Fijian Jewels - Lifou

Tuesday, May 18th – Lifou. Thank goodness the weather is being kind, would have been so disappointed if we had missed Lifou. Tender ride needed today, but not a long one. Our aim today is to snorkel and having heard that the best spot was on the other side of the isle we set off walking. There is no beach on the other side of the island just cliffs; a steep not so stable stairway leads to the water. With our snorkel gear in hand we made our way into the water.

WOW!! The underwater world was out of this world, nothing else I have seen in my short snorkelling history comes even close to this. The colours of the coral and the numerous varieties of fish all just made for a wonderful experience. Lyn is also now a snorkelling convert, she ventured quite a ways out today. I took a lot of video and Tony took lots of photos, but nothing beats just being there. We stayed for hours, close to 4 I believe, before returning to the ship for a late lunch.

Tropical Island Night Party was tonight, so after dinner and the Comedy Juggling show we went up to the pool deck to party on til 1 am.



Yes! That really is me.



Fijian Jewels - Port Vila

Monday, May 17th – Port Vila. We made our way ashore as early a possible so that we could get to the Cascade Waterfalls before the masses. We managed to hire a driver, Barry for the day for $200.00. He drove us to the falls and waited til we returned. Our reef shoes again were a great asset making the crossing of streams and the climbing of the rocks to the falls much easier. Tony & I got right in under the falls the others just watched. Lyn sat in awe, just watching the water coming down from above. She is sure that is what heaven to be like. We had timed our arrival perfectly as a large group arrived as we decided to leave.
Barry was waiting for us as promised and he then took us to a coffee factory. They roast and package the beans. We all had coffee which I must admit was one of the better tasting coffees I have had.
Duty Free shopping was next, Barry parked, told us were he would wait for us and off we went. Around 9 litres of alcohol was purchased between us, some DVD’s and perfume. We sent the boys back to Barry while we checked out the markets, their pricing was not so good. We met up with the men just as they were ordering a beer so we joined them. The local beer was not too bad.
On the road again this time out into the countryside. Beef is the main export here and because of the climate I imagine they do not have too much trouble with feeding them. The soil is rich in nutrients, no chemicals or fertilisers are necessary.
On our way back to the ship we had a tour of the township, with Barry pointing out the places of interest. We said our good-byes to Barry who had been a great guide and after looking at the markets set up near the ship we went aboard to have a big afternoon tea. (We had not had any lunch).

Cascade Falls

Fijian Jewels - Dravuni Island

Saturday 15th May -Dravuni Island. Well the weather was not on our side for a landing. There were 35knot winds lashing the isle and as we needed to anchor in a small bay, our day ashore was cancelled and the cruise Director and staff had to cancel there day off and come up with a new onboard itinerary for us. Lyn and I picked on Pictionary for our first activity. Well you would not read about it anywhere else but here, when it was Lyn’s turn to draw the word she got was none other than False teeth. I have to say I thought she was joking when she started drawing, I picked it straight away but it took me a while to say ‘dentures’ she signalled yes but keep going and thankfully another in our team said ‘False teeth’, coz I was laughing too much too. We later had to explain the significance of the teeth to our other members as they had not heard about it. We came in third.
Next it was off to the golf links for a try at getting closest to the hole, on the golf simulator. Ha! Ha! We were crap, we left before the game was over to get to Wii bowling, but I was hunted down by the golf organiser so he could present me with a lovely medal. What for you may ask, as I said we were crap, but I did not realise I was that bad; I was the furthest from the hole. Coffee meets, Ice-cream meet and before we take a breath it is dinner time.
Sunday 16th May- Scheduled Sea Day. Another busy day, but today most of our little group went to a wine appreciation session. Not really good wines but was a bit of fun and we received a nice little liquor glass.

Fijian Jewels - Port Denarau

Friday 14th May, Port Denarau – I woke up early and when Tony stirred we got dressed and went to the front to watch the sunrise. I was very picturesque but Room service was bringing us a cuppa at 7 am so back we went. Breakfast meet up was early today as we had to assemble for our tour at 8.45 am we took the sailboat tour to a little island to do some snorkelling. It was a day of boats today, ship to shore by catamaran, then tall ship to island, tinnie to shore, glass-bottom boat at island and tender back to ship.
Now let me tell you about the island day. The locals refer to this island as Mystery Island. Naz, Tony & I beat Lyn ashore and did not wait for her. She had not moved fast enough when we started to board the tinnie so had to take the next one which was the glass-bottom boat so she got a look at the coral before landing. We got our gear on and waded out, the reef shoes I told Lyn she needed, were our most useful tool for the day, as dead coral is real sharp. Tony coached Naz who had never snorkelled before and soon we were looking at a sea wonderland. Naz and I had our moments of panic but Tony was close by to assist. Lyn finally joined us and was so disappointed she had spent the time on the glass bottom boat because she could see so much more using her snorkel.
Lunch was served so we had to leave the water; Naz had gone in ahead as the coral had attacked his leg so he needed first aid. We had a lovely BBQ and salad with beer and soft drinks. We had found ourselves a seat when we discovered the Naz was still missing, so Lyn went to see where he had got to. She returned with him, and proceeded to tell us that he had lost his bottom denture in the sea. Poor Naz; 3 weeks old the teeth are (were) and he did not realize until getting the first aid. Well soon the rest of the tour knew about his problem and after lunch many came out to help in the search, but not before we all had are yearly dose of laughter. Needless to say we were not lucky enough to find them before it was time to leave our island paradise, if he had realised as soon as he had lost them our search may have been more fruitful. Good News. He had his spare set (old ones) back on board the Dawn, so no need to order mashed food for dinner. He is now famous as the story got back to many on the ship before we did.

Sunrise at Port Denarau

Our tall ship

Fijian Jewels - Suva

Thursday 13th May, Suva – Today we went on a tour with a group for Cruise Critics. We did a 2 hour tour with a couple for photo stops. It was just enough to give us a feel for Suva and its countryside. On our return to the ship we had lunch and went straight back out to look around the shops. It was very muggy so did not stay out long, we came back had a coffee before competing in the golf chipping comp on the pool deck. We had to try and chip the balls into hoops floating in the pool. Great fun, we did not win, but we will try again another day. No more activities were on the agenda so we played a game of Shuttleboard til sailing time.
After dinner 8 of our 10 from our dining table went to the production show in the Princess theatre.

Fijian Jewels - Noumea

Tuesday May 11th, Noumea – The ship docked at the container wharf so we had to be taken to the cruise ship terminal by shuttle. Once there we booked a 2.5hr bus tour for $A30 each. It was an hour and a half til the tour left so we checked out the shops. Lyn bought some magnets and I bought us all an ice block so we had a cheap day out, if you can call 1000 franc for 4 ice block cheap. Our tour departed at 10.30 taking us to see some beaches, the Church of Miracles and many other places. Our tour guide was Vivienne who was both informative and entertaining. At the end of the tour we caught the shuttle straight back to the ship as we were showing signs of food withdrawal.
Lunch in the Horizon Court was followed by some lazing by and in the pool. We met for coffee then took up a position on the Promenade Deck for sailaway. After another delicious dinner, Grant a vocalist was our entertainment for the evening in the Princess Theatre.

A beautiful day in Noumea

Wednesday at Sea – After breakfast we all took a stroll around the Promenade deck til 10 am when Lyn & I watched the Marzipan & Cake decorating demo. 11 am Golf putting had us all trying for the Gold medal. Lyn did well to get into the finals with 6 others all had no luck for 2 rounds , then Lyn stepped up lined up her ball, shut her eyes and took a big swing whacking (not putting) it straight in. The crowd roared she WON!!! She is now a celebrity.
Time for lunch, then at 1 pm up to the pool deck for the ice carving demo. These guys are so clever with a block of ice and a chisel.
Now it is 1.30 and time to learn how to play Shuttleboard. This time it was Tony’s’ time to shine. Gold!!! That is not all for today, 2.30 Men V Women Carpet bowls. Last end men up by 18 guess you was the last bowler, me. No hope of winning, just want to finish with my dignity in place. I am on 2 the opposition’s man manages to get in and hold one shot.
So, I took a big swing up and belted down my final bowl, and hit the men’s shot bowl for a sixer. Now it was my turn for thunderous applause. We of course did not win but I played the shot of the day.
The boys went for a sleep after that, but us girls went to trivia and stayed on afterwards chatting til it was time to dress for dinner.
We went to a comedy show after dinner. What a fun day.

Tony Winning Shuttleboard

Fijian Jewels - Embarkation and our first two days at sea

We met up with Lyn and Naz at the airport. Check in went smoothly, we were all within our luggage weight allowance. A coffee shop was our next stop and before we knew it, it was time to board for our flight to Sydney.
The weather was glorious in Sydney; the sun had come out to greet us. Thanks to the tunnel road system it was only a 20 min ride to the dock, and to our home for the next 13 days the Dawn Princess.
Tony & I have earned platinum status with Princess so there was no waiting in long lines, we get priority boarding. It was not much after 1pm and we were checking out our accommodation.
Now we never really had any intention of sleeping girls separate from boys, but that is the way we booked it. Our Travel agents wanted us to get the best possible price. The boys room was opened first, a queen bed made up for them as requested, the girls’ room, single beds???
We had lunch in Horizon Court then did a tour of the ship to help orientate Lyn & Naz. Fire Drill was at 3.30 and soon after 5 pm we set sail. Sail-away was great as the city and Luna park had lit up which added to the experience as previous times it was in summer so was still daylight.
We have been graced with a lovely group of people at our table of 10. We are always so lucky. After dinner we saw the welcome aboard show in Princess Theatre.
1st sea day - Mothers day we met up in the corridor to have an 8am breakfast in HC. Our day consisted of bingo, food, Carpet bowls and lunch in Main Dining Room. Lyn and I even fitted in a Spa. Formal Night started with the Champagne Waterfall, followed by a wonderful meal and a show in the Princess Theatre. We had a little flutter in the Casino before retiring.
2nd sea-day – breakfast 8.30am today. Today we have played Taboo, carpet bowls, Wii bowling and Trivia as well as eating. The entertainment tonight was a female vocalist Davidia in the Vista show lounge. To round off a wonderful day we danced til midnight on the pool deck.

Sydney by night

Champagne waterfall

Fijian Jewels - 4 Weeks to go

The dawn arrival of the Dawn Princess in Adelaide


We are sailing away on our Fijian Jewels Cruise on the 8th of May. This trip will be different from the others because we have travelling companions this time. Lyn & Naz have finally decided to see what keeps us going back for more. I am certain that it will be a fun trip, with lots of laughs.

This photo was taken when the Dawn came to visit Adelaide. We got up early and got to Outer Harbour by 6am to watch her dock. She was late, did not dock til 730am but it was worth the wait.