Day 1: Wednesday (O)
Cross the International Dateline.
Day 2: Thursday – arrive Nadi, FIJI (O)
Upon your early morning arrival, pass through customs and transfer to your beachfront hotel located on the wonderful Denarau peninsula. Once settled into your rooms explore the hotel’s many amenities or simply lay back and unwind as you begin your Fiji adventure.
Day 3: Friday: Blue Lagoon Cruise – MODRIKI ISLAND
Set Sail: 3 pm (B, L, D)
After a morning at leisure, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to Denarau Marina to board your floating hotel for the next 7 nights, the Fiji Princess! Set sail for the outer Mamanucas. Your first destination will be the gorgeous, secluded Modriki Island the location of Tom Hanks’ movie “Cast Away”. En- route to the famous little island, settle into your cabin, enjoy a welcome cruise briefing along with English tea and snacks, meet fellow guests and admire the scenery that slides by as we cruise. On arrival you will have time to explore this little island and take your first dip in the warm waters. Back on board, cocktails are served with canapés on the sun deck. Mingle with your fellow passengers and look out over the tranquil waters as the sun sets. Tonight is the Captain’s Welcome Dinner, with entertainment provided by our talented singing, dancing and guitar playing crew! Don’t forget to wander to the upper deck to see the magnificent array of stars in the night sky.
Day 4: Saturday: Blue Lagoon Cruise – SOSO BAY, NAVITI ISLAND (B, L, D)
Awake to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and breakfast underway as we set sail for the southern Yasawa Islands. Late morning, we take you on a bit of an adventure… we have a very special location where the brave will get to swim with reef sharks! Of course they are only gentle reef sharks but they still make for a great snorkel experience! Back on-board we cruise into the waters around Naviti and Soso Bay. A tasty buffet lunch is served on-board before heading ashore for a visit to the chiefly village of Soso. You’ll be welcomed in traditional fashion with a kava ceremony, before being shown through the village. Late afternoon there will be a presentation on the local history and legends, giving an insight into early Yasawan life. Back on the Fiji Princess, ease into the evening with cocktails served at the sun deck, followed by a ‘Thali’ buffet dinner featuring exquisite Indian dishes. After dinner, help yourself to our fancy dress box and put on your boogie shoes for some ‘Bollywood Dancing’ on the sun deck!
Day 5: Sunday: Blue Lagoon Cruise – Soso Bay – Naukacuva and Narara Islands (B, L, D)
This morning there is a special opportunity to attend a village church service, which you’ll find to be a very moving experience. The atmosphere, singing and uniqueness of where you are will provide a great memory to remind you of the wonderful people of Fiji. Lunch is served on board as we cruise to our next slice of paradise, not far away. You can partake in a Fijian cooking lesson and help prepare a tasty Fijian fish-dish, “Kokoda”.
In the afternoon anchor in the sheltered waters of Naukacuva and Narara Islands, picture-perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sunbathe on the Fiji Princess or dive into the waters and discover the amazing colorful underwater world below. Tonight’s buffet dinner has a range of dishes from Fiji along with a choice of European favorites. Bingo will be held in the dining room with lots of laughs and some good prizes!
Day 6: Monday: Blue Lagoon Cruise – Sacred Islands – Yalobi Bay (B, L, D)
In the morning join the crew for a finger fishing trip or snorkel, swim or kayak before departing to one of the most beautiful and remote island groups the Sacred Islands*. The location for the filming of the popular “Survivor” series, the Sacred Islands provide a breathtaking backdrop for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking, especially since you will be the only ones there! A picnic lunch will be provided by your crew beachside along with afternoon scones and tea – so no need to get up from your beach lounger! Back on board it’s happy hour at the bar followed by another festive Captain’s dinner! (* Depending on seasonal weather conditions, an alternate stop may replace the Sacred Islands)
Day 7: Tuesday: Blue Lagoon Cruise – NANUYA LAILAI, (THE BLUE LAGOON) (B, L, D)
Laze on the sun deck as we sail on to the famed Blue Lagoon. This superb stretch of water is circled by islands, creating a lagoon that is filled with fascinating coral reefs easily seen from the surface of the crystal clear waters. One of those islands, Nanuya Lailai, is home to Blue Lagoon Cruises very own private beach. Watch as the crew position the vessel right up to the beach and tie her off to a coconut tree! Lunch is served on-board, whilst on shore our private ‘Fiji style beach club’ awaits, along with sun loungers, onshore massage, a bar and beach volleyball. You’ll have plenty of time for swimming, snorkeling, fish feeding, viewing coral from the glass bottom boat or just wandering along to a secluded stretch of beach to top up your tan. Our crew will teach you basket weaving and give you a coconut demonstration – how to climb the palm tree, get the coconuts and husk them, then enjoy fresh coconut milk straight from the coconut for afternoon tea!
Diving for both novices and experienced divers can be pre-booked for this location or you can join our crew for a guided ‘reef safari’ snorkeling tour! Happy hour is served on shore from our beach bar along with canapes followed by the unveiling of a traditional Lovo meal where the food is cooked underground in a specially prepared pit. The dining room tonight is on the beach under the coconut palms and the stars. This magical day will end on a high note with a fantastic “Meke” show, featuring singing, dancing and story-telling performed by a group of local villagers, who will come to share their company with our Blue Lagoon guests. Fabulous!
Day 8: Wednesday: Blue Lagoon Cruise – TAMUSUA BAY, YASAWA ISLAND (B, L, D)
The morning is at leisure at our private beach. Dive, snorkel and swim, or join our Cruise Manager for a leisurely hike along the beach and up over the hill to the other side of the island where you will marvel at views across the Blue Lagoon before arriving to the ‘very local’ Lo’s Tea Shop on the beach! Enjoy Lo’s famous cakes and browse the shell market prior to returning to the ship via our water taxis! During lunch, sail on to our next destination, the mystical island of Sawa-I-Lau, where you will follow the footsteps of Brooke Shields leading you to the subterranean pools of the Sawa-I-Lau Caverns. You can view the majestic caverns from the stairs or take to the water like she did in the movie the “Blue Lagoon”. A short swim through an underwater passage will take you into the second of these stunning limestone caves for an experience not to be missed! This evening, cross the bay for a special visit to the village of Tamusua. A “yaqona” (kava) ceremony, a guided walk around the village and an authentic Fijian village style ‘feast’ prepared and cooked by the locals awaits. Served outside, you will be Fijian for the evening, sitting on mats, eating Fijian village food and sharing stories with the villagers about their culture and their home.
Day 9: Thursday: Blue Lagoon Cruise – DRAWAQA ISLAND (B, L, D)
Fiji Princess heads on out of the bay bound for Drawaqa Island. On arrival, our Marine Biologist will tell you all about the local fish, marine life and the conservation work of the Vinaka Fiji Volunteers. If your visit falls during the months of May through October, an introduction to the magnificent manta rays, whose feeding ground is just nearby, will be included. Conditions permitting, you will have the opportunity to snorkel with these wonderful creatures in small escorted groups. From October to April a guided ‘Reef Safari’ snorkeling tour is conducted to see the prolific corals, clams and marine life in this area. If getting wet is not your thing enjoy a visit to a local village school (when in session) or, for a truly exhilarating experience have a go at abseiling! Your final farewell dinner this evening is a barbecue served on the upper deck dining under the stars! A special feast and party night is the perfect way to celebrate your time in the Yasawas. The bar is open and our resident DJ ‘Fiji Afro Jack’ spins the tunes on the upper deck. If you haven’t already learnt the “Bula Bula” dance you soon will!
Day 10: Friday Disembark: 10:00 am (B)
Enjoy your final breakfast on-board as the Fiji Princess cruises back toward her home port. All guests will be fare-welled with the traditional Isa Lei song from the crew, as your exploration of the beautiful islands of Fiji comes to an end. “Vinaka vakalevu” (Thank you very much) and we hope to see you again! “Moce” (Goodbye!).
