Cruise Advice
Duration
19 Nights
Journey Type
Sailing from New Zealand
Ports
10 Ports
20-21 December
Setting sail from Auckland
Auckland offers a buzzing waterfront and a vibrant arts scene, and provides a fascinating introduction to New Zealand's proud cultural heritage. The centre is home to excellent shopping and a number of fantastic restaurants, while the north of the city has a distinctly more laid-back vibe, and to the west is the city's oldest wine region.
Our tip
Standing 328 metres tall, the Sky Tower offers the best view of the city from the observation deck or from its two restaurants.
22 December
New Zealand: Tauranga
Tauranga is the largest city on the Bay of Plenty, and is said to be one of the sunniest spots in the whole of New Zealand. There’s a real boom town feel here, with new restaurants, bars and hotels opening all the time, and neighbouring Mount Maunganui is a popular beach destination.
23 December
New Zealand: Bay of Islands
The beautiful Bay of Islands is scattered with some 150 undeveloped islands, an idyllic landscape of bright skies, secluded beaches and clear blue waters. The bay was also the site of the first permanent British settlement in New Zealand, and it was here that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the British Crown and the Maori chiefs.
24-25 December
At sea
26 December
Fiji: Dravuni
Dravuni is a tiny, unspoilt island, just a mile long and home to around 200 people. It’s a great place to chill out on the beach and enjoy a spot of snorkelling, or you can take a slightly more strenuous hike up to the hilltop viewpoint.
27 December
Fiji: Lautoka
Lautoka is Fiji’s second largest city, known as the ‘Sugar City’ due to its important role in the local sugarcane industry. The waterfront area is pleasant enough, but we’d recommend using Lautoka as a jumping off point to visit some of the smaller surrounding islands, or the forests and waterfalls of the interior.
28 December
At sea
29 December
Vanuatu: Champagne Beach
Champagne Beach is a stunning stretch of perfect white sand on the east coast of Espiritu Santo, the largest of Vanuatu’s islands. The beach is named after a bizarre natural phenomenon, in which gas escaping from volcanic rocks on the sea floor causes the water to bubble and fizz at low tide.
30 December
Vanuatu: Port Vila
Situated on a magnificent natural harbour, Port Vila is the sleepy and seductive capital of Vanuatu. This friendly town is the perfect introduction to this intriguing Pacific island nation, with colourful markets, a unique Melanesian culture and some jaw-dropping nearby beaches.
31 December
New Caledonia: Lifou
Lifou is the largest and most populous of the Loyalty Islands, part of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia. This friendly little island is everything you would expect from the South Pacific, with gorgeous beaches, superb snorkelling and a jungle-swathed interior dotted with fragrant vanilla plantations.
1 January
At sea
2 January
Norfolk Island: Norfolk Island
Remote, pine-clad Norfolk Island, situated a thousand miles to the northeast of Sydney, is a tiny outlying territory of Australia. Formerly a penal colony, the island’s main attractions are its breathtaking scenery and fascinating history, with many residents descended from the crew who staged the famous 1789 mutiny on board the HMS Bounty.
3-4 January
At sea
5 January
Arriving in Sydney
One or our favourite cities in the world, we love pretty much everything about Sydney. Offering outdoor living at its best, the city is known for the excellent beaches but offers so much more, including a thriving and varied food scene inspired by Asian and European flavours. Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens and admire the amazing views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, enjoy the cafés and bars in The Rocks district, walk across the top of the Harbour Bridge (or enjoy the easier option of a view from the top of one of the stone towers) or just relax on the beach.
Don't miss
The Harbour Bridge is our favourite site in the city, whether you do the Bridge Climb Experience or tour the Pylon Lookout. It's best viewed late afternoon from the east side of Circular Quay.
Your home from home
With Silver Nova having joined the fleet in 2023 and Silver Ray launching in 2024, both ships reflect an exciting evolution of the Silversea product, featuring hybrid technology, sumptuous suites and the largest capacity of any Silversea ship to date.
What we love
The Nova Class ships will use a trio of power sources, with dual fuel engines that use LNG as their main fuel, battery technology and fuel cells which will allow the ships to operate emissions-free while in port - an industry first. Butler service is included for every suite and you can expect spacious accommodation, including aft suites with panoramic 270-degree views, plus an outstanding array of dining options.
| Capacity | 728 Guests |
|---|---|
| Crew |
544 International Staff |
| Style |
The Italian verve and sparkle of Silversea makes for a social, welcoming ambience and cosmopolitan style. The international passenger mix creates a sophisticated and elegant environment. |
| Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
Ways to make it better
Where to stay in Auckland
There are some great luxury lodges within easy reach of the city. In the city itself we like the Langham.
Around Auckland
About 3 hours north of the city is the Bay of Islands, an area of pristine islands and turquoise water as well as small towns of historic and cultural interest.
Our favourite hotel in Sydney
So many to choose from, but we love the Park Hyatt – make sure you upgrade to a room with a view.
Around Sydney
The Blue Mountains is a beautiful area of hikes, waterfalls and unusual rock formations, and a place to learn about the Aboriginal dreamtime.
