Lautoka Viti Levu is Fiji’s largest island, and Lautoka its second-largest city. The western side of the island has the characteristics of a desert; the verdant eastern side receives up to 100 inches of rain per year.


You could say that Viti Levu has something for everyone: bustling cities, quaint villages, dense green jungles, golden mountains, sugar plantations—and above all, the unparalleled friendliness of the native people. Be sure to sample authentic Fijian food—especially the ceviche-style kokoda, which is fish marinated in lemon and lime juice and coconut.


In Lautoka, you might spend the day visiting the Garden of the Sleeping Giant— one of the best-kept secrets in the South Pacific. Thousands of fragile orchids of all sizes seem to burst with new colors with each hour of sunlight.


AT Sea Of course, along with your colorful new swimsuit/comfy board shorts and your finest tropical evening wear, you remembered to bring your appetite. Because aboard The Gauguin, every craving will be spectacularly sated. Each day, Le Grill serves afternoon tea in high style, with finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, pastries, and petit fours. Breakfast or lunch al fresco beneath the vast blue sky is an exceedingly fine way to sample fare inspired by the islands you’ll visit. And, for hands-down elegance, get spiffed up for dinner at L’Etoile.


Espiritu Santo Consisting of 83 volcanic islands, the nation of Vanuatu floats peacefully in the South Pacific. Spanish for “the Holy Spirit,” Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the Vanuatu archipelago. This, surely, is Shangri-La. Palm-lined, white-sand beaches, spring-fed swimming holes, lush rainforests, and lofty mountains conspire to bring you a deep sense of wellness with the world.


Guided trekking for all levels of fitness and experience will lead you through rainforests to hidden caves and idyllic lagoons. James Michener wrote Tales of the South Pacific while stationed on Espiritu, and the pages of the book seem to come to life at every turn. Beneath the surface of the shimmering Pacific, experienced


divers will delight in underwater caves, caverns, and shipwrecks—including one of the world’s Top 10 dive sites, the S.S. President Coolidge, almost entirely intact after sinking in 1942.


AT Sea It is highly probable that the extraordinary sights, sounds, and tastes that you experience on this voyage will awaken your creativity. If you’re looking for a less vocal display of your delight, and if sketching or painting isn’t your forte, Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins are at the ready to share their skills at Polynesian arts and crafts. Make a basket out of coconut palm leaves, learn the ancient art of tapa, make your own jewelry with natural materials found on the islands, craft a bookmark out of indigenous pandanus leaves, and more. You’ll return home with a one-of-a-kind memento of this extraordinary voyage.


Guadalcanal The largest of the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal was the site of a fierce battle between the Japanese and the United States during World War II. Immediately after the war, the capital of the British Solomon Islands was moved to Honiara on Guadalcanal. Henderson Field— the site of the fighting in 1942—became the Solomon Islands’ international airport.


Beyond the picturesque seaport of Honiara, most of the island is carpeted with dense rainforest, where colorful parrots squawk and play. The mountainous interior hosts more than 200 species of birds, flying among towering trees and tumbling waterfalls. The island’s coast is lined with white-sand beaches, and divers will be treated to rich marine life and numerous shipwrecks to explore. For history lovers, Guadalcanal is a treasure trove of war relics, monuments, battle sites and historical museums.


AT Sea This voyage is all about exploration and discovery. Get a workout between your ears with The Gauguin’s onboard resources, which are both edifying and fun. Le Grand Salon is host to myriad talks, presentations, and screenings— don’t miss watching The Bounty on the big screen and then get the real scoop from anthropologist and raconteur Mark Eddowes, who has captivated guests for


more than nine years with tales of French Polynesia’s past. You can add to your mad kitchen skills with cooking demonstrations by the ship’s executive chef, and play chess, trivia, and bridge.


Samarai Island Hands- down the most historically intriguing stop on the itinerary, tiny Samarai Island was once a bustling trading port between Australia and East Asia. In 1942, fearing Japanese occupation, the British ordered the port destroyed. It was rebuilt after the war and, after years of reconstruction, was declared a National Historical Heritage Island by the government of Papua New Guinea in 2006.


A pleasant pathway encircles the island, providing picturesque views of the charming downtown area. Diving and snorkeling are rich with colorful marine life, and beaches are a great place to relax.


Port Moresby Port Moresby (also referred to as Moresby and Pom Town) is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. Highlights of the Port Moresby City Sights tour include views of Taurama Army Barracks and Boroko shopping center before visiting the National Parliament House and the National Museum & Art Gallery which houses a collection of unique artwork from around the country, history of early agricultural existence, hunting methods and trading, that portrays the different cultures and traditions of the country. Also see the magnificent gardens of Port Moresby Adventure Park.


AT Sea Your to-do list: Sleep in. Enjoy breakfast in your stateroom. Grab your sunscreen and that novel you brought. Enjoy lunch on deck or by the pool (tropical cocktails are strongly encouraged). Nap liberally. Indulge in an intimate dinner at La Veranda, and try something you’ve never had before. Have dessert. Sip a nightcap. Dance under a dazzling canopy of stars. Sleep well. Have beautiful dreams.


THURSDAY ISLAND Roughly 2,000 years ago, Melanesian and Polynesian settlers arrived on the shores of the Torres Strait Islands, in the far north of


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