15-night Fly, Stay & Cruise: Sydney, Fiji & the South Pacific

Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia's largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby.

Day at sea - enjoy the ship's amenities and relax as you cruise to your next destination.

Day at sea - enjoy the ship's amenities and relax as you cruise to your next destination.

Day at sea - enjoy the ship's amenities and relax as you cruise to your next destination.

Day at sea - enjoy the ship's amenities and relax as you cruise to your next destination.

Suva, the political, administrative, educational and commercial center, has a backdrop of lush rainforest maintained by the inevitable "tropical downpour." The people of Fiji are the most multiracial and multicultural of all South Pacific island countries - this being reflected in churches of all denominations, mosques, temples and shrines. Built around a reef-protected natural harbor, Suva, with its colonial buildings nestled alongside modern commercial venues, shops and local markets, parks and residential sprawl, is home to nearly half of Fiji's urban population.

Less than two miles in length from north to south, Dravuni Island lies in the Kadavu Island group of Fiji. Its volcanic peaks give way to a remote village of just 200 or so friendly villagers who live amongst the island's shady palms. These welcoming locals and their children often sing to arriving visitors. Well-worn trails scattered with coconuts snake around the unspoiled beaches, the soft sands beckoning underwater adventurers towards the crystal-clear waters. Many visitors come to snorkel in the Great Astrolabe Reef, or to hike Dravuni Island's highest peak for magnificent once-in-a-lifetime views of the surrounding islands.

The second-largest city of Fiji, Lautoka is located in the west, on the island of Viti Levu. It is nicknamed The Sugar City due to its expansive sugarcane plantations producing the island's most important crop. Its soft-sand beaches are fringed with swaying palm and coconut trees reflected in the crystalline turquoise waters. A drive through the city center allows glimpses of tree-lined streets, colonial houses, colorful markets and a vibrant local culture.

Day at sea - enjoy the ship's amenities and relax as you cruise to your next destination.

This small, uninhabited island just off volcanic Tanna is one of the most southernmost of the Vanuatu group. Used as a World War II landing strip for the allied forces, it is completely undeveloped. Amble around the island, or, if you're handy with a snorkel and fins, explore the surrounding reefs.

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.

Day at sea - enjoy the ship's amenities and relax as you cruise to your next destination.

Day at sea - enjoy the ship's amenities and relax as you cruise to your next destination.

Disembark your cruise.