The Best Cruises in the South Pacific: 5 Breathtaking Voyages

The Best Cruises in the South Pacific: 5 Breathtaking Voyages

After spending six months of our journey crossing the ocean, we list the best cruises in the South Pacific and dream that one day we will return to experience them all

The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water in the world and the South Pacific is arguably the most beautiful. The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first set foot in the Pacific on a round-the-world expedition from 1519 to 1522.

He named the ocean Pacífico, meaning “peaceful,” because he was surprised at how calm the water could be. Centuries later, sailors still flock to the great ocean to catch the trade winds in their sails.

We're no different, having spent six months of our journey from Vanuatu to Los Angeles crossing the ocean, stopping in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Tahiti and French Polynesia along the way.

The best cruises in the South Pacific

We're not experts, but we've spent many days on board ships during this time - Kia's seasickness can attest to that - although we shouldn't always enjoy the luxury of a cruise ship!

Here we list the best cruises in the South Pacific and dream of returning one day and experiencing them all.

Darwin's voyage to the Galapagos

Described as a 98-guest mega yacht, this modern vessel certainly looks the part. Having just returned from a DIY tour of the Galapagos Islands, I can certainly see the appeal of this cruise.

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However, just looking at the price makes my stomach churn. I can safely say that the Galapagos is one of the most expensive destinations I have ever visited and we seriously saved money during our stay.

But I can also say with certainty that it is also one of the most enticing destinations I have ever visited and would make it onto any list of best cruises in the South Pacific. It will certainly be a trip like no other.

Cruise company: Celebrity CruisesShip: Celebrity's : Puerto Egas, GalapagosDay 2: Rabida, GalapagosDay 3: Elizabeth Bay, GalapagosDay 3: Caleta Tagus, IsabelaDay 4: Sullivan Bay, SantiagoDay 4: Bartolome, GalapagosDay 5: Las Bachas, (Santa Cruz)Day 5: North Seymour, GalapagosDay 6: P. Baquerizo, San CristobalDay 6: Cerro Brujo, San CristobalDay 6: Cerro Brujo, San CristobalDay 6: Kicker Rock (San Cristobal)Day 7: Puerto Ayora, GalapagosDay 8: Baltra, Galapagos

Crossing the Equator: Hawaii, Tahiti and the South Pacific

This one has a very special place in our hearts. We completed this exact cruise in January 2015 and can attest that it was truly a fantastic experience. The port days include some amazing destinations like Bora Bora and Hawaii, but for us it was the sea days with endless views that we really loved.

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Two long stays (four and five days) out on the open ocean really brought out the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Considering the exotic destinations, the length of the cruise and the novelty of crossing the equator, the price is really attractive. You don't have to be a millionaire to feel like one on this cruise.

Cruise Line: Princess CruisesShip: PacificPrincessOccupancy: 672Tonnage: 30,277Year Opened: 1999Cruise Duration: 16 NightsCost: from $2,599Typical Itinerary:Day 1: Tahiti (Papeete), French PolynesiaDay 2: Tahiti (Papeete), French PolynesiaDay 3: Moorea, PolynesiaDay 4: Bora Bora, French PolynesiaDay 5: At SeaDay 6: At SeaDay 7: At SeaDay 8: At SeaDay 9: Hilo, HawaiiDay 10: Honolulu, HawaiiDay 11: Maui (Lahaina), HawaiiDay 12: At SeaDay 13: At SeaDay 14: At SeaDay 15: At SeaDay 16: At SeaDay 17: Los Angeles, California

Escape to paradise aboard the Fiji Princess

The Fiji islands of Mamanuca and Yasawa are some of the most picturesque you'll ever see. We were there in September and described it as heavenly. If you don't like long days at sea then this is the cruise for you.

Itineraries have a maximum driving time of four hours per day, meaning you have enough time for all available activities. Many of the islands on the itinerary are uninhabited and completely untouched, so the swimming is outrageous and the snorkeling is fascinating.

The three- and four-day itineraries incorporate the best that each island group has to offer, and (if you can afford it) the seven-day itinerary is the best of both worlds as it combines the two.

Cruise Line: Blue Lagoon CruisesShip: Fiji PrincessOccupancy: 68Tonnage: 1,258Year Opened: 1998Cruise Duration: 3, 4 and 7 nights availableCost: from $1,950 (3 nights)Typical Itinerary:Day 1: Denarau MarinaDay 2: Modriki IslandDay 3: Naviti and Soso BayDay 4: Naukacuva and Narara IslandsDay 4: Naukacuva and Narara IslandsDay 5: Sacred IslandsDay 6: Nanuya LailaiDay 7: Drawaqa IslandDay 8: Denarau Marina, Nadi

South Pacific Splendor: Auckland to Papeete

You are on board one of the newest ships in the ocean: the HS Marina was only commissioned in 2011. This cruise is essentially a cross-section of the South Pacific and the cultures that the vast ocean is home to.

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The itinerary includes some exotic destinations (Noumea and Bora Bora) as well as more traditional and cultural Polynesian ports (Apia and Suva). The cruise crosses the international date line, meaning you also gain a day (depending on where you return to).

Starting in modern, western and well-connected Auckland and ending in romantic Tahiti, you can confidently say you have truly sailed the South Pacific.

Cruise Line: Oceania CruisesShip: MarinaOccupancy: 1,250Tonnage: 66,084Year Opened: 2011Cruise Length: 16 NightsCost: from $3,999Typical Itinerary:Day 1: Auckland, New ZealandDay 2: Rotorua (Tauranga)Day 3: Bay of Islands, New ZealandDay 4: At SeaDay 5: Noumea, New CaledoniaDay 5: Noumea, New CaledoniaDay 6: Noumea, New CaledoniaDay 7: At SeaDay 8: Suva, FijiDay 9: Lautoka, FijiDay 10: At SeaDay 11: International Date Line East; Apia, Samoa; Pago Pago, American SamoaDay 12: At SeaDay 13: At SeaDay 14: Bora Bora, French PolynesiaDay 15: Bora Bora, French PolynesiaDay 16: Moorea, French Polynesia; Papeete (Tahiti), French PolynesiaDay 17: Papeete (Tahiti), French Polynesia

Tahiti and the Tuamotu Islands

For the truly nostalgic sailors among us who dream of a more romantic and traditional sea voyage, Wind Spirit is for you. The Wind Spirit is a very unique vessel as it is a motor sailing yacht.

She is one of an unusual class of just three ships designed as a modern cruise ship but carrying a sophisticated system of computer-controlled sails on four masts.

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The ship sails through the windward and leeward Society Islands and onto the tranquil natural beauty of the Tuamotu Islands, where pristine atolls and crystal clear lagoons welcome its passengers to a hidden paradise.

This itinerary will certainly take the passenger off the beaten path, rarely visited by the larger cruise ships of the Pacific. This is a truly unique adventure.

Cruise Line: Windstar CruisesShip: Wind SpiritOccupancy: 148Tonnage: 5,736Year Opened: 1988Cruise Length: 10 NightsCost: from $4,199Typical Itinerary:Day 1: Papeete (Tahiti), French PolynesiaDay 2: At SeaDay 3: Takapoto, French PolynesiaDay 4: Tiputa, Rangiroa, French PolynesiaDay 5: At SeaDay 6: Huahine and Raiatea, French PolynesiaDay 7: Raiatea, French PolynesiaDay 8: Bora Bora, French PolynesiaDay 9: Bora Bora, French PolynesiaDay 10: Moorea, French PolynesiaDay 11: Papeete (Tahiti), French Polynesia
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