9-DAY FIJI

Sydney is a definite stop on every cruise that travels Down Under and often serves as a starting or ending point for ships that also travel to New Zealand. Australia's largest city, Sydney is one of the world's most intriguing ports of call, with its appeal extending from a sophisticated and vibrant urban metropolis to stunning natural wonders. Although it is a modern city strongly influenced by British roots and current American popular culture, Sydney's real character is derived from its exotic location and brash beauty. Walking through the glass and concrete downtown, known as the Central Business District (CBD), you could be in any other Western-culture metropolis -- until a fluorescent red and green lorikeet parrot swoops overhead or an unexpected flash of the brilliant blue harbour appears between the skyscrapers. Any proper visit to Sydney must begin in the harbour, which is both the birthplace of the city and its current iconic centrepiece. The area is called Circular Quay (pronounced "key" by locals). It is hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a city's heart than this, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge displayed against the inlet's bright water. Sydney spreads across a massive geographic area, but the majority of its most interesting areas can be found near the ocean coast in the area known as the Eastern suburbs, as well as in its delightful inner-city neighbourhoods, which each possess a distinct vibe. Oxford Street, the main thoroughfare running east from downtown to the ocean beaches, hosts Sydney's famous gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade each February and is popular year-round because of its bars and cafes. Sydney is a well-balanced blend of a big city lifestyle and the laid-back Australian mentality. Although Aussies who hail from other towns often disparage Sydney for its flashiness and hectic pace, urban inconveniences seem minor here compared to places like New York and London (although the peak-hour traffic and public transport system are actually quite bad). Tourism is a huge industry around Sydney, and locals are accustomed to providing visitors with service, helpful directions and a rousing welcome to the stunning city that they call home.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

With a string of bays and beaches stretching along a peninsula protected by coral reefs, Noumea is a slice of the French Riviera in the South Pacific. The capital of New Caledonia and a territory of France, it's the perfect destination for gastronomes and cultural connoisseurs. Everyone from water sports enthusiasts to nature devotees can find plenty of diversion in and around this "Provencal" city. The islands of New Caledonia, east of Australia and north of New Zealand, are becoming ever more popular stops for cruises originating in Sydney, Auckland and Brisbane, in addition to transPacific and world itineraries. Stops at Noumea might precede those at more isolated beaches on New Caledonia's islands, including the Isle of Pines, Lifou in the Loyalty Islands, and Poum to the north. Noumea is the centre of New Caledonia's epicurean and cultural scene, with restaurants serving French, Asian and brousse (bush) cuisine, and museums exhibiting art and Melanesian artefacts. Shoppers will find top wines and other goods imported from France. Its expansive waterfront is a sports playground for windsurfers and kiteboarders, joggers and sun-worshippers, too. The city is also a jumping-off point for land tours to spots such as Forest Park and Blue River Park, where you might see a rare cagou bird or flying fox. You can hunt in the bushland or hike the hills that rise above the city and beaches. Other excursions include a host of boating possibilities, from sightseeing to snorkelling and diving to fishing. Noumea also offers a range of sailing options around its archipelago. There are numerous excellent mooring choices for sailors, and many sites still look untouched. Along with South Pacific's Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands, the islands of New Caledonia all claim to be surrounded by the world's largest lagoon. It doesn't really matter. There are huge, fish-filled bodies of water between the mainland and outer reef. Noumea's unmatched waters and beaches, spans of hills and bush, as well as its vibrant cityscape, make it an enjoyable port of call.

It might only be a drop in the South Pacific ocean but Mystery Island has captivated the hearts and imaginations of Australian cruisers. Inyeug (as it's known by the locals) is an uninhabited paradise on the southernmost tip of Vanuatu. From a distance, the coconut trees and sandy beaches look inviting, but it's not until you're nearly at the dock that the true magnificence of this unspoilt tropical island becomes apparent. Island life moves at a different pace and one of the first things visitors are enveloped by is the serenity. There are three sounds that will tickle your ears here: the sublime harmonies of the locals that fill the humid air; the lapping of gentle waves; and the hacking of machetes against young coconuts. There is a fourth sound -- a twin-engine Air Vanuatu plane, however only a handful of people witness this rare occurrence (twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays). The beauty of Mystery Island is that you can do as little or as much as you want. If snorkelling and swimming are what you desire, then this sublime spot provides some of the clearest, pristine waters in the Pacific. If you'd like to explore the island on foot, it's an easy half-an-hour walk -- just don't stumble onto the grass airstrip. Local tours are available, and the operators are organised and friendly. Cruise passengers can also peruse the market stalls for souvenirs or get your hair braided.

The sun is beating down, the water is a thousand shades of clear, crystal blue, and the market stalls are gearing up for a big day. It's another day in paradise in Port Vila -- fairly sleepy for much of the time, but transformed into a hive of tourist activity when a cruise ship arrives. There is not much evidence, to the casual observer, of Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam's handiwork back in March 2015, when it caused one of the worst natural disasters ever experienced in Vanuatu's history. It's true that some resorts remain closed, such as Iririki Island Resort across the harbour from Port Vila Township, which is still under considerable construction. Some trees still sit at odd angles, or even remain where they ended up, on top of cars or boats, while other sea vessels remain upside down, strangely high up the embankment. Enough time has now passed, however, that you now have to really look for the items out of place; Port Vila has largely recovered and its tourism industry is humming along nicely. The beaches are clear and startlingly white, and the water visibility is prodigiously clear. Cyclone Pam destroyed a reported 96 per cent of crops on the islands of Efate (home of Port Vila) and Tanna, further south, and the price of food, such as bananas, is possibly higher than it was before. Yet other reports say that pawpaw seeds flew so extensively in the winds that pawpaw plants are now growing like weeds. So, eat pawpaw rather than banana! Port Vila is clean, friendly and easy in so many ways. Public buses take you anywhere you want to go in town, without the need for schedules or timetables. Quoted prices are generally firm -- and fair -- without the need for chicanery or negotiation. Families with children are not only tolerated, but rather welcomed with open arms; many resorts offer nannies at a very low rate, while anyone in the street is keen for a cuddle with a bub. Even the local language, Bislama, is based mostly on English and can be quite simply deciphered. The main part of town is simple to navigate, centred on the Lini Highway that runs alongside the water. South of the town, the roads curve into the large finger of land that includes the Main Wharf on the town side and the further-flung resorts and beaches of the Pango area. Although less sheltered here and badly struck by 2015's cyclone, the recovery effort has been strong. North of town, the road heads off to the tourism hotspot of Mele Bay, home of waterfalls, adventure parks and Hideaway Island. Those seeking adventure in Port Vila will find natural wonders, exciting sports and activities and never a dull moment in the water or even in the air (or both, if you want to try flyboarding). Culture vultures can soak up the local colour in the main markets or on a village tour, and shoppers will be gobsmacked by some of the tax-free prices. However, Port Vila is the kind of place where one can have a truly lovely time doing nothing at all -- hang out with locals over taro pancakes, putter along in a water taxi or ferry, catch a ride on a bus and slip the driver a bit extra to stay and natter as you circle the town. Do as much or as little as you like, and fall into the rhythm of 'island time'.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Sydney is a definite stop on every cruise that travels Down Under and often serves as a starting or ending point for ships that also travel to New Zealand. Australia's largest city, Sydney is one of the world's most intriguing ports of call, with its appeal extending from a sophisticated and vibrant urban metropolis to stunning natural wonders. Although it is a modern city strongly influenced by British roots and current American popular culture, Sydney's real character is derived from its exotic location and brash beauty. Walking through the glass and concrete downtown, known as the Central Business District (CBD), you could be in any other Western-culture metropolis -- until a fluorescent red and green lorikeet parrot swoops overhead or an unexpected flash of the brilliant blue harbour appears between the skyscrapers. Any proper visit to Sydney must begin in the harbour, which is both the birthplace of the city and its current iconic centrepiece. The area is called Circular Quay (pronounced "key" by locals). It is hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a city's heart than this, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge displayed against the inlet's bright water. Sydney spreads across a massive geographic area, but the majority of its most interesting areas can be found near the ocean coast in the area known as the Eastern suburbs, as well as in its delightful inner-city neighbourhoods, which each possess a distinct vibe. Oxford Street, the main thoroughfare running east from downtown to the ocean beaches, hosts Sydney's famous gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade each February and is popular year-round because of its bars and cafes. Sydney is a well-balanced blend of a big city lifestyle and the laid-back Australian mentality. Although Aussies who hail from other towns often disparage Sydney for its flashiness and hectic pace, urban inconveniences seem minor here compared to places like New York and London (although the peak-hour traffic and public transport system are actually quite bad). Tourism is a huge industry around Sydney, and locals are accustomed to providing visitors with service, helpful directions and a rousing welcome to the stunning city that they call home.