- La ora na!
- Itinerary
- Hawai’i
- Pearl Harbour
- On Board the Cruise
- Mo’orea
- Pape’ete
- Raʻiātea
- Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau
- Bay of Islands | Pēwhairangi
- Sydney
La ora na!
Okay so imagine this… it’s a cold, rainy, grey day—everything feels dull and miserable, with no sunshine in sight. Mid-winter. Then, out of the blue, Helen calls us and asks, “How would you like to join John and me on a cruise to Tahiti?”
Honestly, it felt like a dream come true at just the right moment! Sure, we’ve traveled a lot this year already, but the thought of escaping to a warm, tropical paradise, being pampered the whole way, and maybe even swimming in the warm Pacific Ocean was just too tempting to pass up. So, after a bit of excitement and discussion, we decided… let’s go for it!
Just a few short weeks later our flight from Auckland to Hawai’i was set to board at 10:30 PM, so we arrived at the airport a little early, four hours ahead of time! It felt like a long day with all that waiting, but we made the best of it by having dinner together. The flight itself was just 8 hours, but it felt like it stretched on forever because it lasted all night, however we arrived at last and checked into our hotel.
Itinerary
Click here for details of itinerary:
| Day | Date | Port/Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 01 Oct, 2024 | Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii (Depart) |
| Day 2-4 | 02-04 Oct, 2024 | At Sea |
| Day 5-6 | 05-06 Oct, 2024 | At Sea |
| Day 7 | 07 Oct, 2024 | Moorea, French Polynesia |
| Day 8 | 08 Oct, 2024 | Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| Day 9 | 09 Oct, 2024 | Raiatea, French Polynesia |
| Day 10-11 | 10-11 Oct, 2024 | At Sea |
| Day 12 | 12 Oct, 2024 | International Dateline |
| Day 13-14 | 13-14 Oct, 2024 | At Sea |
| Day 15 | 15 Oct, 2024 | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Day 16 | 16 Oct, 2024 | Bay of Islands, New Zealand |
| Day 17-18 | 17-18 Oct, 2024 | At Sea |
| Day 19 | 19 Oct, 2024 | Sydney, Australia (Arrive) |
Hawai’i
Our first day in Hawai’i was a bit of a rollercoaster with a few little hiccups along the way. We arrived bright and early, having crossed the international date line the day before. After catching the shuttle from the airport to our hotel in Waikiki, we had a bit of a mishap—we accidentally left our duty-free wine on the bus! Thankfully, after what felt like ages, the driver returned it to us safe and sound.
Once we finally had our wine back, we dropped our luggage at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and grabbed a coffee at a nearby cafe. Then, it was time to hit the shops! We spent a fun couple of hours browsing at Ross Dress for Less, where Baz scored an amazing deal—two pairs of Levi jeans for just $8 each!
The hotel was fantastic—great location, amazing views of the beach, and a lovely restaurant. We couldn’t have asked for a better spot to stay in Waikiki! It was a fabulous day all around, even though, as you might expect, things were a bit on the pricey side. But hey, it’s Waikiki, and it was totally worth it!
Pearl Harbour
Day 2 was an unforgettable experience as we made our way to Pearl Harbor! We hopped on the number 20 bus, which took a bit longer than we expected—about 1.5 hours—but it was such a lovely day, and the journey was actually a lot of fun as we passed by local sights along the way and chatted to other passengers.
Once we arrived, we visited the Arizona Memorial, right at the site where the ship sank. It was a poignant moment, and it really hit home to reflect on the lives lost and those still resting in the waters below. From there, we made our way to the USS Missouri battleship, where we joined a guided tour. Walking around the ship and standing in the exact spot where General MacArthur signed the surrender with Japan was incredible! Our guide shared such fascinating stories, really bringing the history to life.
On Board the Cruise
The Celebrity Solstice cruise was everything we’d imagined and more—luxury, top-notch service, and an unforgettable experience. We quickly got to know the friendly staff who crossed our paths and we even made a few new friends along the way. The food? Absolutely amazing! And on most nights we couldn’t resist indulging in the late-night pizza before heading back to our cabin for the night.
We absolutely loved the shows each night and the lectures in the mornings (when we were at sea). The sheer luxury of being aboard made everything feel extra special. But, of course, as you can imagine from the itinerary… there were a few too many days at sea! I know… ! It was all part of the experience, but we were definitely ready to hit land after a while!
It was also a real treat to have a balcony cabin. The views were incredible! Check out these photos and video for more of our journey.
Mo’orea
Arriving in Mo’orea, we took a tender from our ship to the island, where we spent the day relaxing on the beach, swimming in the crystal-clear waters, sipping fresh coconut juice straight from a newly opened coconut, and then wandering to a local restaurant for a cold local beer before heading back to the ship—what a magical day!
Pape’ete
Arriving at the port of Pape’ete, we headed straight for a café to grab some Wi-Fi and catch up with family—so nice to reconnect with loved ones while on the road!
For lunch, we picked up a delicious cheese and ham baguette from the market and enjoyed it as we made our way to catch our half-day island tour.
As soon as we stepped off the ship, we met Natalie, who had arranged a taxi-van for us and a few other fellow travelers also looking for a tour. Watch out for Natalie, she had me sitting in a narrow child’s seat until I protested! Over the next four hours, we circled the island, soaking up the sights and learning some history along the way. We visited beautiful gardens, explored a cool lava cave, and saw some stunning natural wonders. Highlights of the tour included:
- Pointé Venus, where we learned about the arrival of explorers in outrigger canoes and took in the view of the lighthouse.
- Fa’arumai Waterfalls, small but set in a lush, tropical environment that made them all the more picturesque.
- The Three Water Gardens of Waipahi, charming with colorful hibiscus, water lilies, and beautiful trees.
- De Mara’a Grotto, a fascinating lava cave that was cool and damp, tucked away in the mountains.
To end the day, we enjoyed stunning evening views of the island from the ship just before we sailed away. What a day to remember!
Raʻiātea
It was one of those rainy, yucky days in Raʻiātea with not much to do. Sadly, all the excursions to the pearl farm and vanilla farm were cancelled due to the weather.
We decided to wait until the afternoon before heading to port, after lunch, took a tender from the ship into port. The rain didn’t stop us from having a bit of fun! We spent the afternoon hopping over puddles, wandering through the town, and even popped into the local supermarket. Our biggest score? A haul of delicious Côte d’Or chocolate to take home—yum!
Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau
Then we were back home in Auckland – still to head to Bay of Islands and Sydney! Didn’t quite plan that one out, haha! 🤣
But we made the most of our day here. We invited two of our amazing buffet staff to join us for a little outing. Basker took Barat and a friend to Sandringham, which is like a little slice of India, and they had a blast enjoying some delicious thosai and idli.
It took a little planning with a couple of Uber rides, but everything went smoothly! Plus, I managed to drop off some clothes I didn’t need anymore and pick up something warmer for the cooler weather ahead. All in all, it was a really lovely day!
Bay of Islands | Pēwhairangi
On this morning we arrived in the beautiful Bay of Islands! Wow, what a gorgeous place. It’s cool and a bit overcast, but the sun is starting to peek through. The coffee is fantastic, and the view… absolutely exceptional. I think the photos say it all—fabulous place!
Sydney
We were up early to watch our sail into Sydney Harbour, and wow, it was spectacular!
The sun was shining, the Opera House was right there, and the Harbour Bridge looked absolutely beautiful. Disembarkation went smoothly, but we still had some time before we could check-in to our apartment, so we decided to drop off our bags and start exploring the city.
We did a lot of walking—markets, Chinatown, Paddy’s Market—and by the end of it, we were both happy and exhausted! Time to grab our luggage and hop into an Uber to our apartment in Kirribilli.
When we arrived, the apartment was spacious enough with two bedrooms, which was great, but the overall quality wasn’t fantastic at all. On the plus side, we had top-notch views of the harbour, which more than made up for it. Kirribilli itself turned out to be a delightful little town with a village atmosphere, tucked right near the base of the Harbour Bridge.
To top it off, the King was visiting Sydney that weekend, and we got to see him twice as his cavalcade rushed by! Basker was sure he even got a wave. The next day we also walked across the Harbour Bridge, where we enjoyed some gorgeous views of the city.
On the last day, our flight home from Sydney to Auckland was just 3 hours—a quick hop across the ditch. It felt great to get back home, bringing with us wonderful memories of an amazing trip. Happy travels! 🌏🌸🛫🌼⛴️
Māuru uru roa!
🌺 Thanks for cruising along with us — we loved every tropical moment and hope our tips help you plan your own island adventure! ♡ Janet
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