We chose this cruise principally for the itinerary, that of visiting all those “paradisicle” islands. We were not disappointed. Moorea, in Tahiti, was our favourite. It was a place of beautiful geography and given higher medical standards (we're getting older), we'd look into spending a couple of months a year as residents. While most destinations offered a splendid experience, a couple could have remained off the list.

Though it is easy to nitpick about things and complain, generally, we found Holland America Lines, HAL, provided its usual reliable service, that of a clean cabin, great breakfasts and lunches and decent on board diversions.

The island of Dravuni, was an especially wonderful place who's 200 inhabitants put on a lovely show. It was free but most who viewed it made a cash contribution; a surprise given that Kiwis and Aussies are prone to avoid doing such things. Also, outr last stop, Wiatangi, was a great spot. Pity our visit was so short. Most who went ashore were slow to return and all we spoke with agreed that we could have spent much more time there. Their market offered more than the usual platitudes and souvineirs. Read more