The Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island is a 24-day cruise that follows in the wake of famous seafarers such as James Cook. In the 18th century, Cook embarked on three South Sea voyages and discovered a number of different islands there. For many of the guests, this cruise will also be full of firsts – for example, when the HANSEATIC heads for the Tuamotu Islands, the world’s largest archipelago. This group of islands was discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan.
A further port of call will be Pitcairn, the only inhabited island in the archipelago of the same name. Weather permitting, guests will land at Bounty Bay with the 14 Zodiacs – inflatable boats well suited to expeditions – and meet personally the descendants of the Bounty mutineers. The highlight of the expedition will be the penultimate stop: the Easter Islands. The park where the Moai, the island’s famous stone sculptures, are situated is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A team of experts from different fields such as regional studies, cultural history, biology and geology will accompany the guests throughout the entire cruise. In lectures both on board and during the shore excursions and Zodiac excursions, these specialists will provide fascinating facts and insights, for example, about the different Polynesian people and the European expeditions of the 16th and 18th centuries.
Example cruise: MS HANSEATIC – Expedition to the South Seas and Easter Island, from Tahiti to Puerto Montt, November 25 – December 19, 2016, 24 days, from €8,990 per person (£6,750, $10,790), cruise only.
More information online at: http://www.hl-cruises.com/find-your-cruise/HAN1622
*) According to the Berlitz Guide to Cruising 2016
Hamburg, April 2016