Early Bird Rates on Blue Lagoon Cruises Historical & Cultural Dateline Cruises (Rabi included)

[Stacey King]

ASIA Travel Tips.com Latest Travel News Monday, 7 September 2009

Blue Lagoon Cruises is offering ‘early bird’ rates on the last remaining ‘Historical & Cultural Dateline Cruises’ it has scheduled for 2009.

Departing the iconic Fijian cruise company’s home port of Lautoka on 9 November, the cruise offers a unique opportunity to see the largely uncharted and seldom visited reaches comprising Fiji’s remote north-eastern tip.

Standard prices for the ‘Historical & Cultural Dateline Cruises’ start from US$2087 per person twin share.

All bookings received for any of the three departures prior to 30 September will qualify for the 30% ‘early bird’ discount which brings prices down to US$1605 per person twin share.

Operated to the boutique cruise company’s highly regarded ‘Gold Club’ standard, the seven-day itinerary includes Kioa Island, home to some 300 Polynesian Elice Islanders who migrated into the region in the 1940’s.

The cruise will also visit the 4,000 Micronesian Banabans who have inhabited Rabi Island since 1946. Rabi remains virtually the same since the Banabans first arrived from Kiribati to escape the ravages phosphate mining had dealt to their home islands.
The cruise schedule also includes visits to Fiji’s original capital city, Levuka, on Ovalau Island and Nananu-I-Ra Island, the home of the Fijian Serpent God Degei who according to local legend created the Fijian archipelago.

Hands-on cruise activities include the opportunity to visit these islanders in their villages and participate in several of their ancient ceremonies.

A high spot of the overall cruise is the greeting by Kioa islanders, resplendent in traditional war dress, paddling out to the MV Fiji Princess in outrigger canoes to ferry passengers ashore for a traditional welcome.

Prices quoted do not include international airfares or beverages (other than tea or coffee). Other terms and conditions apply.