San Diego to Papeete
After leaving San Diego, we sail south to hop along the coast of Mexico, calling at Cabo San Lucas to see mighty whales breach the waters, Mazatlán, to admire French baroque architecture, and Puerto Vallarta, a welcoming city popular with the LGBTQ+ community. A couple of relaxing days at sea take us to Acajutla in El Salvador, within striking distance of the mangroves and mountains of El Imposible National Park, home to pumas and black-crested eagles. Next, we cross the border to San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, a fishing community on a curving bay overlooked by a hilltop statue of Jesus, then Puntarenas in Costa Rica, to mingle with the locals on the beachfront boulevard. A leisurely sea day brings us to Ecuador – first to Manta to dine on fresh seafood caught in local waters, then Guayaquil, where iguanas roam the parks. After another day at sea we arrive in Salaverry, Peru, within easy reach of historic Trujillo, and Callao, from where you can explore the Peruvian capital, Lima. Next, we reach Polynesia, stopping at Hanga Roa on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to look in awe at the famous ancient statues with huge heads, the mysterious moai, of which there are more than 1,000 on the island. Now we enjoy two days sailing across the wide Pacific, Earth’s largest ocean, as we head to Adamstown, the only settlement on the volcanic quartet of Pitcairn Islands, a community of 35 people who are largely descended from the 18th-century mutineers from HMS Bounty. The coral island of Raroia now comes into view, renowned for pearl farming, then two islands that will delight divers: Fakarava, an atoll favoured for encounters with sharks, and Rangiroa, a similarly amazing underwater world of kaleidoscopic fish. Finally, we come to the swaying palms and cerulean waters of Papeete in Tahiti, our journey’s end.
Crystal Cruises - originally founded in 1988 - offers a range of stylish luxury and expedition cruises, bringing a sense of occasion and high-end service to far-flung parts of the world. For over three decades, Crystal has gained awards and accolades by the shipload – and it’s not hard to see why.
Operating a fleet of impressive ships decked out with opulent décor and contemporary innovations, Crystal Cruises takes comfort and adventure to the next level. From succulent dining to perfectly-organised onshore excursions, not to mention helicopter trips and submarine expeditions, the cruise line boasts of serious attention to detail, for the ultimate trip of a lifetime.
With an industry-leading space to guest ratio across an array of social areas, Crystal Serenity offers the utmost comfort, quality, personalisation and choice.
