36 Night Cruise sailing from Papeete to Singapore aboard Ocean Princess.

Ocean Princess (previously Tahitian Princess) - along with her sister ship Pacific Princess - is our pearl of the Pacific. Smaller in size yet rich in amenities this beautiful vessel features an array of onboard activities. Relax on deck by the pool or get a massage at the Lotus Spa. At night, fine fare abounds in refined dining rooms and specialty restaurants, with live entertainment rivaling anything on shore. And this ship offers more than 200 balcony staterooms so you won't have to miss a single sunset.

Papeete, Tahiti
Immortalized by Gauguin's paintings, Tahiti is much more than an island; it's a state of mind. Papeete, capital of Tahiti, is the chief port and trading center. It's also a provocateur luring people to her shores. Today the island is a charming blend of Polynesian "joie de vivre" and Gallic sophistication. But venture out from Papeete, and you'll find a landscape of rugged mountains, lush rain forests, cascading waterfalls and deserted beaches.

Apia, Western Samoa
The first Polynesians arrived in Western Samoa around 1000 B.C. Three millennia later, the islands formed one of the last bastions of traditional Polynesian culture. Apia, the capital of Western or Independent Samoa, is a city of 35,000 on the island of Upolu. Its picturesque waterfront is dominated by the Catholic cathedral and is lined with public buildings, shops and trading companies. The town feels more like a collection of villages - and indeed, the majority of Samoans prefer traditional village life.

Western Samoa has long lured Westerners to its islands. The most famous expatriate of all was Robert Louis Stevenson, who lived at Vailima, and was buried near the summit of Mt. Vaea.

Dress in light, comfortable clothing when visiting Apia. The dress code is quite casual. Shorts are appropriate for men. Dress for women is more conservative. The local women wear long skirts, dresses, lava lavas or muumuus.

Nukualofa, Tonga
Over 170 islands compose the last monarchy in Polynesia. Tongatapu ("Sacred Garden") is the largest island in the realm, and Nuku'alofa is both its capital and its largest town. Never colonized by the West, Tonga remains one of the last expressions of pure Polynesian culture. Tonga also boasts magnificent white-sand beaches, stunning coral islets and the most spectacular blowholes in the Pacific.

Polynesians may have colonized Tonga as early as the 5th century B.C. The island boasts some of the most important archaeological sites in the Pacific.

Auckland, New Zealand
Straddling a narrow isthmus created by 60 different volcanoes, New Zealand's former capital boasts scenic beauty, historical interest and a cosmopolitan collection of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries and gardens. Rangitoto, Auckland's largest and youngest volcano, sits in majestic splendor just offshore. Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill, once home to Maori earthworks, overlook the city. One of New Zealand's fine wine districts lies to the north of Auckland.

Auckland served as New Zealand's capital from 1841 until 1865, when the seat of government moved to Wellington.

Sydney, Australia
As your ship passes Harbour Heads, you are presented with the shimmering skyline of Sydney - hailed by many seafarers as "the most beautiful harbor in the world." Two prominent landmarks, Harbour Bridge and the sail-like curves of the Sydney Opera House, grace the backdrop of this picturesque harbor. There is a wealth of adventure waiting in Sydney - from its cosmopolitan city center to miles of beautiful beaches and the Blue Mountains.

Australia's oldest and largest city was born in 1788 with the arrival of the "First Fleet" transporting 760 British convicts. Today, Sydney is the largest port in the South Pacific and is often voted the most popular destination in the South Pacific.

Darwin, Australia
Closer to Indonesia than to any other Australian city, Darwin is the capital of the "Top End" - the remote, vast Northern Territory. Home to more than half of the territory's population, the city reflects the rugged endurance and individualism required to survive the Outback. Darwin also boasts a colorful history to add to that heritage. During World War II the Japanese bombed the city and threatened invasion. In 1974, Cyclone Tracy cut a destructive swath through the region. In addition, man-eating crocodiles, tropical monsoons, searing heat and bush fires that burn for weeks are all part of everyday life.

Locals in the Top End consume over 60 gallons of beer a year. All those empties don't go to waste: Each year Darwin residents compete in the Beer Can Regatta, a race with boats, rafts and other vessels manufactured out of beer cans.

Lombok, Indonesia
The crystalline waters of the Lombok Strait separate the island of Lombok from its neighbor Bali. For experienced travelers, Lombok will seem a throwback to Bali''s halcyon days - reminiscent, indeed, of that island some 30 years ago, before globalization brought a steady stream of development to its shores. Like its neighbor, Lombok is renowned for its traditional craft villages. Artisans produce the exquisite brocaded cloth called songket, elegant woodcarvings, and superb pottery made from local hillside clays. The island also possesses great natural beauty, from the dramatic rice terraces and plantations of the south to the tropical rain and cloud forests of the north. Lombok is home to Mt. Rinjani, Indonesia''s second highest peak, a magnificent volcano soaring over 12,000 feet above sea level.

The Lombok Strait is part of the Wallace Line - a major eco-geographical boundary separating the flora and fauna of East Indonesia and Australia from West Indonesia. Many species found on Lombok, for example, are not found on neighboring Bali, just 20 miles away across the strait.

Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand
Laem Chabang is your gateway to Bangkok. This enchanting city on the Chao Phraya River is a magical place where graceful dancers perform in shimmering silk gowns, temples with gold-leaf spires harbor priceless Buddhas and riverboats cruise a maze of canals. The only nation in Southeast Asia to escape colonial rule, Thailand offers a rich and ancient culture that flowered unhindered by Western influence. Proud and strongly nationalistic, the Thai people call their nation Muang Thai - "Land of the Free."

Founded in 1782 by King Rama I, Bangkok is home to more than eight million people. The capital's proper name is Krung Thep - the "City of Angels."

Singapore
Singapore - the very name summons visions of the mysterious East. The commercial center of Southeast Asia, this island city-state of four million people is a metropolis of modern high-rise buildings, Chinese shop-houses with red-tiled roofs, sturdy Victorian buildings, Buddhist temples and Arab bazaars. Founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles of the fabled East India Company, the city is a melting pot of people and cultures. Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil are official languages. Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are the major faiths. Singapore is an ever-fascinating island boasting colorful traditions, luxurious hotels and some of the finest duty-free shopping in the world.

Lying just 85 miles north of the Equator at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, the island was a haven for Malay pirates and Chinese and Arab traders.