14 Night Luxury Cruise Visiting the Cook Islands

february 4, 2020 - march 23, 2020 

starting at $4,549* Per person aboard the crystal serenity

Save an additional $375 per person if you book with Cruises & Beyond by December 31, 2019**

Your Itinerary

Day 1, Papeete, Tahiti, Society Islands – EMBARKATION

Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, is by no means a sleepy town. With an international airport, wide waterfront-boulevard and new buildings, it boasts all the modern trappings of civilization. Its engaging atmosphere is vibrantly alive, a marvelous potpourri of European manner and carefree island ways. A few steps from our pier, boutiques and galleries abound as Tahitian shopkeepers dressed in bright paréos greet customers with a welcoming iaorana. The nearby open-air market is a bustle of activity. Away from the clamor of town are peaceful fern grottos, tiny villages tucked in verdant valleys and ancient sacred maraes.

Day 2, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Day 3, Raiatea, Society Islands, French Polynesia

The highest of French Polynesia’s Leeward Islands, Raiatea is a jewel of the sea, with imposing Mount Temehani towering 3,300 feet above a clear emerald-colored lagoon. The island is also a historian's and archeologist's treasure, referred to as "Havaii," or "land of the ancestors" in primitive society – a source of history, religion and genealogies for the Society Islands. Discover ancient, carved marae or venture inland for panoramic views

Day 4, Cruising The South Pacific

James Michener called it the most beautiful island in the world, for Bora Bora fulfills your every fantasy of how an island paradise should be. Majestic 2,000-foot-high peaks tower over its tranquil lagoon, their reflections mirrored in glassy waters. Thatch-roofed huts lie cradled beneath shady palms on sugar-white beaches as the scent of exotic flowers wafts through the air. Colorfully decorated le trucks wait ashore, ready to take you on a discovery of the island's awesome beauty. Nearby, glass-bottom boats lie poised, awaiting the opportunity to introduce you to an undersea world that is rich with vibrant sea life.

Day 5, Rarotonga, cook Islands

Delight in richly covered in mountains that soar more than 2,000 feet above clear-blue seas, coral reefs, and nearly untouched lagoons. Warm smiles greet you all around the island as you experience different ways to immerse in the traditional hospitality and culture of Rarotonga.

Day 6, Cruising the South pacific

Day 7, Cross International Date Line

Whether you’re leaping into the future or reliving the past, the International Date Line is as close to time travel as science has achieved thus far. This imaginary line stretches pole to pole at 180 degrees longitude – a point on the globe arbitrarily chosen by the International Meridian Conference in 1884, but still universally accepted. Spreading across mostly open Pacific Ocean, but conveniently deviates occasionally to allow for various islands and territories. The line effectively created the time zones that savvy travelers navigate easily (if not the jet lag they can cause). What’s most essential to remember is that crossing the International Date Line eastward means you will experience yesterday all over again, while crossing it westward give you a glimpse into tomorrow.

Day 8, NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA

Day 9, Cruising the South Pacific

Day 10, LAUTOKA, FIJI   

To the east of the International Date Line lie the islands of Fiji, where smiling people bid you "bula," or welcome, to their unspoiled homeland. The bustling port town of Lautoka lies cradled on the western shores of Viti Levu, with marketplaces filled with shell jewelry, wood carvings, woven mats, basketry and masi, and exquisite Indian saris. Not far from the pier are endless fields of lush sugar cane, traditional villages and an orchid wonderland.

Day 11, Cruising the South Pacific

Day 13, WAITANGI, BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND

Like a stop in Philadelphia or Colonial Williamsburg, a visit to Waitangi lets you trace the founding of a country. It was here that a treaty between the Maori and the British was formed, making New Zealand part of the British Empire. At the Waitangi National Reserve, one of the most important historic sites in New Zealand, visitors can see the Treaty House where the 1840 treaty was signed, and view a faithful replica of the original document. Other attractions of the Reserve include the ornate Maori meeting house and a massive war canoe. Of course, this being New Zealand, there are many natural attractions as well, including lush forest and spectacular coastline.

Day 14, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Welcome to Auckland, the "City of Sails." New Zealand's largest city is along the shores of an extinct volcanic cone known as Rangitoto, often visible to the east. Auckland's population of over one million people represents almost a third of the country's total.
New Zealand seems to have a bit of everything: great natural beauty, friendly people, magnificent glacier-studded mountain ranges, sculpted fjords, pristine untouched beaches, lush rainforest, an endless array of sporting activities, and, not to be forgotten, plenty of sheep and rolling farmland. 

Auckland is the perfect city from which to experience most of what New Zealand has to offer. The city lies astride a narrow isthmus between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean on two harbors, the Waitemata and Manukau. Auckland and New Zealand's geographic and cultural treasures beckon for your discovery. 

Day 15, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - Disembarkation

Your Accommodations and All-Inclusive Fares

Interested in this itinerary? Request a quote and our specialists will contact you as soon as possible.

Aboard the crystal Serenity

Sharing the limelight with her fleetmate, Crystal Serenity is one of two magnificent ships that has earned Crystal Cruises the distinction of being The World's Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™.

Crystal’s expansive onboard experience begins with personal, genuine service offered by their expertly trained staff at every point in the guests’ voyage. Enhancing this welcoming, homeaway-from-home atmosphere is a host of all-inclusive amenities and experiences designed to create a seamless, unforgettable vacation experience for travelers who seek the very best.

This October, the Crystal Serenity will enter dry dock for a three-week refurbishment that mirrors the dramatic changes that debuted last year aboard Crystal Symphony – and then some. With an aim to elevate the onboard guest experience by expanding the space and choices that have been part of the company’s credo since its inception, the award-winning ship will see a transformation of accommodations, dining options, technological advancements and public spaces.

*All fares and savings are per person, in U.S. dollars based on double occupancy. Cruise Fares and Your Exclusive Fares are cruise only and do not include taxes, fees, and port charges of $770 per person. Your Crystal Savings are subject to availability at time of booking. Book Now Fares are per person in U.S. dollars, based on double occupancy for the first two full-fare guests in suite, include all Book Now Savings, and, do not include taxes, fees or port charges. All fares and savings vary by category and departure date.

**Applies to new bookings only.