Madagascar Cruise

   Port Louis - Mahe
10 Days

   
Arrive in Port Louis
Overnight at Belle Mare Plage Resort

The Belle Mare Plage, the most luxurious resort in Mauritius, is an island within, suited to this private realm of flawless beauty and harmony. A tapestry of in-house facilities set in a tropical garden along one of the most fabulous beaches of the Island.
   

Join Silver Shadow
Port Louis, Mauritius 10 pm

Founded in 1735, Port Louis is the busy capital city and main port of this volcanic island in the Indian Ocean. There are some fine French colonial buildings off the palm-lined Place d'Armes, such as the 18th-century Government House and Municipal Theater. Other sites include two cathedrals, a mosque, 18th-century barracks and a natural history museum. Go to Fort Adelaide for splendid views of the town, harbor and a racecourse - known as Champs de Mars, the course was originally laid out by the French for military parades.

Barter for souvenirs, crafts and clothing at the lively Port Louis Market, where merchants also sell fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish. South of town is Le Reduit, the former residence of the Governor-General of Mauritius that is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Also near Port Louis is the Domaine Les Pailles, a nature park that encompasses more than 3,000 acres; visitors can view deer, monkeys and rare birds from Land Rovers, horse-drawn carriages or a train.

Cruising the Indian Ocean

   
Toamasina, Madagascar
8am 6pm

Like most of Madagascar’s east coast ports, Toamasina, also known as Tamatave, began as a pirate community.

Today the town of about 70,000 is home to the country’s largest port. Its once-fine colonial houses lend Toamasina a somewhat shabby elegance. It is a busy place with sailors and tourists, offering a variety of bars, restaurants and hotels. Most visitors spend only a day or two in town as the attractions are really found outside in the country. While in town, visit the colorful market, where vendors display a wide array of produce, seafood and spices such as vanilla, cloves and black pepper, and locally made quality straw goods. A get-acquainted tour by pousse-pousse (rickshaw), the common local transportation, is a fun way to explore the town and get a glimpse into the daily life and activities of its people. Be prepared to bargain with the driver when establishing the fare. The official language is Malagasy, with French as the second language, spoken mainly in the cities.
   

Cruising the Indian Ocean

The fertile island is the center for the production of perfume essence gained from the ylang-ylang tree. Its heady scent has bestowed the name Perfumed Isle to Nosy Bé. Other products include sugar cane, coffee, vanilla and pepper that are grown for export in large plantations.

Hellville, the island’s main town and port, is situated in a sheltered bay and named after a former French governor, Admiral de Hell. The town features a few old colonial buildings; the busy main street is lined with small boutiques and tourist shops. At the quayside, vendors display embroidered linens, wood carvings and straw articles.

Trips into the lush interior may include a ride up to Mount Passot. At 950 feet, this is the highest point on the island. The view from the top offers a stunning panorama of crater lakes nestled between verdant hillsides.

A major highlight of any visit to Nosy Be is a boat trip to Nosy Komba, the tiny island known for its lemur reserve. These arboreal primates, with their large eyes, soft fur and long curling tails, have lived unharmed for centuries in the forest behind Ampangorina village. The lemurs are a popular tourist attraction and provide a substantial source of income to the small local community. Nosy Komba is only accessible by boat.
    

Cruising the Indian Ocean
Cruising the Indian Ocean

   

   
Praslin, Seychelles
8am 2pm

In addition to glorious beaches and fantastic marine life, Praslin is best known for the Vallée de Mai World Heritage Site where the botanical rarity, the coco de mer palm, grows wild.

Arriving by sea into Baie St. Anne, you will be greeted with breathtaking views of the tiny island capital. Its location is 1.5 miles from the pier and it is here that the island’s banks, shops, hospital and church are found. Luckily Baie St. Anne and the island managed to remain unspoiled despite the recent influx of visitors. It has retained that unique atmosphere captured in Athol Thomas’s book, Forgotten Eden.
   

   
Mahe, Seychelles
7pm
Mahe, Seychelles
Mahe, Seychelles

Like jade-colored jewels in the Indian Ocean, the more than 100 Seychelles Islands are often regarded as the Garden of Eden. Lying just four degrees south of the equator, the Seychelles are some 1,000 miles from the nearest mainland Africa. The people are a fusion of three continents — Africa, Asia and Europe.This has created a unique culture and the use of three languages — Creole, French and English.

Mahé is the largest island in the archipelago and the location of the capital,Victoria. Ringed by steep, magnificent mountains, few capitals can claim a more beautiful backdrop.The town features a mixture of modern and indigenous architecture; it is the center of business and commerce thanks to the extensive port facilities. Noteworthy sites in Victoria are the museum, cathedral, government house, clock tower, botanical gardens and an open-air market.

The major attractions are found outside of town where the island’s quiet, lazy atmosphere delights visitors.With 68 pristine, white sand beaches, Mahé boasts more beaches and tourist facilities than any of the other Seychelles Islands. Beautiful and remote Mahé with its green-clad mountains and palm-fringed beaches is indeed an island of abundance; pleasant surprises are around every bend in the trail. Come ashore and discover for yourself this marvelous island paradise.
   

INCLUDES:
Roundtrip economy air transportation from selected gateway cities, pre-cruise accommodations in a deluxe hotel, porterage and transfers.
Select wines, champagnes, spirits, sodas, and bottled water throughout the ship.
All onboard gratuities
All port charges