Paul & Jan's Circle Pacific Adventure

Paul Hallman
Jan 24
3 min read

Updated: Jan 30

Greetings from Paul and Jan and yes, here we sail again !

Setting Out on our Circle Pacific Adventure

Our adventure began with one goal, It was to see a part of the world that we have previously never visited, but not using our own boat this time.

We booked a four month cruise (115 days at sea) on the Coral Princess Ship to circle the Pacific Ocean, departing and returning from Los Angeles. For the two of us, it is an amazing way to experience the diverse cultures and different landscapes of so many places. On this trip we will visit 19 countries, each with unique traditions, cuisines, and natural beauty. Our route will include 59 ports at places like Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan and the entire west coast of North America including one stop in Mexico.

Planning our trip required so much detail and we focused on the following:

Finding a way to manage our home while we were gone for over four months and thanks to family and friends, this will work out well and it has already been tested.
Choosing a flexible itinerary to allow for fun exploration at so many ports. We are still trying to figure this out as our adventure begins. There are so many places to visit and so much research needed to choose which ones we prefer to see. Our YouTube Travel searches is exhausting. This has been a big challenge but during our trip we plan to share our experiences by updating our blog photos and stories as often as possible.
The preparation and packing for the varying climates, from tropical islands to cooler coastal cities was a challenge. The temperatures range from 34C (93F) in Thailand and Vietnam to 14C (58F) in Alaska. And we a11aaaaaaaaaaaa AS AAAAAAAà a q saw a a a qaaaà a aaz Q10 22ewwsaAaa a aAaxaaAsz A Aa saw a a aa a aaaa a aaqqqq we qa A qa SAW QA A SAWA AS¹AQ À ASA W QAQQQQ A ASA not forget dressing for the 19 formal dinners on the ship. Yes, that's a lot of stuff to drag along with you.
Oh Yes, try to imagine how many tubes of toothpaste, sticks of deodorant, razors vitamin pills, and regular medication is needed for the duration of this trip. One suitcase alone was full of "stuff" to keep us healthy and smelling pretty.

Discovering Natural Beauty Across the Pacific

Tropical Islands and Coral Reefs

In Fiji and Tahiti, we will explore vibrant coral reefs and marine life, and snorkel in crystal-clear waters, not to mentions the sandy beaches, lush rainforests and waterfalls, all perfect for hiking and photography and we plan to take as many photos as our phone battery life will allow.

Volcanic Landscapes and Mountains

Hawaii and New Zealand’s volcanic terrain should provide a dramatic contrast in their landscape. We will visit Picton in NZ, where we will partake in a marine tour. In Auckland, Paul has scheduled an afternoon to experience the thrill of an America Cup Sailing day. The towering peaks of the southern portion of New Zealand has an area called Fjordland, and we will spend a day cruising with the ship and exploring the area, not to mention our stop in Sydney, Australia and docking beside the Opera House.

North American Coastal Cities and Glaciers0

A far contrast from the warmer climates will be when we travel along the west coast of the Americas, including cities like Anchorage, Vancouver, Seattle, Santa Barbara and San Diego as they all combine urban culture with mountains as well as ice covered terrain and glaciers. We even have one stop in Mexico.

Embracing Local Cultures and Traditions

Traveling around the Pacific is not just about scenery; it’s also about connecting with people and their ways of life. We have planned a two day overnight excursion to Bangkok, and a unique kayak trip visiting water markets in Vietnam, and with nine stops in Japan including Tokyo, it will provide another perspective of life in the far East.

We are excited, inquisitive, and looking forward to our new adventure, where we will meet new friends and see so much of the world and share memories that will remain for life.