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Let Vantage Deluxe World Travel fulfill your Robinson Crusoe fantasies on this stunning small ship ocean cruise around Indonesia. The breadth of experiences you’ll enjoy is staggering — from snorkeling in crystalline waters and viewing smoldering volcanoes to spotting macaques (and orangutans!) and stepping foot on remote, nearly-deserted isles. This new cruise was designed to unveil Indonesian culture, too: You’ll immerse yourself in local markets, ancient temples, and riveting performances. Ride Zodiac boats into the UNESCO-listed Tanjung Puting National Park, famous for its robust orangutan conservation program. Set sail down the Arut River in Borneo, glimpsing local life at every corner. Make landfall on a private Javanese island. Find a personal Shangri-La at a 5-star resort in Bali’s stunning Jimbaran Bay. And that’s just the beginning.
Designed with just 77 cabins onboard — including a landmark 15 solo cabins — the 5-star Ocean Odyssey seamlessly blends opulent luxury with intimate cultural discoveries. You’ll enjoy an authentic small ship ocean cruise steeped in world-class amenities to make your journey unforgettable. Guided by an expert Cruise Director, you’ll enjoy enlightening lectures onboard and immersive excursions ashore. After a day of portside exploration, relax onboard with a swim in the top-deck hot tub, a pampering spa treatment, or a delicious meal cooked over a hot-rock grill. Our ship’s small size also lets you navigate to exclusive ports larger ships can’t reach, with some tendering where you will be required to have the physical agility to maneuver getting on and off of tenders/Zodiac boats.
In total, 24 included features and Cultural Discoveries bring you up close with Indonesia’s cultures, spirituality, and legendarily hospitable locals. Aboard the new 5-star Ocean Odyssey, you’ll be pampered with luxury amenities, water sports opportunities, and a three-part lecture series to contextualize your shore discoveries. Add on enriching extensions in Siem Reap & Angkor Wat in nearby Cambodia and Ubud, Bali for a comprehensive and utterly transformational journey through this incredible part of the world.
If you're interested in this itinerary and want to revel in even more Cultural Discoveries and immersive experiences, check out our combination cruises Wonders of the World Cruise 2023: A 150-day Voyage from Australia to Sweden and Wonders of Indonesia and Australia. Explore more and save.
Treat yourself to a slice of heaven in Bali with Vantage. From your inland hideaway at a 5-star resort, you’ll discover the hospitality, spirituality, and lush surroundings that have made Ubud one of the most cultured towns and popular expatriate communities. Relaxation, mindfulness, and artistry underscore local life, which you’ll discover daily in cooking and painting classes, in museums, and at stunning natural settings such as the iconic Tegalalang rice terrace. We’ve compiled Ubud’s major highlights to give you the most eye-opening experience — come see why Ubud is simply magical.
Board a flight to Singapore
Today you’ll board an overnight flight to Singapore.
Cross the International Date Line
You’ll cross the International Date Line today, so you’ll arrive in Singapore around midday on Day 3.
Arrive in Singapore
Selamat datang! Welcome to Singapore! If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, a representative will meet you at the airport and assist with the transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to acclimate before a welcome briefing later today. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.
Included meals:
Explore Singapore’s cultural diversity on a full-day tour
Singapore is known by many names, the “Garden City” and the “Lion City” among them, and you’ll get insight into these monikers as you explore the city’s beauty and dynamism today. During your full-day guided city tour, you’ll see the Cricket Club (cricket is a major sport here!), historic Parliament House, Supreme Court, City Hall, the UNESCO-listed Botanical Gardens, and Merlion Park — featuring impressive views of Marina Bay and the city’s futuristic architecture. Then, delve a little deeper into Singapore’s diverse culture during visits to the Thian Hock Keng Temple, Little India, and the Yong Gallery, which displays handcrafted woodcarvings and artworks by Chinese artists.
After a visit to the 161-year-old, UNESCO-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, you’ll sample Singapore’s flavorful Chinese influence during a dim sum lunch at a local restaurant. Dim sum literally means “touch the heart,” and perhaps yours will be filled by some fluffy, pork-filled bao buns; mouthwatering shumai dumplings, savory shrimp cheung fan rolls, and more. Then, board a traditional bumboat for a cruise down the Singapore River, where you can marvel at the city’s iconic skyline from the water. Following your cruise, we’ll drive through Little India. This colorful and aromatic district is a feast for the senses, and you’ll have time to explore before returning to your hotel.
Included Feature:
Cultural Discovery:
Visit Singapore’s SkyPark, Gardens by the Bay, and embark the Ocean Odyssey
After breakfast, you’ll depart for a half-day city tour, featuring sweeping views of Singapore from the Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, and a visit to the awe-inspiring Gardens by the Bay nature park. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant during the tour.
Then, it’s time to embark the Ocean Odyssey! Thanks to the small size of your ship, in many ports we’ll be able to dock right onshore, giving you easy access to your destination. This is almost exclusively how you will embark and disembark throughout most of your journey. However, please note that other ports may require anchoring offshore and tendering inland, which will require a certain level of agility. After settling in, take some time to explore the ship and its amenities. Take a walk around the sun deck, meet your Destination Manager to arrange a spa appointment, then convene in the dining room for your first dinner on board — one of many memorable meals on this small ship ocean cruise! This evening, the Ocean Odyssey sets sail toward Indonesia.
Scenic Sailing:
Enjoy a day at sea as you cruise into Indonesia
Enjoy a day at sea as you cruise toward the Belitung Islands. This is an ideal opportunity to make good use of the Ocean Odyssey’s plentiful amenities. Grab a book and head to the sun deck. Make an appointment at the spa. Head to the observation deck for bountiful views of passing islands — Indonesia has more than 17,000 of them, and 6,000 are uninhabited. This afternoon kicks off our curated lecture series, which will offer more insights into your journey into Indonesia.
Lunch with locals and snorkel in Pulau Lengkuas, part of Belitung Island
Arrive in Pulau Lengkuas today, just one of the gorgeous destinations that await you on this journey. You’re on Belitung Island, which is known for its pepper and its tin, in addition to the pearly sand beaches and turquoise waters. After breakfast, get ready to Zodiac to shore for a sightseeing tour of the island. During a home-hosted visit, you’ll be invited to try the local cuisine and watch a traditional performance. Your afternoon is at leisure, and you’ll want to try some snorkeling! With shallow shorelines and little current, this is an ideal opportunity to explore the vibrant fish and coral reef of Belitung’s undersea realm.
Included Features:
Head to Borneo, and spend a day at sea
Enjoy a day at sea as the Ocean Odyssey makes its way to Borneo. Relax on the sun deck catching up with a great book and enjoy the fabulous cuisine our chefs are offering. You’ll also deepen your understanding of this region with another onboard lecture, the second in our series.
Arrive in Borneo and explore UNESCO-listed Tanjung Puting National Park
Enjoy breakfast this morning as the Ocean Odyssey arrives to Kumai, part of the Kalimantan province of Borneo island, which actually belongs to three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. We’ll anchor along the Sekonyer River and board Zodiacs into the UNESCO-listed Tanjung Puting National Park, famous for its robust orangutan conversation program. You’ll explore the park in your Zodiac boat, which offers panoramic views of its various tributaries and rainforests. You’ll enjoy some light trekking into the rainforest to visit the orangutan feeding area. Lunch is at a local restaurant before we return to ship for an afternoon at leisure with an enthralling traditional dance performance before dinner!
Inaugural Feature:
Tour Borneo’s Arut River and visit the Yellow Palace
Today’s morning tour takes us along the Arut River, where you’ll get a tranquil glimpse of local life. Marvel at the traditional klotok houseboats floating on the river. Witness residents going about their daily lives on the rivers, including the local fisherman. You may even spot some wildlife, as orangutans reside here, too! Then, visit the Istana Kuning, or “yellow palace,” which is not very yellow at all, but was once traditionally draped in yellow fabric. Once the sultan’s main residence, the palace is now a replica after it was burned down in 1990. We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant before returning to the ship, which will depart for Java this afternoon.
Discover paradisiac Kura Kura in Java
Hear the third lecture in our curated lecture series on Indonesia this morning as the Ocean Odyssey cruises into Java. After lunch on board, we’ll board a boat bound for nearby Kura Kura island, where we’ll be greeted upon arrival with cocktails and traditional snacks. Fringed with white sand beaches, Kura Kura is actually a private Javanese island home to a luxury eco-resort that offers a true model for sustainability and is the only real business on the island. Don’t expect to find any Wi-Fi here, either — this is a rare chance to disconnect and live in the moment. Explore the island and enjoy some leisure time at the resort to snorkel, lounge on the beach, swim, or even take in some scuba dives — see the Destination Manager for details on planning activities.
Explore UNESCO-listed Borobudur and Candirejo Village in Java
This morning you’ll wake up in Semarang, Java — the jumping off point for our explorations today. We’ll disembark and transfer by motorcoach to UNESCO-listed Borobudur, a 9th century Buddhist temple in central Java and one of the world’s most spectacular Buddhist monuments. As we make our way to Borobudur, you’ll get a good look at Java’s interior countryside, as well as glimpses of its smoldering volcanoes, rainforests, and verdant green paddy fields. Once in mesmerizing Borobudur, we’ll stroll through the complex, noting the detailed stone carvings and 504 Buddha statues peppered throughout.
We’ll enjoy lunch here before visiting nearby Candirejo, a lush, leafy, and traditional village that you’ll tour by horse cart. Navigating through town, you’ll catch glimpses of local life, including families making cassava crackers, playing the gamelan, and harvesting and drying vanilla and chilies.
Make landfall on the turquoise utopia of Madura Island
Enjoy a morning at leisure as the Ocean Odyssey arrives in Madura Island just after lunchtime. Madura is known as one of Indonesia’s most traditional isles — don’t be surprised to see locals in traditional sarongs and peci. We’ll make landfall by traditional boat for a half-day tour that includes the capital, Sumenep. Unlike most capital cities, you’ll find that Sumenep is a relaxed little town with a gilded 18th century mosque, which we’ll view on our way to visit the Sumenep Palace and Museum.
Visit Probolinggo and a local market, then be awed by Mount Bromo
Discover Probolinggo, on Java’s eastern side, on a city tour today. This fishing town is the gateway to Java’s Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and the Gunung Bromo volcano, which will captivate us later this afternoon. But first, we’ll explore the city, stopping by the Tri Dharma Pagoda and embarking becaks (cycle rickshaws) for a ride to a market to see what fruits, vegetables, and goods that the locals are buying and selling. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll board motorcoaches for an inland ride to Mount Bromo and the volcano, which we’ll visit from a safe distance and be able to photograph. The volcano is an important site for the local Tengger people — one of the few remaining Hindu communities on Java — who believe that the volcano is the site of a fertility sacrifice from a legendary king and queen. You’ll hear more about the legend today!
Arrive in Bali and discover Singaraja’s black sand beaches and Pura Beji Sangsit temple
True bliss awaits today as we reach Bali. We’ll anchor just offshore and tender into this island paradise, a place where everyone seems to have embraced a tropical state of mind and its lovely people are just the icing on the cake. It’s an all-around Shangri-La. At Lovina Beach, discover the island’s black sand beaches and embark on a tour of Singaraja, which includes visits to the lush Pura Beji Sangsit temple, dedicated to the rice goddess Dewi Sri. After, we’ll make our way to a local market and stop by a museum for more local history. Lunch at local restaurant, after which you’ll have an afternoon at leisure to return to Lovina Beach, perhaps to deepen your tan, or wander as you please.
Disembark the Ocean Odyssey and explore Bali’s Uluwatu Temple
After breakfast on board, you’ll disembark the Ocean Odyssey via tenders, and wind down your journey in Bali. After passing through immigration, we’ll embark on a tour of the Uluwatu Temple, a gorgeous clifftop spectacular that your cameras will love! The temple is inhabited by cheeky macaques who are notorious for snatching sunglasses, cameras, and other goods off tourists — so, be mindful! After this enchanting visit, lunch is at a local restaurant. We’ll then transfer to our hotel, the utterly mind-blowing Four Seasons Bali Resort at Jimbaran Bay, for an afternoon of leisure at the resort. Tonight’s dinner is at the hotel, complete with traditional Balinese cuisine and dancing.
Visit the village of Mengwi and meet local students before discovering Pura Taman Ayun temple
Just outside of our resort is the historical village of Mengwi, once the capital of the ancient Balinese kingdom. We’ll have a morning of discovery here, first learning more about local Balinese life in the village itself and at a local school, where we’ll be greeted by the sweet smiles of schoolchildren. If that wasn’t enough, the Pura Taman Ayun temple calls next. This picturesque complex is surrounded by dazzling lotus and fishponds and the temple structures often appear adrift on these neighboring waters. Immersing yourself in this serene environment is a lovely way to end your blissful cruise through Indonesia. The rest of the day is at leisure back at the resort. Tonight’s Farewell Dinner is sure to be bittersweet.
Return home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home — or, head to Ubud for your optional post-trip extension!
Please note: Ocean-cruising is not the same experience as river cruising; as such, you may experience fluctuating tides and weather patterns that may involve some rocking of your vessel. Itineraries will include all activities as planned except in extreme cases that can’t be controlled by your shipboard crew. The above day-by-day itineraries are preliminary and therefore subject to change. If changes occur while on tour, you will be notified by your Vantage Adventure Leader or regional expert. Please note: This itinerary includes wet landings via Zodiac boat. It is important that guests wear closed, water-resistant footwear in order to participate in these excursions.