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Ship:  Spirit of Oceanus

Itinerary:  Island Sanctuaries

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  South Pacific palms

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries |  cancellation policy

Day 1 :	Arrive Papeete, Tahiti
Day 2 :	Tahiti, Society Islands
Day 3 :	Bora Bora and Taha
Day 4 :	Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands
Day 5 :	Takapoto, Tuamotu Islands
Day 6 :	At Sea
Day 7 :	Ua Huka, The Marquesas
Day 8 :	Hiva Oa, The Marquesas
Day 9 :	Fatu Hava, The Marquesas
Day 10 :	At Sea
Day 11 :	Fakarava, Tuamotu Islands
Day 12 :	Disembark in Papeete, Tahiti
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Superior	Majestic	Premium	Classic	Explorer	Grand Titan	Owner
12	Jan 24, 2009 Feb 3, 2009	$4,899	$5,249	$5,649	$6,199	$7,449	$8,199	$11,799
		The cost of your cruise includes $515 per person which covers taxes/port charges/fees and on board services. On board gratuities are neither required nor expected. Prices are per person, double-occupancy, U.S. dollars. Single/Triple rates available upon request where applicable.
Destinations : Bora Bora, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific, Tahiti, Tuamotu Islands Activities : Ancient Ruins, Cultural Activities, Nature Viewing, Photography, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling

From the romantic and spectacularly beautiful Society Islands we sail through pristine cobalt blue waters to the remote Tuamotu and Marquesas Islands. Here we’ll explore the great variety of dramatic volcanic and coral islands, fjord-like bays, and atolls that make these islands a naturalist’s paradise, and meet many of the locals whose rich cultural heritage is evident in the fascinating archaeological ruins found here.

Day 1 : Arrive Papeete, Tahiti

Transfer to the luxurious InterContinental Resort Tahiti and spend the remainder of your evening at your leisure.

Day 2 : Tahiti, Society Islands

Aita pea pea – no problem! That’s the attitude in Papeete, a place once immortalized by Gaughin and Michener. Spend the morning at your leisure. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands, the Paul Gauguin Museum and the former home of James Norman Hall, author of Mutiny on the Bounty. Visit the 150-year-old municipal market, a cacophony of colors, smells and sounds, before boarding the Spirit of Oceanus and sailing out at sunset. BD

Day 3 : Bora Bora and Taha

Emerald mountains, white sand beaches and sheltered turquoise lagoons define perfection on Bora Bora. Take a tour of the island’s colorful villages, archeological sites and World War II relics, or glide over colorful reef in a glass bottom boat, swim with gentle stingrays and watch a wild shark feeding. Stroll the quaint streets of Vaitape, Bora Bora’s main village. BLD

Day 4 : Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands

You won’t believe how many fish abide in the clean, fresh waters of the Tuamotus! The second largest atoll in the world, Rangiroa offers some of the best swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in the South Pacific. When you’re not exploring the underwater world, stroll through a local village, soaking up the slow, tropical pace of life. BLD

Day 5 : Takapoto, Tuamotu Islands

Have you ever wondered how the rare black pearl is cultivated? Takapoto is the island where the “gem of the South Seas” was first farmed. Visit a local pearl farm, where you’ll learn the ins and outs of the industry. Keep an eye out for the endemic atoll fruitdove, and spend the afternoon swimming and snorkeling Takapoto’s crystal-clear, turquoise lagoon. BLD

Day 6 : At Sea

Bask in the amenities of the Spirit of Oceanus as she cruises between islands. Exploration Leaders and Guest Speakers will whet your appetite for the natural history and cultures you are about to experience. BLD

Day 7 : Ua Huka, The Marquesas

Thousands of seabirds inhabit Ua Huka’s surrounding islets. As you approach, breathe in the smell of fresh herbs and wild cotton that blanket the hills of the southern coast. Bounce along dirt roads on a four-wheel-drive tour of the island’s lush interior, the Museum of Vaipee and the villages of Hane and Hokato, where traditional woodcarving is still a fine art. Ancient petroglyphs and red rock tikis, or carved talisman, reveal life on Ua Huka tracking back to 300 AD. BLD

Day 8 : Hiva Oa, The Marquesas

The largest and most fertile island in the southern Marquesas, Hiva Oa is chiseled with deep valleys, fertile plateaus and lush forests. In Paumau, visit the Oipona me’ae temple, home of Takaii, an eight-foot-tall stone tiki, the largest in French Polynesia. Enjoy a special performance by the villagers and tour the Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel Cultural Centers. Hiva Oa was where Gauguin spent the last years of his life (many of his descendents still live on the island), and you’ll have the chance to visit his grave. BLD

Day 9 : Fatu Hava, The Marquesas

Fita Huva is wildly beautiful. Jungle greenery plunges straight down into splashing surf and rock curtains (veiled virgins, according to Catholic missionaries) enclose Hanavave Bay. Locals perform traditional dances, demonstrate handicrafts and explain their tattoos, once a mode of expressing social status and protecting against evil spirits. Fatu Hiva is the only place in French Polynesia where tapa, beaten bark cloth, is still made. BLD

Day 10 : At Sea

Embrace the warm, salty air of the vast, blue Pacific. Let it fill your lungs and soothe your skin. BLD

Day 11 : Fakarava, Tuamotu Islands

This protected atoll and its six neighboring islands make up a UNESCO-classified nature reserve. Fakarava is home to the rare hunting kingfisher and Tuamotu palm and is the haunt of countless dolphins, rays, squills and sea cicadas. Snorkel the Tumakohua Pass and enjoy local village cultural and handicraft demonstrations. BLD

Day 12 : Disembark in Papeete, Tahiti

Disembark and check into individual day rooms at the InterContinental Resort. Spend the afternoon at your leisure before transferring to the airport for your overnight flight home. BLD

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Optional post-cruise to Moorea:
Day 12: Ferry to Moorea Island. Tour this exquisite island
Day 13: Free day in Moorea
Day 14: Ferry back to Papeete. Dayrooms until flight home

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-Please note an additional fuel surcharge of $15 per person per night on ship. See individual itineraries for totals.
-Single and Triple Cabin Rates available upon request. Single supplement approx. 1.9 times the double occupancy rate.

Ship Description: Spirit of Oceanus

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  Spirit of Oceanus

One of our most spacious and luxurious ocean going vessels. Equipped with stabilizers, the Spirit of Oceanus opens up whole new horizons for our style of up-close, casual small-ship cruising. In Alaska, that means the Gulf of Alaska and the remote vastness of the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea.

Our flagship hosts just 120 guests in comfortable outside suites, each with a picture window or porthole. The 15 suites on the Sun and Sports Decks feature private teak balconies, the first in our fleet. Other cabin amenities unique to the Spirit of Oceanus include a walk-in closet or wardrobe, a large marble bathroom, and a lounge area. Each suite also features an in-room safe and satellite telephone access. Other features:

- English-speaking multinational crew
- Elevator access to all passenger decks
- Two Spacious Lounges
- Game room/library
- Satellite phone, email and Internet capability
- All suites welcome you with a fresh fruit bowl, bathrobes, and spa bath amenities
- All suites can be configured as either two twins or a king-size bed, and feature private facilities (sink, shower and toilet)
- Doctor and clinic
- Open dining featuring continental and regional cuisine
- Complete bar service

Superior (Suites 250, 331) Located on the Oceanus and Main decks, Superior Suites average 215 square feet in size and have three portholes (Main Deck) or picture windows (Oceanus Deck). Twin or king beds.	Majestic 231 sq. ft with porth(Suites 252-262, 329) These 240 square foot suites are located on the Main Deck and Oceanus Deck. They feature a minimum of 2 portholes and full-length wardrobes. Twin or king beds. Suite 329 on the Oceanus Deck has a picture window.
Premium (Cabins 414-428) These suites are located on the Club Deck and feature a walk-in closet and a large picture window opening onto an outside walkway. They average 235 square feet in size.	Classic (Cabins 330, 332-348) Classic Suites located on the Oceanus Deck feature a picture window right in the hull and have two wardrobes. Classic Suites average 250 square feet. Twin or king beds.
Explorer (Cabins 505-512) Explorer Suites on the Bridge Deck feature a sliding glass door leading to a private balcony and a walk-in closet. Explorer Suites are 277 square feet in size. Twin or king beds.	Grand Titan (Cabins 601-604) These magnificent suites are atop the ship on the Sun Deck. They feature a sliding glass door leading to a private balcony, a spacious wardrobe, and a large picture window. They are 353 square feet in size. Twin or king beds.
Owner Spacious living room, large bathroom & whirlpool tub, one king bed, fully stocked complimentary bar, refrigerator, TV/VCR, stereo system and large sliding glass doors leading to a roomy private sun deck. Convertible sleeper sofa for triple accommodations.