Ports of Call continued
NAWILIWILI, KAUAI,HAWAII Queen Victoria
Kauai is a garden island, so bring a taste for ripest papaya, banana and pineapple – you’re sure to find them on a four-wheel drive tour into the island’s lush forests. And arrive with a head for heights, so you can swoop by helicopter over Waimea Canyon, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific – an unforgettable patchwork of deep greens daubed by the coppery reds of the bare rock.
NEW YORK Queen ElizabethO
, Queen Victoria
Admire all the glitz, glamour and bright lights of the Big Apple, or just come for the stores. There’s Bloomingdale’s on Lex, Tiffany’s on Fifth, Barneys and the unique boutiques along Madison. If you’ve not quite sated your appetite, there’s still time to delve into those trendy shops of SoHo.
OLYMPIA (FROM KATAKOLON),GREECE Queen Victoria
Imagine the early athletic drama that unfolded in this serene site, where 20,000 spectators once witnessed the first Olympians strive for glory. The marble starting blocks are still visible, as are the ruined Temple of Hera – where the torch was lit from the sun – and Temple of Zeus, whose 12- metre high statue, long since departed, rated among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
ORANJESTAD, ARUBA Queen Victoria
Aruba is the Caribbean, but with a charming rugged edge. Keen golfers should take a tip and reserve a round at the Tierra del Sol course. It’s not always easy to concentrate on your putting with the wealth of Aruba’s wildlife on show: organ pipe cacti, lizards basking on sun-drenched rocks, rare burrowing owls and chattering parakeets passing comment on your swing.
OSAKA, JAPAN Queen Mary 2
Culinary heart and innovative second city of Japan, Osaka sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay. For a sense of history, discover the imposing Osaka Castle or the third century Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine. For more modern pleasures go sky-high at the Floating Garden Observatory, browse the stylish malls or visit the massive Kaiyukan aquarium.
PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA Queen Elizabeth
Attend an authentic Samoan-style family gathering. After winding your way through the tropical South Seas scenery, adjourn to the local beach to greet your hosts. You may get to see islanders scaling coconut palms and an umucooking demonstration using hot river rocks. Then the main highlight: tasting these local delicacies.
PENANG,MALAYSIA Queen Elizabeth
This former British trading post is poetically named after the pinangor betel-nut palm tree and linked to the mainland by a striking 13km road bridge. Treats in store include the huge reclining gilded Buddha of Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple, or the bizarre Snake Temple, swarming with venomous serpents rendered harmless by heady incense!
PHUKET, THAILAND Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2
Once a booming producer of rubber and tin, Phuket has gained a glowing reputation for the impossible beauty of its white sand crescents lapped by clear waters. Seek out drama beneath the surface as you dive or snorkel amidst a swirling rainbow of marine life, or marvel at the majestic limestone pillars jutting from the sea in Phang Nga Bay.
PORTDENARAU, FIJI Queen Elizabeth
Welcome to a paradise of azure lagoons, white sands, verdant jungle, tumbling waterfalls, rippling sugar cane and ancient Polynesian shrines. Here, seek out the mineral-rich mud pools of Sabeto Hot Springs or admire the Sri Siva Subramaniya Hindu Temple in nearby Nadi, swathed in a rainbow of brightly carved deities.
PORT DOUGLAS, AUSTRALIA Queen Elizabeth
This charming resort town on the North Queensland coast offers an enticing blend of stylish shops and restaurants mixed with a friendly village atmosphere. Discover the creeks of Mossman Gorge, the golden sands of Four Mile Beach or Daintree rainforest, thought to be the world’s oldest tropical forest and home to rare birds, animals and plants.
PORT LOUIS,MAURITIUS Queen Mary 2
On this friendly isle, explore Pamplemousses Botanical Garden on foot, abloom with spices, lotuses and the magnificent Giant Amazon Water Lily. Venture by four-wheel drive to Domaine Les Pailles, home to deer, monkeys and rare bird species. Or board a catamaran to appreciate the island’s stunning beauty from its reef-sheltered waters.
PUERTOQUETZAL,GUATEMALA Queen Victoria
What a place to peer memorably into the past. You may have a chance to witness Tikal, the ancient Mayan ruins where the terraced Pyramid of the Great Jaguar looms large. La Antigua Guatemala is a vision of colonial grace, as yellow churches and crumbling pastel houses are draped prettily in bougainvillea. Then it’s coffee time, so stop by an ecological estate to sample fragrant blends.
PUNTARENAS,COSTA RICA Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria
Discover exactly how rich this ‘Rich Coast’ really is. See the rainforest from on high during a canopy tour through wispy ferns, winding lianas and delicate orchids. Scan the dense foliage for hummingbirds and herons as you glide through mangrove swamps by boat. You can taste nature’s bounty, too, at one of the plantations which produce the country’s famously rich coffee.
RABAUL, PAPUANEWGUINEA Queen Mary 2
Snap the incomparable views across cloud-cloaked volcanoes from Mount Tavurvur or admire the bizarre 'bubbling beach'. Meet welcoming Matupit villagers, explore the tunnels and caverns dug by the Japanese army during World War II or visit the colourful town of Kokopo.
ROME (FROMCIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY Queen Elizabeth
The seamless blend of old and new makes Rome an eternal joy. Vespas buzz by the ancient Colosseum, lively chatter fills stately piazzas and chic boutiques line cobbled streets. It is simply irresistible, and you’ll surely long to return. No problem, legend says that throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain will ensure just that.
OsakaCastle,Osaka, Japan 72
Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia
Botanical Gardens, Mauritius T h e m o s t f a m o u s o c e a n l i n e r s i n t h e w o r l d
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