Since I love open seating dining, spacious cabins, casual dress and small ships, Cruise West’s new South Pacific cruises make my mouth water.   The company’s flag ship, Spirit of Oceanus, will visit some of the most exotic isles in the South Pacific on 11- to 16-night voyages to unspoiled places like Tahiti, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Guam and Vanuatu from January through March, 2008.

Spirit of Oceanus entered service in 1991 as Renaissance V and has been refitted as an all-suite vessel.  Originally built to carry 720 passengers, Spirit of Oceanus’ passenger capacity is 120 and 60 crew.  Informality is the buzz word for all Cruise West ships and dining is single, open seating in two restaurants. 

Would you pick a conventional cruise ship (Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America) for an exotic itinerary in the South Pacific or is a small boutique vessel more your style?

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