30 nights · California · Departs San Diego (USA) · Visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Acajutla, Playa Flamingo, Puntarenas, Manta, Guayaquil, Salaverry-Trujillo, Callao-Lima, Easter Island Chile, Pitcairn Island, Rangiroa Atoll Tuamotus, Fakarava Atoll Tuamotus, Huahine Island, Papeete · Aboard Crystal Cruises on the Crystal Serenity
Image courtesy of Crystal Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Crystal Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Crystal Serenity |
| Duration | 30 nights |
| Port calls | 17 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $17,000 per person |
| Year built | 2003 |
| Guests | 740 |
| Cabins | 347 |
| Crew | 655 |
| Length | 250 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 21.0 kn |
San Diego makes an easy first impression: a working harbor, sunlit waterfront and Pacific air. From the cruise terminal, the USS Midway Museum and lively Embarcadero are close at hand. Balboa Park brings world-class museums, gardens and the San Diego Zoo together in one grand setting. In the Gaslamp Quarter, Victorian façades frame restaurants and bars. Nearby neighborhoods reveal Mexican heritage and coastal ease.
Cabo San Lucas sits at the tip of Baja California Sur, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Cruise ships anchor offshore, and tenders bring you to a lively marina lined with cafés, fishing boats and shops. From the marina, water taxis reach El Arco, the sculpted granite landmark at Land’s End. Beyond it, beaches and desert trails reveal a quieter side of Cabo. Choose a boat trip, fresh seafood or a day in the sun.
On Mexico’s Pacific coast, Mazatlán remains a working port as well as a resort city. Its appeal lies in the contrast: broad beaches and a lively seafront meet a carefully restored historic center. Walk the Malecón, then head inland to Plazuela Machado, the Angela Peralta Theater, and the cathedral. Come for the Pacific light; stay long enough to see a city shaped by trade, fishing, and Mexican life.
Puerto Vallarta sits between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay. That setting brings jungle-clad slopes, broad beaches and memorable Pacific views. Begin in the historic center, where cobbled streets lead to the landmark Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Follow the Malecón, a seafront promenade lined with sculptures, cafés and galleries. For a taste of the coast, settle in for fresh seafood and watch the bay.
Acajutla is El Salvador’s principal Pacific port, a working harbor opening onto a country of volcanoes, coffee and colonial towns. From here, the western highlands lead to coffee country, the Ruta de las Flores and towns such as Juayúa. Tazumal, near Chalchuapa, is among the country’s best-known Maya archaeological sites. Closer to the coast, beaches and seafood offer a quieter counterpoint to inland excursions.
Playa Flamingo sits on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, where dry tropical hills meet a pale crescent of sand. At its modern marina, boats head out for sport fishing, sailing and trips to nearby coves. When seas are calm, swimming and snorkeling beckon. Nearby, Tamarindo offers a livelier beach scene, while Las Baulas National Marine Park protects nesting leatherback turtles. Finish with a boat outing and sunset over the Pacific.
Step ashore in Puntarenas, Costa Rica’s long, narrow port city on the Pacific coast. From here, rainforest reserves, coffee country and the Nicoya Peninsula lie within reach. Walk the waterfront promenade for seafood and views across the Gulf of Nicoya. Or head inland to Monteverde’s cloud forest. Plan one excursion and allow time for the road; Puntarenas is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace.
Manta is Ecuador’s principal Pacific port, where fresh tuna signals a city shaped by the sea. Visit the fish market, then explore the waterfront and discover how fishing built Manta’s identity. Nearby Montecristi is famed for Ecuadorian toquilla-straw hats, often mistakenly called Panama hats. Choose a Pacific beach escape, or linger over grilled seafood before returning to the ship.
Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city, a river port where the Guayas meets the Pacific-facing estuary. Start along the Malecón 2000, the broad waterfront promenade lined with gardens, museums and cafés. Then climb the steps of Las Peñas to Santa Ana Hill for rooftop views across the city and river. At Parque Seminario, iguanas roam beneath the palms in the heart of downtown. Guayaquil rewards a curious day ashore with lively streets, colonial-era façades and a distinctly coastal rhythm.
Salaverry opens Peru’s northern coast, where ancient kingdoms and Spanish-era streets share the day. Trujillo, founded in 1534, lies about 14 kilometres inland and rewards a walk through its historic centre. Nearby, Chan Chan, the vast adobe capital of the Chimú, reveals a civilization that flourished before the Inca. At Huaca de la Luna, vivid painted reliefs bring the Moche world into view.
Callao is Peru’s working maritime gateway, but its appeal extends beyond the harbour. From here, Lima’s historic centre and museums are within reach. In Callao, explore the imposing Real Felipe Fortress, built to defend the port, then visit La Punta for Pacific views. Stay for ceviche and discover a city shaped by trade, naval history and the ocean.
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, rises from the Pacific nearly 3,700 kilometres west of mainland Chile. The island’s history commands attention: hundreds of monumental moai stand across a volcanic landscape shaped by Polynesian culture. At Rano Raraku, the quarry where many figures were carved, unfinished statues remain in the hillside. Ahu Tongariki gathers 15 restored moai beneath open skies. Rano Kau’s crater and Orongo’s ceremonial village reveal another chapter in Rapa Nui history.
Few ports feel as remote as Pitcairn, a volcanic island in the South Pacific with no airport. Most visitors arrive by ship, and landing depends on sea conditions. Adamstown, the island’s only settlement, is home to descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Walk its steep lanes, visit the small museum, and experience island life shaped by isolation, self-reliance, and the ocean.
In the Tuamotu Archipelago, Rangiroa is a vast coral atoll, its reef enclosing one of the Pacific’s largest lagoons. At Tiputa Pass, currents draw dolphins, rays and reef fish close to shore, while divers explore blue-water drop-offs. On land, quiet villages, black-pearl farms and coconut palms reveal a Polynesia shaped by the sea. Come for the lagoon’s scale, and discover a slower Polynesia, measured by tides, trade winds and open water.
Fakarava is a vast coral atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago, where a narrow ribbon of land encloses a luminous lagoon. It is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, recognized for its reefs, lagoons and fragile island ecosystems. At Garuae and Tumakohua passes, strong currents draw divers to schools of fish and gray reef sharks. On land, Rotoava offers a quiet glimpse of Tuamotu life, far from resort crowds.
Huahine offers a quieter face of the Society Islands, with forested peaks, clear lagoons and villages set along the coast. Huahine is actually two islands: Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti, joined by a short bridge across a narrow channel. Fare, the principal village, has local shops and a waterfront. At Maeva, ancient marae and stone fish traps reveal Huahine’s Polynesian past. Between stops, look for vanilla plantations and views across the lagoon to coral reefs.
Papeete is French Polynesia’s lively capital, set on Tahiti’s northwest coast beneath green volcanic peaks. Its waterfront, central market and shaded streets offer a vivid introduction to island life. Browse the Marché de Papeete for vanilla, pareos and tropical fruit, then pause over poisson cru, Tahiti’s lime-and-coconut-marinated fish. Beyond town, black-sand beaches and waterfalls await, while ferry links make Moorea an easy day trip. Papeete rewards a few hours on foot—and a longer look at Tahiti.
Published September 5, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!
