South PACIFIC

One ocean, 20,000 islands, one quarter of the world's water. The peoples of Asia and Oceania have travelled the South Pacific since prehistoric times. The Eastern South Pacific was first sighted by Europeans in the early 16th century. The ocean’s current name was coined by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan during his circumnavigation of the world in 1521, as he enjoyed favourable winds. He called it Mar Pacífico, which in Portuguese means ‘peaceful sea’. We cruise this spectacular ocean during our six months stay in the South Seas each year.