At Sea from New Caledonia Toward Vanuatu, 12/29/2024, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
A full day at sea aboard National Geographic Orion is usually filled with presentations from our natural history staff with time to enjoy the ship’s amenities. Today, we had some extra special events. The kids on board enjoyed a pizza making tutorial from our incredible galley team! This was followed by bracelet making in the restaurant! The holiday spirit is strong on board.
Born and raised outside Philadelphia; Mike spent his childhood playing around at his family's gymnastics facility. From camping with his family throughout the US to annual ski trips to Park City Utah, he has always had an affinity for the outdoors. H...
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What an amazing way to start the year! We woke up to the sound of rain pattering on the ocean as we cruised toward the beach of Nendo in the Solomon Islands. Piling into our BAT mobiles (Best Available Transport), we headed up the mountain for an hour to reach the remote village of Noipe, rarely visited by outsiders. The locals gave us a warm, vibrant welcome—dancing, singing, and sharing delicious local dishes. They also showed us their traditional crafts, demonstrating skills passed down through generations. This included the creation of tevau, feather money, an extremely rare art and currency still used in the Solomons today. Back on board, the adventure continued as we encountered a small pod of sperm whales, including a mother and calf. As we continued cruising, we made our way to circumnavigate Tinakula Volcano. With a stormy sunset painting the sky, it was a powerful, unforgettable way to end the day. What a first day of the new year—full of new sights, sounds, and experiences we’ll never forget!
Here in the South Pacific, we often get the chance to visit indigenous people. Sometimes the people are so warm, welcoming, and their sprit so contagious, that it is life changing. The people of Vanuatu are one such group of people and our visit today on the island of Lo was such an amazing experience that we truly felt at home.
Wow, what a welcome to Vanuatu. This morning, we were welcomed ashore by a traditional dance followed by dividing into groups to pursue different interests. Some went in search of the island’s endemic birds on a walk through the native forest, others took a tour of the island with a WWII theme (including the museum and Million Dollar Point), several wandered through the market browsing the local offerings, and a lucky few were able to dive the wreck of the SS Coolidge whose bow lies in just 60 feet of water a short distance from the shore. Everyone got to try their luck looking for the Million Dollar Prize while snorkelling over the wreckage left at the beach. Some did indeed come back with glass treasures unearthed by recent storms. The afternoon brought us to the spectacle of water dancers, a tradition unique to the islands of Vanuatu, followed by a swim in the refreshingly fresh waters of Matevulu Blue Hole.
