On Mar 10, 2024, we docked at Ambon, Indonesia. Ambon is in the far East of Indonesia, and is the capital and largest city of the Maluku Islands, and the Indonesian province of Maluku. The Maluku Islands, along with the Banda Islands, which we saw yesterday, were known as the Spice Islands because of the nutmeg, mace and cloves that were exclusive to this area and dominated the spice trade in the 15th and 16th centuries, leading to the eventual European colonialism in the area.

We took an excursion that initially took us to a cultural museum and a beach where we were greeted by local dancers and weavers, and a local woman making candies.

We then drove through the town of Ambon and saw some local churches and mosques before stopping at the Peace Center park where we saw a large World Peace Gong. Walking through the area we spotted a large billboard that welcomed the Seabourn Sojourn to the city. We later found out that it was the first cruise ship that had stopped at the city in three years, and they were very happy to have travelers visiting again.

After the park we went to the Ambon War Cemetery. During World II, the region was invaded and occupied by the Japanese; many local Indonesians and Allied servicemen (primarily Australian and Dutch) were killed in various battles. Two British war ships were sunk in the waters. The Cemetery honors all of these military casualties.

We then returned to the port and later that day left Ambon.