Captains Log

On Saturday we anchored at Malau (Vanua Levu’s main sugar export port) and passengers were bussed into the town of Labasa. Here we were treated to a show of Indian traditional dancing and music performed by local people (Labasa has the largest Indo Fijian community in Fiji). We were then free to explore the town, including the very busy market selling fresh fruit and vegetables and the nearby fish market with its amazing array of fresh fish.

Over lunch we steamed southward to the mouth of the Dreketi River, Fiji’s deepest river. Here we experienced a boat trip up the river which took a great deal longer than expected (mainly due to the strong current), but perseverance paid off when we finally arrived at a landing near a village where we were (very unexpectedly) greeted by nearly the whole village and accorded a sevusevu ceremony. By the time we left the site it was dark, but we were able to navigate the river by moonlight (and with the help of a local guide), returning to ship at 7.30pm. Fortunately the return downstream trip was considerably faster than the earlier upstream trip.

Captain Chris

Morning

On Friday morning we visited the school at Druadrua Island on the northern coast of Vanua Levu. Although we intended only visiting the school, we were welcomed by both the elders of the village and the staff and kids of the school, being accorded a traditional (but slightly informal) sevusevu ceremony (kava ceremony). Following a delightful meke (concert) put on by the school kids, we were invited to look around their school. As is often the case, everyone was very reluctant to leave the school and island, resulting in our departure being delayed by about one hour. The tide was very low during the visit which necessitated a “wet landing” and a wade ashore for a distance of about 30 or 40 metres – a small inconvenience considering the enjoyment derived from the visit.

Afternoon

Next stop was at Kia Island, about 3 hours steaming to the south west. Kia Island is west of Labasa Town and immediately adjacent to the Great Sea Reef, the third longest barrier reef in the world (third only to the Great Barrier Reef and the Belize barrier reef) which offered great snorkeling and diving to our passengers. The underwater visibility was fantastic and those who went diving encountered a number of reef sharks and a grey nurse – wonderful stuff!

In the evening the passengers experienced a Fijian kabu (kamboo) which is the name given to the combination of a sevusevu ceremony; a lovo (food cooked in an earth oven); followed by a meke (Fijian concert). Before the kabu began, Anthony Haworth, on behalf of Captain Cook Cruises, was presented with a tabua (tamboo-ar). A tabua is a whale’s tooth, usually only presented to people of high office or on very special occasions. It is arguably the most valuable and treasured gift in Fijian Culture and a great honour indeed. The tabua will be properly framed and displayed aboard the ship.

Captain Chris

Morning

Overnight we steamed some 115 nautical miles to Kioa Island on the eastern side of Vanua Levu, the home of some 800 Polynesian people. The present population represents the descendants of 27 individuals originally from Tuvalu (formerly the Gilbert and Ellice Islands). They bought Kioa Island from the Fijian people in 1946 so that they could resettle their families who had outgrown the small island on which they lived.

Of the present population of 800 only about 200 actually live on Kioa, the rest having migrated elsewhere for work. On our arrival we were warmly greeted by a flotilla of canoes, each with 2 or 3 persons aboard beautifully dressed in traditional clothing, which were paddled around the ship while those on board sang songs of welcome. The passengers and crew then went ashore where we were treated to a truly wonderful concert of singing and dancing. There were so many participants it seemed as if the entire population of the island was taking part.

Afternoon

Following a very memorable morning we travelled to the island of Rabi (Rambee) which is home to the Banaban People of Fiji –  Micronesians displaced from their home of Ocean Island (in what is now Kiribati and the site of extensive phosphate mining for many years).

Here we were entertained by a group of dancers who presented a beautiful exhibition of Banaban culture – very different from that which we had seen in the morning. Following the performance everyone had the chance to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and diving from a beautiful beach at Albert Cove, still on the island of Rabi, but some way north of the village.

Captain Chris

We departed Tivua Island during the early hours of Wednesday morning and steamed to Nananu-i-ra, an island on the far northern coast of Viti Levu where the passengers enjoyed a relaxing time on the beach or went swimming, snorkeling and diving. Over lunchtime we steamed northward to Yadua Taba Island, off the south western coast of Vanua Levu where we hoped to see some wild Fijian Crested Iguanas. Yadua Taba is a sanctuary for the Fijian Crested Iguana of which there are some 13,000 on the island - the largest single population of any species of iguana anywhere in the world. Unfortunately they proved elusive this trip.

Captain Chris

Today (Tuesday) we began our inaugural Northern Discovery Cultural Cruise which will take us on an anticlockwise circumnavigation of Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island.

We departed the port of Lautoka at 1430 hrs on Tuesday 7th June, our first destination being Tivua Island just 30 minutes away. We had a total of 73 passengers and 44 crew (including trainees) aboard. Amongst the passengers were Anthony Haworth, CCC Director; Commander Semi Koroilavesau, Managing Director Fiji and six travel journalists hosted PR Manager Brooke Tolar. The Company Owner and Chairman, Captain Trevor Haworth, was on hand at Lautoka to farewell the ship and, no doubt, to make sure we got away alright!

Captain Chris

This is my final blog for the current swing in that I depart on leave 7th June and repatriate back to the UK.

We have just completed the Yasawa group again but this time the weather has been beautiful with clear blue skies and calm seas - perhaps finally the monsoon has broken.

Everything has gone exceedingly well and the passengers are all departing very happy with promises of returning, some even later this year to embrace the new Heritage and Cultural cruises.

Wishing you all the very best and safe sailings aboard Reef Endeavour.

Captain Brian

At moment we are having four days maintenance before resuming cruising the southern Yasawas on Saturday 28th May.

Captain Brian

Welcome to the new Captains Log for Reef Endeavour

Reef Endeavour has successfully completed two Discovery Heritage Cruises to the Northern Fiji Islands this year and shortly Captain Chris will take the helm for our first Discovery Cultural Cruise departing on the 7th June. We are all very excited with this new cruise.

Our last run to the Yasawa Islands included a wedding party. The couple tied the knot on the beach at our Barefoot Lodge on Drawaqa Island. The setting was stunning and exceeded the couple’s expectations. Our congratulations to the happy couple.

We depart on the 3-Night Yasawa Islands Cruise tomorrow. The cyclone season has been declared officially over with no cyclone action required for the season. Rain periods will gradually reduce over the coming dry season. The weather forecast for this cruise does include rain but the temperature maximums remain a tropical 30 degrees Celsius.

We look forward to seeing familiar and new faces in the months ahead.

Captain Brian