We were in Denarau over the weekend, and we tried the Tivua Island Day Cruise by Captain Cook Cruises. The local special was only $99 FJD per person–an excellent deal.
Fiji is fortunately COVID-contained, but there’s considerably less tourist traffic now, which made the cruise very breathable.
The boat leaves the Denarau Marina on weekends at 10 a.m. and touches back at the dock at 5 p.m. Boat ride is about 90 min. each way.
It was a sunny day, and the boat ride showed off the colors of the ocean in striking shades of blue.
The vessel is a sailboat with an engine, and the ride was pleasant. A small breakfast buffet of fruit and snacks awaited us on the boat, and we were serenaded by crew playing guitar and singing.
Tivua Island is a private island dotted with open-air cabanas. We dropped our stuff at a cabana, then did a short shore dive at $100 FJD a person. We saw some big fish and sting rays underwater.
Lunch was a hearty buffet with a good variety of veg, carbs and proteins. My favorites were the sweet potato and grilled emperor fish. The crew serenaded us again during lunch.
After lunch, we took out standup paddleboards, available on the island along with kayaks. It was a good chance to see the land forms in the distance throughout the ocean here.
On the ride back to Denarau, the crew put a sail up to catch some of the wind. They offered tea and biscuits, and more live music on the return trip.
I enjoyed the live music; it promoted good vibes, and I liked seeing how the crew enjoyed playing music not just for us but for themselves as well.
The verdict: A fun island excursion, with good value for the price.
ATB 