Day 1 – Perth (Fremantle), Australia

Departs 04:00 pm.

Lying at the mouth of the Swan River, historic Fremantle – founded in 1829 – is your gateway to Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Situated on the banks of the Swan River some 15 miles upriver from Fremantle, Perth is a bustling city where soaring high-rises co-exist with elegant sandstone buildings from the colonial era. Life here moves at a slower pace, so during your visit, relax and savor the bounties of Western Australia, from the wonders of the bush to the wineries of the Swan Valley, from excellent shopping to a leisurely cruise on the Swan River.Perth’s explosive growth in recent decades has engulfed the old historic port of Fremantle – some 70 percent of Western Australia’s population live in and around Perth.

Day 2 – At Sea

Day 3 – At Sea

Day 4 – Broome, Australia

Arrives 10:00 am.

In the 1870s, pearl fishermen discovered the rich waters of Roebuck Bay. A decade later, Broome was founded as a base for the pearl trade and was soon described as “the pearling capital of the world.” Japanese, Chinese and Aborigine divers toiled in arduous, dangerous labor to harvest oysters from the seabed. For all its importance to the pearling industry, Broome remained a remote outpost on Australia’s Kimberley Coast until its discovery as a travel destination. The legacy of its pearling days can be seen in the town’s colorful mix of 19th- and early 20th century buildings. Broome also boasts Cable Beach – a 13-mile strand of white-sand that stretches along the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Pirate William Dampier was the first European to visit Western Australia. Dampier, who circumnavigated the globe three times, landed near Broome in 1688 and again in 1699.

Day 5 – Broome, Australia

Departs 06:00 pm.

In the 1870s, pearl fishermen discovered the rich waters of Roebuck Bay. A decade later, Broome was founded as a base for the pearl trade and was soon described as “the pearling capital of the world.” Japanese, Chinese and Aborigine divers toiled in arduous, dangerous labor to harvest oysters from the seabed. For all its importance to the pearling industry, Broome remained a remote outpost on Australia’s Kimberley Coast until its discovery as a travel destination. The legacy of its pearling days can be seen in the town’s colorful mix of 19th- and early 20th century buildings. Broome also boasts Cable Beach – a 13-mile strand of white-sand that stretches along the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Pirate William Dampier was the first European to visit Western Australia. Dampier, who circumnavigated the globe three times, landed near Broome in 1688 and again in 1699.

Day 6

Arrives 12:00 pm, departs 05:00 pm.

Day 7

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 11:00 am.

Day 8 – At Sea

Day 9 – Darwin, Australia

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Closer to Indonesia than to any other Australian city, Darwin is the capital of the “Top End” – the remote, vast Northern Territory. Home to more than half of the territory’s population, the city reflects the rugged endurance and individualism required to survive the Outback. Darwin also boasts a colorful history to add to that heritage. During World War II the Japanese bombed the city and threatened invasion. In 1974, Cyclone Tracy cut a destructive swath through the region. In addition, man-eating crocodiles, tropical monsoons, searing heat and bush fires that burn for weeks are all part of everyday life.Locals in the Top End consume over 60 gallons of beer a year. All those empties don’t go to waste: Each year Darwin residents compete in the Beer Can Regatta, a race with boats, rafts and other vessels manufactured out of beer cans.

Day 10 – At Sea

Day 11 – At Sea

Day 12 – At Sea

Day 13 – Cairns, Australia

Arrives 12:30 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Cairns is one of Australia’s hottest vacation destinations. Cairns boasts three of Australia’s great natural wonders. Just offshore, immense bastions of living coral form the Great Barrier Reef. Sixteen miles of superb beaches stretch to the north of the city – the famed Marlin Coast. And inland lays the immense Daintree National Park. Cairns itself basks in tropical sunshine, balmy breezes waft in from Trinity Bay. The city’s graceful, tree-lined esplanade was once the gateway to the gold fields of North Queensland. Cairns graceful, tree-lined esplanade was once the gateway to the gold fields of North Queensland. A travel tip – Cairns is pronounced “cans.”

Day 14

Arrives 09:30 am, departs 10:30 am.

Day 15 – At Sea

Day 16 – Brisbane, Australia

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Once considered the “country cousin” among Australian cities, Brisbane is today the nation’s third-largest metropolis – and one of the most desirable places to live in the country. Lying on the banks of the meandering Brisbane River, this cosmopolitan city boasts elegant 19th-century sandstone buildings, a lively cultural scene and superb parklands. Brisbane is also your gateway to uniquely Australian adventures, be it the theme parks of the Gold Coast or Queensland’s dazzling beaches.The beaches south of Brisbane form Queensland’s Gold Coast. Travel tip: Brisbane is pronounced “Bris-bin.”

Day 17 – At Sea

Day 18 – Sydney, Australia

Arrives 06:00 am.

As your ship passes Harbour Heads, you are presented with the shimmering skyline of Sydney – hailed by many seafarers as “the most beautiful harbor in the world.” Two prominent landmarks, Harbour Bridge and the sail-like curves of the Sydney Opera House, grace the backdrop of this picturesque harbor. There is a wealth of adventure waiting in Sydney – from its cosmopolitan city center to miles of beautiful beaches and the Blue Mountains.Australia’s oldest and largest city was born in 1788 with the arrival of the “First Fleet” transporting 760 British convicts. Today, Sydney is the largest port in the South Pacific and is often voted the most popular destination in the South Pacific.