A Wedding in Kioa

This week was not only special because it was the end of the year, we also had 2 couples feeling the romance of Fiji and the Tui Tai with a wedding and a proposal!

One couple decided they wanted to get married on the beautiful island of Kioa, which Tui Tai promptly arranged, and a fantastic day was had by all, followed by their singing ceremony, or fatele. The residents of Kioa were originally from the Polynesian island of Tuvalu, but due to rising sea levels they needed to relocate and have now been here for over seventy years. They have kept their traditions alive and it made for some spectacular photos with an American style wedding dress set amongst a Polynesian/Fijian backdrop.

Another guest decided that he would propose to his girlfriend - not so unusual in Fiji - but what made it special is that he did it underwater! He had brought the rings with him and carefully arranged it with the crew beforehand so that everything went according to plan - the question (and answer!) was written on an underwater slate - she accepted thankfully and now Fiji and the Tui Tai will always hold a special place in their hearts.

With the end of the year comes the start of a new one - Happy New Year to all past and future Tui Tai guests!

Festive Fiji!

We had a great group of guests to share the holiday season with us this week. As a special gift we even had a group of spinner dolphins appear for us on christmas day and swim alongside the boat. For Christmas Eve a local choir from Taveuni came on board with a priest and we had a sermon, singing and then of course, the traditional kava ceremony.

Kava is made from the powder of the Kava root and is then mixed with water. It is drunk for almost all social occasions and is much the same as a 'peace pipe' in other cultures - offering an opportunity for social interaction in a relaxed setting. Both men and women are able to drink kava in Fiji, but if you want to participate you must join the 'circle' and clap once before accepting a bowl, and three times after.

In the week we had fresh fish, caught by one of the crew members (but helped by Erika, one of our guests!)

Our Christmas day activities included a hike on the Lavena coastal walk to a beautiful waterfall (one of two we visited during the week, where everyone simulated the locals diving skills!

We are now looking forward to celebrating the New Year with a new group and lots of fun and festivities.

Snorkelling and Sharks!

The weather was definitely on our side this week and we had clear skies and on most days a beautiful cool breeze to make ideal conditions for all our activities. Snorkelling was high on the agenda and the crystal clear water made for some fantastic trips, where everyone got really comfortable with their free-diving skills and up close and personal looking at the marine life - especially two white tip reef sharks who kept us entertained for ages.One of the dives turned out to be extra special as we had a Leopard Shark make an appearance - it even let the onboard paparazzi take lots of footage and then slowly and very gracefully swam away. Leopard sharks are easily distinguishable by their big spot markings and long tail - they are very docile to humans and this makes them easily approachable. They also like to lie on the bottom for long periods of time so we often keep an eye on the sand as well as all the beautiful coral reef, just in case! This also happened to be one of our guests first ever dives - which has set a precedent now for his future scuba experiences - we are keeping in touch to see what he will discover next time!

All in all, with great marine life, great activities and great weather an awesome time was had by all and the crew are all looking forward to some festive fun next week!

"Tui Tai is the most comprehensive all-around holiday experience. With a never-ending array of activities and a great feel for the true Fiji."

"An unforgettable experience in a authentic natural Fiji. The Fiji you would never get to know from a hotel."
-- Bea, Germany

"We had a wonderful time with your wonderful crew and saw, in a very short time, a lot of the real Fiji."
-- Hanspeter, Germany

"Everything we did was fantastic. Breathtaking and exhausting!"
-- Judy, Australia

"Tui Tai is the most comprehensive all-around holiday experience. With a never-ending array of activities and a great feel for the true Fiji. Thank you so much, we are already planning our next trip."
-- Peter, Australia

"A wonderful way to experience the true Fiji and the wonderful hospitality of the Fijian people. The best way to get off the beaten track, in total luxury."
-- Solomon Family, Australia

The following guest feedback scores came from the April 14-21 Adventure Cruise, 2007.

(1=poor, 10=Excellent)
Did you find the Tui Tai Experience held up to its promises?
Average Score: 10

How would you rate the level of service from the onboard staff?
Average Score: 10

Was your cabin/stateroom comfortable and in working order?
Average Score: 10

How would you rate the meals served?
Average Score: 9.6

How would you rate your Fiji diving experience?
Average Score: 10

How safe did you feel during your Tui Tai Expedition?
Average Score: 10

Would you recommend Tui Tai Adventure Cruises to your friends and family?
100% answered 'YES'