56-Day World Cruise: Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean to Europe

Day 1 - Singapore

Arrive: Sat 31 March 2029 / Depart: Sat 31 March 2029 at 19:00

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963. Two years later, it became an independent island-state, developing into one of the world's most prosperous countries. With ultra-modern skyscrapers combined with a medley of Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, Singapore is a dynamic city rich in contrast and color, exhibiting a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture.

Day 2 - Malacca

Arrive: Sun 01 April 2029 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 01 April 2029 at 16:00

Located on the strategically important strait that bears its name, Malacca is a multicultural mosaic of the trade and colonial history of Southeast Asia. From the magnificent Sultanate Palace and the Kampung Kling Mosque to the numerous churches built by the Portuguese and the Dutch, to Hindu and Chinese temples, every ethnic group in search of wealth and power, either earthly or spiritual, has left its mark. The ubiquitous, pedal-powered trishaws are a good way to get around. Straits cuisine is also world-renowned for its variety and complexity, flavored by centuries of cultural intermingling. The city is also a shopping source for Asian antiques.

Day 3 - Penang

Arrive: Mon 02 April 2029 at 12:00 / Depart: Mon 02 April 2029 at 18:00

The name Penang comes from the Malay words for the betel nut, Palau Pinang. Ever since its founding over two centuries ago, Penang has been a favored destination of travelers for both its scenic beauty and places of ethnic and historic significance. Today, Penang is one of the most culturally diverse destinations in Malaysia. Established in 1786 as a trading post by the British, the island is a contemporary metropolis with old world charm, offering the best of both worlds while maintaining its illustrious, rich heritage.

Day 4 - Phuket

Arrive: Tue 03 April 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 03 April 2029 at 18:00

Phuket, nestled in the balmy Andaman Sea waters, lies 536 miles south of Bangkok. Initially, Phuket derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colorful history. Located on a major trade route between India and China, Phuket was frequently mentioned in foreign trader's ship logs. Blessed with a natural heritage of stunning white-sand beaches, sapphire blue seas, exotic marine life and lushly forested hillsides, Phuket is one of Southeast Asia's most popular destinations.

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Colombo, Sri Lanka

Arrive: Sat 07 April 2029 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 07 April 2029 at 19:00

Sri Lanka. A name that calls to mind the exotic and mysterious. This is a land of jungles inhabited by leopards and elephants, wondrous ruins of the great civilizations of ages past, and a modern city, Colombo, where western technology is superimposed on the passion of a traditional Asian metropolis. Originally known as Ceylon, the island became famous for producing the world's finest teas. Bright fragrant spices, sparkling sapphires, and the colorful trappings of a variety of ceremonies and religious festivals make this a most rewarding destination. Today, Colombo is a bustling mix of diverse races and religions, and contrasts of old and new. The tangible history of the city is a unique mix of relics from its Portuguese, Dutch and English settlements, blended with Indian influences throughout.

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - Male

Arrive: Mon 09 April 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 09 April 2029 at 18:00

Known to only a few, this tropical paradise of countless tiny islands is scattered over 34,000 square miles. Tiny specks in a vast expanse of ocean, only 199 of some 1190 coral islands are inhabited. The islands form 26 natural atolls, each enclosed by a coral reef cut by several deep natural channels. A protective coral reef and shallow lagoon also surround each island. As most of the islands are no more than 7 feet above sea level, there are no hills or rivers in the Maldives. What you will see are tall palms, white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons and crystal clear waters. The protective reefs are home to magnificent underwater gardens, and millions of multicolored fish, corals and shells.

Day 11 - At Sea

Day 12 - At Sea

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Port Victoria, Seychelles

Arrive: Fri 13 April 2029 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 13 April 2029 at 23:00

Victoria, on Mahé Island, is the capital city of the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles National Botanical Gardens showcases endemic palms and orchids, as well as giant tortoises and fruit bats. The colorful Sir Selwyn Clarke Market sells spices, fruit, art and souvenirs. Near the Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the imposing La Domus, built in 1934 to house Catholic missionaries.

Day 15 - Praslin Islands, Seychelles

Arrive: Sat 14 April 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 14 April 2029 at 17:00

Known for its glorious tropical beaches and fantastic marine life, Praslin is unique because of its Vallee de Mai World Heritage Site, where the coco de mer grows wild. At seven miles long and nowhere more than 3 1/2 miles wide, it is still the second largest island in the Seychelles.

Day 16 - At Sea

Day 17 - At Sea

Day 18 - Zanzibar

Arrive: Tue 17 April 2029 at 15:00

Lying in the warm waters off the coast of Tanzania is the exotic island of Zanzibar. The mere mention of this spot conjures up images of intrigue and mystery. Zanzibar's history is whispered on the tropical breezes that cool the island. They tell of the slave trade which flourished here, and of a building called the ``House of Wonders.' They tell of a time when Christian missionaries lived and worked under difficult conditions.

Day 19 - Zanzibar

Depart: Wed 18 April 2029 at 17:00

Lying in the warm waters off the coast of Tanzania is the exotic island of Zanzibar. The mere mention of this spot conjures up images of intrigue and mystery. Zanzibar's history is whispered on the tropical breezes that cool the island. They tell of the slave trade which flourished here, and of a building called the ``House of Wonders.' They tell of a time when Christian missionaries lived and worked under difficult conditions.

Day 20 - At Sea

Day 21 - At Sea

Day 22 - Antisiranana, Madagascar

Arrive: Sat 21 April 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 21 April 2029 at 18:00

Day 23 - At Sea

Day 24 - At Sea

Day 25 - Port Louis, Mauritius

Arrive: Tue 24 April 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 24 April 2029 at 18:00

Diverse cultures, perfect beaches, bright sun, rugged natural beauty, high-end shopping and tranquil temples. Cosmopolitan Mauritius has something for everyone. Port Louis lies at the base of the Moka range of mountains, where you can explore the Port Louis Central Market, or the smaller market in nearby Mahebourg. The National History Museum provides background on the mélange of traditions inhabiting this tiny island. If you're feeling parched, try the local cane rum or coconut water, a refreshing treat. Try a "gateaux," a local sweet, before heading to Tamarind Falls - actually a string of seven waterfalls set in a breathtaking green valley. Visit the Crocodile Park not only for its namesake inhabitants, but for tortoises and other local wildlife. Nearby, Black River Gorges National Park offers a hike to the highest point on the island, Black River Peak.

Day 26 - La Possession

Arrive: Wed 25 April 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 25 April 2029 at 17:00

Tall, verdant Reunion is the sort of tropical island Central Casting would send if a director were looking for the perfect island paradise. Steep volcanic peaks covered with lush forest are ringed by sugary white beaches in an achingly blue sea. It is also an overseas department of France, which only adds to its glamour, although its inclusion in the Eurozone seems almost laughable due to its location in the Indian Ocean. La Possession on the island’s northeastern coast occupies an enviably horizontal wedge between steep peaks, and gives access to ships. Visitors may spot the commune’s coat of arms, a silver dodo bird topped by a pair of foreboding axes. Interesting sites include the dramatic cirques (dormant volcanic craters with fairytale villages in them) and plantations dedicated to essential perfume oils and spices such as cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. In the town, and antique engine beside the the defunct railway station and the ruined lazarette of the fortification are atmospheric backdrops for photographs.

Day 27 - At Sea

Day 28 - At Sea

Day 29 - At Sea

Day 30 - At Sea

Day 31 - At Sea

Day 32 - Cape Town

Arrive: Tue 01 May 2029 at 14:00

Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and flanked by Devil's Peak and Lion's Head, Cape Town is known by South Africans simply as 'the Cape,' an acknowledgment of its uniqueness and its status as the Mother City. The first area to be settled by Europeans in the 17th century, it is today a major seaport and the legislative capital of South Africa. The feeling here is not African but cosmopolitan, and a sense of history remains.

Day 33 - Cape Town

Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and flanked by Devil's Peak and Lion's Head, Cape Town is known by South Africans simply as 'the Cape,' an acknowledgment of its uniqueness and its status as the Mother City. The first area to be settled by Europeans in the 17th century, it is today a major seaport and the legislative capital of South Africa. The feeling here is not African but cosmopolitan, and a sense of history remains.

Day 34 - Cape Town

Depart: Thu 03 May 2029 at 17:00

Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and flanked by Devil's Peak and Lion's Head, Cape Town is known by South Africans simply as 'the Cape,' an acknowledgment of its uniqueness and its status as the Mother City. The first area to be settled by Europeans in the 17th century, it is today a major seaport and the legislative capital of South Africa. The feeling here is not African but cosmopolitan, and a sense of history remains.

Day 35 - At Sea

Day 36 - Luderitz

Arrive: Sat 05 May 2029 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 05 May 2029 at 16:00

In 1883, a German businessman, Adolf Luderitz, purchased a parcel of land enclosing a small bay for purposes of speculation. The so-called Skeleton Coast had limited potential in many ways, being largely made up of the shifting sands of the Namib Desert. Then, in 1906, a local railway worker noticed an oddly sparkly stone beside the tracks. It proved to be a diamond, and it became clear that there were many like it lying literally on the surface of the sands. By 1909 a diamond rush was in full sway, and a thriving, German-styled town called Kolmanskop sprouted out of the desert to house the gem-seekers. When the easy pickings ended, the townspeople simply walked away, and the desert climate preserved the town as it was slowly engulfed by the shifting sands. Today it makes an evocative and haunting place to visit. The bay still hosts a bounty of wildlife as well, including seals, whales and flamingos. Other endeavors have started, too, such as the culture of delicious oysters in the clean, cold ocean waters.

Day 37 - Walvis Bay

Arrive: Sun 06 May 2029 at 11:00 / Depart: Sun 06 May 2029 at 19:00

Its name in Afrikaans means "Whale Bay," but those days are long gone. Today its dramatic setting is inseparable from any impression of this deep-water port on Namibia's desolate, but beautiful "Skeleton Coast." Here the undulating dunes of the Namib Desert meet the sea, and its lagoon is spangled with white pelicans, pink flamingos and other seabirds. Up the coast road is Dune Seven, the highest along Namibia's coast, and a great place to take off your shoes and feel some sand between your toes after your Atlantic crossing.

Day 38 - At Sea

Day 39 - At Sea

Day 40 - At Sea

Day 41 - Jamestown, St Helena, Ascension & Tristan

Day 42 - At Sea

Day 43 - At Sea

Day 44 - Crossing the Equator

Day 45 - At Sea

Day 46 - At Sea

Day 47 - Dakar

Arrive: Wed 16 May 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 16 May 2029 at 18:00

One of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan African cities, the Senegalese capital bears many visual reminders of its past as a French colonial outpost. Despite the Parisian-style boulevards and buildings, however, there is a distinctly African feel to the city. Bankers and executives can be seen going about their businesses dressed in the flamboyant traditional Grand Boubou costume, and women wear the feminine version with an equally striking headpiece. The common language is French, although many citizens may also speak as many as five or six ethnic languages, since the whole coast of West Africa has been steeped in a heritage of mutual trade for centuries. Among the many sights and sounds greeting visitors, none is more evocative and sobering than a visit to Goree Island and its House of Slaves. This fortress, just offshore of the city waterfront, displays many reminders of the brutal trade in human beings, including an unimposing doorway, set just above the waterline in the seaside wall, identified simply as the “Door of No Return.”

Day 48 - At Sea

Day 49 - Mindelo, Cape Verde

Arrive: Fri 18 May 2029 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 18 May 2029 at 18:00

The most important city on the Cape Verde island of São Vicente, Mindelo originally thrived as a coal depot for steamships plying the Atlantic. With the advent of diesel engines, its importance waned, although it is still an important port for the maritime trade. The island is volcanic, dry and mostly low. The town has replica of Lisbon’s Belem Tower, located near the fish market, in an interesting part of the city. The late Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora started her career singing in the taverns of Mindelo, and later brought the uniquely lilting Cape Verdean form of fado music to the world through her bestselling records and concert tours.

Day 50 - At Sea

Day 51 - At Sea

Day 52 - Gran Canaria

Arrive: Mon 21 May 2029 at 09:00 / Depart: Mon 21 May 2029 at 23:00

Las Palmas is a large Spanish city, which just happens to be on the island of Gran Canaria. That fact adds the exotic, slightly African and international flavor to the place. It played an important part in the early exploration and exploitation of Africa and the New World, some of which is recounted in the Casa de Colon Museum. Columbus may have slept there, but it was never his house. It was actually the mansion of early governors. Other museums of note are the Museo Canaria with a number of Cro Magnon skulls, and the fascinating Elder Museum of Science and Technology. For shopping, strolling and general local interest, head to La Vegueta, the oldest quarter and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the adjacent Triana high street shopping district. Most visitors are here for the beaches, and the municipal Playa de Las Canteras is a long, clean and safe option if that is your intention. The Canaria in the name of the islands refers to the indigenous Presa Canaria breed of dogs, which are large, strong and made quite an impression on the earliest Spanish visitors.

Day 53 - Lanzarote

Arrive: Tue 22 May 2029 at 09:00 / Depart: Tue 22 May 2029 at 18:00

Lanzarote is the northernmost of the Canary Islands, often known as "volcano island." Its capital is Arrecife, a quiet town of about 30,000 inhabitants. Present day Lanzarote consists of two quite distinct massifs: Famara in the north, and Los Ajaches in the south, where centuries of erosion have sculpted abrupt cliffs and deep ravines, contrasting sharply with the smoothly rounded hills of the island's central region.

Day 54 - At Sea

Day 55 - Funchal

Arrive: Thu 24 May 2029 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 24 May 2029 at 18:00

The Madeira Archipelago, consisting of the islands Madeira, Porto Santo and Desertas, is situated in the Atlantic, about 400 miles from the African coast and 560 miles from Lisbon. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1419, Madeira, the largest of the islands, became of great importance to Portugal for its sugar production and later on for the cultivation of wine. The unusually temperate oceanic climate and extraordinary scenery had Northern Europeans flocking to Madeira as early as the 18th century to spend the winter months. The winning combination of high, rocky peaks, steep green ravines and waterfalls in the interior, with the flowering charm of Funchal still attracts nearly half a million visitors each year.

Day 56 - At Sea

Day 57 - Lisbon

Arrive: Sat 26 May 2029 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 26 May 2029

The great period of "the Discoveries" accounted for phenomenal wealth brought back from India, Africa and Brazil by the great Portuguese navigators. Gold, jewels, ivory, porcelain and spices helped finance grand new buildings and impressive monuments in Lisbon, the country's capital city. As you sail up the Tagus River, be on deck to admire Lisbon's panorama and see some of the great monuments lining the river. Lisbon is one of Europe's smallest capital cities but considered by many visitors to be one of the most likeable. Spread over a string of seven hills, the city offers a variety of faces, including a refreshing no-frills simplicity reflected in the people as they go unhurriedly through their day enjoying a hearty and delicious cuisine accompanied by the country's excellent wines.