Fiji Cruises: Destination Tropics

Fiji Cruises: Destination Tropics

The Fiji islands are a country in Melanesia, and include 332 separate islands and islets. Its beautiful volcanic hills and tropical waters make it a popular tourist destination, and a paradise to cruise visitors. The islands hold a mix of deserted beaches and urban centres, bringing relaxation, culture and history to a Fiji cruise.

The Ports: Fiji Holiday Destinations

• Suva is the capital of Fiji, and its principal port. It is home to a campus of the University of the South Pacific, as well as the Fiji School of Medicine. The city has some lovely gardens and plenty of restaurants and shopping. The best place to shop and soak up some Fijian vibes is the city markets, where locals and visitors buy fresh produce and handicrafts. Cruise ships dock close to town, with a five to ten minute walk between the dock and the city centre.

• Nadi is a major transport hub for Fiji, with an International Airport and very good infrastructure and entertainment options for tourists. Nadi and its port, Port Denarau on Denarau Island, are popular locations for day trips to outer islands The drive between the port and Nadi is around ten minutes, and there are generally public buses available.

• Lautoka is another city on the main island of Viti Levu. It is a clean place with a wonderful Botanic Garden and Children’s Park. Both culturally and naturally, Lautoka is a wonderful spot. Nature lovers should visit the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park. The Lautoka Markets offer up local produce, and restaurants around the city cover Chinese, Indian, Italian, Fijian, European and Korean cuisines. The port is a twenty minute walk from the city centre, and ships often arrange buses. Taxis are also available.

• Dravuni Island is a very small island which is a minor cruise port for Fiji. Beautiful beaches are the main draw, along with walking trails up to some viewpoints, and snorkelling. Markets are set up by the locals when ships visit, and Australian dollars are usually accepted along with Fijian dollars. Ships anchor offshore and transport passengers to a small pier in tenders.

The aforementioned four ports are the main places that cruise ships will stop at during Fiji cruises. However, Captain Cook Cruises runs cruises from Nadi which visit a multitude of small islands in the Yasawa Islands. These cruises are an in-depth look at Fiji onboard the line’s MV Reef Endeavour.

The Cruises: Fiji Cruise Holiday Deals

Many of the big cruise lines have occasional stops in Fiji, and some cruise there regularly. It is not very close to Australia and New Zealand, the main disembarkation points in the South Pacific, so it is generally the longer itineraries which take in Fiji. P&O Australia ships are a frequent  presence in Fiji ports, as are Royal Caribbean vessels, mostly the ones which are based Down Under. Celebrity also runs cruises to Fiji, and other lines stop in during Transpacific voyages.

Whatever the type of Fiji cruise required, Cruise Sale Finder has the best deals. Search for Fiji cruises to find one that fits all requirements.