Grand Voyages - 2009 - (Page 22) Pacific Paradise 2 3 - DAY loS AngeleS To SYDneY The shimmering blue Pacific stretches out ahead, punctuated with volcanoes poking their shoulders above the sea periodically to greet travelers with visions of paradise. Who can resist the beauty, serenity and graceful pace of life upon these isles? Sydney Highlights VO LC ANI C F I R E WO R K S Kilauea, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is considered the world’s most active volcano, responsible for adding seventy acres of land to Hawaii in the last 20 years. C RO S S I N G T H E G O LDEN L I N E Collector’s coup: The Captain has timed our voyage to cross the equator at the 180th meridian (the International Date Line) at midnight on Jan 29. S I G HTS O F SY D N E Y The excitement in the air is palpable as the ms Rotterdam sails out of Los Angeles on her 2009 Grand World Voyage. Days at sea — a Pacific “palate cleanser, ” if you will — clear the mind and open the heart for all the new experiences ahead. Of course, the ms Rotterdam is world enough to explore for days on end. Settle in to your spacious stateroom, enjoy the freedom of unpacking once and set off to make a massage appointment, take a swim or research Polynesian cultural customs over coffee in the Explorations Café. First stop: Hawaii. Familiar shores, perhaps, and yet approaching the lush profile of the Big Isle by sea, as the original Polynesian sailors did, lends new perspective. In Hilo tropical botanical gardens, breathtaking Akaka Falls and fiery Kilauea Volcano await. Honolulu, up next, is classic Hawaiian allure: pineapple plantations and Waikiki surfers, glittering city lights and extensive open-air shopping. Quieter moments await at the USS Arizona Memorial, a reminder of Pearl Harbor. February 1st brings us to Tuvalu, at 25 square kilometers one of the smallest and most remote nations in the world — and going fast. Rising sea levels threaten to reclaim these peaceful, pristine islands within the century. Port-Vila on Vanuatu is set on a spectacular natural harbor and features a cosmopolitan mix of Chinese, Melanesian, French and English cultures. Watersports — sailing, swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling — abound, as do sandy white beaches. Next: Nouméa, New Caledonia. This chic island with a decidedly French flair offers sidewalks cafés, boutiques brimming with couture, streets buzzing with mopeds. . . . Are you in Paris? One glance at the deep blue of the ocean and the tropical sun shining through palms reminds you of your location firmly below the equator. Îles des Pins, once a French penal colony, is today a peaceful island of white-sand beaches, tall pines and spectacular underwater coral reefs. Two full days in this worldclass city afford you the time to take in the sights ’round the harbor and Opera House, stroll the city’s botanical gardens, shop for opals and visit the koalas at the zoo. More days of Pacific cruising bliss follow, highlighted on January 29 by a rare and prized nautical milestone: our midnight crossing of “the Golden Line,” the exact point on earth where the equator and the International Date Line intersect. Sailing into Sydney, the famed shell-shaped Opera House comes into view. What a pleasure to have two full days to explore the rich sights of Australia’s premier city. L E F T TO R IGH T Island delights: shop for colorful pareos on remote Vanuatu. Swim in crystal-clear waters off Îles des Pins. Share a smile with a child on Funafuti (just saying the name is fun). 22 e-brochures available online
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