DAWN PRINCESS CRUISE - SYDNEY TO PACIFIC

14 Night Cruise sailing from Sydney roundtrip aboard Dawn Princess.

Admire the diverse sea life in the Aquarium de Nouméa, observe the rhythmic bubbling of Savu Savu's hot springs, immerse yourself in Melanesian culture at Vila's Ekasup Cultural Village and search for whales from atop the sceniccliffs of Lifou.

Sydney
As your ship passes Harbour Heads, you are presented with the shimmering skyline of Sydney - hailed by many seafarers as "the most beautiful harbor in the world." Two prominent landmarks, Harbour Bridge and the sail-like curves of the Sydney Opera House, grace the backdrop of this picturesque harbor. There is a wealth of adventure waiting in Sydney - from its cosmopolitan city center to miles of beautiful beaches and the Blue Mountains.

Australia's oldest and largest city was born in 1788 with the arrival of the "First Fleet" transporting 760 British convicts. Today, Sydney is the largest port in the South Pacific and is often voted the most popular destination in the South Pacific.

Noumea, New Caledonia
The capital of New Caledonia, Noumea is a little piece of France in the middle of the Coral Sea. Before World War II, New Caledonia was a little known and seldom-visited French possession known for its penal colony and its natural resources. (Nickel smelting still plays a major role in the island economy.) Today, travelers are drawn to New Caledonia for its scenic beauty. The island is famed for its white-sand beaches while its west coast is the site of the world's second longest barrier reef. The offshore waters also offer superb diving and snorkeling.

In 1774, James Cook thought the island's rugged hills resembled those of his native Scotland. Hence he christened the island New Caledonia. The island and its outlying groups became a French colony in 1854 and an overseas department of France in 1956.

Savu Savu, Fiji
Savusavu boasts one of the most spectacular harbors in the South Pacific. Its serene waters are dotted with islands. Rugged volcanic ridges, their slopes covered in rainforest, tower above the coastal plains. Coconut palms and old copra plantations line the southern shore. Strolling through the streets of Savusavu town, the visitor feels as if he or she has stepped back in time to the Fiji of old. Life here seems to move at a more serene pace. No wonder the international yachting set has made Savusavu one of the Pacific's top destinations.

Protected by mountains, Savusavu Bay is one of the finest sheltered anchorages in the South Pacific. The US Navy chose it as a "hurricane hole" during World War II - a place of refuge during the Pacific typhoon season.

Port Denarau, Fiji
Port Denarau is your gateway to Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji. Fiji has been justly described as the "Crossroads of the Pacific." The islands' culture is a fascinating amalgam of Melanesian, Micronesian, Polynesian, Western and Indian influences. But what draws the traveler to Fiji is its beauty. Viti Levu offers some of the finest scenery in the entire South Pacific, from the emerald rainforests of the Nausori Highlands to the reef-fringed coral cays in the Mamanucas. The crystalline waters of the Pacific also provide some of the world's best diving and fishing.

Port Denarau is located on the west coast of Viti Levu, the largest of Fiji's islands. William Bligh charted the west coast of the island in 1789 - after the mutineers of HMS Bounty had cast him adrift. Fiji offered no refuge - its people were renowned cannibals.

Vila (Vanuatu)
Vila is the capital of Vanuatu, an archipelago of some 83 islands in the Coral Sea. Vanuatu is a new republic, having achieved independence from France and Britain in 1988. Before then the archipelago was better known as the New Hebrides, the name given the islands by Captain Cook. Cloaked in dense rainforest, these volcanic islands were little known until World War II, when the islands of Espiritu Santo and Efate served as Allied bases. Today increasing numbers of travelers visit Vila, drawn by its easy-going charm, superb white-sand beaches and pristine rainforest. The islands are also renowned for their excellent dive sites and for their big game fishing.

Vanuatu's visibility on the American scene increased when the CBS television series "Survivor" filmed in the archipelago. Vanuatu is also noted among anthropologist - its island of Tanna is home to the unique "John Frum" cargo cult.

Lifou, New Caledonia
The largest of the Loyalty Islands, Lifou lies some 118 miles to the northwest of New Caledonia. The island is an ancient makatea - a fossilized coral atoll raised high above sea level. Whalers were the first Westerners to visit this Melanesian paradise - though greedy traders lured by the island's aromatic sandalwood trees soon followed. Today's visitors are drawn attracted to the island's spectacular scenery, which ranges from dense tropical forest to dramatic cliffs towering above the crashing waves. Lifou's white-sand beaches are some of the finest to be found in the entire Pacific.

Lifou and the other Loyalty Islands are part of New Caledonia, which, like Tahiti, is an overseas province of France. The island is a center of traditional Melanesian culture.

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