The archipelagos and ancestral cultures of the South Pacific

Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji. Located on the western side of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi. Lying in the heart of Fiji’s sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar City. Lautoka is the gateway to Fiji’s “Sun coast” a land of abundant sunshine, azure skies and dramatic grass-covered peaks chequered with sugar-cane fields, rural villages and quaint market towns.

Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji, is teeming with natural and cultural richness. Dominated by Mount Tomanivi, the island is covered with dense and luxuriant tropical vegetation to the south and vast sugar cane plantations to the north. Suva, the modern and dynamic capital of Fiji, is home to the historical heritage of the islands. In Thurston Gardens, the Fiji Museum showcases the magnificent collections of archaeological objects, illustrating human activity for more than 3,000 years. Whether under the green and luminous highlights of the vertiginous forest canopy or under the turquoise waters of the Beqa lagoon, exploring the natural treasures of Viti Levu is an unforgettable experience.

Just a few kilometres from Viti Levu, the small and remote island of Beqa (pronounced “Benga”) offers a concentrated dose of Fiji’s cultural and natural treasures. Its inhabitants continue the impressive ancestral tradition of fire walking, or Vilavilairevo. During demonstrations, they invite us to watch these ceremonies where barefooted men, prepared and dressed for the occasion in traditional costume, walk over red-hot coals. Legend says that they also have the power to heal burns. The coral reef so close to the beach is the promise of unforgettable underwater excursions. Further out to sea, the sumptuous seabeds are reputed to be home to many species of sharks.

Receiving fewer visitors than its neighbour Viti Levu, lying some sixty kilometres to the south, Vanua Levu is the second largest island of Fiji. From Savuasvu, set out to discover some of the many treasures of this mountainous island and its luxuriant vegetation. You will be enchanted by the fragrances and intense colours of its tropical rainforest, which hides sumptuous and refreshing waterfalls. You will be charmed by the hospitality of the Fijian people. Among the local traditions, there is the famous kava ceremony, where a drink made from a plant similar to the pepper plant is served in half a coconut shell. Snorkelling fans will be delighted by the beauty of the underwater world, renowned for its incredible visibility.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Vava’u is a splendid archipelago in Tonga made up of around forty picture-postcard coral islands scattered across the turquoise waters of the south Pacific Ocean. The main island is dominated by Mount Talau which offers a magnificent panoramic view over the islands. Along the long fine sandy beaches of these idyllic islets, the teeming marine life can be seen in the coral reefs, the gorgonian coral gardens and the underwater caves. The lush vegetation of the island will delight amateur botanists. The traditional local know-how reveals all the richness of this incredible natural heritage: woven leaves from the legendary pandanus, production of Noni juice with its many virtues, extraction of vanilla essence.

Somewhere between Tonga and the Cook Islands, Le Jacques Cartier crosses the International Date Line, and the ship gains a day as it sails westward across the 180th meridian.
This invisible but significant boundary, which approximately follows the 180th meridian across the Pacific, requires the calendar to advance by one day for westbound travellers. The phenomenon fascinated Magellan’s sailors during the first circumnavigation and provided the central dramatic device in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. Beyond the date line curiosity, today is a sea day to be savoured: the spa, the restaurant’s set lunch and the Ponant lecture programme are all available as the Cook Islands or Rarotonga approaches.

Your itinerary enables you to cross the International Date Line. This imaginary line across the Earth’s surface approximately follows the 180th meridian in the Pacific Ocean. Because of the roundness of the Earth and the necessity of having reference time meridians, we have to change dates when we cross this line. So if your ship is travelling west, you will need to add a day to the expected date; conversely, if travelling east, you will take away a day. This paradox, already noted by Magellan’s crews during his circumnavigation, serves as dramatic motivation in several novels, including Jules Verne’s famous Around the World in Eighty Days.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Paradisiacal atoll of the archipelago of the Leeward Islands, west of French Polynesia, mythical Bora Bora offers a natural spectacle of captivating beauty. You’ll be won over as much by the white sandy beaches as by its famous lagoon, one of the most beautiful in the world, where colourful fish frolic in waters of incomparable turquoise. The island is covered with tropical vegetation, and dominated by the majestic outline of Mount Otemanu. A promenade through this volcanic landscape will enable you to discover a number of villages and meet local communities.

A second morning in Bora Bora and the opportunity to move beyond the iconic postcard views into the island’s quieter corners.
The outer motus of the lagoon, accessible by water taxi or small boat, offer some of the finest snorkelling in French Polynesia with visibility that can exceed 30 metres. The circumnavigation road around the main island passes through villages where the pace of life has changed very little since the WWII American presence that temporarily transformed this place into a Pacific military base. The lagoon at this hour of the morning, before the day-trip boats arrive from Papeete, has an almost private quality from Le Jacques Cartier’s deck.

Feet in the sand, on the islet of Motu Mahana, our sumptuous little private paradise, you will share a very special experience around an authentic traditional Polynesian barbecue. A veritable jewel in the Taha’a lagoon, pristine atoll of the Society Islands, Motu Mahana offers an infinite palette of shades of turquoise, an idyllic backdrop for observing the majestic ballet of the tropical fish. The volcanic island of Taha’a, dominated by Mount Ohiri and Mount Puurauti, will reveal its fertile and luxuriant nature, ideal for cultivating the magnificent black pearls of French Polynesia, as well as vanilla. This rare spice, greatly in demand by gourmets, is the main economic resource of what is also known as Vanilla Island.

A part of the Windward Island archipelago just to the west of Tahiti, famous Mo’orea will leave you with a series of unforgettable images and memories. Bask on its heavenly beaches, enjoy a dip in the turquoise waters of its lagoon, and soak up its luscious vegetation and the heady flowers that carpet the inland areas. Get the most out of this natural gem with a trip to the Mo’orea Belvedere. Exceptional views of Mount Rotui unfurl before your eyes, with the Opunohu Bay and its valley to the left, and the famous Cook’s Bay, surrounded by notched, cathedral-style peaks, to the right.

A second full day in Moorea and the island rewards the slower pace that two days allows.
The agricultural interior, largely inaccessible to day visitors arriving by ferry from Papeete, is one of the most beautiful landscapes in French Polynesia: pineapple fields and vanilla plantations covering the valley floors between the jagged volcanic peaks. The Tiki Village cultural centre provides a respectful and detailed introduction to traditional Polynesian craft, tattooing, dance and music. The snorkelling in the lagoon’s inner reef is exceptional and Le Jacques Cartier’s small tender fleet makes the outer reef accessible in a way that larger ships cannot manage.

Le Jacques Cartier arrives in Papeete on the morning of 20 September, and fourteen nights of South Pacific exploration draw to a close in the city where Gauguin came to paint and where the South Pacific’s most complex and distinctive Polynesian culture is most concentrated.
The large municipal market near the waterfront is worth visiting before transfers to the airport: fresh fruit, monoi oil, black pearls and the particular energy of Papeete on a weekday morning are a fitting final impression of French Polynesia. Ask your Cruiseabout specialist about pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel options in Papeete or extending your stay on any of the islands visited.