Vanuatu

After passing through the south-eastern part of the Coral Sea, your ship calls at Santo in Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides), another of the groups of scattered islands in this region. Even on a large-scale map, only a few of the islands will be found, but in reality, there are dozens, mostly of volcanic origin.

For the passengers, Champagne Beach, a secluded slice of paradise with coconut palms and thick tropical undergrowth, provides a wonderfully quiet interlude. Numerous war relics bear testimony to a more violent part of the Island's history, and close offshore is the wreck of an American troopship, now one of the beautiful diving sites along this fascinating coastline.