South Seas Cruise - from San Diego - 103985

San Diego, the second-largest city in California lies at the very South of the state and is heavily influenced by Spanish, Mexican and American culture. The climate, which is warm and sunny all year round, is what makes this trendy palm-lined beach so popular. To make the most of the weather, there is a total of 112 km of beaches in the area surrounding San Diego. Mission Bay has plenty of opportunities to do some fishing, sailing, go out on a motor boat, surf or swim. In addition, San Diego is framed by a beautiful landscape with mountains and large fruit and vegetable plantations. Sights include: the old town, San Diego zoo, the exclusive suburb of La Jolla, the Maritime Museum, Balboa Park, the Museum of Art and the Science Centre.

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".

The counterpart to Hilo is Kailua-Kona, the secret capital of the Big Island. The notable difference is that everything is considerably more modern in Kailua-Kona than in the small sleepy town of Hilo. Hotels, shops and restaurants can be found on Alii Drive. The reconstructed Ahuéna Heiau (a temple of King Kamehameha I.), Hulihe'e Palace and Moku´aiku Church, built of blocks of lava and one of the oldest mission churches on Hawaii are all worth seeing. Kailua-Kona is also world-famous for the spectacle held each October - the Ironman Triathlon.

Nuku Hiva is part of the northern island group of the Marquesas Islands. The island's particular charm undoubtedly lies in the beautiful bays found all around the craggy coastline. Taiohae is the adminstrative seat and the seat of the archbishop and also boasts many attractions, such as the Nôtre Dame des Marquises cathedral, with unsusual sculptures carved from exotic woods, or the wooden sculpture dedicated to the author Herman Melville. Just a few kilometres from Taiohae, in the valley of the same name, is the archaeological site of Tohua Koueva. It was the main headquarters of chief Pakoko, who lead a successful rebellion against the French in 1845. A visit to the site is worth it just to see the bougainvillea and hibiscus plants that bloom in an array of colours and the ancient Banyan trees.

Moorea, the pineapple island, was formed from the remains of an extinct volcano. The island has excellent tourist facilities and a large range of hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. Moorea can be explored in just a few hours - a bike tour is highly recommended. Several diving schools also offer interesting underwater tours.

Papeete is the capital of Tahiti. The island is a mixture of beautiful coves, white sandy beaches, tropical plants and French vanity.

Papeete is the capital of Tahiti. The island is a mixture of beautiful coves, white sandy beaches, tropical plants and French vanity.