Seattle (USA) to Sydney (Australia) Cruise on Noordam from Seattle (USA)

Seattle (USA)

Seattle is a major coastal seaport city and the seat of King County, in the U.S. state of Washington. A major gateway for trade with Asia, Seattle is the 8th largest port in the United States and 9th largest in North America in terms of container handling. Seattle has a noteworthy musical history. From 1918 to 1951, there were nearly two dozen jazz nightclubs along Jackson Street from the current Chinatown/International District to the Central District. The jazz scene developed the early careers of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson and others. Seattle is also the birthplace of rock legend Jimi Hendrix and the rock music style. Places to visit: the Henry Art Gallery , the first public art museum in Washington. The Seattle Art Museum , the Frye Art Museum is a free museum on First Hill. Regional history collections are at the Loghouse Museum in Alki, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the Museum of History and Industry and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Industry collections are at the Center for Wooden Boats and the adjacent Northwest Seaport, the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum, and the Museum of Flight. Regional ethnic collections include the Nordic Heritage Museum, the Wing Luke Asian Museum and the Northwest African American Museum. Seattle has artist-run galleries, including 10-year veteran Soil Art Gallery,and the newer Crawl Space Gallery.Other significant events include numerous art and entretainment, music, religious and ethnic festivals. Since the middle 1990s, Seattle has experienced significant growth in the cruise industry, especially as a departure point for Alaska cruises.

Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo is the county seat of the County of Hawai?i and is located in the District of South Hilo. The town overlooks Hilo Bay, situated upon two shield volcanoes; Mauna Loa, an active volcano, and Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano and the site of the world's most important ground-based astronomical observatories.

Honolulu (Hawaii)

The isle of Hawaii is named Grnad Island, and we explain why. It is more than double the size than all the rest of Hawaiian isles together, and is completely full of luxuriant nature, from the rugged volcanoes to the cascades and the rainy forrests. It is the home of smokey volcano craters and rivers of dry lava in the National Park of the Volcanoes.

Kauai (Nawiliwili, Hawaii)

Kauai is the oldest of the hawaiian islands. Used as the backdrop for the Hollywood film Jurassic Park, the island boasts spectacular volcanic peaks and lush rainforrests. With more miles of sandy coastline than the other Hawaiian islands this virtually untouched tropical paradise is also known by locals as the "Garden Isle". Natural wonders such as Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali Coast and Wailua Falls are all popular with visitors as well as offering a wide range of wtar based activities.

Kona, Hawaii

Situated on the western coast of the Hualalai Volcano, Kailua-Kona, or "kona" to the locals, is the principal city of western Hawaii. Boasting a spectacular volcanic coastline from otherworldly lava formations to lush greenery with calm and clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling, diving and spotting dolphins and honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles). Kailua-Kona itself is a bustling, social hub, home to shops, restaurants and nightlife.Visitors can also explore the islands rich history by visiting Kealakekua Bay, where Captain James Cook first landed on the island in 1778, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park or the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, a 1160-acre park that lets you explore early "Heiau" or "temples"

Christmas Island, Kiribati

Christmas Island (officially called the Republic of Kiribati), is an island nation in the central tropical Pacific Ocean, the largest coral atoll in the world with an area of 248 square miles of which 125 square miles is land and the remainder lagoon.The nation is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, Banaba, dispersed over 1,351,000 square miles straddling the equator, and bordering the International Date Line at its easternmost point.The name Kiribati is the local pronunciation of Gilberts, which derives from the main island chain, named the Gilbert Islands after the British explorer Thomas Gilbert, who was the first European to discover them. The capital, South Tarawa, consists of a number of islets connected through a series of causeways, located in the Tarawa archipelago. Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the IMF and the World Bank, and became a full member of the United Nations in 1999.The entire island is a Wildlife Sanctuary; the flora and the fauna are unique, but the island is affected by regular, severe droughts. Most of the atoll's food supplies have to be imported, although marine fish are plentiful. Exports of the atoll include aquarium fish, coconuts, and seaweed. Additionally, there is a small amount of tourism.

Papeete (French Polynesia)

Papeete is the capital of the French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti. Admire the Point Venus view where Captain Cook settled in Tahiti. Visit the busy port of Papeete before venturing to the waterfalls and black sand shores. Don't forget your camera to take back special memories of the helicopter ride.

Papeete (French Polynesia)

Papeete is the capital of the French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti. Admire the Point Venus view where Captain Cook settled in Tahiti. Visit the busy port of Papeete before venturing to the waterfalls and black sand shores. Don't forget your camera to take back special memories of the helicopter ride.

Opunohu Bay (Tahiti)

Opunohu Bay is located in the Island of Moorea (Tahiti) about 20 miles west of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. To the south of the island, we can find Mt. Tohivea, the highest mountain in the island. Many people visit the bay to go to Papetoai, to go shopping. Near we can fin Pao Pao. There are ferries and airplanes to reach Moorea.

Raiatea, French Polynesia

It is the biggest of the Sotavento islands. You can arrive by plane from Tahiti. Uturoa is the main town. In one day you can visit the whole island. A place full of beauty is the Faaroa Bay, where we will find vanilla plantations. The Bay of Opoa and the marae de Taputapuatea are two of the main attractions.

Rarotonga (Cook Islands)

Rarotonga is the largest of the 15 Cook Islands in the central South Pacific. The interior of the country is characterized by volcanic peaks, mountain ridges and rainforests. A 20-mile (32 km) strait runs around the island, which is lined with beaches, coastal lagoons, and reefs with popular diving and snorkeling spots. Crossing rugged terrain, the Cross-Island Track passes the 650m peak of Te Rua Manga, also known as "The Needle".

Vavaú (Tonga)

Nuku Alofa (Tonga)

Waitangi (New Zealand)

Auckland (New Zealand)

Auckland is a major cruise ship stopover point, with the ships usually tying up at Princes Wharf. Auckland CBD is connected to coastal suburbs, to the North Shore and to outlying islands by ferry. Auckland is home to many cultures. The majority of inhabitants claim European - predominantly British and/or Irish - descent, but substantial Maori, Pacific Islander and Asian communities exist as well. Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world and a higher proportion of people of Asian origin than the rest of New Zealand. Ethnic groups from all corners of the world have a presence in Auckland, making it by far the country's most cosmopolitan city.

Wellington (New Zealand)

Wellington, in the past a slow growing city, in the last years has transformated in the most sofisticated and bright city in New Zealand. In fact it is the favourite weekend destination in New Zealand. Part of its attractive in due to the option of doing plenty of things in one area. Theatres, shops, galleries, restaurants and bars are all in a walking distance. And talking about eating, it has been said that Wellington competes with New York in teh amount of restaurants per capita. You can also add to all that hte wonderful location in fornt of the port and you will see why a visit to this city should be amongst the first in your itinerary.

Sydney (Australia)

Sydney is known as the Harbour City. It is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia and one of the world´s most beautiful and liveable cities. Brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine, design, it is set next to miles of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. Recent immigration trends have led to the cities reputation as one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in Australia and the world. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet. The city is surrounded by nature and national parks, which extend through the suburbs and right to the shores of the harbour.