plastic bottles whenever it is not strictly necessary.

·        The official check-out time at the hotel Shangri-La The Marina is at 11am.

·        Kindly note that a minimum number of participants is required for this trip to proceed. As a result, both the price and itinerary may be adjusted based on the final number of participants. Should the minimum number not be met, we will offer you an alternative arrangement.

Contact of your hotel:

Shangri-La The Marina
Pierpoint Road Cairns
Queensland 4870, Australia
Telephone: +61 7 4031 1411

Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Take advantage of a full day tour to discover the natural beauties of Cairns and experience a unique cable car ride over the tropical rainforest canopy. This programme will be a pleasant prelude to your cruise.

Day 1 - Cairns

Meet at the airport in the Arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

You will be transferred to the hotel Shangri-La the Marina 5*.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 - Cairns

Depart for an Australian experience into the rainforest. After a 30-minute drive, you will arrive at the Skyrail Rainforest Cable Car Station. Upon arrival, you will board one of the gondolas for an amazing experience over Australia's World Heritage listed tropical rainforest canopy, and into the rainforest itself. Spanning approximately four-and-a-half miles over pristine rainforest, Skyrail allows you to explore the wonders of this ancient tropical rainforest and learn about one of the most botanically fascinating and diverse areas on earth, and includes time at two mid-stations. The easy access walkways at Barron Falls Station take you on three separate lookouts where you will be treated to breath-taking views of Barron Gorge and Barron Falls. This station is where you will find the state-of-the-art Rainforest Interpretation Centre.

At the completion of your Skyrail journey, you will proceed to the centre of Kuranda, a delightful village nestled in the heart of the rainforest. Established as a railway station in the mid-1800s, when logging and mining were large industries on the Atherton Tablelands, Kuranda became known as a place to stock up on goods and also where one could enjoy some culture and sophistication at one of the local hotels. Today, this colourful township is a haven for markets, cafés, and restaurants. After a brief overview of the town, you will have some free time to further explore on your own. No doubt you will want to take the opportunity to browse the shops for local artwork, crafts, opals or aboriginal souvenirs while you are here.

Following your visit to Kuranda, you will board your coach and will return to Cairns for lunch.

Afterwards, you will be transferred to the pier to embark on board your ship.

Your hotel:

The five-star Shangri-La The Marina Hotel is located on the waterfront at Marlin Marina, connected to the Pier shopping complex and adjacent to the Trinity Bay Esplanade. You will also find close by, Cairns Convention Centre and Cairns Esplanade. The hotel features a restaurant and two bars, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, a sauna and a solarium. It offers a free Wi-Fi access.

Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.

Your programme includes:

·        1-night accommodation in Deluxe Seaview room at the five-star Shangri-La The Marina Hotel 5*, local standards (or similar), breakfast included.

·        Meals as mentioned in the programme.

·        Beverages package during meals (bottled water + 1 soft drink or 1 glass of wine and 1 coffee or tea).

·        Transfers, visits, and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.

·        The services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

·        Dinner on day 1.

·        Personal expenses.

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note:

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        The official check-in time at the hotel Shangri-La The Marina is at 2pm.

·        Kindly note that a minimum number of participants is required for this trip to proceed. As a result, both the price and itinerary may be adjusted based on the final number of participants. Should the minimum number not be met, we will offer you an alternative arrangement.

Contacts of your hotel:

Shangri-La The Marina
Pierpoint Road Cairns
Queensland 4870, Australia
Telephone: +61 7 4031 1411

Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Enjoy a 3-day tour in Cairns and marvel at the natural beauty of its surroundings. Explore the Great Barrier Reef, the largest living ecosystem on earth, and dive into one of the world’s oldest rainforests for an unforgettable indigenous experience.

Day 1 - Cairns

Meet at the airport in the Arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

You will be transferred to the hotel Shangri-La the Marina 5*.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 - Daintree National Park

Breakfast at the hotel.

After a 90-minute drive, you will arrive in the Daintree National Park, located in the tropical wilderness of North Queensland. The Daintree Rainforest boasts an incredibly biodiverse landscape with a large concentration of animal and plant species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It is also one of the oldest rainforests on the planet.

You will discover Mossman Gorge, the traditional home of the Kuku Yalanji aboriginal people.

You will join an indigenous guide for a Ngaduku dreamtime walk into the rainforest, learning about age-old traditions as well as flora and fauna along the way. Participate in a smoking ceremony, said to ward off bad spirits, and learn about the uses of different plants during the trek.

You will then enjoy some free time at Mossman Gorge and a lunch in a local café.

After lunch, you will enjoy a guided tour of Wildlife Habitat, an advanced eco-certified wildlife sanctuary where you will have the opportunity to interact with native Australian animals in their recreated natural environments. You will explore unique habitats, hand-feed iconic animals such as kangoroos or koalas, and learn about conservation efforts in this award-winning nature park.

You will then go back to your hotel to enjoy some free time.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 - The Great Barrier Reef

After breakfast, you will enjoy a day discovering the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty and contains the world's largest collection of coral reefs; it has 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of molluscs, which make it one of the most complex natural ecosystems in the world. It is unique, as it extends over 14 degrees of latitude, from shallow estuarine areas to deep oceanic waters.

After about an hour of transfer, you will discover the newest and most technologically advanced pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef: you will explore the magnificent coral reefs as you enjoy a glass bottom boat trip and a snorkeling guided tour.

Lunch will be served on the boat.

On your return to the hotel, you will have some free time to enjoy the facilities.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel

Day 4 - Cairns

Breakfast at the hotel and day at leisure.

Late check-out included.

Lunch at leisure.

You will be transferred to the pier to embark abord your ship.

Your hotel:

The five-stars Shangri-La The Marina hotel is located on the waterfront at Marlin Marina, connected to the Pier shopping complex and adjacent to the Trinity Bay Esplanade. You will also find close by, Cairns Convention Centre and Cairns Esplanade. The hotel features a restaurant and two bars, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, a sauna and a solarium. It offers a free Wi-Fi access.

Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.

Your programme includes:

·        3-night accommodation in Deluxe Seaview room at the Shangri-La The Marina Hotel 5*, local standards (or similar), breakfast included.

·        Late check-out on day 4.

·        Meals as mentioned in the programme.

·        Beverage package during meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink and 1 coffee or tea).

·        Transfers, visits, and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.

·        The services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

·        Personal expenses.

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note:

·        It is imperative that the details of your arrival flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        The official check-in time at the hotel Shangri-La The Marina is at 2pm.

·        All diving is subject to successful completion of an on-board medical questionnaire. Certain medical conditions (i.e: asthma) and some medications may exclude individuals from diving. The minimum legal age for diving is 12 years. All divers under 18 years of age must have parent/guardian consent. All equipment is provided by the cruise operator, we recommend you to bring sunscreen, a hat, a swim wear, a towel and sunglasses.

·        This programme is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Contact of your hotel:

Shangri-La The Marina

Pierpoint Road Cairns

Queensland 4870, Australia

Telephone: +61 7 4031 1411

Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.