Auckland to Valparaiso

Set on New Zealand’s North Island astride a narrow isthmus between the shimmering waters of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Auckland – or Tamaki Makaurau in Maori – is an urban oasis ringed by natural beauty. The CBD (Central Business District) is brimming with artisanal coffee shops, fine-dining restaurants, and cultural institutions like the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, but venture just beyond the skyscrapers to discover ancient mountain ranges, sculpted fjords, black-sand beaches, and lush rainforests.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Explore Suva, Fiji's enchanting capital, where a kaleidoscope of colonial architecture, bustling markets, and a fusion of Fijian, Indian, and Pacific cultures merge to create a uniquely vibrant urban experience. Suva sits on the southeast shores of mountainous Viti Levu ("Great Fiji"), largest of the over 800 islands which comprise the Republic of Fiji. Local folk traditions remain strong, like fire-walks and welcoming ceremonies, wood-carving and the fabrication of tree-bark cloth. The island's proud history is showcased in the Fiji Museum, with its impressive collection of war canoes.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

It’s all about the welcome in the beautiful port of Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango), on the shores of a deep natural harbor in the shadow of jungle-cloaked Mount Pioa – more lyrically known as Rainmaker Mountain. This is a place that has long-established, valued customs and traditions, passed down the generations over many centuries, where the offer of a drink made from the kava root has been turned into a ritual, Sunday is still a day of rest, and myths, legends and a turbulent history are shared through storytelling, dance, crafts and, of course, tattoos. But the capital of American Samoa is also a modern urban center with shops and sights including the Jean P. Haydon Museum, with its displays of war canoes, jewelry made from coconut shells and seeds, and a curious exhibition about the island chain’s role in the U.S. Apollo Space Missions

The international date line, established in 1884, passes through the mid-Pacific Ocean and roughly follows a 180 degrees longitude north to south line on the Earth. It does zigzag around political borders such as eastern Russia and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

Crossing the date line eastbound decreases the date by one day, while crossing the date line westbound increases the date. So when you cross east to west you always lose a day and crossing from west to east you get the same day twice (or gain a day).

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

This halcyon island is as spiritual as it is beautiful. The second-largest of the Society Islands after Tahiti, Raiatea is the ancient ancestral home of the Polynesian people and, legend has it, the birthplace of gods. While neighboring Bora Bora is a magnet for visitors, Raiatea has a serenity that’s unmatched, thanks in no small part to its sacred place in Polynesian history and culture. Learn more at Taputapuatea marae, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which would have been used as a ceremonial and social space, and a point where the human and spiritual worlds met. Elsewhere, while Raiatea doesn’t have the impressive beaches found on other islands, its mountainous interior offers calf-stretching hikes with glorious views, while its impossible clear waters reward divers with shipwrecks and a colorful array of marine life.

Snorkel and dive in the stunning turquoise lagoons of Bora Bora, known for its white sand beaches and luxurious overwater bungalows. Escape into the marvels of this island paradise. Bora Bora has been called the most beautiful island in the world with its tranquil lagoons, sugar-white beaches and exotic flora and fauna.

The South Pacific island of Moorea is a place rich in untouched nature and enchanting landscapes, where jagged volcanic peaks, lush emerald valleys, and crystal-clear lagoons create the perfect setting for an island escape. Known for its unique heart shape, the island is surrounded by white-sand beaches to enjoy as you take part in Shore Excursions and other outdoor activities.

Tahiti offers a blend of natural wonders and cultural experiences. Begin your day in Papeete, visiting the bustling Marché de Papeete for souvenirs and local treats. Journey to the island's interior to hike the scenic trails of Mount Aorai, providing panoramic views of the surrounding ocean and islands. Relax at Tahiti's famous black-sand beaches or take a boat trip to explore the turquoise lagoons. A visit to the Paul Gauguin Museum gives insight into the artist’s life and works inspired by Tahiti's beauty.

The Papeete Cruise Port is located right in the city center so attractions such as the vibrant Papeete Market are just a short walk away. To visit more distant attractions like the stunning Fautaua Waterfall, consider a taxi or a guided excursion. Don’t miss out on trying local Tahitian cuisine or visiting the Black Pearl Museum.

This lagoon-looped island off the northwest coast of Tahiti is the place to delve into Polynesia’s ancestral culture. Many legends swirl around the millennia-old marae (sacred meeting places) and archaeological sites, while a traditional dwelling now houses a museum under its vaulted bamboo ceiling. Once the home of Tahitian royalty, Huahine is impossibly green, its rich soil growing a bounty of crops: from bananas and breadfruit to more ornamental vanilla orchids. If you can bear to leave the island’s knockout beaches behind, hikes through the lush countryside are rewarded with dips in cool pools fed by crashing waterfalls.

A mesmerizing atoll in French Polynesia, where endless turquoise lagoons, vibrant coral reefs, and a laid-back island atmosphere provide the ultimate South Pacific sanctuary. As the second largest atoll in the world, this ring-shaped island is known for being a popular spot for scuba diving due to its diverse marine wildlife. Situated in French Polynesia, this tropical paradise offers many other activities such as dolphin watching, surfing, fishing or visiting the peaceful villages of Avatoru and Tiputa.

Few islands melt the heart like the 100 or so that make up French Polynesia. Cast adrift in the South Pacific, midway between California and Australia, this large atoll is a semi-autonomous territory of France, part of the Tuamotu archipelago, northeast of the main island of Tahiti. Together with six neighboring islands, it proudly bears the UNESCO stamp on its biosphere reserve, which is home to an astonishing array of coral and other marine life, from colorful clouds of surgeonfish to sleek manta rays. Intrepid divers come from across the world to swim with great grey reef sharks at Fakarava’s southern edge – snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding are among the tamer watersport choices. Rotoava is the sleepy main village, and slower pleasures include wandering its few streets, shopping for the lustrous pearls farmed here, and wiggling toes in the island’s white sands.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

With around 50 residents on the island, Adamstown is the capital of the Pitcairn Islands and the only populated settlement, as all of the other Pitcairn Islands are uninhabited.

Here you can get a firsthand insight into the living history and culture of the people of Pitcairn Island - the direct descendants of Pitcairn's first European settlers, the HMS Bounty mutineers.

On shore visit the local museum that houses the HMS Bounty Bible, the historic Adamstown Church, view Fletcher Christian’s cave, or keep an eye out for the Pitcairn Reed Warbler.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Rapa Nui, the Indigenous name of Easter Island, is one of the most astounding places on Earth. From the 10th to 16th centuries, its original inhabitants built immense stone statues, known as moai, of which nearly 1,000 still dot the island. These carved human figures made from solidified volcanic ash represent ancestral chiefs facing inland to protect the community. Some are lined up in imposing rows (Ahu Tongariki, Ahu Nau Nau), while others are staggered over hillsides and craters. What boggles the mind is how the inhabitants of this incredibly remote island, 2,300 miles from the Chilean coast, managed to carve and move such colossal sentinels, many weighing between 10 and 12 metric tons. Today’s occupants of Rapa Nui live in Hanga Roa village, your port of entry to this mesmerizing island.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Robinson Crusoe Island, part of Chile’s Juan Fernández Archipelago, is a hidden gem with a fascinating history and pristine natural beauty. Named after the literary character, the island offers a unique blend of adventure and tranquillity. Start the day with a visit to the town of San Juan Bautista, where you can explore the island's history and enjoy local seafood delicacies.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love hiking up to El Mirador de Selkirk, providing stunning views of the island and the surrounding Pacific Ocean. The island's unique flora and fauna, including the endemic Juan Fernández fur seal, are a delight for nature lovers. Don’t miss the chance to dive into the clear waters and discover vibrant marine life in this remote paradise.

A day at sea with Crystal can be as relaxed or as engaging as you wish. Begin with breakfast on your veranda, take a walk along the Promenade Deck or spend the morning by the Seahorse Pool before retreating to the Aurōra Spa & Salon for a restorative treatment. Enrichment is always close at hand, with lectures, bridge, creative workshops, dance classes, wellness sessions and opportunities to fine tune skills from photography to golf.

Dining is a highlight throughout the day, from relaxed bites by the pool to elegant dinners at venues such as Umi Uma by Nobu, Beefbar or Waterside. As evening arrives, enjoy live music, theatre entertainment, comedy, social gatherings, cocktails in the lounges or a quiet night in with 24-hour in-suite dining.

Valparaíso, Chile's most artistic city, is vibrant canvas where colorful houses climb steep hills, embraced by the Pacific breeze. Founded in the 16th century, the city's history dates back to the 16th century, when Spanish explorers discovered its natural harbor. Its strategic location along the trade routes made it a crucial port, attracting ships from around the world. Today, the city's diverse architecture reflects this history, blending colonial, European, and indigenous influences. The city's cultural scene flourished during Chile's economic booms in the 19th century and attracted many intellectuals, writers, and artists. Their legacy live on: Valparaíso was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, celebrated for its rich history and vibrant artistic culture. Its hills showcase colorful houses, connected by winding streets and iconic ascensores (funiculars). These elements are a living testament to the city's past, its role as a crossroads of cultures, and its enduring appeal to travelers seeking a taste of history and creative inspiration.