cruise life - Passports Overloaded

Maputo, Mozambique

May 15, 2025 – May 15, 2025

Intent on recapturing its former glamour, Maputo once again attracts the rich and famous, whom you may see while sipping a cocktail at the extravagant Hotel Polana. Maputo’s struggle for freedom from Portuguese colonialism is recounted in local museums.

Discover Maputo’s rich history on a compelling tour that features highlights of this bustling capital city. Pass the striking Beaux-Arts Central Railway Station on your way to the Maputo Central Market, where you can watch locals bartering for a variety of goods and food. You’ll continue to Independence Square, a city focal point and home to a statue of Samora Machel, the country’s first president, the gleaming white Roman-Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the neoclassical City Hall and the splendid colonial-style French-Mozambican Cultural Center, home to art exhibitions and musical performances. You’ll marvel at a house built entirely of iron, designed by Gustav Eiffel as a governor’s residence but ultimately uninhabitable due to the tropical climate. Discover the appealing Natural History Museum, which boasts attractive Manueline architecture and unique exhibits, and explore the 18th-century Maputo Fortress, one of the city’s most visited attractions, which provides insight into Mozambique’s colonization in its intriguing museum displaying armaments and art. You’ll applaud Maputo’s cultural treasures during this illuminating excursion.

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The Fort of Maputo

Mayotte, French Comoros

May 12, 2025 – May 12, 2025

While the other islands of the fragrant Comoros (known as the “Perfume Islands”) gained independence from France in 1975, Mayotte remained under French rule, and you’ll welcome the influence. The Petit Terre district boasts fine patisseries, boutiques and art galleries, and there’s a French flair everywhere.

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Nosy Be, Madagascar

May 11, 2025 – May 11, 2025

Lying off the northern coast of Madagascar, Nosy Be (which means “Big Island” in Malagasy) contains seven volcanic lakes and is blanketed with fragrant flora such as ylang-ylang, frangipani, and vanilla. Unusual wildlife flourishes here, as witnessed in Lokobe Nature Reserve, home to maki lemurs, chameleons, and paradise flycatchers.

Discover exotic crops and trees that thrive in Nosy Be’s fertile soil by visiting an open-air market, walking through a plantation’s fields, and relaxing under the Sacred Tree. Begin a leisurely drive across Hell-Ville, one of Madagascar’s most developed areas and the island’s colonial capital. You’ll stop at one of the city’s busy open-air markets and experience an authentic slice of daily life, watching locals shopping for spices, tamarind, mangoes, and other fresh produce. At a nearby plantation, breathe in the heady fragrance of the ylang-ylang tree’s flowers, whose essential oils are used to produce perfumes and lotions. Learn that while coffee and peppers also flourish here, the Sacred Tree is Nosy Be’s most iconic plant. You’ll sit in its shade and hear why the Malagasy people revere this over-200-year-old ficus tree, which covers an area of more than 5,000 square feet. Wander through the tree’s maze of aerial roots or sit back and enjoy a folkloric performance by a live band while sipping a refreshing beverage.

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Mahe, Seychelles (2025)

May 8, 2025- May 9, 2025

Gorgeous and romantic, the Seychelles define tropical beauty. A mountain range runs through the spine of Mahé, the largest island, and scenic national parks have sprung up around it, attracting hikers. Still, it’s the idyllic beaches that have immortalized Mahé and its laid-back capital of Victoria, where the Seychellois speak a mellifluous Creole patois.

Experience highlights of Mahé during a satisfying coach and catamaran tour of a picturesque plantation, a rain forest and the island’s pristine coastline. Journey to breathtaking Jardin du Roi, a postcard-ready, 85-acre working plantation situated high in the rainforest valley of southern Mahé. You’ll discover that the plantation is home to a wide variety of spice plants, tropical fruit trees, essential oil plants and endemic palms, and that descendants of the founding Green family still manage the plantation, which was established in 1860. After a delightful pick-me-up of refreshing fruit juice at Jardin du Roi, continue your excursion on a comfortable catamaran.

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Praslin, Seychelles

May 8, 2025 – May 8, 2025

An idyllic tropical island, Praslin is ringed with secluded beaches like magnificent Anse Lazio. Don’t miss Vallée de Mai, a virgin palm forest so extraordinary it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forest supports extremely rare flora and fauna, including the black parrot and exotic coco de mer, the world’s largest nut.

Experience the Old World beauty and charm of the Seychelles during an orientation tour of picturesque La Digue. Depart the Praslin jetty via local ferry for the crossing to La Digue, one of the Seychelles’ prettiest islands. Upon arrival, enjoy a scenic drive to L’Union Estate, where you’ll gain insight into La Digue’s history at the estate’s old Creole house and coconut factory, and delight in daily life characterized by a decidedly relaxed pace punctuated by the occasional rumble of a passing oxcart. Continue to La Digue’s beaches, considered to be among the world’s finest, including nearby Anse Source D’Argent, which has been called a bather’s and photographer’s dream. You’ll thrill to the soft white sands and dramatic granite boulders that have long enchanted visitors to the island. Keep a sharp lookout for the resident avian wonders, as you might catch sight of a Seychelles paradise flycatcher, a rare bird endemic to these islands that sports glossy black plumage with elongated tail feathers. Prepare to be entranced by the allure of captivating La Digue on this illuminating excursion.

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Crossing the Equator Ceremony & Beautiful Sea Day Brunch

We crossed the equator May 6, 2025

Male, Maldives

May 4, 2025 – May 4, 2025

As the capital of the low-lying, coral-bed Maldives, winsome Malé is surrounded by a sea wall, where you might watch the fishing dhonis return with the day’s catch. Also be sure to see Friday Mosque, a masterpiece of filigree-curved coral built in the mid-1600s, and the Mulee-aage Palace.

Dive to gorgeous coral reefs off the coast of Malé, one of the world’s finest sites for underwater exploration. Enjoy a leisurely ride via dive boat to a premier dive site off Malé’s coast, which offers high visibility and an endless flow of nutrient-rich, warm water that attracts more than a thousand marine species. You’ll learn that the Maldives is a nation of nearly 1,200 islands surrounded by thousands of coral reefs, making it a diving mecca, and that your dive site for the excursion will be selected according to that day’s sea conditions. Accompanied by a local marine guide, expect to find a seemingly endless variety of fish that may include eye-catching blue-lined snappers, orange clownfish, oriental sweetlips and Moorish idols, which are often found preying on sponges. Perhaps you’ll discover a graceful eagle ray or manta ray, green sea turtles or rarely spotted loggerhead or leatherback turtles. Cherish approximately two and a half hours diving the Maldives’ crystal-clear waters on this thrilling excursion.

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Our friend Maurizio made this amazing video of him and John Scuba Diving!!!

Goa, India

May 2, 2025 – May 2, 2025

Enjoy this marvelous old Portuguese and Hindu city studded with vibrant temples and majestic churches. Visit the stunning Baroque cathedral and quaint, colorful Panjim for a taste of Portugal in India. Explore the countryside and its spice farms, local markets and the region’s exquisite beaches.

Explore several of the most historical churches in Old Goa and enjoy an overview of Panjim, the charming capital of the state of Goa. You will see the legacy of the colonizing Portuguese in Se Cathedral, an imposing church that is larger than any church in Portugal. Like Se Cathedral, the Basilica of Bom Jesus was built in the 17th century and is considered the finest example of Baroque architecture in India. Another church, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, awaits you in Panjim, as well as other highlights such as the colonial neighborhood Fontainhas, one of the few Latin quarters in Asia. The Portuguese settled here in the 18th and 19th centuries, and you will see their influence in the brightly colored houses with tile accents. For a glimpse into modern life in Panjim, you will visit a Goanese family in their home.

Cochin, India

April 28, 2025 – April 29, 2025

Discover the amazing contrasts of this cosmopolitan, Portuguese-founded city with its lovely colonial architecture, Dutch-style palaces, historic churches, Jewish quarter and huge Chinese fishing nets. Or explore tranquil canals by boat and see ancient villages, exquisite scenery, plantations and temples. See Indian cotton made in traditional fashion.

Explore key landmarks in cosmopolitan Cochin, a picturesque city of peninsulas and islands whose long history reflects influences from a multitude of traders and colonists. You will see evidence of that influence in the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront. These unusual fixed nets are on poles operated from shore, using counterweights and ropes. The Portuguese left their mark in St. Francis Church and in the medieval-style Mattancherry Palace, both of which they built in the 16th century. You will learn more about their influence by browsing the collection of artifacts in the Indo-Portuguese Museum in Fort Cochin. You will also discover how Jewish immigrants affected the history of Cochin by visiting a Jewish community that thrived in the late 1500s. Although few Jews remain, the beautifully preserved Paradesi Synagogue from that time period still stands.

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Colombo, Sri Lanka

April 28, 2025 – April 29, 2025

Dotted with stately colonial buildings, Sri Lanka’s largest city is quite beautiful and wonderfully frenetic. Explore the museums and temples or watch cricket at Galle Face Green. If the thrilling energy of the city becomes too much, relax under a cinnamon tree in serene Viharamahadevi Park.

Drive in and around Colombo admiring its most famed landmarks, an experience that will leave you with a wonderful overview of Sri Lanka’s largest city. There is no easier, more leisurely way to see the highlights of Colombo, the former capital. The city’s modern side is evident in the many high-rises towering above the Fort, an area named because of its 19th-century British fortress. The Fort is also known for the Old Parliament, built in the Neo-Baroque style during the British reign. The British influence is evident throughout Colombo in the streets named for former British governors and in the luxurious Galle Face Hotel, another landmark from the British colonial period. Later, you will see Gangaramaya Temple and a mosque, giving you a religious perspective of Colombo. Higher education is also held in great esteem, as you will see by driving past the Royal College and the University of Colombo.

Colombo By Night

Drive through the capital of Sri Lanka during the evening, when it is beautifully illuminated and most vibrant. Along the way, you will pass bustling Pettah Bazaar covered market, the city’s oldest public park and the adjacent town hall, which looks remarkably similar to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The waterfront promenade that stretches along the urban oasis Galle Face Green is one of the most popular places to watch the sunset, and it should be abuzz as you drive by. Few places offers such a genuine slice of local life. Other highlights include the posh residential neighborhood Cinnamon Gardens and the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, an architectural treasure with highly unusual, swirling red-and-white striped bricks. Following this enlightening overview of Colombo, you will proceed to the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel for a cocktail and a dinner that showcases several international cuisines. A folkloric performance follows that will likely feature traditional Kandyan dances.

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Hambantota, Sri Lanka

April 27, 2025 – April 27, 2025

Off the beaten path on the southern edge of Sri Lanka, Hambantota reveals verdant beauty, ample culture and incredible biodiversity. It’s a gateway to several stunning national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Yala National Park is a top choice for its sheer variety of wildlife – you might spot elephants, leopards, sloth bears and more. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle is also accessible from Hambantota – the 18th-century walled Old Town features charming Dutch architecture and possesses a beguiling, exotic ambiance that enchants travelers. Mirijjawila Botanical Garden, located in the dry zone, features a dazzling spectrum of rare and endemic plant species.

Observe countless indigenous animals on a game drive through the Udawalawe National Park and watch orphaned elephant calves being milk-fed at a wildlife protection facility. As you ride through the park in an open-top safari-style vehicle, you will likely see water buffalo, sambar deer, monkeys and birds of every imaginable species. Still, the highlight will be the herds of Sri Lankan elephants as there are hundreds of them freely roaming about. These magnificent, highly intelligent creatures are the largest and darkest of the Asian elephants, but their numbers are dwindling due to loss of habitat. Orphaned baby elephants are often taken to the Elephant Transit Home within the park. There you will see how they are cared for until they can be released into the wild, which is typically at age 5. They must be fed every three hours with a special milk formula – an event that you will watch up-close.

If you would like to see where and what we are while visiting Hambantota

Alphabetic Links of Where We’ve Been