Tahiti & Pacific Islands Transpacific

Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is a large city on the Brisbane River. Clustered in its South Bank cultural precinct are the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, with noted interactive exhibitions. Another South Bank cultural institution is Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, among Australia’s major contemporary art museums. Looming over the city is Mt. Coot-tha, site of Brisbane Botanic Gardens

If Fiji is known as the Friendly Islands and Suva is its capital city, the welcome is at its warmest and treasure trove of marine and cultural experiences at its richest on a Suva cruise with Carnival Cruise Line. So what does this capital city have to offer? A little bit of everything. There’s a little bit of the past with colonial buildings still lining the streets, and a little bit of the present with a few high rises thrown into the mix. You’ll find the usual island suspects like waving palm trees and beautiful gardens, and a few not so usual suspects like sari shops and bric-a-brac traders.

Papeete, on Tahiti, is the capital of French Polynesia, a group of islands in the South Pacific. Beside the port, busy Place Vai’ete fills with roulottes, or food carts, in the evenings. Nearby, the large Marché de Papeete market sells local produce, fish and handicrafts. The Robert Wan Pearl Museum focuses on the local pearl industry and sells jewelry. A red spire tops the 19th-century Notre Dame Cathedral.

Mo’orea is a South Pacific island, part of French Polynesia’s Society Islands archipelago. It’s known for its jagged volcanic mountains and sandy beaches. In the north, Mount Rotui overlooks picturesque Ōpūnohu Bay and the settlements around Cook’s Bay. Inland, hiking trails wind through rainforest on the slopes of Mount Tohivea. The Belvedere Lookout has panoramic views of the island’s peaks and Tahiti beyond.

Whether you’re on a cruise to Honolulu from the mainland, or a cruise from Honolulu, you’ll find yourself spellbound by this magical Pacific destination. Before or after your cruise, take the time to explore the historic port of Honolulu and its lively mix of world-class dining, perfect beaches and lush, tropical landscape. It’s hard to imagine a more picture-perfect holiday destination, and a cruise to Honolulu is an ideal way to experience it. Situated on the beautiful island of O’ahu, Honolulu invites you to stroll the fabled beaches of Waikiki under the protective watch of the ancient volcanic profile of Diamond Head… or visit the Polynesian Cultural Center, a 42-acre living museum of many South Pacific cultures. And be sure to stop off at the historic USS Arizona Memorial, an important landmark dedicated to those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.

Seaports have always been important throughout history… it’s about more than just the cargo, but the import and export of ideas. You could say that a city’s seaside status almost necessarily creates a crossroads of cultures. All that said, something sets San Francisco apart! Maybe it’s the year-round comfy weather that makes people want to spend their time outdoors, or perhaps it’s the spectacular food culture, or the history, or the hills, or the architecture. But one thing can be proven: San Francisco is beautiful, arguably the most romantic and cosmopolitan city in the U.S., and all of these elements go into the mix of making it a place you want to be, whether you know it or not. From the world’s most recognizable bridge, The Golden Gate, to the quirky, flower-lined Lombard Street… it’s no surprise that in SF even a former prison island — you knew we’re talking about Alcatraz, right? — ends up being an iconic destination.