| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 28th28 | JulJul | 202222 | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, embark on the Golden Horizon | | |
| Victoria, the capital of a province whose license plates brazenly label it "The Best Place on Earth," is a walkable, livable seaside city of fragrant gardens, waterfront paths, engaging museums, and beautifully restored 19th-century architecture. In summer, the Inner Harbour—Victoria's social and cultural center—buzzes with visiting yachts, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainers, and excursion boats heading out to visit pods of friendly local whales. Yes, it might be a bit touristy, but Victoria's good looks, gracious pace, and manageable size are instantly beguiling, especially if you stand back to admire the mountains and ocean beyond. At the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria dips slightly below the 49th parallel. That puts it farther south than most of Canada, giving it the mildest climate in the country, with virtually no snow and less than half the rain of Vancouver. The city's geography, or at least its place names, can cause confusion. Just to clarify: the city of Victoria is on Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island). The city of Vancouver is on the British Columbia mainland, not on Vancouver Island. At any rate, that upstart city of Vancouver didn't even exist in 1843 when Victoria, then called Fort Victoria, was founded as the westernmost trading post of the British-owned Hudson's Bay Company. Victoria was the first European settlement on Vancouver Island, and in 1868 it became the capital of British Columbia. The British weren't here alone, of course. The local First Nations people—the Songhees, the Saanich, and the Sooke—had already lived in the areas for thousands of years before anyone else arrived. Their art and culture are visible throughout southern Vancouver Island. You can see this in private and public galleries, in the totems at Thunderbird Park, in the striking collections at the Royal British Columbia Museum, and at the Quw'utsun'Cultural and Conference Centre in nearby Duncan. Spanish explorers were the first foreigners to explore the area, although they left little more than place names (Galiano Island and Cordova Bay, for example). The thousands of Chinese immigrants drawn by the gold rushes of the late 19th century had a much greater impact, founding Canada's oldest Chinatown and adding an Asian influence that's still quite pronounced in Victoria's multicultural mix. Despite its role as the provincial capital, Victoria was largely eclipsed, economically, by Vancouver throughout the 20th century. This, as it turns out, was all to the good, helping to preserve Victoria's historic downtown and keeping the city largely free of skyscrapers and highways. For much of the 20th century, Victoria was marketed to tourists as "The Most British City in Canada," and it still has more than its share of Anglo-themed pubs, tea shops, and double-decker buses. These days, however, Victorians prefer to celebrate their combined indigenous, Asian, and European heritage, and the city's stunning wilderness backdrop. Locals do often venture out for afternoon tea, but they're just as likely to nosh on dim sum or tapas. Decades-old shops sell imported linens and tweeds, but newer upstarts offer local designs in hemp and organic cotton. And let's not forget that fabric prevalent among locals: Gore-Tex. The outdoors is ever present here. You can hike, bike, kayak, sail, or whale-watch straight from the city center, and forests, beaches, offshore islands, and wilderness parklands lie just minutes away. A little farther afield, there's surfing near Sooke, wine touring in the Cowichan Valley, and kayaking among the Gulf Islands. British Columbia’s provincial capital, Victoria is a fantastic city to spend a day or two. A \par laid-back, sophisticated city, there’s lots to love here, from the old British pubs with quirky \par names like The Sticky Wicket, to a vast array of multicultural fusion food in upmarket \par restaurants. The city is also your gateway to the wider Vancouver Island, where you can try \par your hand at surfing in one of the many brilliant bays, go whale watching along the wild \par coastline, or head into the forests to meet the First Nations people who have lived here for \par centuries. Feeling adventurous? Head up into the mountains for a hike or strike out to Port Hardy to spot grizzly bears in the wild. |
| 29th29 | JulJul | 202222 | Seattle, Washington, United States | | |
| Seattle is a scenic seaport city in western Washington, situated on an isthmus between Puget Sound to the west and Lake Washington to the east. It is the largest city in Washington. Five pioneer families from Illinois first settled the area in 1851, and named the town after a friendly Suquamish Indian chief. It was incorporated as a city in 1869, and grew quickly after the Great Northern Railway arrived in 1893, especially during the Alaska Gold Rush of 1897. When the Panama Canal opened in 1914, Seattle became a major Pacific port of entry, and today it is the region's commercial and transportation hub and the centre of manufacturing, trade, and finance, with an estimated 684,451 residents as of 2015. |
| 30th30 | JulJul | 202222 | At Sea | | |
| 31st31 | JulJul | 202222 | Astoria, Oregon, United States | | |
| Astoria is a romantic, off-the-beaten-path town at the mouth of the Columbia River. Founded on fur, salmon and timber, it has retained many evocative old mansions, canneries and warehouses. A place of stunning natural beauty, sightings of gray whales, eagles, sea lions and other magnificent wildlife are common. Surrounded by forests and state parks, you are never far from a wonderful scenic hike. Head up to Astoria Column, a towering hilltop monument with murals depicting the area’s history. The panoramic viewpoints from here are stunning. \par Immerse yourself in stories of seafarers and explorers at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, or just sit back with a local beer and gawp at this tremendous river and the mighty cargo ships that ply its waters. |
| 1st01 | AugAug | 202222 | At Sea | | |
| 2nd02 | AugAug | 202222 | Eureka, California, United States | | |
| 3rd03 | AugAug | 202222 | At Sea | | |
| 4th04 | AugAug | 202222 | San Francisco, California, United States | | |
| With its myriad hills and spectacular bay, San Francisco beguiles with natural beauty, vibrant neighborhoods, and contagious energy. From the hipster Mission District to the sassy Castro, from bustling Union Square to enduring Chinatown, this dynamic town thrives on variety. The city makes it wonderfully easy to tap into the good life, too: between San Francisco's hot arts scene, tempting boutiques, parks perfect for jogging or biking, and all those stellar locavore restaurants and cocktail bars, it's the ultimate destination for relaxed self-indulgence. |
| 5th05 | AugAug | 202222 | At Sea | | |
| 6th06 | AugAug | 202222 | Santa Rosa Island, California, United States | | |
| Gloriously remote Santa Rosa is a stunning 84 square-mile island with dreamy \par soft-sand beaches and a wild interior. If you’re looking for isolation and adventure, this is the place. Sunbathing on the sand and swimming in the North Pacific are the draw here, but there’s a wealth of natural wonder and history inland. Hike Lobo Canyon, where you’ll find embedded fossils of pygmy mammoths that roamed here around 55 million years ago. \par \par Wildlife enthusiasts may spot cormorants, pelicans and all manner of gulls around Santa \par Rosa, and there are some fascinating rock pools around Bechers Bay where you can see \par anemones, sea stars, urchins, mussels and barnacles. One of the highlights of a visit here is \par walking among the wildflowers that bloom from winter through spring. |
| 7th07 | AugAug | 202222 | Long Beach, California, United States | | |
| You can’t miss the RMS Queen Mary, moored in the Queensway Bay port, on arrival in Long \par Beach. This retired ocean liner is now a permanent museum and offers insight into cruising \par of a different era. This is just the beginning of the fascinating sights here, though. Long \par Beach and wider Los Angeles has all manner of entertainment. There is, of course, the long \par beach the area takes its name from – 11 miles of sandy shoreline make this a brilliant spot \par for sunbathing and swimming. \par \par \par Elsewhere, you can head into the City of Angels to star spot in Hollywood or seek out your \par favourite actors’ handprints on the Walk of Fame. Take a guided hike up to the famous \par Hollywood sign, or explore the myriad brilliant museums from the Getty Center to the \par Griffiths Observatory. |
| 8th08 | AugAug | 202222 | Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California, United States | | |
| The only city on Catalina Island, Avalon spreads itself around the Avalon Bay, facing back \par towards the mainland Californian coast. Small but mighty when it comes to attraction, it’s a \par lovely place to spend a day meandering in museums – the Catalina Island Museum charts \par 8000 years of human settlement here – or simply snack on brilliant seafood with views \par over the bay. \par \par \par Hear the ringing of the Catalina Chimes Tower, which was built in 1925 and sounds every 15 \par minutes, and hike up to the Buena Vista Point Scenic Overlook for views across the bobbing \par boats in the bay and beyond. North of the main city, adrenaline seekers will love a thrilling \par ride on the Zip Line Eco Tour, which takes you hurtling through the trees. |
| 9th09 | AugAug | 202222 | Santa Catalina Island, California, United States | | |
| This isle just off the coast of Los Angeles has adventure aplenty. Diving in the ocean, snorkelling, kayaking or hiking inland – active types will love it here. The island has an interesting history, too, though. Originally inhabited by the Tongva indigenous peoples, it has seen Spanish explorers, smugglers and sea otter poachers land on its shores. \par \par Its Spanish Mission style architecture was the brainchild of owner chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr and, in 1924, a herd of bison were introduced to the island for a film shoot and ended up sticking around. There are now 150 of the beasts, which you can see on a biofuel hummer tour of the island. Almost 90 per cent of Santa Catalina is a wild nature preserve, so don your hiking boots and get walking on its many trails. |
| 10th10 | AugAug | 202222 | San Diego, California, United States, disembark the Golden Horizon | | |
| San Diego is a vacationer's paradise, with year-round temperatures in the seventies and near-constant sunshine. One of America's most family-friendly cities, San Diego is home to LEGOLAND, the New Children's Museum, and the famous San Diego Zoo. Sunbathers and surfers are guaranteed to find their perfect beach, and foodies find delights in artisanal breweries, local bistros, and gourmet restaurants. From the Broadway excitement of La Jolla Playhouse to the European feel of Little Italy to the nouveau-chic of the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego has something for everyone. This thriving So-Cal city is an enthralling place to begin your voyage. A surfer’s city at heart, the coastline here is gorgeous, with rocky coves and crashing waves perfect for learning to stand on a board. Find yourself a cocktail bar or seaside restaurant and watch the white waves come in. With a diverse set of neighbourhoods, from smart seaside La Jolla to the lively Gaslamp Quarter, you’ll rarely be bored in San Diego. Tour the USS Midway, a hulking great aircraft carrier, for an insight into military operations, or head to the Maritime Museum to learn about the city’s seafaring past. \par \par Elsewhere, San Diego Zoo is a popular spot for families and wildlife lovers, while the Surf Museum has a history of the city’s favourite pastime. |
