Small Ship Cruises in the Pacific Ocean

The Hawaiian Islands appear as freestanding one-week coastal cruises leaving from Honolulu to visit four or five islands but these ships have to be U.S.-flagged. The second type of itinerary leaves from the West Coast and involves large ships. Hawaii has long attracted visitors with its combination of sea and sky, verdant landscapes, deep valleys and rugged mountains, swimming, surfing and underwater sports and more recently, an appreciation of Hawaiian culture. The best known South Pacific islands are those of French Polynesia. Most small ship ocean cruises spend a day in each port, maybe an overnight, and offer a wide variety of shore trips to enjoy simple beach visits or rent a car to see the islands at your own pace. Individual islands that are on many itineraries are Fiji (beaches and lagoons galore); Samoa (beauty and strong indigenous culture); Tonga (a Polynesian monarchy ruled by a king that never came under foreign rule); Pitcairn, settled by mutineers from the British ship HMS Bounty; Easter Island, located west of Chile with a mysterious history that includes the erection of 1,000 giant statues for purpose unknown; and those that recall World War II battles: Solomons and American Samoa.