Island Escape Cruises invites you to enjoy a luxury getaway aboard the Island Passage. Visit the islands of Vanuatu. The 42 metre (140 feet) 'Island Passage' is unique in that other vessels of her size carry more than double the 20 passengers that she can accommodate. This gives our passengers much more room to relax. We want to make your stay as comfortable as possible onboard the 'Island Passage'.
Onboard Island Escape Cruises you will get more than a taste of Vanuatu, you’ll enjoy an absolute feast of ‘Tales of the South Pacific’ scenery, castaway beaches, authentic culture and amazing true stories. Our ship cruises the eastern coast of Santo, then crosses the Straits to Maewo and Ambae. Underlying your experience is the knowledge that you’re voyaging where few travellers have gone before.
You might think you know tropical island scenery like the back of your hand, but if you haven’t yet journeyed around the islands of Vanuatu there’s much to learn. The landscapes are multi-layered, like somebody’s superimposed one tropical paradise over the top of another. The rugged mystery of high volcanic terrain shrouded with jungle tugs at your spirit of adventure, while the sublime turquoise and white of the beaches satisfies your hedonistic urge to find the perfect paradise. Vanuatu presents a world of beauty made more attractive by the irresistible pull of the unknown.
New Zealand Geographic and Island Escape Expeditions have formed an alliance to offer luxury expeditions within Vanuatu. Once known as the New Hebrides, Vanuatu is the South Seas paradise that James Michener wrote about in his book “Tales of the South Pacific. Of all the Pacific island groups, Vanuatu offers the most contrasts: Lofty volcanic mountains and sand-fringed coral islets; dense tropical jungle and serene tracts of farmland; lush fruit orchards and rugged volcanic cliffs; historic European elegance and original Melanesian culture. On ‘Island Passage’, our beautifully-appointed small ship, you can explore Vanuatu in a way that combines the graciousness of gourmet travel with the spontaneity and intrepid spirit of an explorer’s expedition. Weighing in at almost 500 tonnes, Island Passage is equipped to travel to remote, hardly-visited areas while delivering the highest level of passenger comfort. During each journey, our eight-person crew – a mixture of New Zealanders and Vanuatuans – are on hand to share their knowledge of the ocean and local landscapes. On selected trips, the learning experience will be enhanced by a New Zealand Geographic scientist, historian, photographer or explorer. Welcome aboard - Paradise Island Escape Style.