Crossing the Line to Fiji and Down Under

After we said “Aloha” to the Hawaiian Islands we would spend 7 days at sea and travel 2740 nautical miles to the next port of Suva, Fiji. Traveling at about 17 knots, we had mostly incredibly calm and pleasant weather.

We spent our time alternating between walking the promenade deck and occasional visits to the gym in an attempt to keep fit and enable guilt free indulgence in the myriad of dining options available. The on board Enrichment Lectures were informative and engaging discussing a range of topics. Historical references were valuable as was the advice on the shoreside opportunities available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dining was spectacular with a myriad of choices presented  by the professional and courteous staff making everyone feel special. The deserts were too tempting to pass up.

Sunday was a good day. It started with watching the Kansas City Chiefs spank the  Ravens 17 to 10 in an NFL Divisional playoff game winning them the right to appear in the Super Bowl.

 

Since we were to cross the Equator soon, it was time for the traditional Line Crossing Ceremony.  

 

 

This ancient ceremony commemorates a person’s first crossing of the Equator.

 

King Neptune, ruler of the seas, must be appeased by some minor hazing and degradation followed by kissing a fish.

 

 

The “pollywogs” are then proclaimed “Shellbacks”. If you then cross the International Date Line you become a “Golden Shellback”

 

Robin and I had the dubious distinction of becoming “Golden Shellbacks” on an Oceania cruise years ago.

 

 

We will soon cross the dateline and lose a day (Monday) as if it never existed and . . . voilá, it’s Tuesday!

Following the excitement on Lido Deck we returned to our cabin to prepare for dinner when we heard the dreaded general announcement from the Captain.

Due to current security challenges in the Red Sea and concerns for safety, itinerary has been changed significantly. Our voyage will no longer visit the Middle East or Asia. Instead, the ports in Australia have been revised and we will then travel west transiting the Indian Ocean to South Africa and sail up  the west coast of Africa, exploring destinations along the way. From there we will proceed north for our visit of Western Europe and the Mediterranean, after which we will continue on our Atlantic crossing as scheduled.

Most cruisers took the news in stride as we know that Captain Cataldi and the Cruise Line want to ensure a safe passage. Most of us are aware of why this situation exists, but until the next election, we must endure it. We will need to alter a few shore excursions, but are aware that travel carries with it some risk. So we continued our voyage on to Fiji and beyond.

The Fiji archipelago is at the crossroads of the South Pacific. In the days of sailing ships, it was known as “The Cannibal Isles,”. Mariners avoided its fierce warriors and treacherous waters. Fiji’s pagan days are gone, but live on in tribal rituals such as fire-walking and Kava Ceremonies.

Fiji is an exotic destination, with 333 islands that provide an exciting adventure or peaceful repose. The northwest region, where the sun shines almost every day is home to the majority of the resorts.

Suva is the political, administrative, educational and commercial center and has a backdrop of lush rainforest. The people of Fiji are the most multiracial and multicultural of all South Pacific island countries – this being reflected in churches of all denominations, mosques, temples and shrines.

After greeting everyone with the traditional “BULA”, we experienced the highlights of Suva City and surrounding area on a half day tour. We fought the heavy traffic out of the industrial area, then the town and drove by the National Forest with its mahogany and pine trees before visiting the rural but busy town of Nausori. Most housing was not maintained well unless it was for the government officials.

 

 

We made our way to the Fiji Museum and browsed through Fiji’s history, but mostly enjoyed the surrounding gardens.

 

 

 

We did stop in downtown Suva to marvel at the incredible market where there was an amazing selection of flowers, fruits and vegetables of all description.

 

We then took the short walk back to the ship and relaxed before preparing for cocktails and dinner with new friends while we sailed away to New Zealand just 1,315 nautical miles and 2.5 days away.

Wishing you all well,

Bobby Di