34 nights · NSW Australia · Departs Sydney (Australia) · Visiting Noumea, Lifou Island, Port Vila, Suva, Lautoka, Nukualofa, Rarotonga Island, Raiatea Island, Huahine Island, Moorea Island, Papeete, Fakarava Atoll Tuamotus, Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Honolulu, Kahului, Nawiliwili, Seattle · Aboard Holland America on the ms Westerdam
Image courtesy of Holland America ©
| Cruise line | Holland America |
|---|---|
| Ship | ms Westerdam |
| Duration | 34 nights |
| Port calls | 19 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $5,024 per person |
| Year built | 2004 |
| Guests | 2362 |
| Cabins | 984 |
| Crew | 817 |
| Length | 285 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 22.0 kn |
From the water, Sydney’s harbour frames the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and ferries crossing between historic quays. Beyond the waterfront, central Sydney pairs nineteenth-century buildings with contemporary architecture and leafy streets. Walk the Royal Botanic Garden for harbour views, or take a ferry to Manly for a coastal perspective. Allow time to explore The Rocks, where the city’s colonial beginnings meet galleries, cafés and a lively weekend market.
Nouméa brings a distinctly French note to the South Pacific, with café terraces, bakeries and a broad, sunlit harbor. At Port Moselle’s morning market, local seafood and island produce offer a first taste of New Caledonia. Visit the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, designed by Renzo Piano to honor Kanak culture. Beyond town, the UNESCO-listed lagoon frames clear water, reef islands and inviting opportunities to get out on the water.
Lifou is the largest of New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands, a coral island of pale beaches and limestone cliffs. At Jokin, the coast drops sharply to clear water; Luengoni offers a gentler shore for swimming and snorkeling. Between them, vanilla gardens and Kanak villages reveal an island shaped by custom as much as sea. Come ashore for unhurried walks, vivid reef life, and a glimpse of the Loyalty Islands beyond the usual ports.
Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital, curves around a sheltered harbor on Efate, where green hills meet the sea. Along the waterfront, cafés, markets and shops reveal a lively blend of Ni-Vanuatu, French and island influences. Visit the National Museum to learn about Vanuatu’s cultural traditions, then browse local produce at the central market. Beyond town, Mele Cascades offers a refreshing walk to tiered falls, while nearby villages provide insight into island life.
Suva is Fiji’s lively capital, set on Viti Levu’s southeast coast beside a deep-water harbour. The Fiji Museum traces the islands’ history, while nearby Thurston Gardens offer a leafy walk. At the municipal market, tropical produce, yaqona and crafts reveal everyday Fijian life. Suva’s Indian, Fijian and Chinese influences also shape its cafés and cuisine. A short drive inland, Colo-i-Suva Forest Park offers rainforest trails and swimming holes.
Lautoka, Fiji’s second-largest city, sits on Viti Levu’s western coast, where sugar fields meet the Pacific. Known as the Sugar City, it offers a glimpse of everyday Fijian life beyond the resorts. Browse the municipal market, stroll the botanical gardens, or take in the waterfront before heading farther west. Lautoka is also a departure point for excursions to the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups.
Nuku'alofa, Tonga’s compact capital, brings you ashore on Tongatapu, the kingdom’s largest island. Walk the waterfront to the Royal Palace, a wooden landmark still used by Tonga’s royal family. At Talamahu Market, growers sell taro, yams, coconuts and seasonal fruit beneath a lively roof. Beyond town, Tongatapu’s low coastline reveals blowholes, ancient stone monuments and villages shaped by a living Polynesian culture.
Rarotonga is the Cook Islands’ largest island, ringed by a turquoise lagoon. Beyond the reef, a forested volcanic interior rises to Mount Te Manga. Circle the coast by bus, browse Punanga Nui Market in Avarua, or swim and snorkel from white-sand beaches. On Sundays, church services bring remarkable singing; inland, trails lead through tropical forest. Stay for the lagoon, but make time for the island’s everyday life.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hilo is the Big Island’s quieter, rain-washed gateway to waterfalls, gardens and volcanic country. Start at the lively Hilo Farmers Market, then follow Banyan Drive beneath trees planted by visiting dignitaries. Nearby, Liliʻuokalani Gardens brings Japanese bridges and koi ponds to Hilo Bay. About 45 minutes southwest, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park offers crater overlooks and lava landscapes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seattle welcomes you with salt air, a working waterfront and mountain views. Downtown sights include Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum and historic Pioneer Square. On clear days, the Space Needle offers views of Elliott Bay, Mount Rainier and the Cascades. Make time for fresh seafood and independent shops; Seattle’s neighborhoods reveal a city shaped by water, trade and innovation.
Published August 16, 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!
