Pacific Islands Cruise Destination Guide

With the introduction of Princess cruises exotic and the Orient cruises, the South Pacific is now more widely accessible to clients of Savensail. There are superb opportunities to visit several islands in a single cruise holiday with optional extentions to New Zealand, Australia and the Far East on the Diamond Princess, Star Princess, Royal Princess and Tahitian Princess.

The Islands of Fiji are the most diverse in the South Pacific. There are over 300 of them to visit. With over 400,000 tourists now visiting and the numbers growing each year, and a highly developed tourist infrastructure, Fiji is the envy of its South Pacific neighbours. There is something here for everyone - gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, uninhabited coral islands and crystal clear lagoons, truly beautiful coral reefs, lush tropical rainforest with high mountains and a traditional village-orientated culture.

The Cook Islands is a collection of 15 islands in the heart of Polynesia mid way between Tahiti and Tonga. Cook Islands tourism is centred mostly around Rarotonga, the main population centre with the international airport. Rarotonga has high volcanic mountain peaks covered in tropical rain forest and lots of small beach resorts. Aitutaki is a small island 45-minutes flight to the north with attractive beaches and a beautiful lagoon and is the only other frequently visited island by tourists. Of the other islands, Atiu is good for eco tourism and has a few guesthouses. The Cook Islands is a self-governing dependency of New Zealand with its own parliament but uses the New Zealand currency.

Samoa evolves around two separate countries: Western Samoa and American Samoa. The two countries are separated by only 50 miles of ocean and share a common history and culture. This compact collection of islands makes Samoa an excellent destination for those who love to get out and explore and is one of the few South Pacific destinations where you can see the majority of sights in one short visit. But when you leave, you'll be itching to get back - the enchanting local culture and sometimes unpredictable lifestyle of the local people make Samoa one of the best places in the South Pacific to experience traditional Polynesian life.

Tonga is extremely low key with just a handful of beach resorts around the islands. However, lack of commercial tourism makes this one of the hidden jewels of the South Pacific where the charm of the people and the down-to-earth charachter of the resorts play an integral part in making your holiday special. Apart from the glorious beaches and small islands, Tonga is an excellent destination for sailing, game fishing or exploring by water. This is the only South Pacific country not to have been colonized by Europeans and remains the only monarchy in the region. The Tongan Kings once ruled most of its neighbouring islands wielding enormous power throughout Polynesia. Today, the islands retain its proud and rich culture and offer tourists a remarkable array of attractions.

French Polynesia, better known as the Tahiti Islands after its largest and most populated island, ius the epitomy of Polynesia - rugged rain forest clad mounatin peaks tumbling into stunning lagoons, an abundance of tropical fruits and a people so graceful you might think you had arrived in heaven. The islands lie to the west of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands with 35 islands and 83 atolls in all dotted amongst over 5 million sq. km of ocean. Tahiti travel was first made famous by Captain Bligh and the Mutiny of the Bounty and along with its enchanting scenery, beautiful people and the vivid colours of French painter Paul Gauguin, French Polynesia has become one of the icons of the South Pacific.

Many of these destinations are also ports of call on P&O Cruises world cruise holidays and also other leading cruise lines including Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Cunard and Silversea Cruises.

Call the team at The Cruise Village on 0844 736 9370 to discuss your cruise holiday to the Pacific Islands.

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