Page 28 - Explore Spring Summer 2019

CRUISING FIJI’S

FRIENDLY ISLANDS

If you want to visit stunning beaches with locations in the Yasawa Islands and each time Walking back to the boats
little effort, then a Captain Cook cruise in Fiji we saw a wide variety of fabulous fish and
is definitely for you. You get a warm welcome, colourful coral. If you weren’t a confident that would ferry us back
great food and the experience of waking up in a swimmer/snorkeller there were life-vests and
different place each morning while also having noodles available, or you could go to the beach to the ship, we had the
the opportunity to get to know your travel and swim, kayak, paddleboard or snorkel from
companions by name and having large stretches there. All this equipment is provided as part most amazing view of the
of beautiful beach practically to yourself. of your cruise package and you only need to
My small-ship adventure on M.V. Reef Endeavour pay extra if you want to dive. There was also a night sky without any light
started at Port Denarau. Check-in to the vessel, resident marine biologist on the cruise who gave
which caters for 130 passengers, was quick and a couple of very informative talks. or air pollution – it was
friendly. Our luggage was taken away and the After a day of snorkelling, swimming and reading
next time we saw it, it was stowed neatly in our under a coconut tree on a near-deserted beach truly magical.
cabin. The crew welcomed us on board with a we visited a village on Naviti Island. The ship’s
drink, a song and a delicious buffet lunch. Less crew had spent the day preparing a traditional The next morning some intrepid explorers
than two hours later we had our first beach stop lovo (food cooked in the ground) which we ate amongst us got up early to climb a mountain and
at Tivua Island offshore from Lautoka, which is at the village. Afterwards we were treated to a watch the sunrise, but I chose a more leisurely
owned by Captain Cook Cruises. We finished the cultural performance by the villagers. Walking start with a relaxed buffet breakfast before
day with a sit-down dinner at the Captain’s Table.
back down the beach to the boats that would visiting a local school where the children sang for
After breakfast the next morning we snorkelled ferry us back to the ship, we had the most us before taking us on a tour of their classrooms
from the glass-bottomed boat along the edge amazing view of the night sky without any light and convincing some passengers to play touch
of a reef. We got to do this five times at various or air pollution – it was truly magical. rugby or volleyball with them.