Heritage Expeditions are a New Zealand-based small ship expedition company with two ships, Heritage Adventurer (120m) and Heritage Explorer (30m). The family-owned company has a strong conservation ethos.
Expedition voyages are designed to increase awareness of remote destinations through responsible expedition style cruising. Voyages support communities, while conservation advocacy provides funds and logistical support for research and management. The company makes annual contributions to the NZ Dept of Conservation, Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife and the Antarctic Heritage Trust. They provide scholarships to young people through the True Young Explorer program.
Voyages range from rarely-visited New Zealand destinations, multiple Asia and Pacific explorations, through to month-long adventurous voyages to Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands.
All-inclusive fares include:
- Twice-daily shore excursions on zodiacs
- Pre-cruise hotel accommodation and transfer to ship in Bali
- Post-cruise charter flight Madang to Port Moresby
- All meals including house wine and beer with lunch and dinner
- Lecture series by noted naturalists and specialist expedition team members
- Passengers on Subantarctic and Antarctic voyages are loaned waterproof Muck Boots
- Passengers on Antarctic voyages areloaned a polar jacket
Additional costs:
- Wifi
- Kayak program
- Alcoholic drinks outside of lunch and dinner service
Cruise Details
Cruise Itinerary name: Indonesian Explorer
Cruise ship: Heritage Adventurer
Departing from: Bali, Indonesia
Cruising to: Madang, PNG
Ports of Call: Bali, Komodo, Wakatobi, Raja Ampat, Manokwari, Cenderawasih Bay, Sepik River, Madang
Cabin type: Deck 4 Superior – 22msq, king bed, panoramic window, lounge area & desk
Check-in process
The journey begins from Hyatt Regency Bali where guests stay the night before embarkation. Check-in formalities are conducted at the Hyatt, followed by a private buffet dinner at the Hyatt which allows crews to outline the embarkation process. On the day of departure, luggage is dispatched to the ship while guests take a tour of Bali before arriving at the port for boarding.
What it is like onboard
Heritage Adventurer is a very well appointed expedition ship with oodles of public spaces and a laid back vibe with predominantly New Zealand expedition crew. The ship was purpose-built for Polar explorations and cruising to remote regions and is extremely comfortable and well appointed. Twice daily shore excursions provide plenty of opportunities to explore destinations.
Getting between decks is made easy with two elevators along with internal and external stairs. There are two dining areas, an extensive library and a wellness centre including spa, gym, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and a swimming pool surrounded by sun lounges. A large lecture theatre is where guests congregate for shore excursion briefings and presentations by specialist lecturers.
Adjacent to the Pursers Desk is a small gift shop which opens sporadically, and there’s a medical clinic staffed by a doctor. Mud rooms have lockers for storage of wet weather gear, boots, shoes and snorkeling equipment.
Wifi packages are available to puchase, with satellite internet access ensuring coverage is available in all regions where Starlink operates.
The relaxation: For an expedition vessel Heritage Adventurer is unusually spacious and its compact size makes it easy to move around between decks. Bright and modern public areas are bathed in natural light with plenty of opportunity to watch the view through large panoramic windows. The ambience onboard is convivial and relaxed with ample public areas to socialise in small groups or relax in quiet spaces. An open bridge policy during day light hours encourages guest/crew interaction.
The forward-facing Observation Lounge is a quiet space with an extensive library, board games and a tea and coffee station. Aft of the Lounge is a wellness centre which has a spa salon, a good-sized gym with treadmill, stepper, spin bikes, rowing machine and free weights. There’s also a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi along with a small pool with sun lounges. There is one outside space with a sitting area set aside for smokers.
TIP: Exercise junkies will love that the air-conditioned gym is open early morning to late each night and is fitted out with modern equipment and free weights
The Entertainment: This is expedition style cruising which means twice-daily excursions whenever possible along with a comprehensive lecture program from specialists with broad experience and expertise. Topics covered include natural or human history along with flora and fauna of note in the region. Lectures place a strong emphasis on conservation and protection of nature-based environments and aim to provide awareness and education of relevant issues.
With up to 140 passengers embarking onto Zodiacs for shore excursions at the same time, expect to wait in a queue before disembarking. Boarding Zodiacs is via gangway stairs to a platform at sea level where passengers are helped into Zodiacs by crew. Zodiacs carry up to ten passengers plus a driver from the expedition team. Boarding becomes a little more complicated when there’s a high swell running but there’s always plenty of crew to help less mobile passengers get on and off the Zodiacs.
Sea kayaking programs are offered on select voyages at an additional cost, with a dedicated kayak guide accompanying all kayak expeditions. Some kayak expeditions encompass a few hours while others may take up a whole day.
TIP: Passengers on the kayak program can do as little or as much paddling as they like but should be aware they may miss other activities such as snorkeling which take place at the same time.
The bar in The Lounge opens late each afternoon prior to the daily expedition recap and briefing and is one of the most sociable times onboard. The Pool Bar on Deck 7 opens for an hour or so in the afternoon during sea days or when there are no afternoon shore excursions scheduled.
TIP: All Suites are equipped with minibars which can be stocked by cabin stewards at additional cost (except for Heritage and Worsley Suite guests when minibars are replenished FOC daily).
The dining
Dining is a highlight onboard Heritage Adventurer. The Bistro has indoor and outdoor seating (breakfast and lunch) while the Dining Room is indoor and airconditioned (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
A continental ‘early risers’ breakfast is served at the Bistro and is great casual option for those who don’t want the formalities of breakfast in the Dining Room There’s a selection of fresh fruits, fresh-baked pastries, cereals and juice. Tea and coffee (espresso coffee machine) is available 24 hours a day from stations in the Bistro, Lounge and Observation Lounge/Library.
Lunch options include a limited Bistro menu or a comprehensive Dining Room offering. Dinner is served in the Dining Room with its large windows and panoramic views. Snappy, friendly service from staff who make an effort to memorise guest names and drink choices make dining friendly and informal. Table configurations range from intimate tables for two to circular tables of ten and everything in between. Open seating allows guests to choose when, where and with whom they dine. There’s a buffet selection along with a la carte choices for breakfast and lunch while dinner is a three course a la carte menu which changes daily.
TIP: House beer, wine and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner service. Additional drinks are available for purchase from the Lounge Bar or Pool Bar (when open).
The cabin
Heritage Adventurer’s cabins are well-sized with all but those on deck 3 fitted with large picture windows. Triple and single cabins on deck 3 have one or two portholes. Solo travelers may choose either sole occupancy, or to share a twin or triple with other (same sex) solo travelers.
Heritage Suites on Deck 6 are a palatial 44m2 and come with twin panoramic windows. These suites have a living area with sofa, coffee table, work desk, king bed and complimentary minibar which is replenished daily. A marble bathroom has twin basins, bath tub and shower. Complimentary in-room dining, laundry service and a spa credit are added niceties. Worsley Suites are half the size at 22m2 with their main benefit being elevated deck 6 positioning, complimentary in-room dining and minibar replenished daily.
TIP: Luxury travellers with a fondness for bathtubs should book a Heritage Suite
All other suites are similarly sized at a generous 22m2 and come with either twin, king or triple bed configurations. In triples a bunk folds down from the wall and is suitable for small adults. Each suite has a sofa, coffee table, work desk and minibar which may be stocked by cabin stewards at additional cost. The main difference in pricing relates to positioning on the ship with the lower levels less expensive and the aforementioned deck 3 suites with their portholes.
All suites have ample storage space with floor to ceiling cabinetry, programable safes and an entrance ‘wet area’ for storing shoes and jackets. Bathrooms are compact, are well lit with an abundance of mirrors to reflect lighting which makes them feel larger than they actually are. Refillable shampoo, conditioner, hand and body wash bottles limit the use of single use plastics, and a hairdryer is provided.
Each guest is given a complimentary refillable water bottle to take home. Chilled, filtered water stations are located in public areas throughout the ship.
Cabins to Avoid on Heritage Adventurer: Midship cabins on decks 3, 4 and 5 are close to throughways and gathering points for shore excursions, and may be affected by potential disturbance.
The service on Heritage Adventurer
The service is snappy and attentive and special requests never seemed to be a bother.
Wait staff were easily able to accommodate requests such as ‘no tomatoes,’ or ‘dressing on the side’ for salads. Gluten free pastries and breads were always available.
Crew make a genuine effort to get to know the names of passengers and to learn their particular preferences, such as which drinks they like, or how they like their eggs cooked.
Expedition crew are exceptionally knowledgeable, helpful and always keen to point out special sights or share insights into regions, wildlife sightings or cultural anomalies.
The itinerary on 18 day Indonesian Explorer
This expedition cruise takes in remote islands and villages of East Indonesia, West Papua and Papua New Guinea.
Departing from Bali, and finishing in Madang on PNG’s north coast, highlights of the expedition cruise include:
- Raja Ampat – world-class marine sanctuary with thousands of islands
- Misool Island – heart of the coral triangle which was at the heart of the spice trade wars
- Swim with whale sharks at Cenderawash Bay
- Cultural visits to villages to view dance performances or take guided walking tours
- Komodo Island to see Komodo dragons
- Early morning birding expeditions to see Birds of Paradise
- Wakatobi National Park – described by Jacques Cousteau as “underwater nirvana”
- Cruise the Sepik River to see wildlife and visit Kopar Village
Tips for your clients
- Solo travellers are not penalised with small cabins with single suites being the same size as twin occupancy suites
- Pre-purchased e-sims for the cruising region are more cost-effective than onboard satellite wifi
- For families there are no limitations on the age of travelers though some voyages are more suitable for young families with beach days, island visits and snorkeling activities. There are no children-specific activities, child-minding or kids club.
STATS
Ship size: 124m
Maximum passengers: 140
Crew: approx 94 (made up of 14 Expedition staff & 80 crew)
Launched: 1991
Decks: 7
How to book
Agents can book their clients by calling (within NZ):+64 3 365 3500 or in Australia:1800 143 585. For more information and to request a brochure, visit https://www.heritage-expeditions.com
Note: Fiona Harper cruised as a guest of Heritage Expeditions.
