A Silversea South Pacific Cruise that will blow your mind: Alan and I enjoy South Pacific cruises so much that we keep booking them—again and again. At last count, we’ve cruised the South Pacific six times. But this page is all about our 64-day Silversea South Pacific Cruise experience on Silver Spirit. The ship holds 608 passengers. We called it La-La because the small ship luxury cruise began and ended in Los Angeles. Note: Silver Spirit was completely refurbished in 2018.
The journey was a Silversea Cruises Grand Voyage known as Southern Cross 2015. And this Grand Voyage started out in style with a gala event and night’s stay at the Montage Beverly Hills. Ooh-la-la. (Do you remember how much I loved the Montage Kapalua Bay?). Do you want to travel on a cruise like this one? Follow my tips in Luxury Cruise Planner.
In This Article, You'll Discover
- 64-day South Pacific Cruise itinerary
- Life onboard
- Packing tips for a South Pacific cruise
Boomer Travel Tip
I’m still writing articles about this trip. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you’ll be the first to know!
64-day South Pacific Cruise Itinerary
By now, you’d think that we would have visited any South Pacific port worth seeing. But one reason Alan and I chose this itinerary were the new-to-us ports, including Tasmania and most of the New Zealand ones. We also checked items off our boomer bucket list with visits to Milford and Dusky Sounds and Tasmania
- Los Angeles
- Marquesas Islands: Nuka Hiva
- French Polynesia: Rangiroa, Moorea, Papeete, Bora Bora
- Cook Islands: Rarotonga
- New Zealand: Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Picton, Akaroa, Dunedin, Stewart Island, Milford Sound, Dusky Sound
- Australia: Melbourne, Tasmania (Burnie and Hobart), Sydney, Brisbane
- New Caledonia: Noumea, Lifou
- Vanuatu
- Fiji: Lautoka, Savusavu
- Samoa Islands: Apia
- Kiribatu: Fanning Island
- Hawaii: Kaui, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island
- Los Angeles
Most of our shore excursions centered around fun in the warm South Pacific waters. In New Zealand and Tasmania, we enjoyed hikes and caves, not to mention the beautiful Milford Sound.
Rangiroa Snorkeling is the Best!
Did your South Pacific cruise visit Rangiroa? I certainly hope you got to experience the awesome snorkeling in the beautiful lagoon like I did. Let me tell you about my Rangiroa snorkeling experience. I’m standing in the warm tropical waters of French Polynesia giggling as hundreds of colorful fish flit around me in the crystal […]
Swimming with Stingrays in Moorea
Swimming with stingrays is our favorite South Pacific cruise excursion. Period. Alan and I have experienced this fun adventure twice in Moorea, while snorkeling in Bora Bora, with more opportunities to come as we travel often in the South Pacific. This water adventure is doable for most baby boomers. If you can climb the ladder […]
Mt Cargill Walk in Dunedin: A Hiking Cruise Excursion
On long cruises with lots of sea days, Alan and I are always happy to put our feet on the ground once the ship is in port. Booking a cruise excursion that includes time in nature is even better. And that’s exactly what we did when we chose a Mt Cargill walk in Dunedin while on a Silversea cruise around […]
Exploring Ulva Island on a Silversea Cruise Excursion
Besides an Antarctica cruise or a journey to the Arctic Ice, an Ulva Island guided walk may be the closest Alan and I will get to the end of the world. As we stand on the beach, gazing at the scenic Pacific Ocean view, the guide tells us that if the water sweeps us away, […]
Cruising Milford Sound is Worthy of Your Bucket List
Cruising Milford Sound has long been on my boomer bucket list. When Alan and I cruised with Silversea from LA to LA through the South Pacific, I finally got the opportunity to check this adventure off my list. And the experience didn’t disappoint. The beautiful fjord that is Milford Sound The steep-sided cliffs of a […]
Touring the Mighty Mo With Silversea Cruises
When the Silversea cruise ship, Silver Spirit, called on Honolulu, Hawaii, during our South Pacific Grand Pacific Voyage, Alan joined the Silver Shore Collection excursion, Heart of the Missouri. Along with 9 fellow cruise guests, he toured the Mighty Mo for a fascinating 90-minute exploration of the massive battleship. Today, he shares his story with us. […]
Exploring Lanai on a Jeep Safari Cruise Excursion
If you travel on South Pacific cruises as much as Alan and I do, you’ll be repeating cruise ports a lot. So when you arrive in Hawaii, what choices are there for cruisers who’ve already enjoyed whale watching on Maui or a thrilling helicopter ride over the island? Our advice? Book a Lanai jeep safari. […]
Surviving a Long Cruise: Tips for the Boomer Traveler
Updated 10.01.2018: Surviving a long cruise. Say what? The words “survive” and “cruise” don’t go together. But you’d be surprised at how frequently Alan and I are asked about how we survive long cruises. Our tips for surviving a long cruise After our first long cruise, a 52-day cruise from Vancouver to Singapore, many baby […]
Luxury Cruise Wear for Boomer Women
After years of sharing cruise fashion photos on my Facebook profile, many of you have asked me to write more about cruise wear for over 50 women, over 60 and even over 70. This is the first of a series of articles about what to wear on a cruise, especially luxury cruises, which is what […]
Life Onboard
Alan and I loved relaxing days at sea, spa time and the guest lecturers onboard not to mention those 11 formal nights. Yes, we like to get dressed up and dance the night away.
However cruising for 64 days does require a strategy so that we stay healthy and appreciative of what we’re experiencing. If you’re worried about spending so many days aboard a ship, read my tips for surviving a long cruise.
Packing Tips for a Grand Voyage in the South Pacific
What do I pack for a long, warm weather cruise? Take a look at my tropical cruise gear for items that you might not think about when it comes to a trip like this. And, if you’re a woman of a certain age who’s confused on how to dress for a luxury cruise, you’ll appreciate my advice on cruise wear for over 50 women