Melanesia & Polynesia: Island Cultures & Coral Coasts Cruise

Day 1 - Lautoka

Arrive: Sun 04 October 2026 / Depart: Sun 04 October 2026 at 17:00

A major seaport, Fiji's second-largest city, Lautoka is the main center of the sugar and timber industries. Towering royal palms march in a long, orderly row from the main street to the harbor and into the heart of the city. Although Lautoka grew up around the Fijan village of Namoli, it is a very Indian town today.

Day 2 - Kadavu, Fiji

Day 3 - Vulaga, Fiji

Day 4 - Pangai Motu

Arrive: Wed 07 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 07 October 2026 at 13:00

Day 4 - Nukupule Island, Ha'apai Group

Day 5 - Vavau, Tonga Islands

Arrive: Thu 08 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 08 October 2026 at 17:00

Vava?u is the island group of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga. It is part of Vava?u District which includes several other individual islands. According to tradition the Maui god finished up both Tongatapu and Vava?u, but put a little more effort into the former.

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 7 - Apia

Arrive: Sat 10 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 10 October 2026 at 17:00

A total of sixteen islands comprise the Samoas, considered to be the heart of Polynesia. It was from these islands that early Polynesians sailed to populate other Pacific Islands. Today this chain of islands is divided into two political units - the U.S. Territory of American Samoa and the independent country of Western Samoa. Much of the charm of the Samoas lies in the simple village life and the friendly people, combined with a striking landscape of soaring mountain peaks, rugged coastlines, white sandy beaches and tropical rainforests rich in flowering plants. Western Samoa consists of a total of nine islands with the two main ones, Savi'i and Upolo, separated by a narrow strait. The country's capital Apia, resembling an old South Seas port during the early trading days, perches on the north coast of Upolo. Colonial-style wooden buildings and churches line the tree-shaded main street that curves around the harbor. The primary attractions include Parliament House, the village green, Independence Monument and the former home of Robert Louis Stevenson, now the residence of Western Samoa's head of state. A trip around the island passes mile after mile of stunning landscape, interspersed with tumbling waterfalls, breathtaking views, tiny villages, and coconut and cocoa plantations.

Day 7 - Cross International Dateline

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - At Sea

Day 9 - Aitutaki

Arrive: Mon 12 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 12 October 2026 at 17:00

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - Raiatea

Arrive: Wed 14 October 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 14 October 2026 at 17:00

The second-largest of the Society Islands is practically twinned with its neighbor Taha’a. Actually they are connected by a reef in the same lagoon and may have been one island in the past. The main town, Uturoa is where most of the population lives. It’s lively, although no competition for Tahiti. Called the Sacred Island, Raiatea’s name means “bright sky,” and it was probably the first human community in the islands. The ancient sacred site of Taputapuatea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and may have been the place from which Polynesian migrations to Hawaii, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and the rest of the South Pacific started. Although less touristed than Tahiti, caring for visitors has grown in importance. Agriculture is mainly given over to coconuts, pineapples and vanilla. Vanilla orchids are hand-pollinated, since Raiatea has no insect pollinators for vanilla blossoms. South Seas pearls are farmed in the lagoon in various colors. A hike up Mt. Tapioi rewards with stunning views of the lagoon and sea, and tall Bora Bora on the far horizon. Another favorite hike leads to the island’s three waterfalls. The tallest peak, Mt. Temehani, is the place to look for the unique, five-petaled Tiare Apetahi flowers that grow nowhere else. The lagoon is dotted with tiny motus, which are mostly coral sand beach, and are popular for castaway swimming and snorkeling adventures.

Day 12 - Huahine, French Polynesia

Arrive: Thu 15 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 15 October 2026 at 17:00

Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Leeward Islands group. At the 2017 census it had a population of 6,075.

Day 13 - Papeete

Arrive: Fri 16 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 16 October 2026 at 17:00

The islands of French Polynesia are acclaimed as the most beautiful in the South Pacific. Tahiti is the largest of the Polynesian islands and home to the capital city of Papeete, a delightful blend of cultures. Papeete, meaning the "water basket," was once a gathering place where Tahitians came to fill their calabashes with fresh water. Today, it is the gateway to the country, and boasts romantic resorts, fine dining, vibrant markets, pearl shops, and boutiques. Tahiti's mountainous interior is adorned with deep valleys and scenic waterfalls, while the rugged coastal lands are home to fields of tropical flowers, and glorious white and black sand beaches.