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Our 38-Day World Cruise Adventure! 

We recently had the incredible opportunity to spend 38 days sailing aboard Crown Princess on a World Cruise from New York to Australia! Along the way, we experienced amazing destinations, beautiful scenery, wildlife, and some unforgettable adventures. We also discovered a few wonderful local tour companies that really made our experiences extra special.

Here are some of our favorite memories, along with a few personal recommendations I'd love to share!

Cartegena - Colombia 

We explored the impressive San Felipe Fort, wandered through Cartagena's colorful Old City, and enjoyed a lively folklore show. We also visited the History and Naval Museums for a little insight into the city's fascinating past. 

Panama Canal

Experiencing the full Panama Canal transit from ocean to ocean was incredible! Watching our ship make its way through the massive locks and seeing this engineering marvel up close was truly a bucket-list experience. 

From crossing the Equator to Manta- Ecuador

After a quick shuttle ride from the port, we explored Manta's waterfront and beach area. There were lovely ocean views and plenty of restaurants, so of course we had to try some local Ecuadorian food! 

Callao  (Lima) Peru

We explored Miraflores, Lima's beautiful coastal district, with its dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific. We stopped at the Indian Market filled with Peruvian handicrafts, visited Larcomar shopping center built into the cliffs, and strolled along the scenic waterfront to Parque del Amor, famous for its colorful mosaics and the “El Beso” (The Kiss) sculpture  

San Martin (Pisco) Peru

This was one of the many highlights of our cruise! We visited the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve, where we saw sea lions, Humboldt penguins, Booby birds, and countless other seabirds, as well as the striking red sands of Playa Roja. A special shout-out to JD Adventure Travel, whose communication, knowledgeable guides, and attention to our cruise schedule made everything run smoothly. I'd highly recommend them, and second to none!

Easter Island - (locally known as Rapa Nui) - is one of the world's most remote inhabited islands, famous for its enormous stone moai statues, and one of the places I was most excited to visit. 

I had been planning our day with UKU Manu Tours well in advance, with the owners, Josefina and Tiko who were absolutely wonderful to work with! I had hundreds of questions, and they were incredibly patient, responsive, and helpful as we planned our private tour and made sure we would be back to the ship in plenty of time.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. When we arrived off Rapa Nui, the swells were simply too rough for the ship's tenders to operate safely, so we were unable to go ashore. It was disappointing to be so close and not be able to experience the island.  However, the cruise line was given special permission to do a "scenic cruise".

What I really appreciated, though, was how wonderful Josefina and Tiko at UKU Manu Tours were throughout the entire situation. They were prepared and waiting for us, and they went above and beyond to try to make the day work. Even though we couldn't take the tour, their communication, patience, and genuine concern for us as guests were exceptional.

Sometimes, a travel company shows you who they really are when things don't go according to plan—and UKU Manu Tours certainly did that for us. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone planning a visit to Rapa Nui, and I hope we get the chance to return someday and finally take that tour!

Papeete - Tahiti

We took a Viator tour that introduced us to some of Tahiti's beautiful scenery and cultural heritage. One of our stops was Ārahurahu Marae, an ancient Polynesian ceremonial site tucked into a lush, green valley. We also came across a striking stone tiki, an important figure in Polynesian culture and spirituality. According to local tradition, touching the tiki or leaving a small offering may bring spiritual protection and help ward off misfortune—so, of course, Bill and I had to give it a touch!

Our tour continued through the tropical rainforest to Vaimahuta Waterfall in the beautiful Faarumai Valley. We also visited a dramatic black-sand beach, where the dark volcanic sand contrasted with the blue-gray Pacific, and explored a volcanic cave. Tahiti was such a beautiful mix of lush scenery, waterfalls, and fascinating culture!

Moorea - Tahiti – 4WD Adventure & Lagoon Experience

Our Moorea adventure began with an exhilarating open-air 4WD ride deep into the island's lush interior. We bounced along rugged trails through famous pineapple plantations and climbed into the mountains to the spectacular Belvédère Lookout, with sweeping views of the volcanic peaks and valleys below. But the excitement didn't stop there! We tackled the steep, winding trails up to Magic Mountain, where the panoramic views of the turquoise lagoon, Mount Rotui, and our cruise ship anchored far below were absolutely breathtaking. What a thrilling way to experience Moorea's wild beauty beyond the beaches!

The adventure continues out on the crystal-clear lagoon, where you can have opportunities to swim and snorkel among tropical marine life, including stingrays, followed by a visit to a private motu for a picnic and traditional Polynesian entertainment. Although our own highlight was the incredible 4WD ride and mountain scenery, Moorea offers a wonderful combination of adventure, lagoon life, and island culture, and then enjoyed the motu picnic as well.

Aukland, New Zealand

Another great day and tour with Bush and Beach - their  "The Best of Both Worlds" (Auckland City & nature)! We started with a tour of Auckland, the “City of Sails,” before heading into the Waitākere Ranges rainforest  with scenery and sweeping views from the Arataki Visitor Centre, that is built high on the ridge. We hiked the rainforest—rain included for maximum authenticity! Our guided walk took us among giant tree ferns, with incredible views of New Zealand’s famous kauri trees and iconic silver ferns. We finished at the wild and rugged West Coast to experience Piha, one of New Zealand's most awe-inspiring beaches, where volcanic black sand meets the crashing waves of the Tasman Sea, and iconic rock formations dominate the landscape. In the distance, the mighty Lion Rock stands as a dramatic landmark that splits the beach and makes you feel absolutely tiny 

Sydney Australia - (Our favorite highlight)

After 38 days on Crown Princess we disembarked, and stayed in Sydney for a few extra days to explore. There is nothing quite like discovering Sydney on foot and by sea. We wandered through the historic Rocks district, then caught the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay. The views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and our cruise ship from the water were fantastic! Once in Manly, we strolled along The Corso, checked out the shops, and visited the famous Manly  beach. It was a great way to start our time in Sydney. 

Wild Wombats & Kangaroos — Our Ultimate Australian Bucket-List Adventure! 

This was hands down one of the most incredible days of our entire 38-day journey! Our full-day "Wild Wombats & Kangaroos" tour with Bush and Beach took us beyond Sydney into the beautiful Southern Highlands, with spectacular scenery and some amazing stops along the way.

We started at Sublime Point Lookout, perched high above the dramatic coastline, then enjoyed the winding scenic drive through Macquarie Pass National Park. We also visited the beautiful Carrington Falls and Fitzroy Falls, surrounded by lush forests and breathtaking landscapes.

But, the real highlight was yet to come—seeing wild wombats up close and kangaroos grazing freely in their natural habitat! One of our most unforgettable moments was spotting a mama kangaroo with her little joey peeking out of her pouch. These were the kinds of experiences we'd dreamed of having in Australia!

A very special shout-out to our phenomenal guide, Damon, who truly made the day exceptional. He had jokingly told us beforehand that he'd be our driver, guide, waiter, and photographer—and he certainly lived up to all four roles! He was knowledgeable, attentive, fun, and went out of his way to make sure we had a wonderful day and some great photos to remember it by.

We finished with a hearty meal at a traditional Aussie pub before a stop to enjoy the Southern Hemisphere's starry night sky. What a perfect ending to an unforgettable day—and to our incredible Australian adventure! If seeing Australia's wildlife in its natural habitat is on your bucket list, this is an experience I'd highly recommend. And Damon, if you're reading this, thank you for making it so special!