Australia & South Pacific Grand Explorer Cruise

Day 1 - Los Angeles

Arrive: Sun 20 February 2028 / Depart: Sun 20 February 2028 at 16:00

The City of Angels always hovers between dream and reality. Once a near-forgotten colonial outpost, the pueblo metamorphosed into an agrarian paradise before reinventing itself as a movie colony. Perhaps no other city owes so much to the technological innovations of the 20th century, from the automobile to the airplane. Little wonder that LA is oft described as the "dream machine." In LA, reinvention is a way of life. Yet this talent for change has created a city with a rich ethnic diversity and a sizzling culture. LA is the source for trends that migrate across the country and then the world. Where else can you enjoy a Thai taco or munch on a kosher burrito? Or travel from downtown's high rises to the beaches of Malibu, shopping in Beverly Hills along the way? Los Angeles is a port of embarkation and disembarkation for some cruises.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 7 - Honolulu

Arrive: Sat 26 February 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 26 February 2028 at 23:00

Home to nearly half a million people, Honolulu is Hawaii's state capital and only major city. The city of Honolulu and the island of Oahu offer a wealth of historic, cultural and scenic attractions. Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head are two of the city's enduring symbols. Pearl Harbor, site of the USS Arizona Memorial and the "Punchbowl," are haunting reminders of the tragic events of December 7, 1941, when the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor forced America into World War II. Honolulu is also home to the historic Iolani Palace, the official residence of Hawaii's last royals. Beyond the city lie tropical rain forests, the Pali Lookout and the North Shore known for its surfing beaches.

Day 8 - Nawiliwili

Arrive: Sun 27 February 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 27 February 2028 at 17:00

The fourth largest island in the Hawaiian group, Kauai is known as the "Garden Island." The terrain ranges from the volcanic slopes of Mt. Waialeale and the desert-like beauty of Waimea Canyon to the Wailua River's lush Fern Grotto. Ironically this once isolated island was the site of the first meeting between Europeans and Hawaiians. On January 19, 1778, Captain James Cook anchored his ships off the mouth of the Waimea River, becoming the first in a long line of enthusiastic visitors.

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - At Sea

Day 12 - At Sea

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Papeete

Arrive: Sat 04 March 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 04 March 2028 at 23:00

Tahiti is not just an island - Tahiti has always been a state of mind. The bustling capital of Tahiti and her islands, Papeete is the chief port and trading center, as well as a provocative temptress luring people to her shores. Immortalized in the novel "Mutiny on the Bounty," who could blame the men of "HMS Bounty" for abandoning their ship in favor of basking in paradise? And what would Modern Art be without Tahiti's influence on Gauguin and Matisse? Today the island is a charming blend of Polynesian "joie de vivre" and Gallic sophistication. But venture out from Papeete and you find a landscape of rugged mountains, lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls and deserted beaches. Contrasting with other French Polynesian ports, Papeete's coastline initially greets you with a vista of commercial activity that graciously gives way to both black and white-sand beaches, villages, resorts and historic landmarks.

Day 15 - Moorea

Arrive: Sun 05 March 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 05 March 2028 at 18:00

Mo'orea is a South Pacific island, part of French Polynesia's Society Islands archipelago. It's known for its jagged volcanic mountains and sandy beaches. In the north, Mount Rotui overlooks picturesque ?p?nohu Bay and the settlements around Cook's Bay. Inland, hiking trails wind through rainforest on the slopes of Mount Tohivea.

Day 16 - At Sea

Day 17 - At Sea

Day 18 - Cross International Dateline

Day 19 - At Sea

Day 20 - At Sea

Day 21 - At Sea

Day 22 - Auckland

Arrive: Sun 12 March 2028 at 06:30 / Depart: Sun 12 March 2028 at 21:00

Straddling a narrow isthmus created by 60 different volcanoes, New Zealand's former capital boasts scenic beauty, historical interest and a cosmopolitan collection of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries and gardens. Rangitoto, Auckland's largest and youngest volcano, sits in majestic splendor just offshore. Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill, once home to Maori earthworks, overlook the city. One of New Zealand's fine wine districts lies to the north of Auckland. Auckland served as New Zealand's capital from 1841 until 1865, when the seat of government moved to Wellington.

Day 23 - At Sea

Day 24 - Wellington

Arrive: Tue 14 March 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 14 March 2028 at 18:00

New Zealand's capital offers stunning views of forested peninsulas, dramatic cliff-side homes and fine Victorian buildings. Settled in 1840 by the London-based New Zealand Company, "wonderful, windy Wellington" is frequently buffeted by bracing winds funnelling through Cook Strait. The sophisticated metropolis boasts museums, winding streets and even a cable car. No wonder many travelers compare it to San Francisco. Despite its steep hills, the city can be easily explored on foot. Kelburn Cable Car, stairways and footpaths climb the slopes from the city center.

Day 25 - Christchurch, New Zealand

Arrive: Wed 15 March 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 15 March 2028 at 17:00

Christchurch has a rich history of adventurers who used Christchurch as a gateway for Antarctic explorations. Famed explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton used the port of Lyttelton as a departure point for their expeditions.

Day 26 - Port Chalmers

Arrive: Thu 16 March 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 16 March 2028 at 17:00

Port Chalmers is a town serving as the main port of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, with a population of 3,000. Port Chalmers lies ten kilometres inside Otago Harbour, some 15 kilometres northeast of Dunedin's city centre.

Day 27 - Fiordland Park

Arrive: Fri 17 March 2028 at 09:00 / Depart: Fri 17 March 2028 at 18:00

New Zealand's largest national park was formed millennia ago by massive glacial flows that carved deep fiords into the coast of New Zealand's South Island. At the heart of Fiordland National Park lies Milford Sound. Lined by cliffs that soar nearly a mile above its surface, Milford Sound cuts into the heart of the Southern Alps. Rainforest clings to the cliffs and graceful waterfalls plummet into the void. Mile-high Mitre Peak dominates the upper reaches of the sound. The town of Te Anau in Fiordland National Park is also your gateway to the South Island's other natural wonders including Lake Wakatipu, the resort of Queenstown and Mt. Cook National Park.

Day 28 - At Sea

Day 29 - At Sea

Day 30 - Melbourne

Arrive: Mon 20 March 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 20 March 2028 at 23:00

Victoria may be Australia's smallest continental state, but Melbourne, its capital, is big on everything. With a population of 2.7 million people living in 59 separately named communities within 715 square miles, Melbourne is a sprawling city offering culture, art, fashion and friendly, sports-minded Australians. It is also an easy city to explore. At the heart of the city is the Golden Mile, the city's governmental and commercial center, home to hotels, shops, restaurants and theaters. Originally part of New South Wales, Victoria became a colony in its own right in 1851. The discovery of gold propelled Melbourne's growth to prominence and prosperity.

Day 31 - At Sea

Day 32 - Eden, Australia

Arrive: Wed 22 March 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 22 March 2028 at 16:00

Eden is a coastal town in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.

Day 33 - Sydney

Arrive: Thu 23 March 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 23 March 2028 at 23:00

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia's largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby.

Day 34 - At Sea

Day 35 - At Sea

Day 36 - Airlie Beach

Arrive: Sun 26 March 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 26 March 2028 at 17:00

Airlie Beach is your gateway to the Whitsunday Archipelago. These 74 islands feature pristine fringing reefs, calm, lagoon-like waters, and superb beaches. The archipelago is one of Australia's premier playgrounds. The Whitsundays were once mountains. Rising seas at the end of the Ice Age formed the Whitsunday Passage between the islands and the mainland.

Day 37 - Townsville, Australia

Arrive: Mon 27 March 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 27 March 2028 at 17:00

Often described as the "unofficial capital of North Queensland," Townsville was founded in 1856 when an enterprising sea captain built a wharf on Cleveland Bay. The city lies at the very north of the Dry Tropics, where the outback bush meets the waters of the Coral Sea. Today's travelers are drawn to Townsville's superb location. Queensland's fabled Wet Tropics World Heritage Area lies just to the north of the city. Towering over Townsville is Castle Rock, a 1,300-foot monolith of pink granite that provides sweeping views of Townsville, Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island.

Day 38 - Cairns

Arrive: Tue 28 March 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 28 March 2028 at 21:00

Cairns is one of Australia's hottest vacation destinations. Cairns boasts three of Australia's great natural wonders. Just offshore, immense bastions of living coral form the Great Barrier Reef. Sixteen miles of superb beaches stretch to the north of the city - the famed Marlin Coast. And inland lays the immense Daintree National Park. Cairns itself basks in tropical sunshine, balmy breezes waft in from Trinity Bay. The city's graceful, tree-lined esplanade was once the gateway to the gold fields of North Queensland. Cairns graceful, tree-lined esplanade was once the gateway to the gold fields of North Queensland. A travel tip - Cairns is pronounced "cans."

Day 39 - At Sea

Day 40 - At Sea

Day 41 - At Sea

Day 42 - Noumea, New Caledonia

Arrive: Sat 01 April 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 01 April 2028 at 17:00

The capital of New Caledonia, Noumea is a little piece of France in the middle of the Coral Sea. Before World War II, New Caledonia was a little known and seldom-visited French possession known for its penal colony and its natural resources. (Nickel smelting still plays a major role in the island economy.) Today, travelers are drawn to New Caledonia for its scenic beauty. The island is famed for its white-sand beaches while its west coast is the site of the world's second longest barrier reef. The offshore waters also offer superb diving and snorkeling. In 1774, James Cook thought the island's rugged hills resembled those of his native Scotland. Hence he christened the island New Caledonia. The island and its outlying groups became a French colony in 1854 and an overseas department of France in 1956.

Day 43 - Mystery Island, Vanuatu

Arrive: Sun 02 April 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 02 April 2028 at 17:00

This small, uninhabited island just off volcanic Tanna is one of the most southernmost of the Vanuatu group. Used as a World War II landing strip for the allied forces, it is completely undeveloped. Amble around the island, or, if you’re handy with a snorkel and fins, explore the surrounding reefs.

Day 44 - At Sea

Day 45 - Suva

Arrive: Tue 04 April 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 04 April 2028 at 20:00

The Fiji archipelago is at the cross roads of the South Pacific. In the days of sailing ships, it was known as "The Cannibal Isles," where mariners carefully avoided its fierce warriors and perfidious waters. Thankfully, Fiji's pagan days live only in the tales recalled by tour guides - in rituals such as firewalking, Kava Ceremonies and in renditions of tribal drumming, dance and song. Fiji is an exotic destination, with 333 islands that provide an exciting adventure or peaceful repose. The northwest region, where the sun shines almost every day and a tropical shower ends as quickly as it began, is home to the majority of the resorts. Suva, the political, administrative, educational and commercial center, has a backdrop of lush rainforest maintained by the inevitable "tropical downpour." The people of Fiji are the most multiracial and multicultural of all South Pacific island countries - this being reflected in churches of all denominations, mosques, temples and shrines. Built around a reef-protected natural harbor, Suva, with its colonial buildings nestled alongside modern commercial venues, shops and local markets, parks and residential sprawl, is home to nearly half of Fiji's urban population.

Day 46 - Dravuni, Fiji Islands

Arrive: Wed 05 April 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 05 April 2028 at 16:00

Less than two miles in length from north to south, Dravuni Island lies in the Kadavu Island group of Fiji. Its volcanic peaks give way to a remote village of just 200 or so friendly villagers who live amongst the island's shady palms. These welcoming locals and their children often sing to arriving visitors. Well-worn trails scattered with coconuts snake around the unspoiled beaches, the soft sands beckoning underwater adventurers towards the crystal-clear waters. Many visitors come to snorkel in the Great Astrolabe Reef, or to hike Dravuni Island's highest peak for magnificent once-in-a-lifetime views of the surrounding islands.

Day 46 - Cross International Dateline

Day 47 - Pago Pago

Arrive: Thu 06 April 2028 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 06 April 2028 at 18:00

Pago Pago Bay is one of the most dramatic harbors in the South Pacific, a region known for dramatic landscapes. Eons ago, the massive seaward wall of a volcano collapsed and the sea poured in. Today, dramatic mountain peaks encircle the deep harbor. The capital of American Samoa, Pago Pago is more village than city. The town is dominated by looming Mt. Pioa, whose summit draws moisture-bearing clouds, earning it the nickname of "The Rainmaker." Indeed, Pago Pago draws more than its fair share of rain - the island of Tutuila is a vision of deep, verdant green. Pronounced "Pango Pango," this island paradise awaits exploration.

Day 48 - At Sea

Day 49 - At Sea

Day 50 - At Sea

Day 51 - At Sea

Day 52 - At Sea

Day 53 - Hilo

Arrive: Wed 12 April 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 12 April 2028 at 17:00

Welcome to the Big Island of Hawaii - a paradise of black-sand beaches, tropical rainforest and volcanic mountains. Mauna Loa, the largest mountain on the planet, soars above the bleak lava fields of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In the heart of the Big Island's lush rainforest lies the remote and stunning Wai'po Valley (Valley of the Kings). Hawaii's history matches its incomparable landscape - it is a saga of mighty Polynesian kings, sugar barons, war and treachery. The landscape of the Big Island ranges from black-sand beaches to tropical rain forest to the alpine terrain of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. At 13,796 feet above sea level, the summit of Mauna Kea is the highest point in the entire Pacific basin.

Day 54 - At Sea

Day 55 - Kahului

Arrive: Fri 14 April 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 14 April 2028 at 18:00

Maui has always occupied a special place in the hearts of Hawaiians. The great warrior King Kamehameha, who united the islands under his rule, chose to make Lahaina his capital and Ka'anapali was once the favorite playground of Hawaiian royalty. And no wonder - Maui boasts stunning landscapes and superb beaches. Mt. Haleakala, a dormant volcano, rises 10,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Once hailed as "The Valley of the Kings," Maui's Iao Valley is a tropical paradise dominated by the Needle, a volcanic monolith towering over the valley floor. Then there is Lahaina, once home to a royal court and a raucous port-of-call enjoyed by 19th-century Yankee whalers. Haleakala means "The House of the Sun." To the Hawaiians, it appeared that the sun both rose from and set in the depths of its massive crater. Today, the centerpiece of Haleakala National Park, it is one of Maui's major attractions.

Day 56 - At Sea

Day 57 - At Sea

Day 58 - At Sea

Day 59 - At Sea

Day 60 - At Sea

Day 61 - Los Angeles

Arrive: Thu 20 April 2028 at 06:15 / Depart: Thu 20 April 2028

The City of Angels always hovers between dream and reality. Once a near-forgotten colonial outpost, the pueblo metamorphosed into an agrarian paradise before reinventing itself as a movie colony. Perhaps no other city owes so much to the technological innovations of the 20th century, from the automobile to the airplane. Little wonder that LA is oft described as the "dream machine." In LA, reinvention is a way of life. Yet this talent for change has created a city with a rich ethnic diversity and a sizzling culture. LA is the source for trends that migrate across the country and then the world. Where else can you enjoy a Thai taco or munch on a kosher burrito? Or travel from downtown's high rises to the beaches of Malibu, shopping in Beverly Hills along the way? Los Angeles is a port of embarkation and disembarkation for some cruises.