Viking Oceans Cruises – Grand Hawaii & Polynesia (French Polynesia, United States) 33 Days

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Los Angeles is renowned as the world’s leading center of film and television, and is home to an endless array of museums, concert venues and other cultural institutions. The city also offers some of the best dining in the world. Along the palm-lined streets of Beverly Hills, grand celebrity mansions hide behind iron gates. The chic shops of Rodeo Drive invite endless browsing. The Roosevelt Hotel, an icon built in the 1920s that once served as the residence of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, oversees the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Sail Mar Pacífico, meaning “peaceful sea,” dubbed by Ferdinand Magellan when he crossed these waters almost 500 years ago. As you sail, explore our well-curated library, tucked in a private alcove of The Living Room, and select from a broad range of titles. Read a book by the Main Pool, a calming oasis in any weather with its retractable roof, allowing for year-round swimming.

Hilo, the capital of the island of Hawaii, overlooks a crescent-shaped bay at the base of two volcanoes. The oldest city in the Hawaiian archipelago, this former sugarcane boom town is home to the University of Hawaii and is regarded as the cultural epicenter of the island with its many galleries and museums. Located on the eastern side of the island, it receives around 140 inches of rainfall annually, which make its landscape a mix of dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforests and beautiful gardens full of colorful flowers; Hilo is world-renowned for the cultivation of orchids.

Kahului’s harbor has been an vital center for commerce since the founding of the kingdom by King Kamehameha in 1810. Whalers were the first to take advantage of its deep waters to stock up on supplies. Following the industry’s decline, sugarcane production dominated the local economy beginning in the late 19th century. Today, tourism drives Kahului, making it a gateway to Maui’s natural beauty. Located south of this vibrant city is Haleakala National Park, an expanse full of diverse landscapes and one of the world’s largest craters known as Haleakala, or “House of the Sun.”

Oahu hosts a rich variety of Eastern and Western traditions and cuisine. The rising crater of Diamond Head overlooking Waikiki Beach in Honolulu embodies the profusion of natural beauty on the island, Hawaii’s third largest. Its 125 stunning beaches are a mere prelude to the crystalline lagoons, cascading waterfalls and dense rainforests that grace this stunning natural paradise known as “The Gathering Place.” Kamehameha I founded the Kingdom of Hawaii on these shores. Famously, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 pulled the United States into World War II.

Nawiliwili is the gateway to the oldest and greenest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai. The lush vegetation and wildflowers of this tropical paradise have earned it the nickname “The Garden Island.” This is the unspoiled Hawaii of which travelers dream: green valleys glimmering under a Pacific sun and waterfalls plunging into the sea over soaring cliffs. To many, this is the most authentic of the islands; town ordinances forbid buildings taller than coconut trees and the culture of ancient Hawaiians lives on in respect for the mana, or spiritual essence, of their land.

Traverse the world’s largest ocean, which covers almost 64 million square miles. At twice the size of the Atlantic, the Pacific is an ocean of extremes. As you sail today, attend an informative lecture or watch a film in our state-of-the-art theater. A range of insightful TED Talks and destination-inspired seminars are offered daily.

Considered the world’s most beautiful island, the Society Island of Bora Bora is only 15 square miles. This stunning land is made up of a barrier reef of islets, each one connected to the next depending on the tides. Surrounded by a deep lagoon that glows countless shades of turquoise and emerald, its palm-lined shores and forested slopes rise up dramatically to the pillar-like peak of Mt. Otemanu at 2,379 feet. American novelist James Michener put the island on many travelers’ itineraries in the 1950s when he called it “the South Pacific at its unforgettable best.”

Sail the Pacific Ocean, its vast expanse of waters covers more than 30 percent of the Earth’s surface and touches the continents of Asia, Australia, North and South America. Admire the views as you sail today and enjoy an al fresco dining experience. The Aquavit Terrace serves a range of International fare and casual dining favorites, as well as a range of superb cocktails inspired by our destinations.

The soaring massif of Mt. Roa and Mt. Rotui watch over the narrow Opunohu Bay like sentinels, providing a stunning preview of Moorea’s scenic splendor. Part of the Windward Islands, it is one of the most magnificent and pristine of the Society Islands. Some 1,000 years ago, Polynesians settled here. During the 18th century, British explorers Samuel Wallis and James Cook sailed into Opunohu Bay; the adjacent Cook’s Bay was named for the latter. Today, Moorea greets visitors with white-sand beaches, jagged peaks and lush, primeval landscapes by its turquoise lagoon.

Tahiti is an island paradise that lays claim to the invention of surfing. Its mile upon mile of sandy beaches, soothing waters and warm sun are ideal for leisure-seeking visitors. The island’s volcanic origins deposited black sands on much of its coast creating a dramatic coastal canvas, while white-sand beaches stretch along the southern shores. Point Venus on the east coast boasts dark sands and moderate waves. The waters of Maui Beach, lined with palms, offer shallow, quiet surf for wading and snorkeling among stunning coral reefs.

Tahiti is the largest of the Windward Islands, which with the Leeward group, form the Society Islands. In 1769, explorer Captain James Cook sailed these shores to observe the transit of Venus. It has been a vacation destination since the 1960s, renowned for its azure waters and unspoiled landscapes. The capital Papeete offers an interesting contrast to the idyllic remote isles that French Polynesia is famed for; it is a vibrant, multicultural city with a busy harbor and bustling market, offering all manner of produce from fresh seafood to vanilla beans and colorful pareos.

Traverse the indigo waters of the South Pacific, where Māori island tribes explored by long-distance canoe, spreading their cultures and languages to far reaching settlements. Enjoy the amenities of your ship as you sail. Perhaps take a breath of fresh air on a brisk walk around the Promenade or begin your day with a workout in the well-equipped Fitness Center.

Scents of jasmine, ginger and vanilla waft through the tropical air of Nuku Hiva, the lush and mountainous largest island of the Marquesas. This is the South Pacific tropics at their most pristine. These secluded islands have inspired artists and writers; Paul Gauguin famously captured the beauty of their wilderness and their people on canvas and Jack London called them “exquisite.” Among their unspoiled majesty, stone-carved tikis depicting Polynesian gods dot the landscape and lush groves offer up a bounty of fruit, from mangoes to oranges and from guavas to copra.

Follow in the wake of the ships of European powers such as Spain and France, that traveled along these waters, claiming islands for their Crowns, delivering supplies and settlers, and bolstering trade in spice and crops. Linger on the deck of your veranda for vistas of azure and turquoise as you sail through some of the world’s most beautiful waters. Perhaps you will take a dip in the Infinity Pool or stroll the Promenade.

Cross the Pacific Ocean and learn about its fascinating geology, with more than 75,000 volcanoes—many still active—reaching up from its depths. Renew your body, mind and spirit in our Scandinavian-inspired spa, a Nordic sanctuary of holistic wellness, today while at sea. Whether you unwind in the Sauna, refresh in the Snow Grotto or take a dip in the Thermal Pool, you will feel recharged and revitalized.

San Diego is celebrated for its beautiful white-sand beaches, temperate climate and lush green parks. The city hosted the Panama-California Exposition to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal in 1915; more than a dozen Spanish-Moorish style buildings were built for the occasion. Today, these stunning structures house world-class museums and are part of Balboa Park, the nation’s largest cultural park spanning more than 1,200 acres; the most famous attraction, the San Diego Zoo, hosts some 4,000 animals and 800 species drawing animal lovers from the world over.

Los Angeles combines the art deco nostalgia of film’s Golden Age with the modernist excitement of the 21st century. The turquoise-and-sunburst splendor of the downtown Eastern Columbia Building and the hilltop grandeur of the Griffith Observatory are both beloved landmarks for locals and visitors. More recent, and more daring, buildings catch the eye with untraditional lines and materials. The Walt Disney Concert Hall is a billowing flourish of stainless steel, while The Broad embraces its contemporary art in a travertine panel facade. After breakfast, disembark your ship and journey home.