Captain Cook Cruises ~ Fiji Luxury Boat Cruise
As the ship sailed
our tryst with the waves and
murmurs of the sea
were paradisaical
leaving us transfixed and transformed
with the elusive beauty of
FIJI
If you’re a person who appreciates intimate, low-key travel experiences, the Reef Endeavour is just what you’ve been looking for. My husband, Vikram, and I were delighted when we were invited to join the Reef Endeavour Cruise, a Captain Cook Cruises’ flagship, and experience all that the wonderful boutique liner had to offer.
Our time on board with Captain Cook!
4 Cultures ~ Our Cruise Itinerary
We sailed on a “4 Cultures” itinerary which only departs a few times every year. Our starting point was from the marina in Port Denarau near Nadi, and the next seven nights were poetry in motion as we sailed to the Mamanuca Islands, before heading out further into the Yasawa Islands. ‘Yasawa’ is one of the words for ‘heaven’ in Fijian, so you won’t be disappointed when you see these islands! Everything around provided ignition to savour the splendour of our surroundings, and I for one, was enchanted by the truth and charm of the Fijian landscape.
Our Cruise package was an eclectic mix of everything; relaxation, taking in the Fijian culture and tradition, guided tours of the Fijian villages and schools, and of course, water activities like reef snorkelling and glass-bottomed boat tours.
Being a small cruise ship, the Reef Endeavour is built to meet the varied depths of the Fiji waters and can maneuver deftly into spaces where larger cruise ships wouldn’t be able to. We were lucky to discover the essence and beauty of some of the more secluded islands, and diving and snorkelling sites, which we may not have had access to had we sailed on a larger cruise ship.
Cultural highlights were shows of traditional songs and dances by locals in villages we visited, and our cruising brought us in proximity to the aesthetic abilities of the Fijian culture and their creativity and aliveness, thus giving us a full introduction to Fijian life, which was great! We were treated to a Lovo {a traditional feast that is cooked in the earth} at one of the villages, and there was also a traditional drinking ceremony with Kava {the Fijian national drink that is mildly narcotic}. At one of the many Fijian towns thronging with life and energy, we were provided with the opportunity to attend a traditional church service, thus allowing us to experience the diverse cultures of Fiji.
Cruising on the Reef Endeavour
Like I’ve mentioned earlier, the Reef Endeavour is a slightly smaller cruise ship that caters to 130 passengers. Being smaller in size, the passengers on board have the advantage of being personally attended to by the staff and crew, making the entire experience an exclusive, relaxing, and comfortable one. But by far what was really heartwarming, was that by the time we disembarked, the staff members were familiar with all our names, our likes and dislikes, our food preferences, and our habits.
The ship though refurbished in 2013 hasn’t lost its appeal and bowled us over with its uniqueness in spirit and grace. The cabins are small but gave a sense of cosiness and belonging. In reality, Vikram and I spent most of our time on the deck watching a new world that enveloped us in its mirth.
The ship itself has lots of facilities to keep you busy. The main pool deck, Deck C, was a great spot to hang out, and the Sun Deck at the very top of the ship was the perfect place to sunbathe. Decks A and B had loungers and chairs to stretch, relax and enjoy the views, and was the place we spent our evenings.
Dining in Style Onboard ~ The Sinful Pleasures
You can look forward to full-board service aboard the Reef Endeavour, and the comfort of knowing everything is included.
Dining was very relaxing. It had an informal feel and was truly excellent; be it the starters, appetisers, savouries, or the main course. Whenever the ship was docked for sightseeing, the chefs would pick up their stock of fresh vegetables, fish, poultry, and meat at the local markets. This ensured that the food served was fresh and delicious, giving us a taste of Fiji through their creations.
The buffet breakfast and lunch had an array of choices, and service was either al fresco by the pool or in the Captain’s Lounge. It was nice conversing with the other passengers on the ship during meal service and hearing about their adventures in Fiji.
Canapés were served in the evening between 6.30 PM to 7.30 PM and dinner was an à la carte affair with the choicest of Fijian cuisine and an inclusion of a few European dishes.
As for the service, I would say that it was the staff and crew that made the cruise memorable for us!
Experiencing the Magic of the Sun, Sand, and the Sea
This particular cruise focused on both, the cultural activities and what Fiji is known for, its water activities, and the beach.
A snorkelling excursion was offered each day, which is especially great for people like me who love water adventures and find it electrifying when exploring the colourful life that exists underwater. Those not keen on snorkelling but curious to see the underwater aquatic life could go out on the glass-bottomed boat which made a few trips during the cruise.
Some additional services added up to our appreciation of this cruise.
- A hospitality manager was always around to answer our queries, get our requests taken care of on priority, and ensure that our cruising experience was pleasant and enjoyable ~ just the way we wanted it to be.
- There was an on-staff marine biologist who presented talks to familiarise us with the marine life that we were likely to see at each stop. That was quite enthralling ~ listening to the talk about the reefs and sea creatures and finally getting to see them up close.
- We were provided with a diving instructor for the Discover Scuba Diving Course {DSD}, who also accompanies you on your maiden open-water dives.
- The diving staff knew exactly where the best spots were to view the colourful aquatic life and the vibrant marine world that exists underwater.
What is good about smaller cruises such as this one is that you can get really close up, with just a short journey to the shore. We swam, went kayaking and paddleboarding, and it was enchanting to watch the sunlight play on the grains of sand and make them glint in shades of silver and gold.
What’s more, the “bar” was always open. This meant that the staff would constantly pamper our thirst with chilled beer and soda {which were charged to our cabin}.
On our first night, Vikram and I had the pleasure of being seated at Captain Ken’s table. The service was extra special and the Captain had some great tales, but also got to know each of his guests. Fine wine was freely poured and the companionship of the other passengers was generally very congenial.
Evenings were lively and entertaining, and there were a lot of interactive activities that helped us in getting to know the crew members and passengers. One such fun activity that left us surprised and quite entertained was the crab-racing night. Each table was given its own sand crab and had to compete with others in a race!
The rest of the nights we got acquainted with the Fijian way of life. Fijians love singing and dancing, and it was like one big family when the staff also got involved. We were also treated to some folklore which helped us get to know more about their myths and legends, customs and traditions, and culture and people that make Fiji what it is.
The highlight of our cruise was the candlelight dinner that was arranged for Vikram and me on the last day of the cruise. To say it was whimsical sitting on the top deck with just the stars, the sky, and the music of the lull of the waves would be an understatement! We were pampered by a personal chef and server who served us with a delectable menu. The ambience was so romantic and felt almost like a fairy tale!
What makes cruising in these waters novel and unique?
Vikram and I did not expect the landscape to be constantly changing as the ship deftly manoeuvred its way to take us to hidden diving sites, virgin islands, and unexplored places untouched by the constant presence of travellers. It was indeed a big surprise for the both of us each time we saw varied scenery unfolding in front of our eyes and experienced the cryptic pleasures that lingered in these isolated areas which otherwise would not have been accessible to us. Well, that added up to our element of curiosity and made us eagerly look forward to the next imagery which worked against the predictable dullness that is usually associated with cruises.
If you’re at all skeptical about cruising, this kind of smaller cruise is a great place to find out if you would enjoy it or not. It’s more personalised and intimate, and the camaraderie that exists between the staff, crew, and the passengers makes the cruising informal and relaxing. There is a lot of freedom to do your own thing, like taking a guided tour and immersing in the playfulness of the Fijian villages, their customs and traditions, while on the few nights you are sailing.
Fun Fact: A few Hollywood films have immortalised the beauty of Fiji in their films. ‘Cast Away’ that starred Tom Hanks had the Monuriki Island as the backdrop, and the 1980s hit Blue Lagoon that conceptualised the passion-filled love story between Christopher Atkins and Brooke Shields was shot at the Yasawas Islands.
The Verdict
I would recommend this cruise to all those travellers wanting a wonderful holiday in Fiji, soaking in the diversity of the archipelago. The sheer beauty, rawness, and hidden vulnerability of the place is beckoning. The sea and its blueness that exists in its depths and on the exterior weaves an ambience that is serene and peaceful yet mysterious. And the cluster of islands clinging together for life strips the land of its barrenness and breathes into it a life that is irresistible to all!
Whether you go there looking for adventure, water sports, or chasing sunrises and sunsets ~ the Captain Cook’s Reef Endeavour Cruise is the manifestation of all your dreamy expectations to reality.
The adorable crew 🙂
Disclaimer: This review was done on an invitation from Captain Cook Cruises. Due judgment and care have been applied by the author to remain objective and unbiased in the review.