Coral Expeditions

Passage Through the Melanesian Arc (14 nts)

Passage Through the Melanesian Arc

14 nights Port Moresby to Port Vila

The heart of Melanesia, connecting Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Remote islands accessible only by small ship, where ancient ‘kastom’ traditions thrive and islanders maintain subsistence lifestyles that have remained essentially unchanged for centuries.

Departs

  • 12 November 2026
  • 19 October 2027
Cruising map of Coral Expedition cruises 14 night Passage Through the Melanesian Arc

Prices for 2026 & 2027

Press the arrow on the next line to see the full price list.

2026 & 2027 prices – Coral Adventurer

Cabin 2026 & 2027 Full Fare 2026 & 2027 NRMA* Xplorers Club Silver** Xplorers Club Gold***
Coral Deck Stateroom $14,950 pp $13,455 pp $12,782 pp $12,109 pp
Promenade Deck Stateroom $17,950 pp $16,155 pp $15,347 pp $14,539 pp
Explorer Deck Balcony Stateroom $22,950 pp $20,655 pp $19,622 pp $18,589 pp
Bridge Deck Balcony Stateroom $24,950 pp $22,455 pp $21,332 pp $20,209 pp
Bridge Deck Balcony Suite $31,950 pp $28,755 pp $27,317 pp $25,879 pp

All prices are per person, twin share in AUD.

Multiple Cabin Discounts: Please ask us about discounts for 2+ cabins.

*NRMA members (not an NRMA member? Ask us and we’ll help you sign up) – Receive 10% off the full cruise fare. Savings are subject to availability on selected dates. MYNRMA Members also get complimentary Deposit Protection and 1x complimentary bottle of wine.

**Xplorers Club Silver – Receive 5% off the full cruise fare if you’ve previously cruised with Coral Expeditions on any of their cruises between 6-13 nights. This discount can be combined with the NRMA offer. The above price grid reflects this discount combination (NRMA 10% off the full fare plus an extra 5% off the full fare for the Xplorers Silver).

***Xplorers Club Gold – Receive 10% off the full cruise fare if you’ve previously cruised with Coral Expeditions on a combination of cruises totalling between 14-50 nights. This discount can be combined with the NRMA offer. The above price grid reflects this discount combination (NRMA 10% off the full fare plus an extra 10% off the full fare for the Xplorers Gold).

Click here to see full terms and conditions of Xplorers Club prices.

Inclusions

  • All entrance fees to National Parks, ports, traditional owner fees and charges imposed by governing authorities
  • Wifi Access – Starlink standard speed connectivity enabling email, social image sharing, web browsing and messaging
  • Pre-cruise accommodation in Port Moresby
  • Post-cruise transfers to CBD hotel or airport
  • 24-hour coffee and tea station
  • Use of Xplorer, Zodiacs and Kayaks
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Captain’s welcome and farewell events, and open bridge access
  • Use of all onboard facilities, incl. a reference library
  • Daily lectures and briefings with Guest Lecturers
  • Selected wines, selected beers and house spirits, juices, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
  • Expedition diary, along with a photo gallery documenting the highlights of your voyage
  • All meals, chef-prepared on board
  • All excursions with our Expedition Team
  • Post-cruise accommodation
  • Premium Internet services
  • Scuba Diving (additional Cost)
  • Pre-cruise transfers
  • Entry visas & travel permits for the country you are travelling to/from
  • Travel Insurance
  • Items of a personal nature such souvenir purchases
  • Alcoholic & non alcoholic specialty beverages outside of lunch and dinner service
  • Laundry service (available at a cost)

Itinerary Highlights

  • Cruise the remote and spectacular Louisiade archipelago of Papua New Guinea.

  • Learn about local ‘kastom’ and kula ring trading during authentic village visits.

  • Partake in conservation efforts by helping release turtle hatchlings at the Arnarvon Islands.

  • Snorkel and dive in the world’s most significant double barrier, enclosed reef saltwater lagoon at Marovo Lagoon.

  • See the iconic Rom dance at volcanic Ambrym.

  • Delve into the ancient skills of Lakatoi artisans and their remarkable seafaring history.

Enjoy one complimentary night at the Hilton Hotel Port Moresby before your voyage, then join your fellow passengers in the meeting room from 2:30pm for transfers to Coral Adventurer. Board at 4:00pm, where you will meet our expedition staff as they introduce you to the journey and the many experiences you will enjoy. This evening, join the Captain’s welcome drinks and meet your crew and fellow guests as the sun sets.

Enjoy onboard presentations about Melanesian culture and the fascinating anthropological history of how Austronesian and Papuan peoples populated these islands through the centuries.

Swim over a nearly intact Japanese Zero fighter plane in Deboyne Lagoon and connect with villagers maintaining traditional subsistence lifestyles. In the afternoon, explore limestone karst caves and snorkel at spectacular Panasia Beach.

Witness the traditional canoe-building mastery in this remote archipelago. Meet the friendly villagers of Bodaluna and learn about their subsistence gardening, fishing and participation in the ancient Kula Ring trading network.

Enter the Solomons Islands with clearance via Kennedy Island, where former President John F Kennedy swam ashore during WWII. Snorkel the crystal-clear waters of uninhabited Njari Island, teeming with colourful corals and marine life.

Participate in conservation efforts by helping to release turtle hatchlings from this important breeding sanctuary. Learn about loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtle protection in this 40,000-acre marine conservation area.

Explore one of the world’s largest double-barrier enclosed lagoons, a natural wonder proposed for World Heritage listing. Meet expert carvers famous for intricate ebony pieces with rosewood and mother-of-pearl inlays.

Experience the mesmerising Ëtëtung water dance performed by women in hand-woven costumes. This soothing sonic and visual performance creates hypnotic rhythms through water while singing traditional songs. Here, the Marau people depend on their natural environment, practising subsistence farming and fishing.

Discover this small island famous for elaborate bone fishhooks and imaginative fishing floats. Walk through forests filled with colourful orchids and learn about the Austrian anthropologist who studied this community in 1932.

Sail towards Vanuatu while enjoying presentations about the volcanic islands ahead and their unique cultural practices, including cargo cults and traditional dance ceremonies. Enjoy the onboard program with lectures and cooking demonstrations.

As we enter Vanuatu, for divers, explore Million Dollar Point, where Americans sunk vehicles after WWII rather than sell them. Dive amongst wrecks turned into coral reefs, now home to diverse marine life and swim in the one of Malo Island’s mysterious ‘blue holes’.

Witness the famous Rom dance performed in the shadow of active Benbow and Marum volcanoes. This traditional ceremony connects men to the spirit world on Vanuatu’s ‘black magic’ island with its iconic black sand beaches.

Snorkel or dive in the Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area amongst stunning coral gardens, sea grass beds and mangrove forests. An optional, challenging hike to extinct volcano craters Mount Tapuora and Mount Marow is recommended for the very fit.

Take a 4WD trip to peer into active Mount Yasur volcano, whose glow attracted Captain Cook in 1774. Learn about the unique John Frum Cargo Cult and Tannese culture on this remarkably fertile island.

Disembark Coral Adventurer at 7:00am in Vanuatu’s capital. Reflect on the deep cultural connections you’ve made across Melanesia’s sacred islands, carrying with you a deeper understanding of these remarkable Pacific communities.

Embrace the unexpected – it’s part of the adventure. This itinerary is a guide. We adjust plans based on weather, tides, wildlife, and opportunities we encounter. Remote communities may be unavailable due to local customs. Flexibility makes expeditions special.

Cruising Papua New Guinea with Coral Expedition cruises

Coral Adventurer

Life aboard Coral Adventurer in Papua New Guinea and the remote realms of Melanesia is adventurous, heartfelt, and steeped in ancient traditions. Sail past rainforest-lined fjords, share meals from our open galley, and be welcomed ashore with vibrant ceremonies. Snorkel reefs, kayak past sacred landmarks, or join storytellers under starlit skies. With warm hospitality and authentic encounters, every day feels both unforgettable and like a home at sea.

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