ON THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE
With lectures to inform you and Zodiac® trips to inspire you,
explore the exotic islands of the Pacific Rim. Will you want to
swim among the harmless jellyfish of Palau, or circumnavigate
Torishima to observe Short-tailed albatross? Will you spot a
Humpback whale? With unstructured itineraries, let your
curiosity dictate your exploratory desires. Please note: Voyage
prices are indicative and can fluctuate - please check for
details.
ITINERARY
Day 1 — Koror, Palau
Once all guests have embarked Silver Discoverer and the Safety Drill has
concluded, we will depart on our exciting expedition — “Micronesia, the
Mariana Arch and Japan’s Volcanic Islands”. Your Expedition Leader will
introduce some of the heads of department and important crew members and
you will also get to know the members of your Expedition Team.
Day 2 — Ngekerbesang, Palau
Ngekerbesang is just west of the island of Koror and connected to it by a
causeway. You can head into town and visit the National Museum of Palau or
the private Etpison Museum with its outstanding exhibition on “traditional
money”. To have a look at Palau’s underwater creatures you could visit the
Aquarium, or take to the water and see close-up for yourself. Head out to see
the famous “Rock Islands” — a must, if you have not been to Palau before.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site has 445 uninhabited limestone islands of
volcanic origin. The beauty of these islands is heightened by a complex reef
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system featuring over 385 coral species. The area sustains a large diversity of
plants, birds and marine life including dugong and at least thirteen shark
species. The world’s highest concentration of marine lakes (isolated bodies of
seawater separated from the ocean by land barriers) is found here. Although
scientists can only access most of them, one of them, the so-called Jellyfish
Lake, is sure to be a highlight for any snorkeler, as you can swim among
thousands of harmless jellyfish. Around noon Silver Discoverer will lift the
anchor and head north. Be on the outer decks as the views towards
Babeldaop Island with its mangrove coast and terraced hills compete with the
different hues of blue of the lagoon while we cruise to reach the western
entrance (to us the exit) of the lagoon.
Day 3 — Colonia, Yap
During the morning Silver Discoverer will approach the island of Yap proper
and an early lunch will permit us to make the most of our visit to this
westernmost state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Colonia is the
Capital of Yap and combines modern times (as seen in the infrastructure and
education) with tradition (as seen by the set-up of the rural villages and the
importance of customs). Outside of Colonia we can find three types of
traditional buildings: the family houses or ‘tabnuw’ with roofs made of woven
thatch (dried palm fronds) and consisting of one open room. The ‘faluw’ is the
“men’s house“, where only one woman — usually a young woman from
another village as entertainer for the men- was permitted. Even today women
are not generally allowed into men’s houses — permission must be obtained
beforehand. Largest of the three types is the ‘pebay’, a place for the
community to come together for school, dances or meetings. Most every
Yapese now lives in a modern structure, but during our excursion we will visit
an area where meetinghouses and men’s houses can be seen. We will also
see several sites where the famous stone money ‘rai’ is exhibited. Although
the circular-shaped aragonite pieces were/are used on Yap, most of them
actually came from Palau. Yapese men went there to obtain permission to
quarry them and then had to transport them on rafts or out-rigger canoes over
a distance of some 240 nautical miles. At one of the sites young women and
men will perform local stick dances and will show us how they’re colourful
dresses and adornments are made. During the German administration a
channel was dug through the main island to speed delivery of produce from
the north to the south side and this narrow channel is still used today —
especially by divers who want to relocate from one coast to the other. With
close to 100 miles of barrier reef, several channels and many blacktip,
whitetip and grey sharks, manta rays are Yap’s main underwater attraction.
Found in Yapese waters all year round, the State of Yap declared the world’s
first manta ray sanctuary in 2008. Our divers will head out to see some of the
famous underwater residents.
Day 4 — Cruising the Philippine Sea
Having visited islands where coral is prominent let the on-board Geologist
prepare you for our upcoming islands of the Mariana Arch and the Pacific Rim
of Fire. Other lectures will let you gain insight into the varied culture and
history of the Marianas — be it during the early settlement, European
exploration or the times from Spanish to German to Japanese to US American
administration.
Day 5 — Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands are a chain of tropical islands in the western
Pacific Ocean, about 120 miles (193km) north of Guam. Saipan is the largest
of the Mariana Islands and home to more than 48,000 of the Northern
Mariana Islands’ 61,000 residents. During the morning lectures will prepare
you for Saipan’s (and the Northern Mariana’s) importance during World War II,
as well as the importance of flora and fauna, both above and in the ocean.
Some guests may choose to see World War II sites including the Last
Command Post where Japanese troops made their final stand against the
invading US forces, Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff with its beautiful view and
grim history, where hundreds of Japanese soldiers and civilians jumped to
their deaths rather than surrender. In walking distance of the harbour is the
American Memorial Park. There you will not only be able to learn more about
the island’s military history, but the park also offers an excellent opportunity
for birding! Endemics like the Bridled and Golden White-eye, White-throated
Ground Dove and Mariana Fruit Dove, as well as the endangered Mariana
Moorhen, Mariana Swiftlet and Nightingale Reed-warbler have been recorded
there. Guests can also opt to spend the afternoon on their own in “town” or
perhaps heading out by local ferry to Mañagaha Island for snorkelling and
birding. You can walk around this little island in 15 minutes, but apart from
snorkelling in the clear water (much loved by many locals and Asian visitors)
you can also see remains of World War II artefacts. White Terns, as well as
Cardinal Honeyeaters and Collared Kingfisher can be seen here -and this little
island is the only known nesting site for Wedge-tailed Shearwater in all of the
Mariana Islands.It is also the burial site of Carolinian Chief Aghurubw who
established the first Carolinian settlement on Saipan during the Spanish
colonial period, with a statue representing him.
Day 6 — Pagan, Northern Mariana Islands
Among the 15 islands of the Northern Marianas, Pagan Island consists of two
stratovolcanoes joined by a strip of land that is less than 2,000 feet wide at
its narrowest point. The island was completely evacuated in 1981 when a
large eruption forced the small Micronesian community to relocate to Saipan.
Be out on deck as Silver Discoverer cruises past the western side of the
southern volcano and we approach our anchorage close to South Bay.
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Recently a few residents have returned and the only settlement will be seen
very close to the landing site. Pagan, the northern volcano, is still active, and
today we plan to observe one of the more recent lava-flows. To get there, we
will follow an old runway used by the Japanese during the 1940s, where the
remains of several bunkers, pillboxes and planes can still be seen. Our walk
through the forest to the edge of the most recent lava flow is less than a mile,
while another hike up the ridge will reveal a scenic view of two lakes. Be on
the lookout for the rare animal species found on Pagan, such as the Marianas
Fruit Bat, the Micronesian Megapode, and the impressive Coconut Crab — this
species can weigh up to 9lbs (4kg) with a leg span of more than 3ft (0.91m)!
Day 7 — Maug, Northern Mariana Islands
Maug volcano is made up of three small-elongated islands up to 2.3 km long
that mark the northern, western, and eastern rims of its largely submerged
2.5-km-wide caldera. The highest point reaches 227m above sea level. The
caldera has an average submarine depth of about 200 m and contains a
twin-peaked central lava dome that rises to within about 20 m of the sea
surface. This set-up makes for a perfect natural harbour. Be on deck as Silver
Discoverer enters the caldera in the early morning. Dolphins are commonly
seen near the southern entrance. The truncated inner walls of the caldera on
all three islands expose lava flows and pyroclastic deposits that are cut by
radial dikes; bedded ash deposits overlie most of the outer flanks of the
islands. East Island has been used to grow coconut palms and even the
interior has extensive plant growth. This is where different bird species nest.
11 seabirds, 2 shore birds and 3 land birds (the Marianas Megapode,
Micronesian Starling and White-collared Kingfisher) are known from Maug. A
Japanese weather station and fish processing plant existed between 1939
and 1945, but today nobody lives on the island(s). No eruptions are known
since the discovery of the islands by Espinosa in 1522 and the presence of
coral reefs and coral on the central lava dome suggests a long period of
general quiescence. Pending permission we might snorkel inside the caldera
next to West Island and will explore the caldera by Zodiac. In the afternoon we
will leave Maug behind and head for the Ogasawara Islands.
Day 8 — At Sea
Binoculars and camera in hand, head out on deck to watch for seabirds.
Attend informative lectures that will prepare you for Japan and the upcoming
ports-of-call -and the adventures that lie ahead. Our Expedition Staff will use
the time to talk about the “Galapagos of the Orient”, the Ogasawara Islands.
Peruse an array of titles and topics of the Silver Discoverer’s library, or enjoy
any of the other special amenities offered aboard ship.
Day 9 — Chichijima, Japan
The remote Bonin Islands are known in Japan as the Ogasawara Islands. This
archipelago has earned the nickname “Galapagos of the Orient” for the unique
plant and animal species that have evolved here, and for this reason was
inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2011. On our approach to the
island, keep your eye on the sea, as bottlenose and spinner dolphins are
commonly seen during this time of year. We explore the “father island” — the
largest in the Ogasawara family of islands and yet another fantastic avian
destination. Birding enthusiasts will hope to spot as many species as
possible, and the possibilities are many! They include: Brown Booby, Brown
Noddy, Red-tailed Tropicbird and Lesser Frigatebird, Bulwer’s and Bonin
Petrels, Matsudaira’s Storm Petrel, and possibly the White-necked Petrel,
Laysan Albatross, Black-footed Albatross and perhaps even the rare
Short-tailed Albatross. Shearwaters may include Streaked, Short-tailed,
Wedge-tailed, Sooty, and the endemic Bannerman’s Shearwater. Weather
permitting; there will also be opportunities for swimming, snorkelling and
sunbathing on one of the island’s pristine beaches. If possible, we hope to
visit Minamijima to see its much photographed natural stone arch reflected in
the small turquoise blue lagoon and, of course, to capture our own images of
this beautiful scene. Next to the harbour is a humpback whale monument
–although these mammals leave by April, we will be on the lookout for sperm
whales that come here between May and November. Green turtles, spinner
dolphins, and dogtooth tuna are some of the other major marine creatures
seen in June. Shima sushi (served with mustard instead of wasabi), Akaba
miso soup, and turtle are some of the island’s special dishes, and the
Ogasawaras also produce passion fruit liqueur.
Day 10 — Torishima, Japan
During our cruise north we will arrive at Torishima in the early afternoon. The
name Torishima translates into “bird island” (Tori=bird, shima=island)— a
fitting name for this uninhabited volcanic island that Japan has declared a
Bird Sanctuary, Natural Monument and National Wildlife Protection Area.
Located in the Izu Islands chain about 370 miles due south of Tokyo,
Torishima is home to about 1500 mature Short-tailed Albatrosses. This rare
species is known to breed on only four islands in the North Pacific, with close
to 80% nesting on the volcanic ash slopes of Torishima. As the island is an
active volcano (last eruption in 2002) we will not make a landing here. In fact,
only scientists are granted permission to land on Torishima, and only by
helicopter. Instead, we will circumnavigate the island’s entire coastline while
listening to our expert Ornithologist describe all about the endangered
Short-tailed Albatross and the story of their successful conservation. Although
successful breeders will leave in May and June, we still should be able to see
some of these rare albatrosses. Birders will surely spend every moment out on
deck trying to photograph this beautiful species with its lovely yellow head and
neck. Our on-board Geologist might describe current threats to the
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Short-tailed Albatross including soil instability and the potential impact of
another volcanic eruption.
cancellation.
Day 11 — Hachijojima, Japan
In the southern part of the Izu Island Chain, Hachijojima is a volcanic island
with two mountains: Mt. Mihara (700m high) and Mt. Hachijo-Fuji (854m
high). Our plan for today is a visit to Hachijo Botanical Garden with some 140
different species of tropical plants, located in the natural forests of a lava
field, to see a dance and drum performance, and Nambara-Senjoiwa Beach.
In the botanical garden we will be immersed in a colourful world of tropical
foliage and surrounded by the sounds of birdsong as we stroll through each
unique “zone”. At the beach, black lava created by eruptions of Mt.
Hachijo-Fuji stretches along the seashore. Our excursion concludes with a
walk at the legendary tama-ishigaki cobblestone wall. For guests ready to take
on a more challenging activity, join members of the Expedition Team and our
Japan Specialists for a nature trek at Mt. Hachijo-Fuji. To reach the top one
has to climb 1,280 steps. During the afternoon Silver Discoverer will head
north along Japan’s East coast, permitting our lecturers to give you more
insight into Japan’s culture and natural history. In the evening the Captain
would like to invite you to the Captain’s Farewell cocktail party. The Executive
Chef and Restaurant Manager will have prepared another gastronomic
highlight with the Farewell Dinner in The Restaurant.
Day 12 — At Sea
Today, after perhaps sleeping in, you will have the opportunity to go through
all your photos, editing them, attend one of the lectures that round up this
voyage along the Mariana Arch and the Japanese volcanic islands, or get
prepared for Hakodate and its role as one of the first Japanese ports to be
opened for foreign trade in 1859. Our on-board Photographer/Videographer
will present his/her voyage-DVD — a good time to remember all those special
moments and encounters on this voyage.
Day 14 — Hakodate, Japan
After breakfast, disembark Silver Discovererand transfer to the airport for your
flight home.
Please Note:
Expedition highlights and wildlife listed here are possible experiences only and
cannot be guaranteed. Your Expedition Leader and Captain will work together
to ensure opportunities for adventure and exploration are the best possible,
taking into account the prevailing weather, wildlife activity and ice conditions.
Expedition Team members scheduled for this voyage are subject to change or
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YOUR SHIP: SILVER DISCOVERER
YOUR SHIP:
Silver Discoverer
VESSEL TYPE:
Luxury Expedition
LENGTH:
338 Feet/102.9 Metres
PASSENGER CAPACITY:
120 passengers
BUILT/REFURBISHED:
2014
Her small size and shallow draft allow close-up access to
rugged coasts well beyond the reach of ordinary vessels. And
she has been newly refurbished to help guests maximize their
experience and build a genuine connection with the regions
they visit.
Spacious decks and panoramic public rooms mean the drama
of the unexpected is never far from view. A fleet of Zodiacs
allows exploration from the water or remote landings anywhere
nature or curiosity dictate. Since many of our expeditions sail to
some of the world's most pristine coral reef systems, there's a
glass-bottom boat for underwater viewing along with a full
complement of snorkelling equipment and a dive programme for
advanced divers.
We've also taken great care to assemble a truly outstanding
Expedition Team, composed of experts in the culture, history
and wild life of the destinations, to present informal talks, guide
Zodiac outings and lead small-group explorations ashore. While
back on board, every creature comfort awaits: an ocean-view
suite, in-suite bar and the head-to-toe pampering of a butler;
elegant lounges and open bar where fellow travellers
gather to swap tales about their day's adventures; and cuisine
that meets Silversea's standards of culinary excellence -- which
are lofty, indeed. Imaginative menus in The Restaurant feature
both regional offerings and dishes inspired by Relais &
Chateaux. Additional amenities include a sun-catching pool
deck, an internet cafe, a fitness centre, and a beauty and
massage centre -- particularly alluring after an adventurous day
ashore.
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INSIDE YOUR SHIP
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PRICING
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