Legends of the Pacific 17D/16N

Incredible South Seas Islands Hospitality - courtesy of the Tahiti Tourist BoardJourney from Guam to Fiji…or reverse, to investigate the ruins of the “Venice of the South Pacific”, Nan Madol; Traditional Villages, WWII Sites and Snorkeling. Seldom explored by outside visitors, our voyage of discovery includes a unique combination of age-old primative island cultures, mementos of World War II sites in the Pacific, and some of the most spectacular snorkeling opportunities on Earth. Scattered across the Western Pacific lie some of the most remote and exquisite island chains in the world.

The Pacific Ocean contains an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 islands (the exact number has yet to be precisely determined). Those islands lying south of the tropic of Cancer but excluding Australia are traditionally grouped into three divisions: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Inhabitants are sometimes referred to as Pacific Islanders. Pacific islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania (although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago).

The region’s islands are classified into two groups, high islands and low islands. Volcanoes form high islands, which generally can support more people and have a more fertile soil. Low islands are reefs or atolls, and are relatively small and infertile. Melanesia, the most populated of the three regions, contains mainly high islands, while most of Micronesia and Polynesia are low islands.

  • Melanesia means black islands. These include New Guinea (the largest Pacific island, which is divided into the sovereign nation of Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Irian Jaya), New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands.
  • Micronesia means small islands. These include the Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Most of these lie north of the equator.
  • Polynesia means many islands. These include New Zealand, the Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, the Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island. It is the largest of the three zones.

Spirit of Oceanus in the South Seas Islands - courtesy ofCruise WestCruise Highlights
Begin you journey in Fiji, Viseisei, where you’ll take part in a traditional Kava ceremony and be treated to local song and dance. Tour the delicate orchids of the Garden of the Sleeping Giant before boarding the Spirit of Oceanus. Take part in the powerful and mysterious Rom dance on Ambrym Island, Vanuatu and explore its seething active lava lakes, eerie mist-shrouded jungle and jagged black moonscape. On to the Solomon Islands where you may tour World War II sites and learn about the culture of the Islands. Let the mist of a rushing waterfall cool your face as you traverse the tropical forest of Pohnpei, teeming with over 40 species of birds, reptiles and deer. Visit the ancient ruins of Nan Madol (“the Venice of the Pacific”), said to be over 700 years old. Snorkel around a sunken Japanese destroyer, or explore the remains of the battle known as Operation Hailstorm at Tonoas, Chuuk. Some of the most renowned sailors in the Pacific live on Satawal Island, traveling phenomenal distances in outrigger canoes, navigating by the stars and the ocean’s waves. Visit their village and feel the energy and rhythm of a traditional dance. Experience your first ceremonial dance before taking a plunge into Ifaluk’s shallow lagoon, brimming with tropical fish and vivid sea fans. Find spectacular wildlife on Gaferut Atoll and the significant Spanish influence on Guam. You will notice the colorful mastizas worn by the women and in the architecture of the southern villages.

The Ship: Cruise West’s first oceangoing vessel is also our most spacious and luxurious. Equipped with stabilizers, the Spirit of Oceanus opens up whole new horizons for our style of up-close, casual small-ship cruising. In Alaska, that means the Gulf of Alaska and the remote vastness of the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea. Our flagship hosts just 120 guests in comfortable outside suites, each with a picture window or porthole. The 15 suites on the Sun and Sports Decks feature private teak balconies, the first in our fleet. Other cabin amenities unique to the Spirit of Oceanus include a walk-in closet or wardrobe, a large marble bathroom, and a lounge area. Each suite also features an in-room safe and satellite telephone access.

Included: The cost of your cruise includes service charges for land-based personnel and fees which covers taxes/port charges/fees and onboard services including exploration leaders and interpreters . Excursion in every port. Wildlife detours and insider experiences. Onboard gratuities are neither required nor expected. From $6799.

Not Included: Air fare from your home city and return. Passport and visa fees. Air departure taxes.

2008 Departure Southbound: Dec 28
2009 Departure Northbound: Feb 26

Gaugin painting of the South Seas Islands - courtesy ofCruise WestNorhtbound Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrive Nadi/Lautoka, Fiji
  • Day 2 - At Sea
  • Day 3 - Ambrym Island, Vanuatu
  • Day 4 - Tikopia, Solomon Islands
  • Day 5 - At Sea
  • Day 6 - Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
  • Day 7 - Santa Isabela Island, Solomon Islands
  • Day 8 - At Sea
  • Day 9 - At Sea
  • Day 10 - Pohnpei, Island FSM
  • Day 11 - At Sea
  • Day 12 - Tonoas, Chuuk
  • Day 13 - Satawal Island, YAP
  • Day 14 - Ifaluk, YAP
  • Day 15 - Gaferut Atoll, YAP
  • Day 16 - Guam, U.S.A.
  • Day 17 - Guam, U.S.A. transfer to airport

Souhtbound Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrive In Guam
  • Day 2 - Guam
  • Day 3 - Gaferut Atoll, Yap
  • Day 4 - Ifaluk, Yap
  • Day 5 - Satawal Island, Yap
  • Day 6 - Tonoas Island, Chuuk
  • Day 7 - At Sea
  • Day 8 - Pohnpei Island, Federated States Of Micronesia (Fsm)
  • Day 9 - At Sea Cross The Equator
  • Day 10 - At Sea, Continued.
  • Day 11 - Santa Isabela Island, Solomon Islands
  • Day 12 - Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
  • Day 13 - At Sea
  • Day 14 - Tikopia, Solomon Islands
  • Day 15 - Ambrym, Vanuatu
  • Day 16 - At Sea
  • Day 17 - Nadi/Lautoka, Fiji

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Also tagged with: Cruise Expeditions, Archaeology, Fiji, Vanuatu, Active Travel, American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Guam, Educational, Cultural, Music Events, Nature / Ecology, Bird Watching, South Seas, Cruise West, World War II, Snorkeling, Exploration Cruise, Islands


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