Tahiti is largest of the 115 islands and atolls that comprise French Polynesia. Tahiti is really two islands in one. Tahiti-Nui, or “big Tahiti”, is completely encircled by a road along the shore. This road joins the big island with the small island, Tahiti-Iti, or “little Tahiti, but the smaller island is only partially accessible by road. Tahiti visitors expecting to see grass huts, female natives wearing pareus (single piece cloth wraps done in various ways) and the sound of drums are surprised to see the modern city of Papeete. The capital is a busy trading center and is the distribution hub to many of the other islands. Papeete was founded by whalers in 1818. The word Papeete means “water well”, which was the traditional method of gathering water. Europeans did not visit Tahiti until 1767 ... read more

We left Carmel on the morning of January 13 from the Monterey Airport bound for San Diego where we would meet the ship…all went well. Upon boarding the ship, we checked into our suite 1022, next door to last years’. We then walked up to the pool deck and watched as all the World Cruiser’s baggage was being loaded onto the deck by crane and brought to the rooms. Everything went flawlessly! We then went to the Cruise Specialists party where we met Kelli Surdell, our travel agent, for the first time. Later we went to the World Cruise function on Deck 4…265 of us, and many that we met on the cruise last year...like old friends. After dinner we enjoyed the special entertainment of Jay Leno and The Beach Boys. The next day, the other ... read more