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Itinerary - In Brief
Itinerary - Detailed
Day 1:
Depart for Tahiti, French Polynesia
Arrive and overnight at your elegant hotel.
Day 2:
Tahiti, French Polynesia
Aita pea pea – no problem! That’s the attitude in Papeete, a place once immortalized by Gauguin and Michener. Take a tour of Tahiti. Pick up a craft from the 150-year-old municipal market, a cacophony of colors, smells and sounds. Relax or take a swim at the stunning InterContinental Resort, where a day room awaits. Board the Spirit of Oceanus to begin your cruise.
Day 3:
Huahine, French Polynesia
Archeologists have found that human habitation goes back over 1,300 years on Huahine, and the island is the home to over 200 ancient marae stone temples, waiting to be explored. Huahine is also known as “The Garden Island” for its lush, green tropical foliage. Small villages and groves of almond and acacia trees dot its coast. Don’t miss the chance to snorkel the island’s beautiful lagoon.
Day 4:
At Sea
Mingle with friends or kick your feet up and enjoy some downtime.
Day 5:
Atiu, Cook Islands
To get a true feel for the Cook Islands, you must travel to where the tourists don’t: to the outer island of Atiu, a.k.a., Enuamanu, “the Land of the Birds.” Keep your eyes peeled for the rare Kakerori (Rarotongan flycatcher). Here you’ll also have a chance to meet villagers, watch traditional dances, visit ancient stone marae sites and try a taste of the local produce. While the Atiuans were once fierce warriors, known to attack, slaughter and eat their neighbors, today the cuisine is more traditional: bananas, citrus fruit, pawpaws, breadfruit, coconut and fish.
Day 6:
Palmerston, Cook Islands
Believe it or not, all 50 of Palmerston’s inhabitants are descendants of English ship carpenter and barrelmaker, William Marsters. Marsters arrived on the island in 1863 with two Polynesian wives. He quickly added a third wife and propagated a large family of 21 children before he died at 78. By the time his youngest daughter Titana Tangi died in 1973, there were over 1,000 Marsters descendants living in Rarotonga and New Zealand. Old English – with a distinct Gloucester accent – is still spoken today on Palmerston. Visit with residents, and (weather permitting) savor the flavors of a traditional barbecue.
Day 7:
At Sea
Embrace the warm, salty air of the vast, blue Pacific. Let it fill your lungs and soothe your skin.
Day 8:
Apia
Visit Vailima, high above the sea in Apia, where Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island) built a home and spent the last few years of his life. Ramble through the Botanical Garden Reserve before sipping tea at Aggie Grey’s, a hotel that catered to American soldiers during World War II. Good snorkeling opportunities are available here.
Day 9:
Savai'i, Western Samoa
While Savai’i is the largest of the Polynesian islands (outside of Hawai’i and New Zealand) it is also one of the most unspoiled, and one of the only places you can toss a coconut in a pupu (blowhole) and watch as an explosive jet of water propels it skyward. Explore ancient ruins, roaring waterfalls, virgin rainforest, white beaches, black lava fields, massive volcanoes and traditional Samoan life.
Day 10:
Niuatoputapu, Tonga/Cross International Date Line
Captain Cook deemed the islands of Tonga the “friendly islands,” for the warm reception he received. Tongans are not only famous for being the most affable of the South Sea islanders—they are known for their singing as well. Visit local villages, hike over barren lava flows, snorkel pristine waters or watch as horses haul wet pandanus leaves from the lagoon where they are soaked in preparation for making tapa cloth.
Day 11:
At Sea
Bask in the amenities of the Spirit of Oceanus as she cruises between islands. Exploration Leaders and Guest Speakers will whet your appetite for the natural history and cultures you are about to experience.
Day 12:
Taveuni / Kioa, Fiji
This privately owned island is home to 300 people, hundreds of waterfalls and the Bouma National Park, Fiji’s most pristine, mist-enshrouded rainforest. Learn about Taveuni’s rich natural history and plentiful birdlife and snorkel its coral reef, nourished by strong currents and brimming with life.
Day 13:
Beqa, Fiji
Watch in disbelief as Sawau tribesman walk seemingly painlessly over searing hot stones reaching 1200 degrees Fahrenheit in a firewalking ceremony, a tradition passed down through generations. For two weeks before the event, chosen participants eliminate coconut from their diet and segregate themselves from females in order to “purify” themselves before practicing the ancient art. There is world-class snorkeling and diving in Bequa’s beautiful waters.
Day 14:
Viti Levu, Fiji
Disembark the Spirit of Oceanus. A day room awaits you at the elegant Westin Resort Denarau. Freshen up before an afternoon tour of Lautoka, the sugar city, surrounded by the azure Pacific Ocean on one side and green-gold sugar cane on the other. Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home.
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