Discovering Papua New Guinea aboard the Oceanic Discoverer

Tourist vessel mv Oceanic Discoverer arrived in Papua New Guinea on Nov 6 and will spend a month in the country.

The vessel arrived on Nov 6 in Alotau from Cairns and will undertake several cruises whilst in PNG waters visiting Fergusson Island, Kitava Island, Tuam Island, Madang, Lower Sepik River, Manam Island, Crown Island, Witu (Garova), Tufi, d'Entrecasteaux Group, Bona Island, Louisiade Archipelago, Laughlin Islands and continue on to Giza in the Solomon Islands on Nov 30.

The ships owner is Coral Sea Cruises based in Cairns, Australia

The vessel operates regular cruises to PNG waters and is being handled by Melanesian Tourist Services based in Madang.

Oceanic Discoverer is a modern sleek but small ship that can negotiate remote reefs, islands and shallow bays where bigger ships cannot go.

Onboard facilities are good and what you would expect of a much larger cruise ship: spa pool, bars, and lecture room.

Oceanic Discoverer passengers tend to be adventurous 35-65 and international.

When all cabins have double occupancy, the ship provides a space ratio of 25.5 tons per passenger and a crew to passenger ratio of one for every 3.6 passengers.

At full capacity the space ratio is 25.5 tons per passenger and the crew ratio is one to 3.6 passengers.