The ideal speed for travelling to the Pacific Islands is a South Pacific cruise… explore the remote islands, motus and atolls accessible only by ship, pausing often to learn traditional skills from the welcoming South Pacific Islanders and discover the stunning beauty of this tropical region… At sea on a South Pacific cruise you’ll live life at a different pace, no traffic and no rigid routines… If you want to do nothing but snooze, swim, read and sunbathe, that’s fine. However, if you’d like to go shopping, take some exercise or a dance class, luxuriate in the spa, learn shuffleboard or a new hobby, they’re all there for the taking…. For however long you’re aboard, every day and every night on any South Pacific cruise there’s always something you’ll love to do.

And anytime of year is perfect to cruise the South Pacific… The northern part, known as Micronesia, is devoid of a tourist season and enjoys fine weather year round. The Federated States of Micronesia has 15 main islands and 92 outer islands. This is an excellent place for diving and its undersea forest of shipwrecks is a scuba lovers’ heaven.

Polynesia is the largest part of Oceania extending to include islands such as the Hawaiian Islands to the north and Easter Island in the far south… Tahiti in French Polynesia is incredibly beautiful, arriving on a cruise you berth at the port of Papeete with its ebony peaks rising from the blue tropical seas, miles of pristine beaches and its lush tropical lagoons, Tahiti is truly an island paradise… it was no wonder that the impressionist painter Gauguin once chose to call this island home… Bora Bora is another fabulous place to discover lagoons and mysterious rock formations

Any South Pacific cruise is a voyage of discovery… Who built the strange ruins at Nan Madol?.. How did the first Polynesians survive on remote atolls where conditions were so extreme?.. Through on board narration, lectures, and slide shows, you’ll expand your understanding and appreciation of the cultures and natural history of the places you visit. And when your South Pacific cruise takes you to new shores, guided shore excursions by people who live and work in these island communities will give you an intimate hands-on perspective that brings these insights to life.

Weather on your South Pacific cruise
Like Australia’s Whitsunday Islands, the weather is tropical and warm with New Caledonia, Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu having only moderate temperature changes between seasons. The most favoured sailing-cruise season is the dry winter months between April and November, when temperatures are in the comfortable 70s F (low 20s C), winds are dependable, and unsettled weather is infrequent.

South Pacific Cruise Destinations

A community of 3,300 islands.

Cook... stunning is a word which appropriately describes the natural beauty of this widespread chain of sun-bleached atolls and volcanic green islands whose beauty is surpassed only by the friendliness of its people. Direct descendants of the proud Maori people, Cook Islanders will ensure your stay with them will be an unforgettable experience. Walk about in a Pareu (sarong), adorn yourself with flowers, blend in with your local hosts and enjoy the unspoilt nature of this dream destination. Although just 234 square kilometres in land mass area, its population of just over 17,000 people willingly share their tropical islands with visitors.

Fiji... often referred to as the 'crossroads of the South Pacific' because of its geographical location, the Fiji Islands is a hospitable land of contrasts in people, flora, fauna and culture. It is home to people who have been called the friendliest on earth. It is made up of a chain of over 300 islands and is a cosmopolitan cocktail of culture, race and religion. It is a place were 'bula', the traditional Fijian greeting, is a very special word and you can relax without a care in the world. The Fiji Islands have a population of just over 750,000 and a land area of 18,200 kilometres taken up mostly by the two major islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Kiribati... the people of Kiribati (pronounced Kiri-bass) have always had a close affinity with the vast ocean which encompasses their homeland, a group of thirty three low lying coral islands and atolls. Tarawa Atoll is famous for its role in World War II, you can witness the locals dive for clamshell and octopus or fish for bigger game outside the reef. On Kiritimati (Christmas) Island you’ll find a large seabird rookery which is home to the world’s largest known colony of Sooty Terns, some 8 million birds. This tiny nation supports a population of 77,658 people on just 726 kilometres of land yet they live comfortably and happily at one with their environment.

New Caledonia... some people have likened this sophisticated French Territory to the French Riviera transported to the South Pacific. With its Parisian designer boutiques, duty free shopping, fine dining and high concentration of Europeans, it does have a distinctly international feel. Grand Terre, the island on which the capital Noumea is situated, is where everything happens. It covers a 400 kilometre long area from north to south and is 50 kilometres wide from west to east. Surrounded by a 1,600 kilometre long coral barrier reef, New Caledonia has the largest lagoon in the world (24,000 square km). Noumea’s attractive restaurants cater to all tastes and budgets ranging from the traditional French to Moroccan, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and even Vietnamese fare. Nightlife is very active in the capital with two casinos and a host of private clubs. New Caledonia’s 200,000 inhabitants are spread across seven islands. The 'Big Land' as the main island is known dominates with the Loyalty Islands and Isle of Pines making up the balance of the group.

Niue... a tiny up thrust coral atoll rising to a height of just 60 metres above sea level, Niue is composed entirely of coralline limestone and marble. The island’s most striking feature is its rugged and rocky terrain. Steep cliffs along the coastline are honeycombed by caves, chasms and blowholes. Niue prides itself on a forest undisturbed for centuries. It is a nature lover’s delight. With a population of just 2,500 people on its 258 square kilometres of land mass, this is one of the smallest and most delightful island nations in the world.

P.N.G... Papua New Guinea is a country rich in natural resources but its wealth of tradition, beauty and history is unparalleled in the Pacific. From the magnificent beaches to the cool highlands, the world above water is equally fascinating. Take a breath of fresh, crisp, mountain air 4,500 metres up at the base of Mount Wilhelm, the country’s highest peak. Thirty eight of the forty three known species of exotic Birds of Paradise are found in PNG together with countless butterflies and over 2,000 magnificent species of orchid. Beauty also lies in the people who still today, observe their delicate traditions and culture. Papua New Guinea has the biggest land mass of all the island nations of the region, covering 465,000 square kilometres and includes some 600 islands, atolls and coral reefs that guard the nations coastline and unites 200 different and distinct cultures and over 800 different languages.

Samoa... here is where Robert Louis Stevenson, the 'Tusitala' (story teller) spent his last two years and found solace in the tranquillity of this country so richly steeped in tradition. Known as 'The Treasured Island of the South Pacific', Samoa is where age-old culture and village lifestyles have been preserved for centuries. A fully independent state with a parliamentary system of government, Samoa is the largest full-blooded Polynesian country in the world. Over 90% of the country’s 170,000 plus population are full Samoans. The group is made up of 10 islands covering a land area of 2,935 square kilometres which is richly endowed with a natural beauty which appeals to the growing eco-tourism market. The largest of these islands is Savai’i (1,610 square kilometres). The Samoans cling proudly to their 2,000 year old heritage and encourage visitors to learn about and participate in their way of life.

Solomon Islands... the setting for some of World War II’s most fierce and bloody battles is today home to one of the most natural and peaceful races in the South Pacific. Here, in this archipelago of mountainous islands and low-lying coral atolls, you can experience the undiscovered delights of a primitive culture which has not allowed the advances of the outside world to overshadow it... Colourful costumes, age-old customs, rituals and taboos, they still endure in the Solomons. The second largest island chain in the region, the population of the Solomon Islands of approximately 400,000 is spread across an area of 28,530 square kilometres.

Tahiti... the sapphire blue of Tahiti and Her islands. The dazzling white of her coral sands. The brilliant greens of the elegant coconut palms. Blue, white and green; these are the predominant colours of Tahiti and Her islands. All 118 of these gorgeous Polynesian islands are spread across five far-flung archipelagos. Each with its own very individual character whose inhabitants blend the twenty first century to the ancestral rhythms of sun and sea.

Tahiti and Her islands offer a myriad of land and sea activities that will reveal to you the dazzling panorama of their magnificent scenery. The Polynesians of these lands of great beauty and natural abundance express their joie de vivre, willingly shared with all, in their dances, in their music, in the power of their brassy church choirs and in their wild and free canoes as they fly through the waves. Their hospitality is legendary. And when you come to leave these islands, you will feel the warmth of emotion as you are adorned with shell necklaces which, unlike the flowers of your arrival will never fade… Welcome to Tahiti and her islands!

Tonga... often referred to as the 'Crown Jewel of the South Pacific', Tonga is the only remaining constitutional monarchy in the South Pacific. King Taufa’ahau Topou IV reigns over this picturesque small nation which Captain Cook named the friendly islands. Religion and tradition play such an important role in everyday life there. The main island of Tongatapu is rich in culture and traditions with a touch of royalty for good measure. The Ha’apai group to the north is the ideal relaxing destination for a 'get away from it all holiday'. The northern most group of islands, Vava’u, is yachties heaven with its sheltered harbour. Whether one is included towards adventure holidays such as surfing, scuba diving, sailing or sea kayaking or just soaking up the sun, an amazing experience is to be had by all in the friendly islands of the Kingdom of Tonga. Tonga’s population of 96,000 is scattered across a chain of over 170 small islands occupying a combined land mas of just 699 square kilometres.

Tuvalu... Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest (total land area of just 26 square kilometres and a population of just 8,000) and most isolated island nations. Yet it is this smallness and isolation which is part of its attraction. Its nine atolls on which the Tuvaluans, direct descendants of the ancient Polynesians live, provide the kind of solace a person looking for somewhere to really escape the pressures of the outside world is seeking.

Vanuatu... made up of 80 islands strung out in the shape of a 'Y' and covering a total land area of 12,189 square kilometres, Vanuatu – 'The land which has always existed' brings to mind a vision of timeless tranquillity. Formerly known as the New Hebrides, the country was run (up until 1980 when it became independent) as a Condominium with administration being shared between Britain and France. Consequently there is a strong French influence evident in this beautiful country with most of the 180,000 inhabitants speaking both French and English as well as the national language Bislama – a form of Pidgin English. Whether it’s the excitement of witnessing the death-defying 'Land Divers of Pentecost' plummet earthwards or discovering the delights of its underwater wonderland, Vanuatu – the timeless lands – will captivate you.