Captains Log

Over the last fortnight we have completed another Heritage Cruise (3rd to 10th January) and a week in the Yasawas.  Despite this being the low season from a tourism point of view we have still had welcomed a great mixture of nationalities (from both the northern and southern hemispheres); and also great to see so many local people getting to know about our cruises and taking the opportunity to experience more of their own country.

Most Australians and New Zealanders, in particular, know that this time of the year is “the cyclone season” but, in fact, it also the best time of the year to cruise throughout this region as, for the most part, the winds are light and the days bright, sunny and warm – the occasional afternoon or evening cleansing shower or thunder storm (which can be very spectacular) but rarely a cyclone – in fact we had none at all last year and so far this year have not even had the hint of one!  

Another week has passed cruising the Yasawas, during which time we celebrated the new year.  New Years Eve was a great evening with a party following our usual first night Captains Dinner.  The party was held up on the Sun Deck in which all the passengers and crew participated – a night of talanoa (story telling); Yaqona (kava); perfect weather and even fireworks at midnight.  We even followed an old British maritime tradition whereby the oldest member of the ship’s company rings 8 bells for the old year and the youngest rings 8 bells for the new – 16 bells in all.  Passenger numbers were quite high with a great mix of overseas and local families – a great week enjoyed by all who were lucky enough to experience it.

We have just completed the 3 night Christmas Cruise during which we visited the Southern Yasawas.  All passengers aboard had a very pleasant and relaxing cruise. The highlight of the cruise was, of course, Christmas Day which we spent at the Sacred Islands.  We enjoyed a special Christmas Lunch while at anchor after which those who hadn’t eaten too much were able to do a little more swimming snorkeling before we left for the Yalobi Bay anchorage.  In the evening we enjoyed an on board  carol service and a short nativity play performed by the crew – a tradition developed over the 16 years that Captain Cook Cruises has been operating in Fiji – followed by a very pleasant buffet dinner served around the swimming pool with the tanoa and kava nearby – very pleasant and relaxing evening enjoyed by the passengers and crew alike.


Captain Chris