Kiritimati (Christmas Island) sits just east of the IDL and is often the first place on Earth to greet a new day. Fly in for a private atoll sunrise, flamingo-pink lagoon birdwatching, and a guided dive of pristine reefs.
What to expect
A charter flight from Fiji or Hawaii deposits you on Kiritimati, an atoll so remote it has fewer than 10,000 residents. Wake before dawn to witness the first sunrise on Earth — the sky blooms orange and pink over a flat, endless Pacific horizon. Spend the morning snorkelling or diving walls of staghorn coral teeming with manta rays. In the afternoon, a local ornithologist guides you through the world's largest concentration of seabirds, including the magnificent frigatebird colony. Evenings are spent under a sky blazing with the Milky Way.
Good to know
This excursion requires an overnight stay and a charter flight — only feasible if your cruise has a 2-night stopover window. Entry permits for Kiribati must be arranged in advance through the Kiribati Tourism Authority. Limited connectivity on-island; download offline maps. Best visited October–May.