Day 1 – Sydney, Australia

Departs 06:00 pm.

As your ship passes Harbour Heads, you are presented with the shimmering skyline of Sydney – hailed by many seafarers as “the most beautiful harbor in the world.” Two prominent landmarks, Harbour Bridge and the sail-like curves of the Sydney Opera House, grace the backdrop of this picturesque harbor. There is a wealth of adventure waiting in Sydney – from its cosmopolitan city center to miles of beautiful beaches and the Blue Mountains.Australia’s oldest and largest city was born in 1788 with the arrival of the “First Fleet” transporting 760 British convicts. Today, Sydney is the largest port in the South Pacific and is often voted the most popular destination in the South Pacific.

Day 2 – At Sea

Day 3 – Brisbane, Australia

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Once considered the “country cousin” among Australian cities, Brisbane is today the nation’s third-largest metropolis – and one of the most desirable places to live in the country. Lying on the banks of the meandering Brisbane River, this cosmopolitan city boasts elegant 19th-century sandstone buildings, a lively cultural scene and superb parklands. Brisbane is also your gateway to uniquely Australian adventures, be it the theme parks of the Gold Coast or Queensland’s dazzling beaches.The beaches south of Brisbane form Queensland’s Gold Coast. Travel tip: Brisbane is pronounced “Bris-bin.”

Day 4 – At Sea

Day 5 – At Sea

Day 6 – Noumea, New Caledonia

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

The capital of New Caledonia, Noumea is a little piece of France in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Before World War II, New Caledonia was a little known and seldom-visited French possession known for its penal colony and its natural resources. (Nickel smelting still plays a major role in the island economy.) Today, travelers are drawn to New Caledonia for its scenic beauty. The island is famed for its white-sand beaches while its barrier reef is the world’s second longest. The offshore waters also offer superb diving and snorkeling.In 1774, James Cook thought the island’s rugged hills resembled those of his native Scotland. Hence he christened the island New Caledonia. The island and its outlying groups became a French colony in 1854 and an overseas department of France in 1956.

Day 7

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 8 – At Sea

Day 9 – Suva, Fiji

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 08:00 pm.

The Fiji archipelago is at the cross roads of the South Pacific. In the days of sailing ships, it was known as “The Cannibal Isles,” where mariners carefully avoided its fierce warriors and perfidious waters. Thankfully, Fiji’s pagan days live only in the tales recalled by tour guides – in rituals such as fire-walking, Kava Ceremonies and in renditions of tribal drumming, dance and song. Fiji is an exotic destination, with 333 islands that provide an exciting adventure or peaceful repose. The northwest region, where the sun shines almost every day and a tropical shower ends as quickly as it began, is home to the majority of the resorts. Suva, the political, administrative, educational and commercial center, has a backdrop of lush rainforest maintained by the inevitable “tropical downpour.” The people of Fiji are the most multiracial and multicultural of all South Pacific island countries – this being reflected in churches of all denominations, mosques, temples and shrines. Built around a reef-protected natural harbor, Suva, with its colonial buildings nestled alongside modern commercial venues, shops and local markets, parks and residential sprawl, is home to nearly half of Fiji’s urban population.

Day 10 – At Sea

Day 11 – Nuku’alofa, Tonga

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Over 170 islands compose the last monarchy in Polynesia. Tongatapu (“Sacred Garden”) is the largest island in the realm, and Nuku’alofa is both its capital and its largest town. Never colonized by the West, Tonga remains one of the last expressions of pure Polynesian culture. Tonga also boasts magnificent white-sand beaches, stunning coral islets and the most spectacular blowholes in the Pacific.Polynesians may have colonized Tonga as early as the 5th century B.C. The island boasts some of the most important archaeological sites in the Pacific.Nuku’alofa port – the ship Dock Alongside Vuna Wharf

Day 11 – Cross International Date Line

Arrives 07:00 pm, departs 08:00 pm.

The International Date Line is an imaginary line extending from the North Pole to the South Pole through the Pacific Ocean. It serves as the 180th meridian of longitude, and is used to designate the beginning of each calendar day.As you know, each adjacent time zone on the map has an hour time difference. However, at the International Date Line, +12 hours and -12 hours meet, bringing about a 24-hour time change. When your ship crosses to the west it’s one day later; if your ship crosses to the east, you’ve gone back a day.Crossing the International Date Line has long been a rite of passage for sailors, who often must participate in a line-crossing ceremony to become part of the sacred “Order of the Golden Dragon”, an honorary naval fraternity.

Day 12 – At Sea

Day 13 – At Sea

Day 14 – Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Day 15 – At Sea

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Day 26

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

Day 27 – At Sea

Day 28

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

Day 29

Arrives 06:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 30 – Cartagena, Colombia

Arrives 10:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

One of the more interesting cities on your itinerary steeped in history. This was the transit port for all the wealth Spain derived from South America. The famous “Old City” is comprised of 12 square blocks filled with attractions, boutiques and restaurants. Throughout Colombia, the Spanish Empire’s influence in the New World is self-evident. Its fortress walls, quaint narrow streets, and balconied houses are all vivid reminders of Spain’s hold on Cartagena and throughout the Caribbean and South America. This is the land of El Dorado and flamboyant adventurers in search of the ever-elusive gold. Cartagena’s well-constructed fortifications defended its borders against seafaring pirates whose attacks lasted for more than 200 years. Today this modern and bustling city, seaport, and commercial center still boasts much of its original colonial architecture. Your journey here will provide you with a significant link to the region’s grand past.**Please note that passengers may encounter numerous local vendors at various tourist locations and may find them to be persistent in their sales offers.

Day 31 – At Sea

Day 32 – Aruba

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Dutch influence still lingers on this balmy Caribbean island, part of the former Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986. Aruba is a contrast: the island’s arid interior is dotted with cactus and windswept divi-divi trees while secluded coves and sandy beaches make up its coast. Aruba’s long and colorful heritage is reflected in its dialect. Called Papiamento, it is a tongue that combines elements of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, African and English.

Day 33 – At Sea

Day 34 – Barbados

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.

Barbados is one of the few Caribbean islands solely colonized by one nation. It’s no wonder Bajans describe their country as being “more English than England sheself,” surnames like Worthing and Hastings abound. But look around and you know you’re not in England: rich and fertile tropical fields meet a glistening, azure sea. The soft pastels of old chattel houses blend with the vibrant reds, oranges, and greens of roadside fruit stands. In short, Barbados exudes a charm all its own. Perhaps it is due to Bajan culture, that celebrated blend of English tradition and the African heritage brought to the island by slaves imported to work the sugar plantations. The potent brew which results flavors every aspect of island life, from music, dance and art, to religion, language and food.

Day 35 – At Sea

Day 36 – At Sea

Day 37 – At Sea

Day 38 – At Sea

Day 39 – At Sea

Day 40 – At Sea

Day 41 – Madeira (Funchal), Portugal

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.

The capital of Madeira is named after the fennel (funcha) that once flowered there in profusion. The largest island in the Madeira Archipelago was discovered in 1419 by Portuguese explorers venturing south into the Atlantic. The island is nearly equidistant from Lisbon and the African coast, and its unique geographical position allowed Madeira to play a pivotal role in European discovery. Seamen such as Christopher Columbus gained knowledge and experience plying the routes of the island’s sugar trade. When sugar declined, the island’s famed wines continued to provide a robust trade. By the late 18th century, Madeira’s mild climate, rocky peaks, and lush valleys provided a winter haven to Europe’s aristocrats. Visitors still flock to the island today, drawn by its scenery and its weather.Funchal is noted for its superb hand-embroidery and wicker ware, both Madeira specialties. The island, of course, is also noted for its superb wines: they are perhaps the world’s most complex and long lasting wines.

Day 42 – Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Canary Islands

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Tenerife is the largest island in the Canary Archipelago. Like its brethren, Tenerife was formed by fierce volcanic activity. Its landscape remains dotted with volcanic cones and areas of intense geothermal activity. Towering over the island is Mt Teide, an extinct volcano that, at 12,200 feet above sea level, is the highest peak in Spanish territory. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the island’s capital and your port of call.Tenerife’s north shore is separated from the south by rugged mountains, creating a rain shadow. The majority of the islands most recent resorts are found in the sere and parched south shore.

Day 43 – At Sea

Day 44

Arrives 10:00 am, departs 08:00 pm.

Day 45 – Gibraltar

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 03:00 pm.

The Rock crouches over the sea like an ancient stone beast, looking Sphinx-like to Africa. Beneath the white cliffs of this natural fortress grows a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers thrive here, some not found anywhere else on Earth. Gibraltar’s stunning setting is matched by its history – five countries have battled for 13 centuries to control the passage between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The result made for a cultural melting pot. Veiled Moroccan women in caftans and vacationing Englishmen and Spaniards stroll along the narrow, steep lanes. The locals revert to a liquid Spanish when talking among themselves. And visitors to a 15th-century cathedral pass through a blue-tiled courtyard, once part of a 13th-century mosque.Helmeted bobbies, pillar-boxes and pubs make for a bit of Britain in the Mediterranean. Gibraltar is a fascinating place, from its caves and batteries to the Barbary apes gamboling on the slopes of the Rock.

Day 46 – At Sea

Day 47 – Corsica (Ajaccio), France

Arrives 09:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

In 1811, Napoleon Bonaparte – then Napoleon I, Emperor of the French – made Corsica a department of France. He also moved the capital from Bastia to his hometown of Ajaccio.The capital of Corsica, Ajaccio is the island’s largest town (although we know that the capital of Corsica is Paris, and Ajaccio & Bastia are roughly the same size) – and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. One can stroll past the cathedral where the future emperor was baptized–the Casa Bonaparte is a museum devoted to the imperial glory. But Corsica is also the “scented isle” – a place of dramatic shoreline cliffs, small coves, and golden beaches. The island interior consists of stony mountains carpeted in macchia, a low, thick, chaparral comprised of aromatic Corsican mint, rock roses, and myrtle. Everywhere you’ll discover traces of the island’s long and colorful history, from medieval walled towns to seaside villages guarded by 16th-century towers. Though the island has been part of France since the late 18th century, Corsica retains its own distinct culture and flavor.

Day 48

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 11:59 pm.

Day 49

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 50 – Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome’s seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications.Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome’s Bohemian Quarter.Rome has been a magnet luring the world’s greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

Day 51 – At Sea

Day 52 – Barcelona, Spain

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

The 1992 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans and seasoned travelers already knew – Barcelona is one of the world’s greatest treasures. Vibrant and earthy, commercial and cultural, this city of two million residents is the capital of Spain’s autonomous region of Catalonia. Stroll along the wide, tree-lined promenades of Las Ramblas and marvel at the spires of Gaudi’s Basilica La Sagrada Familia. Or visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic – also home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler’s paradise.

Day 53

Arrives 10:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

Day 54 – At Sea

Day 55 – Lisbon, Portugal

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

Draped across seven hills, Lisbon was once the center of a vast maritime empire that stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Spice Islands of the East Indies. Then, on November 1, 1755, a violent earthquake destroyed two-thirds of the city in the space of 10 minutes. Only the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter, survived. Today, Lisbon is a stately city of Neoclassical buildings and wide plazas.

Day 56 – At Sea

Day 57 – At Sea

Day 58 – Galway, Ireland

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Its history may date back eight centuries and its heart may revel in its reputation as Ireland’s Cultural Heart but Galway has a personality that possesses a spirit, a drive and an attitude that keeps this city looking forward. Along with a city center that pulsates with cozy cafés and bustling shops you’ll discover a maze of medieval streets that invite exploration and photogenic centuries-old churches and castles. And just outside the iconic city walls is a world of untouched beauty-a picturesque countryside that boasts heather-covered hillsides, gently rolling grasslands, charming villages and ancient stone walls. During your stay be assured that Galway’s multiple personalities will create one unforgettable vacation destination.

Day 59

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Day 60

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

Day 61

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

Day 62

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 09:00 pm.

Day 63 – At Sea

Day 64 – Dover (for London), England

Arrives 07:00 am.

Visible for miles from sea, the White Cliffs of Dover are an instantly recognizable symbol of England. Modern highways make Dover the doorstep to London – Britain’s ever-fascinating capital. Visitors to this great city have a wealth of pleasures to choose from. Explore the notorious Tower of London and view the Crown Jewels. Visit Windsor Castle or see Westminster Abbey. The choices are fascinating and endless. Dover is also your gateway to Kent’s green countryside, dotted with old medieval towns and castles.Dover has played a major role in world history since the days of the Norman invasion. Today 13th century Dover Castle dominates a harbour filled with cross-channel ferries and merchant and passenger shipping.