The itinerary for this trip is almost identical to one booked by Bruce with Noble Caledonia in 2022. That trip got cancelled at fairly short notice, which was a big disappointment for him at the time.

Looking around for an equiavalent, he found this trip, advertised by the Dutch Company, Oceanwide Expeditions, on one of their own ships, the Hondius. After reading all the reviews, he took a risk and booked it, knowing that it would be a slightly different experience from what he was used to and that it wasn't at the ultra-luxury end of the market.

Nevertheless, the risk paid off. Abundant wildlife, fascinating islands, expert lecturers, a beautifully comfortable ship and calm seas throughout the voyage all contributed to an unforgettable experience.

Geoff didn't want to do this trip, but he was happy that Bruce was happy and got daily updates from him!