ASIA: REPORT The subtropical islands of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, located around 400 miles to the south of the Japanese mainland, offer a one-off experience for cruise guests. Isolated beaches, pristine tropical forest and a plethora of unique wildlife provide a range of adventures for cruise travellers interested in visiting a destination off the beaten track. Ponant will become one of the first cruise companies to offer a voyage through the heart of the islands during an expedition cruise in 2023, a milestone which has been a long time coming. “The ‘Okinawa Expedition’ has been postponed for several years due to the Covid-19 crisis,” says Ryu Ijichi, expedition leader for Ponant. “It is finally scheduled to operate this year, and we have already set multiple sailings for 2024.” The 13-day itinerary will visit several of the islands in the Okinawa Prefecture, as Ponant’s vessel Le Jaques Cartier navigates a course not usually accessible to visitors. “Each of Okinawa’s isolated islands has its own unique charm and its nature, culture and cuisine all have their own appeal,” says Ijichi. “However, since there are not many sea routes connecting remote islands, it is currently quite difficult to do ‘island-hopping’ on regular journeys. On the Okinawa Expedition, guests will move from one island to An island-hopping adventure Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture provides a wealth of natural and cultural highlights for visitors to discover during a cruise, with Ponant now set to sail its first expedition voyages to the remote islands Ishigaki Island offers sites of scenic natural beauty, including Kabira Bay 202 Photo: OCVB
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=