With Captain Cook Cruising & MS Caledonian SKY - March 2024

Kay has just completed the 11-night Itinerary called Ultimate Lau and Kadavu Yanuca with CCC on Caledonian SKY.

See the itinerary below – which is one of several they complete. This itinerary travelled to and stopped at very remote islands – mostly uninhabited – and subsequently the beaches and snorkelling were pristine.

 

 

Caledonian Sky who previously completed Polar itineraries has now been purchased by Captain Cook Cruises to cruise to remote corners of the wider Fijian Islands. The ship is almost 300 meters long and takes approx 115 guests across 57 Suites. 23 Suites have private Balconies, the remainder have large windows or portholes. The Suites are extremely spacious (could easily fit 3 adults )  and the all-important bathrooms are a really good size, with heated towel rails and all the necessary amenity kits. The Suite has a large walk in dressing and storage room, allowing plenty of room to hang everything away and store your suitcases. TV channel with front view cam, videos and movies all on demand from a comfortable sitting area with lounge chairs.

All Meals are included, with coffee/tea and snacks mid-morning and afternoon. Alcoholic beverages are included for Lunch and Dinner. All the tender excursions, snorkelling and diving activities are  included. The Breakfasts and Lunches are mostly el fresco on the back deck of the ship and Dinner is Fine Dining  with  a la carte menu.  

Check in is at Port Denarau Nandi  and transfers are  to / from the ship which is berthed at Lautoka  are included. Lautoka is about 1 hour from Nandi.  Check in is between 11am – midday on the day of departure and disembarkation is 0900am  with a transfer back to Nandi Hotels or Airport.

 

MS Caledonian SKY

 

Totally uninhabited Islands which give you the real Robinson Crusoe experience! The water was turquoise with champagne sand.

This area in the Lau Group of Islands  is called the ‘’Bay of Islands’’  with sheer limestone cliffs perched above the water line. Some with caves that you can clamber into and swim in cool crystal pools.

 

 

El Fresco dining on the back deck of the ship was fabulous! Barbecues were also added to the Lunch buffet on some days. If you were lucky enough to purchase a fat chilly crab from the island locals, the chefs on board with cook it for you and deliver to your plate.

 

 

The itinerary suits people who want to spend time in the water either swimming, snorkelling or diving. Relaxing on an uninhabited beach and exploring the shoreline is an option… or reading a book in a deck chair under an umbrella.

There are kayaks available or paddle boards and there is a SPA and small Gym on Board.

The Day is usually as follows –

• Breakfast 7.30 – 9am
• Early morning swim 7am (if at anchor)
• Tender shore  at 0930 for Beach Activities, walking, snorkelling or diving.
• Lunch from 1200 – 1.30pm
• Tender ashore  at 200pm for village or school visit, (church on Sunday) beach activities, snorkelling or diving.
• 6pm – 7pm ON Board Marine Biologists Lounge Presentations on various topics throughout the itinerary.….. accompanied with Cocktails and Hors Doevres.
• Dinner from 7.30pm to late.
• Local on board entertainment after  Dinner

 

It’s  a very laid- back typical Fiji holiday – but can be as busy as you want it to be.   The itinerary is quite varied due to the different island groups, their landscape and whether they are inhabited or not. It is not compulsory to do anything…you don’t want too.

It was the first time I experienced what they call a coral bommie!  This is a column of coral that reaches up several metres from the sea floor and can be higher than the surrounding reef at low tide.   The range and vibrant colours of the different corals on these bommies was superb!   The abundance of all sizes and colour of reef   fish was  excellent, adding the odd reef shark going about their business -  I thought  the snorkelling was the best I have experienced for many many years.

There is some coral bleaching in some spots due to global warming, but most of the sites we snorkelled were in excellent condition.

There are options to go on  Waterfall hikes and Bird Walks (see the Red Footed Booby below.   The village, school visits and Sunday Church services were a wonderful immersion into the Fijian way of life today.

 

 

The mainly Fijian crew on board  are fun and hospitable, and a Kava night is part of their itinerary activities, actively enjoyed  by the crew and guests!

Fun times tendering ashore & Fiji at its best!