35-night Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas Cruise

San Diego is a city offering a little for everyone. Tons of beaches line San Diego's coastline, ranging from the surfer's beach to the family beach to the private romantic beaches hidden away from the crowds. Attractions like Sea World and the world famous San Diego Zoo are a big reason San Diego is a great family destination. And for those who are just here to get away for the weekend and have a good time, San Diego offers an unbelievable nightlife with outrageous nightclubs, live concerts, professional sports, theatrical performances and much more.

This famous area of the Big Island is on the western side along the coast North Kona and South Kona. Kailua-Kona is the name of the main town along the coast, with Kona added to distinguish it from other Kailuas. This tourist-oriented seaside village is at the base of 8,271 foot Mt Kaulalai. The main drag is Alii Dr, over a mile of oceanfront shops and restaurants. The newer Waterfront Row complex is at the southern end of the tourist strip. It is a shopping and dining complex. There is a seawall along the waterfront that is popular with fishermen and locals who weave hats and mats for tourists. There is the Kailua Pier where marlin are weighed in tournaments. Most big game fish are landed at Honokohau Harbor.

On the northern coast of Maui's central valley, Kahului is a fairly large town, with shopping centers, some no-frills hotels, a commercial harbor and cruise-ship dock, and Maui's main airport. All the big-box stores, car dealerships and warehouses are there.

It's generally less expensive to stay in Kahului than elsewhere on the island. The beaches have salt-and-pepper sand.

Travel across the International Dateline and step forward or backward in time one day.

The equator, which passes through northern Ecuador (and for which the country is named), is usually visited from Quito, 14 mi/22 km to the south. The best place to "see" the equator is at the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) complex (phone 239-4803; https://www.mitaddelmundo.gob.ec/es). It marks the spot on the equator where an 18th-century French expedition tested Newton's theory that the Earth bulged in the middle, which it does (each member of the expedition is honored with a small bust at the site). The equator monument itself is a 90-ft-/27-m-high building crowned by a large metal globe. Ride the elevator to the top, where you'll get some nice views of the surrounding hills from an observation area. Inside the tower, there's an ethnographic museum with exhibits on the various cultures that populate Ecuador.

Around the monument are several other attractions, including a scale model of Quito (complete with sound effects and day and night views), a mock colonial plaza and bullring, a planetarium and lots of gift shops. Be sure to buy some postcards and get them stamped at the special "Middle of the World" post office. The site is touristy but fun: If you want to have your picture taken on the equator (or, more accurately, on the yellow line that clearly marks the equator), this is the place.

Travel across the International Dateline and step forward or backward in time one day.

Tahitians believe Raiatea to be the sacred birthplace of their gods and their religious and cultural beginnings. The most important and well-preserved religious site in all of Polynesia is here. It is from these shores that ancient Polynesian explorers are said to have ventured to the far off lands of Hawaii and New Zealand. Second only in size to the Island of Tahiti, Raiatea is today the trading center of the leeward islands. Raiatea is unique in that it has the only navigable river in Polynesia - the Faaroa. The rare, white gardenia called Tiare Apetahi only grows on the slopes of Mount Temehani and nowhere else on Earth! Mount Temehani is also the supposed birthplace of Oro, one principal god of Polynesia. There is a large, protected lagoon around Raiatea and its sister island Tahaa, which produces wonderful beaches and the perfect location for sailing, big game fishing, and diving.

Tahitians believe Raiatea to be the sacred birthplace of their gods and their religious and cultural beginnings. The most important and well-preserved religious site in all of Polynesia is here. It is from these shores that ancient Polynesian explorers are said to have ventured to the far off lands of Hawaii and New Zealand. Second only in size to the Island of Tahiti, Raiatea is today the trading center of the leeward islands. Raiatea is unique in that it has the only navigable river in Polynesia - the Faaroa. The rare, white gardenia called Tiare Apetahi only grows on the slopes of Mount Temehani and nowhere else on Earth! Mount Temehani is also the supposed birthplace of Oro, one principal god of Polynesia. There is a large, protected lagoon around Raiatea and its sister island Tahaa, which produces wonderful beaches and the perfect location for sailing, big game fishing, and diving.

Papeete, the modern and bustling capital of Tahiti and Her Islands, contains government offices, Gendarmerie, hospitals and clinics, banks and many other services dedicated to serving the population of the islands as well as tourists who come for a life-enriching experience to these magical islands.

Papeete, the modern and bustling capital of Tahiti and Her Islands, contains government offices, Gendarmerie, hospitals and clinics, banks and many other services dedicated to serving the population of the islands as well as tourists who come for a life-enriching experience to these magical islands.

Opunohu Bay is on the island of Moorea in beautiful Tahiti. The bay is surrounded by breathtaking peaks, and stunning natural foliage that has been named by yachtsmen as the most beautiful bay in all of Polynesia. The peaceful blue waters make for excellent swimming, kayaking and snorkeling.

An hour and a half flight from Papeete, rectangular-shaped Fakarava is a charming village, home to most of the atoll's 248 inhabitants. The only other - sort of - settlement (10 people ) is on Tetamanu Motu Islet located opposite the lagoon next to the smaller but prettier pass. Fakarava's immense lagoon has several black pearl farms, idyllic white sand beaches and is peppered with small islands, homes to many breeds of nesting birds oblivious to visitors.

Atop a green peak bordering the bay at Nuka Hiva is a statue of Virgin Mary (984 ft above sea level). In the valley is the Naniuhi "tahua", a meeting place for pre-Christian Marquesans, including a dance platform, ceremonial stones and petroglyphs carved in boulders. Taipivai Valley has numerous waterfalls, a long river and one of the best preserved archeological sites in the Marquesas including several tiki. Anaho Bay and its golden sand beach has great swimming and is one of the loveliest spots in the Marquesas with only six families living in the valley. Don’t miss the sculptures of Taiohae. They are unquestionably the most skilled wood and coconut craftspeople in French Polynesia. Taiohae is a pleasant village bordering the sea with French and Territorial administrators, government buildings, gendarmerie, post office, general hospital, town hall, Air Tahiti office, and well-stocked stores and shops. It lies on the south coast at the head of the Bay of Taiohae whose entrance is guarded by two rocks called "Les Sentinelles" Motu Nui to the west and Matauapuna to the East.

The equator, which passes through northern Ecuador (and for which the country is named), is usually visited from Quito, 14 mi/22 km to the south. The best place to "see" the equator is at the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) complex (phone 239-4803; https://www.mitaddelmundo.gob.ec/es). It marks the spot on the equator where an 18th-century French expedition tested Newton's theory that the Earth bulged in the middle, which it does (each member of the expedition is honored with a small bust at the site). The equator monument itself is a 90-ft-/27-m-high building crowned by a large metal globe. Ride the elevator to the top, where you'll get some nice views of the surrounding hills from an observation area. Inside the tower, there's an ethnographic museum with exhibits on the various cultures that populate Ecuador.

Around the monument are several other attractions, including a scale model of Quito (complete with sound effects and day and night views), a mock colonial plaza and bullring, a planetarium and lots of gift shops. Be sure to buy some postcards and get them stamped at the special "Middle of the World" post office. The site is touristy but fun: If you want to have your picture taken on the equator (or, more accurately, on the yellow line that clearly marks the equator), this is the place.

San Diego is a city offering a little for everyone. Tons of beaches line San Diego's coastline, ranging from the surfer's beach to the family beach to the private romantic beaches hidden away from the crowds. Attractions like Sea World and the world famous San Diego Zoo are a big reason San Diego is a great family destination. And for those who are just here to get away for the weekend and have a good time, San Diego offers an unbelievable nightlife with outrageous nightclubs, live concerts, professional sports, theatrical performances and much more.

Opunohu Bay is on the island of Moorea in beautiful Tahiti. The bay is surrounded by breathtaking peaks, and stunning natural foliage that has been named by yachtsmen as the most beautiful bay in all of Polynesia. The peaceful blue waters make for excellent swimming, kayaking and snorkeling.