South Pacific cruise ports

This Malaysian coastal trading town was once the capital of the province of Sabah. Surrounded by thickly jungled mountains where wild orchids grow, it serves as a loading port for the rich tropical hardwoods found in the interior of Borneo. About 15 miles from Sandakan, Sepilok is the home of the famous orangutan sanctuary, one of the few places in the world where you can see these animals in their natural setting.

Situated on the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula, Kuantan is the most important port on Malaysia's eastern coast. Walk along the port and shop for the crafts made in this fishing villiage. Or try skin diving off Ular (Snake) Island and witness rare stone crabs.

Lying in the middle of the coastal stretch of Papua New Guinea is the town of Madang, often described as 'the prettiest in the Pacific''. Perched on a peninsula jutting into the sea, Madang is smattered with parks, ponds, waterways and has plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and diving. Offshore is a string of interesting - some still active - volcanic islands.

Yasawa is a tropical majesty set on the exotic Fiji Islands. If action and adventure are on your list, you've got it made: Yasawa features limitless hiking, biking, kayaking, and windsurfing, all set on the pristine waterfront. Of course, there is always an opportunity to snorkel and scuba dive beneath the gently rolling waves.

Come to Majuro, the thriving urban capital of the Marshall Islands and home to more than half of the Islands' population. Soak in the rays on the flawless, winter-white Laura Beach. Sample the coconut products that propel the Islands' economy. Sail and snorkel through aquamarine lagoons and coral reefs of every hue.