Not your typical cruise ship tour

Forget the building-sized monoliths that block out the sun in each port they dock; many smaller ships now offer a more intimate and flexible experience that allows visitors to pull up closer to the centre of town, or in harder-to-access locations. With capacities that sit closer to 50 guests than 500, the service and experience is far more personalised, while eschewing unnecessary on-board features lets you focus on the destination. After all, getting sunburnt after falling asleep by the ship’s pool is far less exhilarating than taking a dip off the side in open ocean.

But where to go? Bali might be the most popular island drawcard of our closest neighbour, but the Indonesian archipelago includes many isolated wonders best enjoyed via a week-long island-hopping cruise. Tours can include a visit to the Komodo dragon-populated Rinca, the tourist-free beaches of Banta Island and submerging yourself in Satonda’s crater lake.

Looking over to Vietnam, a north to south coastal cruise will take you from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City while taking in the country’s natural wonders and rich culture along the way. The limestone islands of Ha Long Bay are worth the trip alone, along with the recently-discovered 30 kilometre-long caves of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Vietnam’s more recent 20^th century history and Australia’s legacy in the conflict can also be explored with a visit to the Vinh Moc tunnels and the Khe Sanh Combat Base, which will certainly add new meaning the next time Cold Chisel starts playing on the radio.

Other island-hopping destinations include Greece and Turkey, Spain Portugal & Morocco and the gorgeous coastline of Croatia, all of which carry the same guiding philosophy: why settle for a ‘pleasure cruise’, when you can have an adventure?

Ready for an Adventure Cruise of a lifetime? The team at Peregrine Travel Centre SA can help you lock in an incredible small ship cruise with Peregrine Adventures in 2019 and beyond! Contact them to find out more or request an Adventure Cruising brochure today.

Sponsored by Peregrine Travel Centre SA