January 20, 2026 partial Sea Day and Lautoka, Fiji Islands
The original schedule had the ship visiting Mystery Island, Vanuatu, as a tender port. Mystery Island is the southernmost island of Vanuatu and only 15.9 hectares in size and lacks modern amenities - no internet, nor running water or electricity. There are basic facilities and some stalls selling food and locally made goods. The island is accessible by cruise ship, boat and has a small grass landing strip. Locals from nearby Aneityum visit to set up market stalls offering local goods. You can walk around the entire island within one hour. We had a tour of Keanu village, on Aneityum island, booked to learn about the traditional system of village life.
Today is mostly a Sea Day, the ship is scheduled arrive in Lautoka, Fiji Islands at 5 p.m. and stay until tomorrow at 5 p.m. to go to Suva for two days.
We were up in time for breakfast in the dining room this morning. The sun was shining and some puffy white clouds were scattered in the sky. The temperature was 27°C (about 45°C warmer than at home), humidity 70% and hardly any wind that was NNW 4 km/hr. The ship was about 45 nautical miles from Lautoka, Fiji.
The guests at Coffee with Robbie today were “Women in Music” who are performing for the next few days, individually, vocalist Clarissa Spata, vocalist Susannah Mirana who sang two nights ago and had a matinee this afternoon and violinist Juliette Primrose who had a show this evening. Larry gave Robbie the address for the men’s shoe store in Rotterdam with unique shoes.
We walked eight laps around the Promenade Deck with at least a couple of dozen other walkers. Most of the deck loungers on both sides were occupied by people reading books or napping.
In the World Stage at 11 a.m. John Hocknull’s presentation was titled “Serendipity: six Degrees of Separation - WWII Lost and Found”. He explained how a 1938 graduation ring worn by an American service man that was lost in Papua New Guinea in 1943 was found by a local man and how John found the man’s son in New Jersey and returned the ring and the funds raised by the father’s school alumni association that were used for secondary school education of the local man’s children.
We skipped lunch and got coffees to drink while we read.
At 2 p.m. in the Rolling Stone Lounge there was a Cha-cha lesson taught by Robbie. There were several dozen people who filled the dance floor.
Vocalist Susannah Mirana returned to the World Stage for a 3 p.m. matinée. The theme was a tribute to Olivia Newton-John played to almost a full house. When the show was over the ship was making her final approach to her berth at Lautoka, Fiji.
For Happy Hour we caught the answers for the daily 4 p.m. Team Trivia Challenge in the Billboard Onboard Lounge before meeting Sue and Sandy for dinner. The all clear to leave the ship was announced just after 4:30 p.m. It saw hundreds of people departing the ship. There was a 5 p.m. ballroom dance hour in the Ocean Bar with the Dam Band playing that we ignored. Margaret and Ted were on an excursion to the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort for an Authentic Fijian Evening.
After dinner, before the sunset at 6:51 p.m. we walked 1.7 km past the Tappoo City shopping centre, which was closed, turning around at the Jamia Masjid Lautoka Mosque that was just broadcasting the sunset call to prayer. On the return to the ship we passed a bank with outdoor ATMs. The starting screen displays “Bula” which is the Fijian equivalent to our Hello. We met numerous locals on the walk and they almost always greet you with Bula. The sidewalk from the port entrance to the town centre had places where the drain cover was missing or other holes so you had to watch your step carefully. The sun had set about 30 minutes earlier as we returned to the brightly lit ship and colourful post sunset sky.
We were back in time for tonight’s show featuring violinist, Juliette Primrose. She gave a splendid performance.
Total steps 17,798
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