The first step in my dream vacation is where I will get a "taste" of a specific region. I will use a luxury cruise as a mode of transportation to efficiently experience multiple dream destinations.
The purpose of the appetizer is to set the palette for the main course. My choice depends on when I can travel, my mood, who I am with, etc. It will allow me to choose what kind of vacation I want to experience: A romantic getaway in the French Polynesia, an exciting Caribbean quest, or an South Pacific adventure.
Choose one of three Appetizers:
Tahiti and Society Islands
On this two-week cruise, you'll first call at the breathtaking isle of
Bora Bora. This could be easily be described
as the center of the romantic universe, where luxury
resorts and spas dot the island with overwater bungalows,
thatched-roof villas, and fabled ambience.
Then it's on to the Tuamotus, specifically Fakarava, an atoll
known for its pristine beaches, rare wildlife, and exceptional diving. The island
is a sanctuary for rare birds, plants and crustaceans.
Next, explore the mist-covered Marquesas, where you'll discover the
islands of Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, and Nuku Hiva. On these wild
islands you'll find waterfalls, wild stallions, tiki sculptures, and an
arboretum, among other delights.
Fatu Hiva is wild and spectacularly
beautiful. The jungle greenery begins at the water's edge, with narrow
ravines, deep gorges and luxuriant valleys briefly open to view as the
boat glides past, close to the sheer cliffs that plunge straight down
into the splashing surf.
Hiva Oa is an island marked by wild beauty
and a somber bearing. You might visit the village of Puamau to see the largest stone
sculptures of Marquesas.
Home to the only arboretum in French
Polynesian, the people of Ua Huka have a commitment to the conservation
and the preservation of their culture that is palpable. The oldest ruins
in the Marquesas are located in the Hane Valley and date back to AD
254-300.
Known as the “wild” Society for its untamed,
verdant forests, Huahine remains relatively untouched by modern
development. Explore some of the abundant archaeological treasures –
ancient homes, buildings, and marae (stone platforms that served as
places of worship) – excavated and preserved throughout the island. Or
dive in Huahine's crystalline lagoon, which teems with over 450 species
of fish.
The island of Moorea's scenery is like a
dream. Try out some exciting optional watersports like scuba diving
among a host of interesting sea creatures – including sea turtles, a
staggering number of fish species such as barracuda, tuna, jackfish, red
snapper, moray eels, trigger fish, various sizes and shapes of rays and
more.
Cruise total: $6,000/person
Flight details
Barrier Reef & Gold Coast
On this 16 day luxury cruise you will depart from Benoa, Bali which features calm waters and beautiful white sand beaches that are prime for water sports.
Next you will visit Gili Trawangan, Indonesia which due to its size, mainly produces relaxation and beach-induced bliss.
At Komodo Island you find an authentic ancient culture. The Komodo National Park is home to the iconic Komodo dragon found nowhere else on earth. Apart from dragon spotting, there are some good walks, viewpoints and
game viewing. You can also
board a glass bottom boat
cruising the local waters, and there's a good
chance to see large sea mammals, such as whales and dolphins.
In Darwin, Australia you will explore its beautiful coastline, as well as numerous parks and gardens. This sociable hub is where non-Aboriginal meets Aboriginal (Larrakia),
where urban meets remote, and where industry meets idleness.
On Thursday Island you can experience one of Australia's Indigenous cultures, local art,
community markets, relics of the pearling industry, colonial
architecture and tours of significant sites from World War Two.
Next you will explore Cairns which is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, and the Daintree rainforest, a World Heritage protected area.
Azure sea, white sand and endless sunshine are the appeal of the Whitsunday Islands off the Queensland Coast.
74 Island Wonders, located in the heart
of the Great Barrier Reef, on the tropical coast of Queensland,
Australia. A visit to the Whitsundays is a feast of the senses,
surrounded by natural beauty, dotted with secluded beaches and friendly
towns from which to explore. The hardest part is choosing how to fit it
all in.
As the capital of Queensland, Brisbane is
Australia's "most livable city". Brisbane City is a hive of activity
for shopping, dining, culture and nightlife. Striking historic buildings
contrast beautifully with modern architecture contributing to the
fantastic cityscape, best viewed by night. Home of the cultural precinct featuring galleries, museums, theatre and
festivals Brisbane is also the gateway to the sun, surf and beaches of
the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
You will finish off your adventure in Sydney which is a cosmopolitan, multicultural city surrounded by golden sand
beaches, World Heritage areas, lush national parks and acclaimed wine
regions.
Cruise total: $8,000/ person
Flight Details
- Toronto - Pearson International (YYZ) to Vancouver - Vancouver Intl (YVR) via Air Canada
- Vancouver - Vancouver Intl (YVR) to Seoul - Inchon International Airport (ICN)via Air Canada
- Seoul - Inchon International Airport (ICN)to
Denpasar Bali - Ngurah Rai (DPS) via Korean Air
- flight total: $3373 (round trip)
Caribbean Holiday Quest
Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US you will embark on an 18 day tour of some of the most beautiful islands in Caribbean.
Aruba's beaches are world renowned for their sugary white
sand, cooling trade winds, secluded coves lively sunbathing and a myriad of watersports. Aruba is one of only a few Caribbean islands where the indigenous Indian
population was not decimated by invading Europeans.
Kralendijk (Bonaire), Antilles is lined with delightfully pastel stucco houses, in pinks, oranges and
lime greens. Famous for its diving - the island is surrounded by a
Marine Park. Bonaire also offers such treats as flamingos, hiking and
the only barefoot casino in the Caribbean.
In Mayreau, Grenadines you can relax on a perfect beach with powder white sands and crystal clear seas.
Sail to the Tobago Cays, snorkel or scuba dive beautiful coral gardens.
Take a stroll to the village, enjoy scenic views, a quaint old church
and lovely people.
Barbados is one of the most diverse and
active destinations, offering more attractions per square mile than any other
Caribbean island. Activities range from submarine tours to helicopter rides; jeep safaris to heritage
tours; exciting Caribbean nightlife to fine dining.
Rodney Bay is located in northwest St Lucia. With numerous restaurants, beautiful resorts,
thrilling activities and a historically notorious marina (a bay treasured by pirates in the early 1700s and 1800s),
it is the area with the most tourist activity.
Terre-de-Haut is unhurried and feels like a small slice of southern France transported to the Caribbean.
In St. John's, the capital city of Antigua, farmers markets, candy-
colored architecture and the ruins of sugar plantations vie for
attention with a kaleidoscope of coral reefs and sailing adventures.
Gustavia (St. Barts), France features include steep, green, once-active volcano hills, deep valleys, and beautiful beaches. Explore cafes, restaurants and boutiques that are housed in old buildings of Swedish colonial and French Creole architecture.
Less is more on St. John. It's the smallest, quietest, least populated and most secluded of the three U.S. Virgin Islands. St. John's unspoiled beauty is its main draw --
two-thirds of the island is made up of the Virgin Islands National Park. Sailing, snorkeling and
diving are top attractions.
San Juan, Puerto Rico; Remnants of colonial architecture stand side by side with the most modern high rises in this city of contrasts. Mountain lakes, waterfalls, teak forests, and three magnificent phosphorescent bays offer the visitor a variety of diversions
Half Moon Cay is considered by many to be
the most beautiful of the cruise lines’ private islands. This is truly a nature preserve as Holland
America takes great strides to maintain the ecosystem of this pristine
island
Cruise total: $9,000/person
Flight Details
- Toronto (YYZ) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) via Delta
- flight total: $657 (round trip)
I set up my Dream Vacation as a restaurant menu with choices for Appetizers, the Main Course, and Dessert. The Appetizer will set the palate for the Main Course: It is where I will get a "taste" of a specific region. The purpose of the Main Course is to build off my Appetizer and enjoy one of the three regions in more depth: to linger, embellish the senses, and lose oneself in the experience. Finally, the Dessert compliments or completes my dream vacation. 
Where? I organized my Dream Vacation as a menu so that my partner and I can choose the destination and type of vacation that we want to have. The menu consists of regions that I dream of visiting: The South Pacific, French Polynesia, and the Caribbean. All locations are in exotic tropical climates and have gorgeous beaches...a combination that is essential for my Dream Vacation! 
How to get there? In my vacation Appetizer we will take an airplane to the port of departure. From there, we will take a luxury cruise to tour either the French Polynesia, the South Pacific or the Caribbean. For the Main Course, we will take a plane from the the city of the port of departure back to the Island that we choose to explore in more depth. 
Budget The total maximum budget for my Dream Vacation will be approximately $15000/person. This will account for an Appetizer budget of $10,000/person and a main course budget of $5000/person. This budget will account for our travel, accommodation, food and activities. The budget for Dessert is unknown!
