Category: South Pacific

On our sea days we had two interesting lectures on the history of Australia.  It has been continuously inhabited for 60,000 to 65,000 years but only “discovered” since the 18th century.   It was settled by Southeast Asians during the ice age.  Their history is one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world.…

Having left Australia, our next destination is Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.  Comprising over 17,000 islands, it is the world’s largest archipelagic state and 14th-largest country by area.  The archipelago has been inhabited since prehistoric times.  By the second millennium, it had become a…

Tonga Tonga is the South Pacific’s only monarchy, and Nuku’alofa is its capital. It is the administrative center of the country and home to the Royal Palace and graves located on the waterfront. Tonga was first inhabited about 3,000 years ago by Austronesian-speaking people of the Lapita culture from Southeast…

Cook Islands Rarotonga is a kidney-shaped, volcanic island and the largest and most populous island in the Cook Islands, known for its stunning natural beauty and vibrant culture.  The island features volcanic landscapes, lush foliage, and beautiful beaches. Its capital, Avarua, is on the north coast and where our ship anchored.  The…

Ra’iatea Our first stop on this leg was the island of Ra’iatea, the second largest of the Society Islands.  We docked in Uturoa, the main town on the island.   Ra’iatea is a “sacred” island, considered the birthplace of Polynesian culture because it is the birthplace of the gods. It has many…

Nuku Hiva Our first port is Nuku Hiva one of the 14 islands that make up the Marquesas group. It is the capital of this group, the biggest of the Marquesas Islands, and the second biggest island in French Polynesia after Tahiti.  Its rugged wooded terrain rises to Mount Tekao which…

Oceania P Pacific Lagoons and Retreats–San Diego to Pape’ete, French Polynesia Departure We boarded the beautiful Oceania Vista on March 7th; this is our second voyage on this ship and we love it. The Vista was christened on May 8, 2023. On this trip, the Vista has about 1000 passengers,…