This cruise started on March 9, 1989 in
Papeete, Tahiti and ended in Sydney, Australia.

We visited Moorea, Bora Bora,
Pago Pago (American Samoa),
Fiji, Nouméa (New Caledonia),
and Sydney (Australia).

We were unable to visit New Zealand.

This page will consist of photos from cruise pages
1989A to D of old site.



Cruise of South Pacific



March 1989



A smaller version of what is above.



Welcome to Tahiti
Sign at airport.



Boarding the Fair Princess
A Windstar sail ship is behind us.



Downtown Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia



Moorea as seen from Tahiti



Windstar cruise ship



Surfers



Moorea



March 1989



Moorea



Another view



In all ports there was music. Beautiful people.



The different hues are incredible.
They go from transparent to a very dark blue like I had never seen before.



Fair Princess. The ship was once owned by Sitmar Cruises. This ship no longer exists.



Another view of the Fair Princess in the harbor.



Postcard of Cook´s Bay (Baie de Cook), Moorea.
(c) Pacific Production
Photo by T. Sylvain



My photo showing Tahiti as seen from Moorea.



Information about Moorea.
Distributed by the Fair Princess



Map of Moorea and Postcard





Map of Moorea



I taped a coin to the card
(c) Pacific Promotion, Tahiti
Photo by T. Sylvain



Bora Bora



1989



We passed a few atolls as we entered
Bora Bora's harbor



Fair Princess behind me.
SC on shirt? St. Croix



The musicians that entertained us as we got off the tenders.



Vendors.
Bikes to rent



A lovely reflection.
Wide angle lens used.



Slightly zoomed in for this shot.



The Fair Princess anchored off the town of Vaitape. The building on the left is
Banque de Tahiti



Eglise Evangélique de Polynésie Française,
Bora Bora



Bora Bora



1989



A very shallow beach. For the most part, water got as high as one's waist. However, don't be fooled.



We were warned to keep an eye on the color of the water. The color changed after a while, letting you know it was deeper.



Mount Otemanu



A closer view



Huts are part of a hotel.
Bora Bora



The group who entertained us in the Bloody Mary Restaurant and Bar, Bora Bora.
Good music, great food.



Bloody Mary's famous guests.





Recognize any of the names?





A 1,000 francs note and postcards





Front of note.
Have no idea what it was in US.



Back of note



Aerial view of Bora Bora
(c) Tiki Tahiti BP



Motu Tupe Beach, Bora Bora
(c) Pacific Production, Tahiti
Photo by T. Sylvain



Information furnished by Fair Princess



Map of Bora Bora
1989





Given to us by crew on Fair Princess



Stamps from Fiji, French Polynesia, Australia, and
New Zealand (NZ). We did not get to visit NZ.
Different stories told on the ship.
Where or why, I purchased these stamps I do not recall.







Pago Pago, American Samoa



1989



The Fair Princess, Tutuila, American Samoa



Gangway for Fair Princess



Pago, Pago, pronounced Pango Pango.
Here I am in front of the tour bus.
Completely air conditioned, as you can see!



The natives on Pago Pago believe in burying loved ones on their property. Here we see a tomb in the front yard of this house. The graves are very colorful!!



The Congregational Christian Church



Area where local dancers put on a show



The dancers



More of the dance group



American Samoa



1989



The local dancers put on a show for us as the ship docked and outdid themselves when the ship departed.



Leaving Pago Pago was incredible. As the last passengers came on board and the ship began to pull up the gangplank, etc., we were entertained by local dancers and singers seen here.



The dancers and singers were of all ages.
In no other port have I seen, or will see, such a show.



The show was like no other. This is the hill where the tram is located



The tram headed out way. The dancers/singers could be seen on the dock waving at us as the tram approached. The sky was somewhat cloudy, but it did not affect the show that followed.



Leaving Pago Pago



1989



The tram is got directly over the Fair Princess and then stopped over the ship. We were showered with a variety of flowers. What a sight it was! Everyone was amazed and overjoyed at what was taking place.



What a way to say "goodbye" and wish us a safe voyage! Here you can see petals in the pool.
The ship was covered in petals. The passengers talked about this incredible show for the rest of the cruise.



More petals.



And when we thought it was all over, this canoe passed us, again to wish us goodbye.



Postcards





Congregational Christian Church in Leone. It is said to stand near the site where John Williams, first missionary in Samoa, landed in 1832.
(c) Van Kirk Photo



My photograph of the church above.
Photo also shown further up on this page.



Harbor of Pago Pago from the cable car.



Similar cable car used to disperse flowers over the Fair Princess



Was Sadie Thompson a real person?







Do you know "What makes the Colours of the Sea?"





Hope you can read the explanation





On September 29, 2009, an undersea earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richer Scale hit the area at about 6:48 a.m. local time. The earthquake produced a tsunami that hit American Samoa, Samoa and West Samoa. There were casualties and much destruction. May God watch over them!!



Crossing the International Date Line





When crossing the International Date Line, midnight of March 15th welcomed in March 17th, not March 16th. We lost a day, which would be "regained" as we headed back to the U.S.A.



Fiji



1989



The Fijian Royal Band as the Fair Princess docked in Suva



Leader of the band



The band playing for us.



Posing in front of the Fair Princess



The Fair Princess



Guard at the Presidential Palace



Fiji



1989



The Presidential Palace



A not-too-clear photo of downtown Suva



Centenary Methodist Church



Pacific Harbor Cultural Centre and Market Place



Show included fire walker, dancers and singers



Dancers



Fire walkers



More of Fiji



1989



Some of the dancers



Singers



Fijian boy with a turtle.
I think photograph was bought on the
Fair Princess.



Mother and offspring?



Shark and postcards
FIJI





Caught by crew members of the Fair Princess
Will this be our dinner?



Fijian Children. Where are they now?
(c) James Siers



Navini Island Resort, Fiji
(c) Arthur Reed



Treasure Island, Fiji
(c) James Siers



We were never given a believable explanation. Instead of heading to New Zealand, we stayed an extra day in Fiji. Some said there was a problem on the ship that needed to be repaired and a part was being flown in. Others said it was a hurricane in the area, making it impossible to get to New Zealand. Whatever the reason was, we instead went to New Caledonia.



Welcome to New Caledonia





On the pier where ship docked.



Nouméa, Nouvelle, Calédonie (New Caledonia)



1989



Entering the port of Nouméa, New Caledonia.
For some reason, we were unable to visit New Zealand, which would have been out next two stops.



A view of Nouméa
We stayed in Fiji an extra day due to mechanical problems on the Fair Princess. Some said we spent the extra time in Fiji due to a storm in the area. Which was true?



Nouméa.
The only English traffic sign is STOP. It was explained to us that when it was changed to PARE there were too many accidents so it was changed back to STOP:



New Caledonia
The street above ends at the foot of a church.
The island was once used as a base by the Americans.



More views



Church of Immaculate Conception,
New Caledonia



We were entertained by local dancers.
A beautiful sunset.



1989



Postcards
New Caledonia





View of Nouméa
Photo by P. A. Pantz



Nouméa
Anse vata
(c) P.A. Pantz



La fontaine de Céleste, Place de Cocotiers
(c) P.A. Pantz



Nouméa et sa cathédrale au couchant
(c) P.A. Pantz



More Postcards
of New Caledonia





Card and postage are the same illustration.
First day issue
March 23, 1988



Nouvelle Caledonie, Nouméa
Anse vata au couchant
(c) P.A. Pantz



Ile de pins, (c) Eric Dell'Erba
I taped the 3 coins on the bottom of the card.



The islands of the Pacific are divided into Polynesia (Hawaii, Tahiti, American Samoa, etc.), Melanesia (Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, etc.) and Micronesia (Guam, Caroline and Marshall Island, etc.) During this cruise, we visited the island of Polynesia and Melanesia.



Entering Sydney's Harbor



1989



The FairStar, Sitmar cruises.
We had to wait for this ship to leave before we could berth.



Hydrofoil



On left - Opera House
Bridge that spans the harbor



Closer view of the Opera House



More view of Opera House



It is a sight to behold



Jorge with bridge, etc. in background



Sidney as seen from the moving ship



More photos as we entered Sydney's Harbor
The Opera House



1989



More of Sydney



A closer view



Sydney harbor as sun was setting



Opera House and part of bridge



Fair Princess, sites on a walking tour,



1989



Fair Princess docked



Views of Opera House



Fair Princess sailing out of harbor



Close up of one of the "sails" of the Opera House



Queen Victoria Building



Stores



Statue of Queen Victoria



St. Mary's Cathedral



More of my walking tour



1989



Harbourside



Guy playing music on bottles



Pair One Restaurant



Another hydrofoil



Monorail.
I paid $1.00 to get to Harbourside, Darling Harbor



Tokens for the monorail, Harbour Link



Darling Harbour's Chinese Garden, Garden of Friendship. A joint venture between Chinese and New South Wales.



A selfie of yours truly in Garden



Views from observation deck of Sydney Tower Eye
A tour I took to Waratah Park and Bondi & Manly Beaches



1989



View of Sydney from Observation Deck
This and next 3 photos taken from Deck



New Hyde Park



Bondy Beach



Mandy Beach
Mostly surfers



At the Waratah Park



Koala



Currency, map of Chinese Garden, Postage and Coins





Value?



Map of Garden of Friendship



An Australian postage stamp



Australian Coins



Postcards





The flag



This card sent to me by Marc
The Sydney Opera House on Benelong Point
(c) Suzie Thomas Publishing P/L



Aerial view of Opera House and City Centre
(c) Nucolorvue Productions Pty Ltd



Sydney and the most beautiful harbour in the world
(c) Bartel Photography P/L



More Postcards





Top, left to right - Conservatorium of Music, formerly Government House stables, 1821. Statue of Queen Victoria near St. James Church, unveiled 1888. Government House, 1845.
Bottom, left to right - The Mint, 1816. Hyde Park Barracks, 1819. N.S.W Parliament House, 1816.
(c) David Messent



Opera House
(c) Bartel Photography



Opera House, sunset
(c) Bartel Photography



Hotel Inter-Continental Sydney
Lobby of the hotel where I stayed after the cruise.
The hotel encompasses part of an old building, the Old Treasury.
The walls with arches seen here are from old building.
(c) Hotel Inter-Continental Sydney



And still more postcards





Darling Harbour, Sydney
(c) Published by Chinese Garden Tea House



The First Fleet outside Festival Marketplace, Darling Habour
(c) David Messent Photography



Northern Archway, looking towards Chinatown Gardens
(c) Bartel Photography P/L



Darling Harbour
Lenient Jade Pavilion and The Dragon Wall Chinese Garden
Garden of Friendship
(c) Published by Chinese Garden Tea House



More Postcards





Aerial view of Bondi Beach
(c) Bartel Photography P/L



(c) Nucolorvue Productions, Pty. Ltd



El Elamein Fountain
(c) David Messent Photography



Entertainment around the clock
(c) David Messent Photography



The end of Postcards





(c) David Messent Photograpy



New South Wales, George Street in the Historic Rocks, looking towards the Harbour Bridge
(c) David Messent Photography



The last time I updated this page was...
La última vez que actualicé esta página fue..

January 20, 2023 - el 20 de enero de 2023



Trust me!!

¡¡Confía en mí!!