California Cruise from San Diego — 36 Days

35 nights · California · Departs San Diego (USA) · Visiting Kailua-Kona, Kahului, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Fanning Island, Raiatea Island, Papeete, Moorea Island, Fakarava Atoll Tuamotus, Nuku Hiva Island · Aboard Holland America on the ms Koningsdam

Holland America logo
Cruise lineHolland America
Shipms Koningsdam
Duration35 nights
Port calls11
Departures2 sailings
From fare$4,524 per person
Year built2016
Guests3194
Cabins1331
Crew1036
Length297 m
Beam34 m
Cruising speed24.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    San Diego, USA

    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.

  2. Day 7

    Kailua-Kona, USA

    Kailua-Kona brings the Big Island’s history and marine life within easy reach of its sunny western shore. Ships anchor offshore, and tenders land near Ali‘i Drive, the waterfront route past Hulihe‘e Palace and Mokuaikaua Church. A short drive inland leads to coffee farms on Hualālai’s slopes. Snorkeling trips explore clear bays; after dark, guided manta-ray tours reveal Kona’s marine life.

  3. Day 8

    Kahului, USA

    Kahului is Maui’s working heart, where cruise ships meet a harbor shaped by commerce rather than resort scenery. Step ashore and the island opens quickly: ʻĪao Valley’s green ridges lie west, while Haleakalā rises inland. Choose a car for the Road to Hāna, or explore nearby Wailuku and the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. Come prepared to travel: Maui’s landmarks are spread across the island, and distances take longer than maps suggest.

  4. Day 9

    Honolulu, USA

    Honolulu brings the Pacific to your doorstep, with Oahu’s volcanic ridges rising behind a busy harbor. From the cruise pier, historic downtown and Iolani Palace are close; Waikiki’s beaches and Diamond Head lie farther east. Set aside time for Pearl Harbor, where the USS Arizona Memorial gives the islands’ modern history unmistakable weight. Then explore Chinatown’s markets and restaurants, or take a scenic drive along Oahu’s southeastern coast.

  5. Day 11

    Nawiliwili, USA

    Nawiliwili is Kauai’s working harbor, set beside Kalapaki Beach on the island’s southeast coast. Lihue, the island’s main town, is nearby, as are the Kauai Museum and the road to Wailua Falls. Begin with a stroll along Kalapaki’s curved bay, or head inland to Kilohana, a restored plantation estate. Further afield, the road to Waimea Canyon rewards an early start with sweeping views into its immense, rust-red gorge. Allow time for Kauai’s narrow, winding roads; distances can be deceptive.

  6. Day 15

    Fanning Island, Kiribati

    Fanning Island, known locally as Tabuaeran, is a remote coral atoll in Kiribati’s northern Line Islands. Its broad lagoon, palm-fringed shore and quiet villages offer a glimpse of life far from the usual South Pacific circuit. Come ashore for warm-water snorkeling, a beach walk or a visit with local residents and artisans. The appeal lies in the unhurried welcome and the vast ocean surrounding you.

  7. Day 18

    Raiatea Island

    Raiatea is French Polynesia’s sacred island, where history still shapes the landscape. At Taputapuātea, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stone marae overlook the lagoon and speak to the island’s spiritual importance. The lagoon draws sailors and snorkellers, while inland, Mount Temehani shelters the rare tiare apetahi, found nowhere else. Raiatea offers a quieter, more grounded view of the Society Islands, best explored slowly by boat or on foot.

  8. Day 20

    Papeete

    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.

  9. Day 22

    Moorea Island

    Moorea’s jagged volcanic peaks rise above a lagoon so clear that the reef appears close enough to touch. A short ferry ride from Tahiti, this Society Islands destination offers a quieter, greener counterpoint to Papeete. Follow the coast past pineapple fields and small villages. Then climb to Belvedere Lookout for broad views of Cook’s and Opunohu bays. Swim, snorkel or take a lagoon cruise; Moorea rewards unhurried exploration as much as adventure.

  10. Day 25

    Fakarava Atoll Tuamotus

    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.

  11. Day 27

    Nuku Hiva Island

    Nuku Hiva, largest island in the Marquesas, pairs volcanic peaks with deep valleys. Cruise ships anchor in Taiohae Bay, where the main village faces a broad waterfront. Look for tiki and ceremonial platforms, then head inland for waterfalls, forested valleys, and Pacific views. A guided excursion to Hakaui Valley leads on a demanding walk to Vaipo Falls, one of Polynesia’s highest waterfalls.

  12. Day 36

    San Diego, USA

    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.

ms Koningsdam Cruises

Published August 16, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard


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