Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise Destinations / South Pacific Cruise Reviews

10 South Pacific Must See Sights

Justin Gibson

The South Pacific is dotted with idyllic islands, and one of the nicest cruise experiences you can have is to sail to as many as possible. Each South Pacific cruise port is awash in beauty and culture, and you may be surprised by how diverse the islands are, which is why we wish each of us could be your host on the upcoming Tales of the South Pacific!

Here are some of their unique, must see sights:

Kava Ceremony
Kava is a pepper plant, and its dried and powered root is the main ingredient in yaqona, Fiji’s national drink and an important part of religious, cultural and social events throughout the South Pacific. Kava’s naturally relaxing effect will put you in the right mindset for the rest of your voyage!

Yagona Ceremony in Fiji - photo by Pacific Voyagers
Yagona Ceremony in Fiji – photo by Pacific Voyagers

Villa Vailima
Author Robert Louis Stevenson is the island of Samoa’s most beloved expatriate, and the stately home he built here has been carefully restored to look much as it did in Stevenson’s day. After you tour the house, walk up Mount Vaea to visit Stevenson’s tomb and be rewarded by the stunning view.

Mt. Otemanu
Bora Bora offers unsurpassed tropical beauty, and you can’t go wrong visiting the beaches around the magnificent lagoon. But, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the island’s interior, dominated by verdant Mt. Otemanu. You’ll remember the lush valleys and authentic villages, and might even see some remnants of World War II armaments.Mt. Otemanu - jeff

Vanilla and Pearls
Circled by a single coral reef, Ra’iātea and Taha’a might have been a single island long ago; they are divided only by a pretty lagoon. Taha’a is a beautifully rugged island with some refined products: you can visit a vanilla plantation and a pearl farm.

Papeete Public Market
Tahiti is renowned for its black pearls, but the Papeete Public Market is alive with other colors. Just a block from the cruise ship dock, the market brims with colorful vegetables and fruits. Enjoy sipping from an ice-cold coconut as you stroll among the stalls and watch the flower lei makers at work.

Photo from Jeff
Photo from Jeff

Belvedere Point
Moorea, a quick ferry ride from Tahiti, is watched over by Mount Tohivea. Take a ride up the mountain to Belvedere Point, then follow one of the hiking trails for stunning views of bays and peninsulas that shape the island like a heart.

Champagne Bay
Even in a region of pristine and lovely beaches, Vanuatu’s Champagne Bay stands out with its sweeping curve of pink-tinged sand, turquoise water, and relaxed vibe. At low tide, the water appears to fizz like Champagne: a natural phenomenon caused when water passes through the volcanic rocks below.

Photo by Jopetsy
Photo by Jopetsy

Amédéé Lighthouse
New Caledonia blends colonial French and indigenous Kanak culture amid abundant natural beauty. Historic Amédéé Lighthouse, one of the world’s tallest, is perched on its own small island. Climb the spiral stairway (241 steps) inside for a wonderful view of the lagoon.

Quality Row
It’s surprising that the Norfolk Pine, a popular ornamental evergreen, comes from the South Pacific – indeed, it’s a key export of Norfolk Island, which was once a colony of convicts. Visit Quality Row in Kingston, the island’s capital, to see historic and well-preserved Georgian homes and barracks.

Ha’amonga ‘a Maui
The archaeological sites of Tongatapu, Tonga’s main island, include Ha’amonga ‘a Maui, a stone trilithon called the “Stonehenge of the Pacific.” Not much is known about the trilithon, and it stimulates the imagination to think about how its posts and lintel – each weighing tens of thousands of tons – were put into place at the beginning of the 13th century.

Photo from Jeff

Learn more about our hosted South Pacific cruises >> 

 

More from my site

  • Postcards Part 2: 2015 Tales of the South Pacific CruisePostcards Part 2: 2015 Tales of the South Pacific Cruise
  • Holland America Line 50 Day South Pacific CruiseHolland America Line 50 Day South Pacific Cruise
  • Tales of the South Pacific Cruise with Host Tom MullenTales of the South Pacific Cruise with Host Tom Mullen
  • Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice is Red Hot, Yet Oh, So CoolIceland: The Land of Fire and Ice is Red Hot, Yet Oh, So Cool

South Pacific Cruise Reviews

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter