fiji – Scribbles and Snapshots

March 10, 2026

Our next stop was Lautoka, Fiji. We didn’t bother going into town for this one, in fact, we got off our ship and immediately onto a catamaran to take us to Malamala Beach Club. It’s the world’s first beach club situated on a private island (allegedly).

After the sweat bus incident the day before, we were relieved to sit in the air conditioning on the 40 minute ride over to the island. We had ended up booking this excursion with the ship last minute, but refused to pay an arm and a leg to get a cabana or a beach lounger.

As soon as we made it to the island, Andy made his way to find chairs – and I high tailed it to the information desk to see if they had any cabanas for sale at a normal price. (The ship had jacked up the prices and they were astronomical). The lady looked me square in the phase and said, “Would you like number Cabana 1, 2, or 10?” I was a bit puzzled and asked her how much it was. She shook her head and told me that it was first come, first serve at this point.

Y’all. We got a Grand Cabana for free! And because we got there first, everyone else thought we had paid for it and didn’t feel comfortable coming over and trying to share it with us. They didn’t realize we hadn’t paid a penny for it. The only difference was we didn’t get a butler included, but who cares!

This is what it looked like – we forgot to take pictures

The four of us had shade and multiple tables… and more chairs than we could use. It was a nice upgrade from what we were going to be working with previously.

The island was small, but had different areas where you could swim. It was also covered in washed up coral – was a bit shocking! It was everywhere so we had to be careful where we stepped because some of it was quite sharp. There was plenty of room for all of us to spread out – and water activities if you wanted to (stand up paddle boards, kayaks, snorkeling, etc.) and lunch was included for us as well.

We splashed around for a while and then took a walk around the island. There were two different pool areas one was special for the real paying cabana customers – and the other was for the rest of us. We decided that after lunch we were going to hit up the pool.

It was a really relaxing day and we started to wrap up when we started to see the catamaran coming to retrieve us. I looked ahead of us in line and saw a familiar face. I could have sworn it was “Pilot Pete” from the Bachelor franchise and more recently, Traitors.

I was doubting my own eyes and enlisted the help of others. Sure enough, it was him! There was a kerfuffle as we were getting off of the catamaran and Emily and I found ourselves next to him in line. I asked him a few questions about Traitors and he was really nice to chat with.

After making our way back to the ship, Emily and Mark had another great night of karaoke on the ship.

Up Next:
Apia, Samoa

March 9, 2026

Our cruise brought us to Suva, the capital of Fiji. While many travelers head straight for the beaches, Suva offers something different. There is history, culture, and a look at everyday Fijian life.

Suva is the largest city in Fiji and the country’s political and cultural center. It’s known for its colorful markets, colonial buildings, and strong traditions from the native Fijian people, known as the iTaukei. Many of Fiji’s customs are still practiced today, especially in villages throughout the islands.

One tradition that plays a big role in Fijian culture is kava. Kava is a drink made from the root of a plant in the pepper family. The root is dried, ground into powder, and mixed with water. It looks a bit like muddy tea, but it’s much more than just a drink.

Kava ceremonies are an important social ritual in Fiji. They are often used to welcome visitors, mark special events, or bring a community together. During a ceremony, the drink is served in a large wooden bowl called a tanoa. When it’s your turn, you clap once, drink the kava in one go, and clap three times after. The drink has a calming effect and can make your mouth feel a little tingly!

The four of us had signed up for the Jewels of Fiji tour with the ship, which would bring us to one of these ceremonies. Much to our dismay, we made our way off the ship and were greeted by a large coach bus with every window open (think 85 degrees and 85% humidity). And somehow – even though we were the first ones out of the theater – we were at the very back of the bus.

It was a pretty uncomfortable ride, but as soon as we got off the bus we were greeted by the sound of drums and we immediately got excited. Our guide had prepared us well for what to expect: we needed to remove our hats, sunglasses, and shoes before entering the long house.

One member from our bus would taste the kava. (Unfortunately for us, we were in the back so even if we wanted to volunteer there’s no way we would have been picked). By the time we got in to the long house, there were no chairs left.

As a quick side note, I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet. But this cruise is a bit on the older side. Even compared to our Alaskan cruise, we were the youngest by far!

Knowing that we wouldn’t want to take any chairs from someone our senior, Emily and I sat on the floor. What we didn’t know is that we were right behind the two volunteers who were going to be drinking the kava. There were a few times where I thought about asking if I could have a taste. 😉

If you don’t know us, we are always looking for the furry locals wherever we travel!

Our host welcomed all of us to their village – explained how kava was made – and led the rest of the village in song to welcome us. Then the ceremony began!

I have to be honest – the kava looked like mud. We as a collective group chose to have one of our “tributes” drink a tsunamis worth (he was a good sport).

Once it finished, they began their performances. Some of the men began a traditional dance – at this point Emily and I were front row. The dance was more of a “warrior” dance – and they had their battle axes. I had whispered to Emily, “I hope he doesn’t swing that thing this way.”

I’m sure you can guess what happened next… Yep! He did! Not once but twice, and I’m sure our giggling only fueled the fire. Mark got a great video of the “attack.” The local women came out next and sang a much calmer song before we began lunch.

After lunch, we climbed into a long boat and cruised down the Navua River. The scenery felt straight out of a movie because it actually was. Parts of the jungle along this river were used as a filming location for Anacondas.

Thankfully, we didn’t see any giant snakes. But we did find something even better! A beautiful waterfall hidden deep in the rainforest. After the boat ride, we hiked a short trail to reach it. The cool water and the sound of the jungle made it feel like a secret world far away from the cruise ship.

The river itself had some fun rapids, at one point our captain asked the men to get out and walk. At first we thought he was joking, but realized he was serious. Our boat just didn’t have enough power to make it up! Our group all got out and walked up together – but on the way down we all rode in the boat and got absolutely soaked in the brown river water. It was an incredible adventure that none of us will soon forget.

Suva may not always be the first stop travelers think of in Fiji, but it offers something special: culture, tradition, and a little bit of adventure in the heart of the islands.

Up Next:
Lautoka, Fiji

Tag: fiji

Castaway, but make it luxury (Lautoka, Fiji)

On Fiji Time (Suva)