Moso Island, Vanuatu, 10/17/2024, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
French Polynesia & Pacific Islands
Our final day in Vanuatu was a sunny and salty affair. We entered the channel between islets of Moso Island early in the morning and enjoyed lovely views of the forested shores during breakfast in the outdoor café. Once finished, we loaded into the Zodiacs with our mask and fins and joined the natural history staff in the water for a tropical snorkel, while those so inclined donned their scuba gear to take a deeper look.
Back onboard we were treated to lectures by Undersea Specialist James and National Geographic expert Kennedy. We sailed all afternoon to the south, heading for our next exciting destination, New Caledonia.
Pacific Northwest born James Hyde grew up immersed in the Salish Sea, on Vashon Island with Seattle as his backdrop. A passionate traveler from a young age, James explored four continents before finishing his degree at Western Washington University's...
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National Geographic Orion eased her way through a passage in the coral reef to reach a Melanesian paradise known as New Caledonia. After a short drive into the highlands, we were quickly reminded of the antiquity of this ancient piece of Gondwanan crust. The plants included a native cycad, whose fossil history predates the dinosaurs. The sprawling branches of the Cook’s pine bathed the forest walkways in luxurious dappled light, as we searched for equally intriguing bird life. We didn’t have to wait long before the feathered gems of the forest began to reveal themselves. The striking plumage of the emerald dove brilliantly reflected the morning light. Endemic white eyes raced from branch to branch, casually eluding the best of our photographers. Without warning, the prize of the forest emerged from the dense underbrush. A pair of kagu momentarily slipped into view while our photographers scrambled for their cameras. These enigmatic birds are the sole members of an obscure family, which may be most closely related to the South American sun bittern. Sporting a bright red bill with orange legs and silver plumage, the kagu is a stunning reminder that the remote corners of our planet hold some of earth’s best kept secrets.
The holiday season is special to us all, but it is especially meaningful to our incredible crew who spend months at sea away from their families and loved ones. The crew of National Geographic Orion is incredibly creative in showing us all their Christmas spirit and a much-loved tradition is the annual Christmas door decoration contest.
The holiday spirit flows through National Geographic Orion on Christmas day. Sailing between New Zealand and New Caledonia, the team took the time for a family photo of the entire staff and crew. After Christmas brunch the National Geographic Orion family enjoyed a presentation on traditional Polynesian navigation by our esteemed cultural expert Tua Pitman. Hotel Manager Fran then spoiled us all with a fortune hunt, games, and prizes. As black-winged petrels soared above the Coral Sea, we gathered one last time as Dive Master Mike Desiderio teased us with a trivia contest. Though we may be far from home, National Geographic Orion provides us all with a sense of family love and tenderness during this celebrated season.
