My wife and I travelled from Sydney to Brisbane to join the Sea Princess on a 11 day cruise to island off the East Coast of Papua New Guinea. The first port of call was Alotau where we anchored alongside. Those onboard incharge of the shore excursion suggested most of the islands we were to visit were deserted. This was very wrong as the native population came out in their droves to meet us. They were very well behaved and just wonted to greet us with a smile and a hallo. If you love snorkelling this is the cruise to be on. The water was warm and the coral and fish life were brilliant. I forgot my snorkelling gear but a passenger onboard was very pleased to lend me some. Rabaul our next port of call was a very interesting place especially if you are interested in the fighting that occurred here in WW2. The tunnels built by the POW and locals are extensive and most interesting. The war graves there are maintained by the Aust. Gov. and to see so many Aussies buried there will bring a tear to your eye, more so with so many graves with the inscription on the headstone 'known until God'.

The three other island were just as good as the first, great snorkelling.