17-night Oceania cruise: Darwin, Australia to Lautoka on M/S Paul Gauguin

The Crossing Melanesia: Australia to Fiji is a 17-night Oceania cruise aboard M/S Paul Gauguin, operated by Paul Gauguin Cruises. Departing Darwin, Australia on March 29, 2027 and arriving in Lautoka on April 15, 2027, the voyage visits 9 ports including Thursday Island, Alotau, Papua New Guinea, Samurai Island. CruiseCaptain has fare history for this sailing.

Length: 17 nights
Departs: Mar 29, 2027
Returns: Apr 15, 2027
Ports of call: 9
Days at sea: 8

Voyage code PG290327-1

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Why this route stands out

A closer look at the journey

Fixed editorial images from the places on this itinerary. They stay stable each time you return to this sailing.

Darwin, Australia

"Australia's capital of the north is a uniquely tropical city, and a historically isolated outpost of this vast, diverse country. Reaching up towards the equator, a full 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne, the city was named in honour of Charles Darwin by the British settlers who established a frontier outpost here. With a unique history, beautiful islands nearby, and a palette of sizzling Pacific flavours, colourful Darwin is an enchanting and exotic Australian destination. Crocodiles patrol the jungled waterways and tropical rainforests around Australia's gateway to the Top End. Explore via airboat to look down on the veiny waterways of the mist-laced Kakadu National Park. The sounds of chattering birdlife and the gentle splash of fountains and waterfalls will fill your ears in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. Soak it all in, before kicking back and relaxing with a picnic and a crackling barbecue. The sunshine and famous tropical pink sunsets mean many visitors naturally gravitate to the city's soft sands to relax at spots like pretty Mindil Beach, as evening approaches. The adjoining market is filled with souvenirs and crafts stands and is the perfect great place to enjoy some fiery Asian flavours. Stroll the stalls, grab some food, and crack open an ice-frosted beer as the sunset show begins. It may be remote, but Darwin found itself on the front line during the Pacific War, as the Japanese air force unloaded their bombs onto the city in 1942. This relaxed unassuming city has a deeply resilient backbone, however, and you can explore the museums to learn more of the war's impact on Darwin, as well as the devastating effects of one of Australia's worst natural disasters, Cyclone Tracy in 1973."

Thursday Island

Thursday Island is Queensland's most northerly administration center, off the tip of Cape York Peninsula in the Torres Strait. It is 1,320 miles by air north of Brisbane. A colorful outpost, Thursday Island retains its majority of native islanders with a mix of Malays, Polynesians, Chinese and Japanese. The township of Thursday Island nestles in the protective embrace of the Prince of Wales group of islands in the Torres Strait. T.I., as the island is affectionately known, was settled in 1877 and was chosen for its close proximity to the main shipping channel and its well-sheltered port. With a population today of some 3,500, the island has an interesting history and was once the base for a fleet of 150 pearling luggers as well as a busy trading port.

Port Vila, Vanuatu

An archipelago of smiles and warm welcomes, Vanuatu enjoys a reputation as the happiest place in the world. With an abundance of stunning isolated beaches, and endless reefs offering idyllic escape from the humdrum, it’s easy enough to understand why. Green-clad volcanoes rise from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean, creating 83 lush islands. Port Vila is the capital of this scattering of geothermal isles, where mountains brood, hot springs gurgle, and thick rainforests sway. View less The sounds of water rushing - as you cut through rainforest trails - offers a clue that you’re getting close to the Mele Cascades - one of Port Vila’s most dramatic and spectacular natural sights. A remarkable collection of plumes rolls through the jungle, and down into the refreshing splash pool waiting below. Jump in, to experience the cool hit of the fall’s pure waters. Offshore islands offer exemplary snorkelling opportunities, and glass-bottom boat rides give privileged windows into the swirling worlds of colour below the waves. Explore more of the islands, to encounter traditional villages and Vanuatu island culture, or to seek out secluded beaches of crystal-clear water - where worries you didn’t even realise you had will drift away. Set on Efate Island, Port Vila is close to a selection of marvellous beaches like Eton Beach and Crystal Blue Lagoon. Visit one of the many restaurants serving food from across the globe, to try fresh Spanish mackerel and meaty chunks of seared tuna. Or the adventurous can pound through the jungle on horseback, kayak on the river, or hook fish from the island’s sparkling waters.

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Today’s fare, in context

Show all 8 cabin grades

Cabin grades and pricing
Name	Supplier code	Type
Veranda Stateroom	B	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom	C	Balcony
Balcony Stateroom	D	Balcony
Window Stateroom	E	Oceanview
Porthole Stateroom	F	Oceanview
Veranda Suite	A	Suite
Grand Suite	GS	Suite
Owner's Suite	OS	Suite

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The journey

17 nights, in order

Follow the entire sailing from its first day to its last, with the route and schedule in one view.

Day 1 Mar 29, 2027

Darwin, Australia

"Australia's capital of the north is a uniquely tropical city, and a historically isolated outpost of this vast, diverse country.
Explore Darwin, Australia

Day by day

The full itinerary

18 scheduled calls

Your ship

M/S Paul Gauguin

Designed specifically to glide through the shallow seas of the South Pacific, The Gauguin is the flagship of Paul Gauguin Cruises and a small-ship cruiser’s dream. She delivers travelers to intimate ports inaccessible to larger cruise ships, all the while providing an onboard experience that is nothing short of luxurious. Guests aboard our luxury cruises enjoy spacious suites and staterooms (more than 70% with private balconies), an onboard watersports marina, three dining venues, an extensive spa, and five-star service. Life onboard also reflects the beauty and rich cultural heritage of the islands she calls upon, with a warm, friendly feel, informal setting, and even a beloved troupe of Gauguines and Gauguins—local Tahitians who serve as cruise staff, entertainers, and storytellers.

4★ 19,200 GT 332 Passengers Built 2010

M/S Paul Gauguin