THE WILDLY INTERESTING SOUTH PACIFIC INDONESIA, MELANESIA, MICRONESIA, POLYNESIA Fascinating Geographies Culture, WWII History & A Spectacular Undersea BOOK NOW: Save 10% Now & Forever Plus Air Credit up to $2,000 ABOARD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ORION | 2015 TM As astonishing as the photos in National Geographic. And an exhilarating life adventure: A Lindblad-National Geographic South Pacific expedition. TM Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic have joined forces to further inspire the world through expedition travel. Our collaboration in exploration, research, technology and conservation will provide extraordinary travel experi- ences and disseminate geographic knowledge around the globe. Cover: Fire dancer of the Baining tribe, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea © David Doubilet. This page: National Geographic Orion in the South Pacific. Ship’s registry: Bahamas Dear Traveler, You’ve heard the expression “If it were easy, everyone would do it,” right? Well, truth be told, getting to the places featured here is not at all easy and, in many WHAT’S INSIDE FOR YOU cases, impossible without a well-designed, made-for-the-job, expedition ship. And Introduction to the South Pacific 2-5 that’s good news, because there is a distinct benefit to being largely inaccessible. Culture 6-11 WWII History 12-17 It’s there you find cultures that have not been so inundated with visitors that The Undersea 18-25 they’ve lost the basic connection to their own history. Traditions, like the jaw- National Geographic Orion 26-27, 60-61 dropping fire dance in Papua New Guinea, shown on the cover, are still practiced Global Perspectives guest as part of the cultural life of the community, not on our behalf. speakers, staff, and National Geographic photographers 28-33 The snorkeling opportunities these itineraries afford are like nothing you have ever ITINERARIES seen elsewhere: Raja Ampat, for example, is considered by many experts to be one Singapore to Raja Ampat 34-37 of the top snorkeling and diving opportunities in the world—and that’s only one of Palau to Solomon Islands 38-41 several iconic spots on our sailing roster. Solomon Islands to Fiji 42-45 Fiji to the Cook Islands 46-49 The other day I was speaking to famed National Geographic underwater Cook Islands to Tahiti 50-53 photographer, David Doubilet—and learned something wonderful. Read my Tahiti to Easter Island 54-57 conversation with him on pages 24-25 where we discuss the “super snorkeler.” Optional Extensions 58-59 Our team can take you to dive and snorkel sites where sharks abound—the EXPEDITION PLANNING INFO pinnacle place, in fact, Millennium Atoll (see page 50, and know we have a Deck Plan and Voyage Pricing 62-63 glass-bottom Zodiac aboard, so you can stay dry and still explore the atoll.) Staff Special Offers 64 Reservation Information 65 and guests who experienced it this past season have described it as the most remarkable undersea experience ever. There’s so much more to say about this untrammeled geography, and hopefully, you will find what you read here very inspiring. The National Geographic Orion with only 102 guests has been in our hands now for nearly a year. She has grown into her new role beautifully, and you will, without doubt, love this ship for its hospitality, remarkable comfort, and size. On a final note, after the Antarctic season in 2015/16, the ship will head for new adventures in a whole other region of the world. (More information on this to come). So, if you wish to explore the South Pacific aboard the National Geographic Orion, this is the year—the next opportunity might be far in the future. All the best, Sven-Olof Lindblad EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES ARE JUST A FLIGHT AWAY: And as an incentive, we’re offering 10% off the voyage price now, and Friend For Life status for 10% savings ever after (see page 64 for details). Plus, receive an air credit* of up to $2,000. Don’t risk disappointment—book now to ensure you’ll have these experiences! *Valid on new bookings only. Please call for details. Cover: Fire dancer of the Baining tribe, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea © David Doubilet. This page: National Geographic Orion in the South Pacific. Ship’s registry: Bahamas 1 SIX ITINERARIES REVEAL FASCINATING DIST INCTIONS WITHIN THE VAST SOUTH PACIFIC PALAU TO FIJI TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS COOK ISLANDS Micronesia & Polynesia Melanesia & Polynesia Pages 38-41 Pages 46-49 SINGAPORE TO RAJA AMPAT Indonesia Pages 34-37 SOLOMON ISLANDS TO FIJI Melanesia Pages 42-45 MICRONESIA INDONESIA MELANESIA 2 SIX ITINERARIES REVEAL FASCINATING DIST INCTIONS WITHIN THE VAST SOUTH PACIFIC THERE’S NOTHING MONOLITHIC OR PREDICTABLE about the four regions of the South Pacific we explore. Upon return from our 2014 sailing season, our well-traveled staff proclaimed these expeditions among the most inter- esting ever. They’ve given our development team compelling COOK ISLANDS reasons to return in 2015: extraordinary cultural diversity; TO TAHITI gripping WWII history; and a seldom-seen, authentically Micronesia & Polynesia vibrant undersea—in four extraordinary regions. Pages 50-53 INDONESIA: An archipelago comprising thousands of TAHITI TO islands, hundreds of distinct native ethnic and linguistic EASTER ISLAND groups, a biodiversity second only to Brazil’s, and a wealth Polynesia of endemic species second only to Australia’s. The Coral Pages 54-57 Triangle is also in Indonesia, which has the world’s greatest diversity of coral reef fish. We will discover cultural and natural wonders here. MICRONESIA: Adds up to very little land-wise. Its 700 square miles would cover barely two-thirds of Rhode Island. Only 96 of the 2,000 islands and atolls, set in three million square miles of ocean (comparable to the contiguous US), are inhabited. Yet it has much to show us, culturally and under the surface of its ocean. MELANESIA: National Geographic grantee Jonathan Friedlaender, a biological anthropologist with 30 years experience in the Pacific, finds the biological and genetic diversity among Melanesia populations extraordinary—as our cultural experiences here reveal. And we’ll also find POLYNESIA vivid evidence of WWII history in these waters. POLYNESIA: A small amount of land spread widely over the mid and southern Pacific Ocean, its 1,000+ islands are volcanic, built by hotspots. The indigenous people, experienced sailors renowned for their navigation skills, share language, culture and beliefs—as we’ll discover. And we’ll also discover the difference between a sea and a ‘pristine sea.’ 3 I wish I could tell you about the South “Pacific. The way it actually was. The end- less ocean. The infinite specks of coral we called islands. Coconut palms nodding gracefully toward the ocean. Reefs upon which waves broke into spray, and inner lagoons, lovely beyond description.” —James Michener, Tales of the South Pacific Lovely is how the South Pacific South Pacific as uninteresting. has been thought of since No longer. East is the compass Michener’s vastly entertaining point that’s drawing savvy travel- book inspired Rodgers and ers these days, and no facet of it Hammerstein’s beloved musical, is more interesting than the vast, South Pacific. But like the stereo- diverse South Pacific. Read on type that maintains a physically to learn why our extremely well beautiful person cannot possibly traveled staff believes the South be smart too, some travelers Pacific warrants your valuable have mistakenly dismissed the time and attention. SOUTH PACIFIC | CULTURE THE ROMANCE OF DIFFERENCE Much of the thrill of venturing to the far side of the world is the cultural experiences you’ll have. The people you’ll encounter. The exhilarating diversity of their traditions. And their stunning hospitality. You’ll see why most major museums, including the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, with the world’s largest Oceania collections, showcase South Pacific art. And depending on the itinerary you choose, you’ll also see world-famous black pearls, and the divers who harvest them, visit southern hemisphere UNESCO World Heritage sites, experience the fount of Gauguin’s inspiration, and/or fall under the spell of one of civilization’s most enigmatic destinations: Easter Island. See the fire dances of the Baining tribe in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, on the Palau to Solomon Islands expedition. 6 SOUTH PACIFIC | CULTURE SOUTH PACIFIC | CULTURE 7 SOUTH PACIFIC | CULTURE Marveling at the ubiquity of this Pacific language and “ culture, [Captain James Cook] later wondered in his journal: How shall we account for this Nation spread- ing itself so far over this Vast ocean? —“Beyond” The Blue Horizon,” National Geographic magazine, March 2008 8 1.800.EXPEDITION (1.800.397.3348) SOUTH PACIFIC | CULTURE SOUTH PACIFIC | CULTURE WORLD’S MOST IMPRESSIVE EXPLORERS On the day in 1778 when Captain Cook “discovered” Hawaii, he had already under- taken three expeditions to the Pacific, exploring a multitude of islands from lush New Zealand to remote Easter Island. His latest voyage had taken him from the Society Islands to Hawaii, an archipelago so remote that even the old Polynesians on Tahiti knew nothing of it. And yet, when the natives greeted him, it was in a familiar tongue, one he had heard on virtually every inhabited land he’d visited. His question, quoted at left, has tantalized inquiring minds ever since. The world has long marveled at Sir Ernest all the other landmasses and continents on Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition feat—his the planet could fit inside it. As our expedi- 800-mile, dead-reckoned navigation tion development manager, Michelle Graves, aboard the James Caird from Elephant tells us: “You would have to travel into space Island to South Georgia. And yet, here to get farther away from land than they did.” were these even more amazing explorers Thus making their achievement the ancient of 3,000 years ago.