Round-the-world Cruise - from Sydney - 135201

Christchurch is the British town that isn't in Britain! Even today, the town, founded in 1850, uses the slogan "A Touch of English". This influence is unmistakable in the town centre in particular. Numerous shops, cafés, parks and gardens shape the town's image. Sights include Christchurch Cathedral (founded in 1881), the clock tower with a panorama view of the Southern Alps, the Zoo, the Wizard in front of the cathedral and a city tour on the nostalgic tram.

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is surrounded by an untouched mountain landscape. It has excellent shopping facilities, a professional theatre and cafés and restaurants to suit every taste. Wellington is just two kilometres wide and, as such, can be easily explored on foot. 'Te Papa', New Zealand's National Museum, is located directly by the harbour. The city is home to both the parliament building and many historic buildings and museums that bring New Zealand's history to life.

'The harbour town of Tauranga lies 200 km South-East of Auckland at the Bay of Plenty. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century on peninsulae connected by bridges. The bustling focal point of the town is the beach promenade with the Coronation Pier, from where pleasure boats and ferries set off for the neighbouring town of Mount Maunganui, which was built at the foot of a 232 metre high volcano, from where you can enjoy a fantastic view of white beaches and the harbour. Tauranga's greatest attraction is the Tauranga District Museum and Historic Village, where you can see 85 reconstructed and restored buildings from the time of Colonialism, including a Maori village, a pioneer settlement and military barracks dating from the territorial wars. 5 km to the East of Tauranga, Kiwifruit Country, a Disneyland-style funpark is also a great magnet for tourists.

With a population in excess of 1 million, Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. It lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasmanian See. It got its nickname the "City of Sails" on account of the "thousand ships" moored in its harbour. The city spans an 11 km wide sound of volcanic rocks and is a paradise for watersports fans. To the North of Auckland, Leigh Marine Reserve provides plenty of opportunity for every imaginable kind of underwater activity. The main cultural attraction is the Auckland Museum.

Suva is the capital and the most important port on the island state of Fiji in Oceania. It lies on the main island, Viti Levu. The Fiji museum, set up in 1904, is well worth a visit. Its collection of indigenous art and tools provides an insight into the history and culture of the native people of the island. Plants from throughout the South-Pacific region grown in Thurston Botanical Gardens. The Nature Reserve and Recreation Park 'Colo-i-Suva Forest Park', which is 18km from the capital, has picturesque waterfalls, nature walks, picnic areas and small lakes

Apia is both the largest town on the island of Upolu and the capital of Samoa. Despite its important function, this port has retained its small-town character. Most of Apia's attractions are located around the centre of the town at the harbour, including the clock-tower (the town's old landmark), the government building and the "Museum of Ancient and Recent Samoan History. Just five kilometres from the city centre is the 15 metre high natural water slide "Papaseea Sliding Rocks". The tiny village of Vailima is also well worth a visit. It is here that world-famous author Robert Louis Stevenson spent the last few years of his life. One of Stevenson's best- known novels is "Treasure Island".

Kahului is the capital of Maui, Hawaii's second-largest and third most densely populated island. The island was formed by two volcanoes. The East Maui Mountains are often shrouded in cloud, causing a cooler climate.

The green island of Kauai is a tropical paradise. The island is famous for its steep cliffs, purple-green valleys, untouched rainforests and breathtaking waterfalls.

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii. With a population of 1.24 million it is the largest city between America and Asia. The most important sights on Hawaii include the memorial at Pearl Harbour and Punchbowl National Cemetery, the King's Palace (the only one ever to be built on US territory) and the extinct volcanoes "Diamond Head" and "Koko Head".

This romantic city at the Mexican Riviera with its palm-lined beaches and the almost primeval vegetation provides pure relaxation. In the North of the city there are long beaches, while the South has little coves that are just perfect for sunbathing, snorkelling and diving. Liz Taylor is a big fan and settled here because of the peaceful atmosphere and the breathtaking beauty of the landscape.

The Pacifc port of Puerto Quetzal is around 2 hours south of the capital, Guatemala City, and is named after the Quetzal bird, the heraldic symbol of this Central American country. Puerto Quetzal is the starting point for trips inland on the trail of the Mayans and into the tropical rainforest.

Puntarenas means 'sandy tip' and the town lies on a tongue of land that sticks out into the Gulf of Nicoya. For a long time it was the most important Pacific port in the country, and even today the harbour is lined with fishing boats, giving the town its incomparably maritime character. This beach resort, which is steeped in tradition, is the perfect place for a stroll along the southern beach promenade, Paseo de los Turistas, which is particularly busy at the weekends. In the evening you can watch the glowing red sun sink down into the Gulf von Nicoya while enjoying a cocktail at the popular beach.

In the middle of Central America lies the tropical region of the Panama Canal with its lush vegetation and rainforests. The Panama Canal is a technical masterpiece and one of the most important waterways in the world. It takes just a day to travel along the canal, but visitors are sure to remember the trip for many a long year.

Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba, the smallest of the ABC-Islands and is closest to Venezuela. Oranjestad is a lively little town with many shopping arcades and restaurants. The new houses are a rather bold and colourful echo of the old colonial style, making it seem at times like one has landed in a Caribbean version of Disneyland. This is also where visitors can find the lovely schooner harbour, where there is a daily market. Zoutman Fort, the oldest building on the island, houses the Historical Museum. Every Tuesday a mini music festival is held in the courtyard, providing an insight into island culture. The Archaeological Museum, the Geological Museum and the Numismatics Museum are also worth a visit. Oranjestad is famous for its excellent shopping facilities and the shopping street of Caya Betico Croes offers the greatest choice. In terms of tourism, Aruba is the most developed of the islands. The shops entice passengers with duty free luxury articles; or visitors can choose to spend a day at the beach or get carried away by the nightlife in one of the island's many casinos. To the North-West of Oranjestad is where the main beach, measuring 12 kilometres in length, begins. It is a lovely sandy beach lined by palm trees and hotels ranging from up-market to pure luxury high-end. Anyone spending any length of time on Aruba should definitely take a trip inland to see the huge monoliths and the ancient rock paintings of the indigenous peoples in the caves at Fontain and Canashito and at the cliffs of Arikok and Ayo.

Miami is a city at the South-East coast of the US state of Florida. The "Coconut Grove" district was the heart of the settlement in 1884. Today, the city is dominated by elegant boutiques and pavement cafés. Often, free street concerts are held in the side streets - usually reggae or jazz music. The city has numerous high-rise buildings, hotel complexes, areas with palm trees, shopping centres, cultural and recreational facilities. Sights include: the Southeast Financial Center - the tallest building in Florida at 55 storeys high; Dade Country Courthouse; Metro Dade Cultural, a cultural centre that houses Miami Dade Main Library; the Centre for Fine Arts and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.