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fun ashore 2012-13 south pacific Sailing SeasoN

FUN ASHORE Getting There With Carnival Cruise Lines

Jennifer Hawkins NO PLACE

LIKE HER HOME

2012-13 SOUTH PACIFIC Sailing Se ason

THE PORTS ARE CALLING

Here’s Your BIG Adventure starting on page

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SPOTLIGHT: FIJI

Crossroads Of The Pacific

AUSSIE SPIRIT

The Next Great Cruising Experience

MAKING A SPLASH

Are You Ready For Green Thunder?

PLEASE READ, ENJOY AND LEAVE IN STATEROOM AT CRUISE’S END

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CONTENTS 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3 S O U T H PA C I F I C S A I L I N G S E A S O N

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A taste of Tassie

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WELCOME ABOARD! A message from Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines

GETTING INTO THE CARNIVAL SPIRIT How Carnival “Aussified” one of its pioneering ships, to create a brand-new cruising experience BY JOANNA HALL

CRUISE INSIDER ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW A Carnival Spirit veteran tells how to make the most of your time on this special ship

by Brian Crisp

MAKING A SPLASH The Fastest Waterslide at Sea Have a go at Green Thunder, a real wonder for Down Under

by Brian Crisp

FAME FIX: JENNIFER HAWKINS No Place Like Home Miss Universe, model, TV host.

Globetrotting celebrity Jennifer Hawkins on why we should add “homebody” to the list.

by Patricia Godfrey

SPOTLIGHT ON FIJI Crossroads of the Pacific Looking back at Fiji’s history, telling island tales — and what’s all this about people walking through fire?

by Karen Tina Harrison

DESTINATIONS Quick guides to the ports of call, including the top shore excursions 30 M ap of Australia and the South Pacific 32 Australia 36 New Zealand 42 Pacific Islands 44 Fiji 46 New Caledonia 50 Vanuatu

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9/7/12 9:37 AM

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9/13/12 4:39 PM

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome aboard!

On behalf of all our shipboard and shoreside employees, thank you for choosing Carnival Cruise Lines for your vacation.

Whether this is your first cruise with Carnival or you have sailed with us before, our dedicated team will strive to make sure you have a fun, relaxing and memorable vacation.

Guest satisfaction is our No. 1 priority, and we at Carnival are committed to providing you with an unforgettable vacation.

Guest satisfaction is our No. 1 priority, and we at Carnival are committed to providing you with an unforgettable vacation.

From a wide range of dining options and diverse entertainment choices to friendly and attentive service and fun-filled activities for guests of all ages, a Carnival cruise is the best vacation value, on land or at sea.

We hope that you enjoy this issue of Fun Ashore, which features informative and entertaining articles written by talented writers, with images by the best photographers in the business.

Fun Ashore offers a wealth of information about the many fantastic features aboard our ships, as well as the exciting and beautiful destinations we visit.

We hope this publication will serve as a valuable resource for getting the most out of your “Fun Ship� cruise.

Wishing you a great vacation. Bon voyage!

Gerry Cahill President and CEO Carnival Cruise LInes

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9/7/12 9:33 AM

AUSSIE SPIRIT | C r u i s i n g , A u s t r a l i a n S t y l e

CRUISING, AUSTRALIAN STYLE

GETTING INTO THE

by Joanna Hall

How Carnival “Aussified” one of its pioneering ships, to create a brand-new cruising experience

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AUSSIE SPIRIT | C r u i s i n g , A u s t r a l i a n S t y l e

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AUSSIE SPIRIT | C r u i s i n g , A u s t r a l i a n S t y l e

HERE AND OPPOSITE, FROM LEFT: The ship’s larger staterooms are a natural fit for families; high stakes on the high seas; cruisers are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining; wet, wild fun for kids at WaterWorks.

Staterooms: Get Comfortable C

staterooms allow adults to do their own thing, such as having

Eighty percent of her staterooms offer ocean views, and more

dinner on their balcony while the kids sleep, which would be

than 600 of those have private balconies — making her a natural

impossible if they were all in a stateroom together.”

choice for cruising through magnificently scenic Australia and the South Pacific. Accommodation choices range from interior

Aussie Tucker

staterooms to spacious suites, all of which have been refreshed

Dining choices more familiar to Australian tastes were a large part

with a bold décor featuring warm wood and orange and red

of

tones, and with new amenities including flat-screen televisions.

done is change words on the menus,” says Vandekreeke. “For

One of the most significant changes, however, is the addition

example, ‘entrées’ became ‘mains’ and ‘shrimp’ became ‘prawns’.”

of more interconnecting staterooms, something uncommon in

“Two of our executive chefs have lived in Australia, so they’ve

the Australian market. “Australians tend to have larger families

added more local foods such as barramundi, lamb dishes and

than Americans, so we increased the number of interconnecting

more fresh fruits and vegetables,” she explains. “They’ve swapped

rooms to eighty-four,” says Vandekreeke. “This way, families, or

American bacon for Aussie bacon. Also, as Australians are more

groups of up to six people, can stay close together without

used to eating international foods than Americans, Asian dishes

having to compromise on space.”

including Indian have been increased in both the buffet and the

In all, the ship has 42 different combinations of interconnecting

6

’s makeover. “One really important thing we’ve

main dining room.”

staterooms, from balcony staterooms connected to interiors,

Caffeine-lovers won’t be disappointed either. “The coffee

to balcony staterooms connected to suites. Vandekreeke,

machines have been replaced and our baristas are Australian-

a mother of six-year-old twins herself, says they are ideally

trained,” says Vandekreeke. “So we’re serving flat whites just the

suited to families with younger kids.

way Aussies like them.”

“Parents will really appreciate being able to put their kids to

The ship’s three existing dining venues will largely remain the

bed but have them close by,” she explains. “The interconnecting

same. The primary restaurant, the Empire Dining Room, combines

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PHOTOS BY Carnival cruise lines

AUSSIE SPIRIT | C r u i s i n g , A u s t r a l i a n S t y l e

an elaborate Napoleonic décor with a choice of traditional and flexible dining, and La Playa Grille is the casual, open-seating buffetstyle venue with 10 stations offering different styles of cuisine. The by-reservation-only specialty locale is Nouveau Restaurant, tucked away above La Playa Grille. Guests pay a cover charge for this fine-dining experience serving beef and seafood, accompanied by a handpicked wine list.

New to the dining lineup, however, is The Taste Bar, a sociable way to sample various delicacies throughout the voyage. This is the place to meet with friends before dinner, and to sample drinks and appetisers from different specialty restaurants across the Carnival fleet.

The place that is sure to provide the most remarkable dining experience is The Chef’s Table, an indulgent culinary encounter hosted by the ship’s head chef. For a fee, an exclusive group of 12 guests is treated to a galley tour with food tastings and a glass of bubbly, plus a bespoke degustation dinner with specially paired wines.

Also new is Fat Jimmy's C-Side BBQ, an al fresco venue on Deck 10 between Nouveau Restaurant and the sliding sky dome.

Replicating a traditional backyard beach barbecue, this is the place to get an authentic Aussie sausage “sanger”, made with simple white bread and topped with tomato sauce.

A Good (Make That a Great) Soaking

One of the most exciting new features of Carnival Spirit is the WaterWorks attraction on the ship’s top deck. Located right in the middle of the water park’s SplashZone is the PowerDrencher, a giant bucket that fills up with water and tips over, soaking everyone beneath. WaterWorks also has two amazing waterslides: the Twister and Green Thunder, a Carnival Spirit exclusive that’s grabbing the spotlight for good reason.

[Read about the Green Thunder experience in “Making a Splash”.]

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9/8/12 11:45 AM

AUSSIE SPIRIT | C r u i s i n g , A u s t r a l i a n S t y l e

Show Time

PHOTOS BY Carnival cruise lines

C

H

appy Little Vegemites For families who like to be on the go,

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AUSSIE SPIRIT | C r u i s i n g , A u s t r a l i a n S t y l e

The best holiday plan: just lounging about

Ah, the Serenity Although Carnival is a world leader in family cruising, isn’t ideal just for mum, dad and the kids. There’s plenty to attract singles, younger couples and empty nesters, with the

have some grown-up time without their kids.” And the ship has plenty for the kids to do on their own — all the easier for mum and dad to truly relax at Serenity.

choice of going from “zen to adrenaline” at the flip of a switch.

One of the many reasons Carnival chose to send a Spiritclass ship to Australia is her spacious open decks, and the

Time to Sweat I

new adults-only Serenity, occupying the former Fantail pool area aft on Deck Nine, is a major drawcard at the zen end of the scale. A spacious, stylish retreat for the over-18s, Serenity beckons with a cocktail bar, a heated spa and a small plunge pool. It’s a place for grown-ups to enjoy some quiet combined with the great outdoors — relaxing in a hammock, catching some rays on a sun bed, or cozying up in a two-person cabana or on a comfy lounge. Unlike facilities onboard many of its competitors, Serenity is free to use.

“Australians love to be outside, whether it’s cold or hot," says Vandekreeke. “Although we have spaces everyone can enjoy, Serenity is the place where couples can hang out and do their thing without being around kids. Quite often, parents want to

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9/8/12 12:01 PM

CRUISE INSIDER | C a r n i v a l S p i r i t

CRUISE INSIDER

by Brian Crisp

Even if you’ve cruised before, there’s nothing -style. Brian Crisp, quite like cruising national travel editor for News Limited, shares his pointers on making the most of your precious time onboard this special ship.

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CRUISE INSIDER | C a r n i v a l S p i r i t

PHOTOS BY Carnival cruise lines

SHOWN HERE AND RIGHT: Carnival Spirit sails Down Under; splashing in one of the pools; relaxing at the spa sauna.

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CRUISE INSIDER | C a r n i v a l S p i r i t

So How’s the Food?

You won’t have to make too many decisions about the food

worry about, starting with good coffee. New machines and trained

on

baristas are ready to serve up perfect lattes, cappuccinos, flat

. First, it is all good. Secondly, the variety

whites and espressos. So definitely build in time for a good

on offer caters to many tastes.

In the Empire Dining Room, you can choose to dine at the

cuppa and a chat with some new friends at the café.

same time each night and have an assigned table throughout your cruise; or you might opt for Your Time Dining, which

Fit to Cruise

allows you to come and go when it suits you. If you prefer to

Knowing that Australians also like to keep fit and healthy, Carnival

dine in your stateroom, that too can be arranged.

has added new fitness equipment in the fitness centre and

If you are a meat lover, you cannot miss dining at Nouveau

designed a menu of classes that includes pilates, yoga and

Restaurant. You do have to pay extra, but it is a great value

cycling — I hope you brought your joggers! Personal trainers are

considering the quality — and size — of the meat as well as

on hand if you think you have over-indulged at the buffet and

the variety of gourmet appetisers, salads and desserts. You can

need some special training attention.

drinks lists have been given a distinct Aussie flavour.

If decadent desserts are more to your taste buds’ delight,

Kid Stuff ’s

Mums and dads can get peace of mind from

don’t miss the warm chocolate melting cake — it is Carnival

child-friendly areas, which cater to ages 2-17 and are overseen

Cruise Lines’ signature dish, available nightly in the Empire Dining

by Carnival’s Youth Staff. The littlest cruisers can have a ball at

Room. Taste one spoonful and you’ll know why it’s so in demand.

Pirate Parties, face-painting sessions and more, while the fun

No ship sailing out of Sydney Harbour would be complete without an outdoor Aussie barbecue area, and on it’s Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ, on the top deck.

While this ship may have an American heritage, it certainly

includes dance parties for the older kids.

If you plan on having a special night out, Carnival’s Night Owls program can help: The child-minding service is available until 3 a.m. (fees vary).

doesn’t get more Australian than sitting back on a sun lounge, ice-cold beer in one hand and sausage sandwich in the other,

One Last To-Do: Nothing

enjoying the views as you sail through Sydney Heads. There may

As you can see, this ship has lots of ways to have a great time onboard.

be no better way to celebrate the start of your holiday.

But these aren’t the only way to do it. You could simply grab a book,

Having been onboard

before she came down

under, I can tell you that there are a few things you need not

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find a comfy chair on deck and relax. Either way, you’ll come out the winner. It’s hard not to when you are on holidays with

.

PHOTOS BY Carnival cruise lines EXCEPT DESSERT (margouillat photo/shutterstock.com)

even wash it down with an Australian red wine, as the onboard

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PHOTOS BY Carnival cruise lines EXCEPT DESSERT (margouillat photo/shutterstock.com)

CRUISE INSIDER | C a r n i v a l S p i r i t

SHOWN HERE: Basketball on the Sports Deck. OPPOSITE: Chocoholics will love Carnival’s signature dessert; kids have a ball at Circle “C”.

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9/7/12 9:28 AM

MAKING A SPLASH | Gre e n T h u n d e r

The Green Thunder waterslide is fast, steep — and possibly addictive.

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9/7/12 9:30 AM

MAKING A SPLASH | Green Thunder

MAKING A SPLASH

by Brian Crisp

Have a go at Green Thunder, a real wonder for Down Under

It is the steepest and fastest waterslide ride at sea: 55 metres of twisting, turning fun that begins when the floor disappears and you plummet straight down a 90-degree drop. It lasts just over 6.5 seconds. But the thrill of Green Thunder leaves your body tingling for much, much longer.

Carnival Spirit ’s Green Thunder waterslide was built specifically

sitting near Sydney Harbour Bridge, you could reach out and touch the famous span.

for the adventure-seeking Australian market, and got its name

Once you climb inside the Green Thunder capsule and the

through a competition on Carnival Australia’s Facebook page.

doors are locked, you stop thinking about the view and simply

More than 1,660 people entered; the winning name came from

concentrate on stopping your knees from shaking so much.

Elke Faulwetter, a Tasmanian mum.

“I chose my name for the slide because of the colour and the

Then the floor drops from beneath you, the ride begins, and you are travelling at 65 km/h — and struggling to keep your cool.

fact that you’d certainly thunder down it,” says Faulwetter. “I’m a bit of a thrill-seeker, and love waterslides, crazy rides, even skydiving.

Wild for the Water

When I first saw the picture of this one, I said to my partner, ‘I so

Green Thunder isn’t the only way to get wet on Carnival Spirit ’s

want to experience that slide — it would be the ultimate thrill’.”

new WaterWorks area, where there’s no such thing as too much

Faulwetter was at the slide's inauguration in Hawaii. Here’s what she said after her first ride: “Climbing those stairs to the top, your heart starts racing and when you’re waiting inside the enclosed capsule the anticipation is mind-blowing and then... boom! You’re gone. As fast as lightning,

PHOTOS BY Carnival cruise lines

you are hurtling down the slide and just as suddenly you’re at the bottom and it's over. Wow. Awesome. I have to do that again.”

And do it again she did. Several times.

fun — or too much water.

While Green Thunder is the main attraction for big kids — and adults who still really are kids at heart — the PowerDrencher is sure to bring squeals of delight from the little ones.

It’s a huge yellow bucket that slowly fills with water. Once filled, it then dumps water on unsuspecting people below.

That’s not the extent of the water-soaked fun onboard, either.

With an additional two mini racing slides and a spiral Twister waterslide guaranteed to keep the kids busy on sea days,

Thundering Thrills

WaterWorks means unmatched family fun in the sun. There's

The view from the top deck of Carnival Spirit is always spectacular,

nothing like it at sea in Australia.

but climb the stairs to Green Thunder and, believe it or not, it is even better. At this point, you are so high that if the ship were

Now, are you ready for Green Thunder?

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9/11/12 11:37 AM

fame fix | J e n n i ffe r H aw ki n s

Jennifer Hawkins combines glamour with girl-next-door charm. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP: Her winning turn at Miss Universe; a happy time with two children at Cyril Ross Nursery, a home for children living with HIV/ AIDS; pretty in pink.

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fame fix | J e n n i f e r H a w k i n s

Jennifer Hawkins

NO PLACe LIKE HOME

by Patricia Godfrey

Miss Universe, model, TV host. Globetrotting celebrity Jennifer Hawkins on why we should add “homebody” to the list.

Whatever your view of beauty pageants, there’s no doubt that winning Miss Universe dramatically changed Jennifer Hawkins’ life.

In 2004, Hawkins was a part-time model and footy cheerleader who only earned just enough to cover her rent. Then, she flew to Ecuador to compete in Donald Trump’s 2004 Miss Universe competition and, against the odds, won. Suddenly, she was a household name. The girl who had never left Australia before that trip found herself based in a ritzy New York City apartment for a year.

Of course, that could have been the high point, with Hawkins quietly fading back into obscurity when her 12-month reign was over. But she had other ideas. And whether it’s down to good management, an innate business sense or just sheer good luck, “Hawko”, as she was swiftly nicknamed by the Aussie press, has managed to turn that 15 minutes of fame into a multimillion-dollar career with an enviable lifestyle to match.

“It’s not a normal life,” Hawkins says now. “I know I’m pretty lucky to be in this position.”

“This position” is a polite term for a burgeoning Jennifer Hawkins empire. As well as holding a lucrative department-store modelling contract (thought to be worth in the region of $1 million a year), Hawkins is also the face of products from lingerie and sleepwear to skincare and bottled water. She has her own swimwear range and shoe line, and has been a popular TV presenter on travel shows The Great Outdoors on Channel Seven and The Nine Network’s Getaway — gigs that involved reporting from around ALL Photos by ASSOCIATED PRESS

the world and visiting exotic wonders closer to home, like the South Pacific islands.

“New York was amazing but I really wanted to come back to Australia and build a career,” says Hawkins, who grew to relish the travel her job now entails. “When I did [assignments for] the TV travel shows, I loved it. And I like to tack holidays on to the end of overseas work assignments.” Case in point: When Hawkins visited South Africa to shoot an ad campaign, she followed it up with time spent touring the Kruger National Park with fiancé Jake Wall.

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fame fix | J e n n i f e r H a w k i n s

“In a lot of my work, other people

are making the decisions on how you look . . . . Whereas this comes from me.”

— Hawkins on her fashion designs

Hawko strikes a pose. Despite her success, she´s a down-to-earth girl who´s most likely to holiday on a beach — and live by one of the best in Australia, Curl Curl (opposite).

Holidays, Hawko-Style Hawkins is the first to admit that her jet-setting is a long way from

long-distance relationship — she in New York, he in Newcastle

the holidays she enjoyed as a kid. These days, she travels first

— they eventually moved in together in 2009. “It’s awesome,” she

class — “If you work really hard, why would you [fly economy]?” she

told Sunday magazine. “I love it. I wish I had done it sooner, to be

reasons. The youngest of four kids, Hawkins grew up in Holmesville,

honest, because it makes everything so much better. He’s sexy,

just outside Newcastle, and went on annual camping holidays with

lovely and kind.”

her family from the age of six months.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it’s been awhile since her last camping trip. “I think you get used to a certain lifestyle,” she explains, “and

they were on holiday at New Zealand’s Lake Wakatipu, and Hawkins now sports a $200,000 brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring.

now if I go on holiday, I want to go somewhere nice. I still like to go

“He gave me this box but it was a large box so I thought it was

on holidays with my family because it keeps me grounded, but

a necklace or something,” Hawkins told New Idea. “But then I

now we are more likely to go to a beach house.

opened it and he said, ‘I want to marry you. I want to be with you

“A couple of years ago, we hired this place in [NSW’s] Pearl

18

Wall proposed on Hawkins’s 27th birthday in December 2010, while

for the rest of my life’. And I giggled. When I get nervous, I giggle.”

Beach right on the water and it was amazing,” she continues. “It

Any wedding planning Hawkins has done since has had to find

was so good for my nieces and nephews. They could just run

room on her busy plate of modelling and business commitments.

straight into the surf and they had such a good time. I thought,

The model, who cites model mogul Heidi Klum as her main

‘We should do this every year'.”

inspiration, says she particularly enjoys working on her swimwear

Speaking of children, Hawkins hopes it isn’t too long before she

range because she relishes having something to get her creative

has some of her own. “It’s nice to feel that maternal instinct kicking

juices flowing, something beyond just being a face in front of a

in,” she enthuses. “I see my nieces and nephews and they are so

camera.

beautiful. So, yes, I definitely want to have kids. I have one older

“It’s been a dream to have this creative outlet,” she explains. “I

sister and two older brothers and we had a great childhood. I’d

wanted to have something like this so I didn’t go crazy. Because

love to have a big family, too.”

in a lot of my work, other people are making the decisions on how

Hawkins met Wall, a carpenter who flirted with his own brief

you look; you are moulded into what they want for their brand.

modelling and TV career before returning to his tradie roots, a

Whereas this comes from me. I’m trying to design swimwear for

month before she won the Miss Universe title. After their initial

women and what they really want.”

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OPPOSITE photo by © Simon Lekias/Corbis Outline, this page top; Ben Heys/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; bottom SUSan wright/destination nsw

fame fix | J e n n i f e r H a w k i n s

Jen from the Block But business is not all about bikinis. Beyond her day job, Hawkins has a burgeoning property portfolio — she sold her townhouse

Been There, Done That

Just some of the countries you’ll find stamped in Jen’s passport:

in Sydney’s Coogee for $2.22 million and is building a lavish mansion with Wall on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Despite her increasing wealth (she earned a hefty $5 million in 2010, according to BRW magazine’s “Entertainers Rich List” from that year) and a penchant for clothes by Gucci and Louis Vuitton, Hawkins is still, in some ways, the laidback chick from Newcastle that she always was. She’s happiest when she’s chilling out with Wall on her sofa in her PJs, and tries to get home to see her family at least once a month.

As much as she loves travelling to exotic destinations for her job and for fun, at the end of the day, says Hawkins, there’s no place like home.

“Australia is where I grew up,” she says, firmly. “I love the lifestyle and my family and friends here. I really do enjoy my work, but to be happy you have to be near people that love you. I can’t be by myself very much.”

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SPOTLIGHT on FIJI | H i s t o r y

fiji: crossroads of the Pacific

by Karen Tina Harrison Adventure-seekers know Fiji as one of the most dramatic and romantic places on earth. Its 300-plus islands are strewn over 18,000 square kilometres of the South Pacific. These remote and rugged outcroppings burst from the planet’s depths in volcanic upheavals eons ago, and many isles are still hotspots of geothermal activity. Primordial Fiji is still a work in progress,

PHOTO BY Pawel Papis/shutterstock.com

and its dramatic geography is matched with fiery history.

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SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT on | Hon isto FIJI ry

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SPOTLIGHT on FIJI | H i s t o r y

A Pacific Melting Pot Native Fijians tell a long, proud story. Their islands were first inhabited some 3,000 years ago by Austronesians, who paddled in long canoes from what today is Southeast Asia. These settlers first came to light in the late 1980s with discoveries of their intricately designed pottery. The pottery, and its makers, are called Lapita.

In time, Melanesians from New Guinea and surrounding islands sailed to Fiji. Tensions and warfare ensued, and many Lapita people fled. They reached what is known today as Polynesia and later Hawaii, and evolved their own unique culture.

Today’s brown-skinned native Fijians call themselves Taukei.

A large minority of islanders are the descendants of South Indians brought to Fiji in the 1800s to work on plantations.

Captains Cooked Here The great sailors left their mark on Fiji. Dutch East Indies Company explorer Abel Tasman sighted several islands in 1643 after circumnavigating Australia and discovering the island that would be named after him: Tasmania.

The intrepid Captain James Cook passed through Fiji in 1774 and encountered many Fijians in neighboring Tonga. Fiji’s true name was Viti, but the Tongans pronounced it “Fisi” and Cook heard “Fiji”. He described Fijians as physically impressive and fierce in temperament, and marvelled at their massive wood canoes.

A closer study of Fiji was made by the infamous Captain William Bligh. Marooned by the mutineers of H.M.S.

in

1789, Bligh explored Fiji on two long voyages and created the first nautical map of Fiji’s waters. Fiji’s Western era had begun.

the Fijians” laws protected local land ownership, forbidding sale to non-Fijians. It is still the law of the land, and most of

Why Fijians Speak English

Fiji is still in Fijian hands.

More Europeans trickled into the independent Fijian islands beginning in the 1820s. Amongst them were more than a few

A Rocky Colonial Era

crafty convicts who had escaped from the Australian penal

More controversial was the British decision to import indentured

colonies.

labourers from India, a practice that continued until 1916. Many Indo-Fijians make up about 45 percent of the population.

missionaries mixed with madams, brewers, sailors and whalers.

The late 1800s and 1900s were times of upheaval for Fiji.

An ambitious tribal chief crowned himself king of Fiji and

Indentured Indian labourers were finally liberated in 1916 under

promptly sank his new country into debt. Eventually, he

pressure from Mahatma Gandhi and Anglican clergy. Two years

accepted the British government’s bailout. But it came at a

later, the worldwide Spanish flu epidemics brought down 14

high price: Fiji became a British colony in 1874.

percent of Fiji’s population in 16 days. The deadly virus was

The British rule lasted almost a century, and put an end to the bloody warfare between rival chiefs. Progressive “Fiji for

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workers remained in Fiji after earning their freedom, and today

brought to Fiji by a New Zealand cargo passenger ship called S.S.

, which was permitted to port despite carrying

PHOTO BY Limpopo/shutterstock.com

Many of these pioneers settled on the island of Ovalau in the port of Levuka. It was a rollicking pioneer town where

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SPOTLIGHT on FIJI | H i s t o r y

Fijian sunset after a storm

NO MORE TASTE FOR HUMAN Voyagers, be assured that cannibalism in Fiji — once known in Britain as the Cannibal Isles — died out over a century ago, when the Christian faith prevailed.

While the concept and the word “tabu” originated in Fiji, eating one’s enemies was not tabu to Fijian chiefs.

One of the last man-eaters, Chief Udre Udre, claimed in the 19th century to have consumed over 900 fallen warriors, whom he allegedly roasted in stone-lined pits.

Today, similar in-ground firepits called lovo are used to cook other delicacies. Fish, cassava, corned beef called palusami. Nothing wearing a loincloth.

several sick crewmen. New Zealand’s government officially apologised in 2002.

Fiji’s Flag Is a Union Jack Fiji has remained Anglo-oriented. In World War II, Fijians sided with the Allies, sending many young soldiers to fight alongside Kiwis and Aussies. The young Queen Elizabeth II visited Fiji to much fanfare a year into her reign, in 1953.

Fiji remained a British colony until 1970. Since independence, Fijian politics have been tumultuous. Coups d’etat rocked Fiji in 1987, 2000 and 2006.

But a passion for rugby, and pride in Fiji’s team, unites islanders. Tourism has grown steadily in Fiji, which welcomes cruise guests, cultural travellers, scuba divers and others to “the crossroads of the Pacific”. Visitors often hear the native greeting, an enthusiastic “

” — “Welcome!”

For a look at the island nation as it is today, see the Fiji section in the Ports Guide of this book.

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SPOTLIGHT on FIJI | L e g e n d a r y I s l a n d s

FIJI LEGENDS

The myths and magic that shaped the island nation To be Fijian means to live on Fiji time, where the past suffuses

How War Began

the present. Fiji’s ancient stories are not handed down in books

Fijians believe that their people came from the oceans to the

or a Bible. The Fijian language is an oral, not written, tongue, and

west in a canoe. This fearsome wooden craft, Kaunitoni, was

its stories are handed down generation to generation in dramatic

never again equalled in size and power. As Kaunitoni made its

storytelling and in song-and-dance dramas called meke.

way around the islands, its passengers argued about where to

Most Fijians are Christian today. But their legends of cruel, capricious, or generous gods still explain the ways of man and

settle. Different factions chose different bays, and so became rivals and enemies.

sea. After all, mythology tells us about ourselves.

Britain, Where the Boys Went Centuries ago, the chief of the island of Ra sent his two grandsons

At the beginning, the all-powerful god Degei took the form of

into battle, and they vanquished an invading tribe. To speed their

a snake as big as a whale. His consort was a massive female

canoe home, the chief reversed the flow of the Wainibuka River.

hawk, Turukawa. Without warning, Turukawa flew off one day.

But the boys’ canoe never arrived. Of many explanations, one

But in her nest she left a pair of eggs. Degei, heartbroken,

became the accepted story. The boys had gone to far-off Britain,

nurtured them. The eggs hatched into a man and a woman,

island of the white-skinned sailors. The Fijians word for Britain,

and so the Fijian race was born.

Bolotogane, translates to “where the boys went”.

Ancient tales are an important part of Fijian culture.

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FIJIAN DANCER PHOTOS BY Selfiy/Shutterstock.com; FIJI temple by Anna Azimi; fire torches by RGB12/shutterstock.com

Adam and Eve, Fiji-Style

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SPOTLIGHT on FIJI | L e g e n d a r y I s l a n d s

photos by: APIMAGES

FIJIAN DANCER PHOTOS BY Selfiy/Shutterstock.com; FIJI temple by Anna Azimi; fire torches by RGB12/shutterstock.com

SHOWN HERE AND BELOW: Fijian dancers; torches; an island temple.

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SPOTLIGHT on FIJI | L e g e n d a r y I s l a n d s

The Ghosts of Romance Fijians believe in ghosts. The Parliament House in Suva was exorcised in 1997, after a security camera recorded the image of a ghost. Unmarried visitors to Fiji are cautioned against answering their doors late at night, for the knocking could be the seductive ghosts who bewitch and enslave the lovelorn.

How to tell a Fijian ghost: When walking, his or her feet will not PHOTO BY Matsonashvili Mikhail/shutterstock.com

touch the ground. Your steward’s will.

Blessed by a Shark Fijians accept that each island is protected by a reef guardian who fights off dangerous waves and enemy canoes. Kadavu’s guardian was a giant octopus who caught a mighty shark, Dakuwaqa, about to swim upriver into Kadavu. The octopus had Dakuwaqa begging for his life. He made Dakuwaqa swear that no shark would ever harm any person or sea creature of Kadavu. Dakuwaqa kept his word. In time he became the island’s guardian, and no shark has ever attacked in Kadavu’s

Sea turtles have a special status in Fiji.

waters. To this day, island fishermen make an offering of kava (see accompanying story) to Dakuwaqa before setting sail. their primeval heads high, listening to the chant. Villagers will The Turtle Women of Namuana

tell you that a long time ago, two virgins were stolen by enemy

Sea turtles are sacred in Namuana village on Kadavu island, not

islanders and spirited away by canoe. But these maidens did

far from Fiji’s capital of Suva. From high atop a rock promontory,

not become slaves. They were magically transformed into sea

Namuana’s unmarried women sing a mysterious chant handed

turtles, and swam away. The chant of their Namuana sisters

down from mother to daughter. The turtles cluster in the water,

and cousins calls them home.

KAVA, BOOZE OF THE GODS

Hats Off to Fiji

For some of us, it’s beer. For Fijians, kava floats the boat. Also called yaqona, kava is an intoxicating drink made from indigenous vines. It numbs the tongue, lifts the spirits, and enlivens dreams. The yaqona ceremony — communal drinking — is Fiji’s central, timehonoured ritual. If you’re invited to a yaqona ceremony, go. Expect to sit in a circle on a hand-woven mat. When the kava-filled bilo (coconut-shell cup) is passed to you, clap once and take a quaff. When the bilo comes your

Once bound by the protocols of warfare, modern Fijians observe a strict behavioural code. Visitors who comply are rewarded with the South Pacific’s warmest hospitality.

Travellers can do their part by showing appreciation; food gifts are welcome in a Fijian bure (cottage); even more important is the avoidance of disrespect in Fijian villages.

way a second time, you won’t hesitate.

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Consider these gaffes tabu: Shorts on blokes; bare shoulders, torsos or thighs for women (you can carry a sulu, a Fijian sarong) A hat worn in villages and homes Shoes: Leave them at the door of a home Photographing a Fijian before asking permission Shouting or talking loudly (except during a match of rugby, a Fijian passion) Turning down a kava drink anytime, anywhere

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SPOTLIGHT on FIJI | F i e r y P a t h

Firewalking PHOTO BY Matsonashvili Mikhail/shutterstock.com

FIJI’S MYSTERIOUS RITUAL Fijians honour and preserve their rituals. Firewalking is one of their most mysterious traditions, its practitioners among the most secretive.

For centuries, the tribal ritual of firewalking was enacted on

and approach the pit single file. They are barefoot, clad only

joyous occasions or to ask the gods’ blessing. Nowadays, the

in loincloths and wearing garlands around their ankles.

ceremony is performed for visitors, but it is no less real.

The firewalkers tread into the fire pit, and walk around and around on the white-hot stones. Their feet do not burn or

The island of Beqa, south of Viti Levu and its port of Suva, is

blister; nor do the grass garlands. The firewalkers continue

a centre of this esoteric art. Here, many of the firewalkers are

until the high priest signals a stop, and then surround the pit.

The pit is ritually raked and the stones smothered. The

from the Sawau tribe.

firewalkers’ ankle garlands are buried, dug up days later, and made into a true power drink for the firewalkers. The drink

Here is what we know.

is not intoxicating in the Western sense; its potent magic is Starting the Fire

purely symbolic.

The firewalkers — a dozen men, perhaps more, or less — go into a deep retreat for two weeks before the ceremony. While in

Explaining the Magic

seclusion, they may have no contact with women or eat coconut;

How can the firewalkers escape the heat of the fire? Explanations

firewalkers are warriors who must forego these pleasures to

are plentiful.

master the flames. No outsider knows what other mental or

Some say the firewalkers ingest massive amounts of hallucinogenic yaqona before the ceremony, to focus their

physical preparation goes on.

During this time, the village men dig a pit of some five metres

minds on their tribe’s glory and not on the danger at their feet.

across and line it with large river stones, creating a huge fire

Others believe flat stones disburse heat onto feet without burning

pit. (The Fijian word for firewalking is vilavilairevo, or “jumping

them, and that a light-footed walk further inhibits burning. The

into the earth oven”.)

grass garlands probably don’t burn because they are green;

The day before the ceremony, a log fire is lit in the pit and burns all day atop the stones.

if you’ve ever tried to start a campfire with green wood, you’ll see no mystery here.

But this being Fiji, there’s a legend to invoke.

Walking the Walk

Beqa firewalkers do not burn because it was promised thus.

The tribe’s high priest calls for the ceremony to begin. Village

Many generations ago, a warrior of Beqa, Tui, caught an eel while

men use long, hand-twisted vines to rake the charred logs

fishing for his dinner. This eel talked. It said it was a spirit god. It

”,

begged for its life, promising Tui power over fire. When Tui agreed,

the word for the vines, believed to confer the magic. Then the

the eel instructed him to prepare a fire pit. The warrior’s feet

men surround the fire pit and wait.

did not burn. Today’s Beqa firewalkers are descendants of Tui.

and embers off the white-hot stones. They chant “

The priest watches the stones and chooses the moment of the firewalkers’ entrance. They break from their hiding place

It’s as simple as that.

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Otago Peninsula, Pacific coast of New Zealand

32 Australia (Melbourne, Sydney)

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34足 Tasmania

36 New Zealand

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Ports of C all STUNNING LANDSCAPES and top-notch food and wine in New

Zealand. French culture in New Caledonia. Firewalking in Fiji. The

PICHUGIN DMITRY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

beaches of Vanuatu. It’s all waiting for you — time to go out and get it.

44 Fiji

46 New Caledonia

50 Vanuatu

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MAKING A SPLASH | Gre e n T h u n d e r

Ports of Australia and the South Pacific

equator

AUSTRALIA 1

2

3

TASMANIA 4

INDIAN OCEAN

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MAKING A SPLASH | Green Thunder

PORTS OF CALL AUSTRALIA 1 Sydney 2 Melbourne

VANUATU 22 14 23

15

FIJI

21 20 18

TASMANIA 3 Burnie 4 Hobart 5 Port Arthur NEW ZEALAND 6 Auckland 7 Bay of Islands 8 Christchurch 9 Fiordland National Park 10 Napier 11 Dunedin (via Port Chalmers) 12 Tauranga 13 Wellington

17 19 16

NEW CALEDONIA

PA C I F I C OCEAN

FIJI 4 Port Denarau 1 15 Suva NEW CALEDONIA 1 6 Isle of Pines 17 Lifou Island 18 Maré Island 9 Nouméa 1

7

6 12

10

VANUATU 2 0 Mystery Island 21 Port Vila 2 2 Santo 2 3 Wala

N W

E S

13

8

9 11

NEW ZEALAND

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PORTS OF CALL | A u s t r a l i a

SHOWN HERE: Melbourne by night. BELOW: Federation Square, Melbourne; a beach on the Bay of Fires in Mount William National Park, Tasmania.

AUSTRALIA

If the sight of Sydney Harbour (or the port of Melbourne) slipping out of view didn’t convince you, let us remind you: Your holiday is finally here! It’s time to forget everything that’s happening back home and prepare for warm sun, cool breezes and the sheer joy of escaping to paradise. From Tasmania and New Zealand to Pacific islands both vibrant and deserted, we know you’re going to find new places to love. The only question is: Which of Carnival Spirit’s beautiful ports of call will you decide to call “the one”?

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It’s been dubbed the “most European” of Australian cities — which seems to be shorthand for a food-crazy city full of

MELBOURNE

Flinders Street Station

stylish urbanites who are serious about their espresso.

Melburnians probably wouldn’t argue with that description. They don’t often gloat about their hometown, but they could. Melbourne really does have it all: great shopping, the best coffee, a wealth of food from across the globe, a glitzy

NEALE COUSLAND/shutterstock.com; NEALE COUSLAND/shutterstock.com; ASHLEY WHITWORTH/shutterstock.com; DMITRI KAMENETSKY/shutterstock.com; RONALD SUMNERS/shutterstock.com

casino and adorable cobblestoned alleys made for stumbling across hidden gems.

For all its urban cred, Melbourne is a city of nature, too. The Treasury and Fitzroy gardens provide quiet escapes, and the Royal Botanic Gardens takes the concept to the max.

The city is prone to the proverbial four seasons in one day, but if a beach day at St. Kilda gets rained out, there’s plenty to explore indoors at museums and markets galore.

Two multi-purpose precincts in particular provide an antidote to boredom, each packing shopping, dining, entertainment and culture into in one convenient location:

sydney

Ah, Sydney. Is there a place in the world

the-scenes tour of the Opera House. Other

Street Station; and swanky Southbank,

that can match its show-stopping, scene-

classic ways to see the city — experiences

alongside the Yarra River.

stealing beauty? (Nope, didn’t think so.)

even locals love to do over and over

Federation Square, adjacent to Flinders

Getting around is a cinch, thanks to

The city is brimming with iconic

again — include jumping on a ferry to Manly,

wide, tree-lined boulevards and the city’s

encounters, so if you’ve already done the

doing the Bronte-to-Bondi coastal walk or

distinctive, widespread tram system.

Bridge Climb, it may be time for a behind-

exploring Taronga Zoo, where the giraffes have views of the city skyline and the hidden

A view of the city from beneath Sydney Harbour Bridge

coves of Sydney Harbour.

There’s lots to see in Sydney’s other nooks and crannies, too. A short hop to the west is the Sydney Fish Market, where the best of the catch includes Sydney Rock Oysters and Balmain Bugs. At the southern end of Darling Harbour, there’s Chinatown, worth exploring for both authentic, piping hot dishes and unique shopping options, often at bargain prices.

Whether you see the city from the water or from great heights, from inside its shops and museums or from a perch at one of its historic pubs, Sydney will do her best to woo you. We challenge you to resist her charms.

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PORTS OF CALL | Ta s m a n i a SHOWN HERE: A rural field in Tasmania.

OPPOSITE: The Creative Paper Arts Centre, Burnie; the waterfront with Mount Wellington in the background, Hobart; the historic Convict Church, Port Arthur.

Good to Know

Tuck In: All that cool air makes Tasmanian food pretty darn tasty. Stroll through Salamanca Market in Hobart to sample the best berries, apples, stone fruits and honey. Burnie is famous for its fullflavoured cheeses, and you can get delicious seafood from the Southern Ocean across the state.

Cheers: Tasmanian beer is known for its crispness, a clean flavour you might already know from your local, if it serves a brew from James Boag’s or Cascade.

The latter has been made in Hobart since 1824, when a man named Peter Degraves dreamt up designs for the Cascade Brewery while serving time in the Old Hobart Gaol. These days, Tasmanian wines are also making a bit of a name for themselves.

Give it a Go: Make time to meet the local wildlife. Burnie is home to a colony of fairy penguins, while seals and dolphins are common sights from Bruny Island, near Hobart. The waters around Port Arthur have abundant bird and sea life.

TASMANIA

It’s chock full of nature, history, unspoiled countryside and some of the best food and wine in the nation.

For a small state, Tassie sure packs a lot of punch. Step back in time at Port Arthur or take a stroll through Hobart and on-the-up Burnie and you’ll soon see how a little isolation can create one magical place.

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Get Wet: Beaches never seem to get crowded in Tassie. But for something different, get your paddle on and see the unspoiled coastline from a kayak.

The waters around Hobart are almost as calm as your bathtub back home.

Who Knew?

Just past Burnie, on the northwestern tip of the island, is the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, which monitors atmospheric changes. According to scientists, Tasmania lays claim to some of the purest air and water in the world — and who are we to argue?

For details on attractions and activities you can enjoy while visiting Tasmania, see the onboard shore-excursions team.

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KWEST/shutterstock.com; TOURISM TASMANIA & RICHARD EASTWOOD; Tourism Tasmania & Stuart Crossett; NEALE COUSLAND/shutterstock.com; TOURISM TASMANIA & SAMUEL SHELLEY

BURNIE

Ports by Mike Bingham

Burnie has a lot of stories to tell. Not least,

products conjured from a variety of

Company. The pioneers were no doubt

its transformation from a town of 20,000

recycled materials.

drawn by the hinterland surrounding the

once dominated by a paper mill and

The spirit of creativity and adaptability

town — some of the richest agricultural

other heavy industry. The closure of the

on display there — along with the

land in Australia and the same lush pastures

mill in 2010 was a heavy blow, but Burnie

tradition of making stuff, whether it’s

that make Burnie’s cheeses a must-try.

has transformed itself into an innovative,

paper, cheese, single-malt whisky or

thriving, tourist-friendly destination.

milk — is the beating heart of Burnie.

The local whisky, on the other hand, owes its distinct flavor to the clean water

Paper still plays a starring role in the

History, of course, plays its part, given

and high-quality ingredients found in this

town: A venture called Creative Paper

that European settlement here began in

beautiful corner of the country, a flavour

now anchors the Burnie Visitor Centre,

1828 with the establishment of a small

that’s led to Tasmania’s emergence on

showcasing local, handmade paper

port by the colonial Van Diemen’s Land

the world whisky stage.

HOBART

PORT ARTHUR

BURNIE

HOBART

PORT ARTHUR

began in 1804, close to where cruise ships now berth in

men and boys shipped there from England as convicts. Solitary

Sullivans Cove. Most were convicts or soldiers, and many of

confinement, the lash and hard labour in harsh conditions was

the convicts met their end on the gallows nearby.

their punishment for often-trivial crimes.

The first arrivals to the nation’s second oldest capital city

Port Arthur was once the end of the world for the thousands of

Today, Hobart is a much happier place — a harbourside

But what was horror is now heritage, with the tranquil

city where friendly locals are delighted to share all that

40-hectare site recognised as the best-preserved convict

their home has to offer.

settlement in the nation, and one of the most significant in the

A great way to soak it in is to take the leisurely one-

world. The approach by sea is stunning, with soaring cliffs and

kilometre stroll from the ship around Hobart’s historic

dense native forests, although the 12,500 convicts who helped

harbour and explore its cafés, dockside pubs, museums,

build the settlement between 1830 and 1877 are unlikely to have

art and craft galleries and bookshops.

appreciated their surrounds.

Echoes of the past are all around, from the grand

Come ashore these days and it’s a fascinating experience. There

sandstone warehouses in Salamanca Place to heritage

are more than 30 historic buildings and ruins, plus convict-era

sailing ships. This is where the Norwegian explorer Amundsen

gardens that have been beautifully restored.

stepped ashore to announce to the world that he had

It’s a reminder that Port Arthur was both a prison and a self-

reached the North Pole. It is also where Douglas Mawson

sufficient community. Perhaps the most chilling activity today is

sailed south on his own epic explorations.

to opt for a moment or two in a solitary-confinement cell.

Fueling your own Hobart discoveries is one of the

There’s even more fuel for the imagination inside the visitor

highlights of a visit. Seafood is a specialty, and it’s hard to

centre, where you can play the “Lottery of Life” to discover the

beat an outdoor lunch of fish and chips from one of the

personal story of one of the many convicts. And if you have

city’s fishing fleet. Another stop, especially for the thirsty,

ever wondered whether you have a convict ancestor, take a

should be the Lark Distillery, where the malt whisky is so

look at the convict index and the various reference works to

good it’s exported to Scotland.

find your answer.

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PORTS OF CALL | N e w Z e a l a n d Lupins bloom in springtime on a New Zealand lake, with mountains in the distance.

Good to Know Tuck In: Quintessential NZ flavours include Manuka honey; a traditional Maori feast called hangi that’s cooked in an underground pit; lamb; paua (abalone); tuatua; and clams. Then there’s the most famous taste of all: the kiwifruit.

Cheers: We don’t need to tell you that New Zealand is a wine connoisseur’s dream. In Dunedin (reached via Port Chalmers), you can also visit the home of Speight’s, one of the most popular beers in New Zealand. For more distinctive tastes, look for a microbrewery in Auckland, Christchurch, Napier or Wellington.

Give it a Go: Plunging into hot saltwater pools at Mount Maunganui, meeting fur seals on the Otago Peninsula … New Zealand has no patience for the word “bored”. History buffs can learn the story of the nation at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds or take an Art Deco tour of Napier. Meanwhile, Lord of the Rings fans can visit the countryside that stood in for “The Shire” in Peter Jackson’s films — a short drive from Tauranga — or go behind the scenes at The Weta Cave, which is part of Jackson’s production facility in Wellington.

NEW ZEALAND If you haven’t been to visit our neighbours to the south yet, you’re in for a treat.

There may be no better way to see the beautiful bays, peaks and charming towns of New Zealand than from the deck of a cruise ship — except perhaps to experience the sights, sounds and flavours of the ports themselves. Good thing Carnival’s cruises to New Zealand have you covered from the North Island to the South, with visits to the best fiords, beaches, cities and vineyards in between.

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Get Wet: See dolphins do backflips in Fiordland, or take a stroll on a dramatic black-sand beach in Auckland. Whether you want to kayak or windsurf, fish, snorkel or sail, New Zealand has the perfect setting.

Who Knew?

Hobbits, sure. But dinosaurs? Dinosaur fossils were discovered in the Hawke’s Bay area in 1975, suggesting that landbased dinosaurs had once upon a time lived and roamed in New Zealand.

For details on attractions and activities you can enjoy while visiting New Zealand, see the onboard shore-excursions team.

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AUCKLAND

Auckland’s called the City of Sails for a reason: The locals make the most of the location, and the warm weather, by getting into and onto the water at any opportunity.

New Zealand’s largest, and warmest, city boasts a fabulous harbour, and the viaduct that borders it has been developed in recent years to house bars, cafés and restaurants with outside tables and creative cocktail menus.

Just a few minutes’ walk is the centre of the city, where tourists and locals shop in the boutiques of High Street and Chancery and the converted warehouses of the Britomart precinct. The newly refurbished Auckland Art Gallery is here too, as is SkyCity, home to the highest building in the country, the 328-metre Sky Tower. Go up it if you dare!

There are more authentic Auckland experiences to be found in other suburbs like Ponsonby, the city’s hipster enclave, and Waiheke Island, a chilled-out spot less than an hour away. Many Aucklanders live on the island and commute to the mainland every day; visitors can take a ferry from the terminal right next to the cruise port and find out what makes Waiheke so special. We’ll give you a hint: It involves award-winning vineyards and restaurants

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showcasing the best in local produce. — Kirsten Matthew

The Auckland skyline by night

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PORTS OF CALL | N e w Z e a l a n d With its golden beaches and 144 islands, the Bay of Islands is one of the prettiest — and sandiest — places in The Land of the Long White Cloud (as Maori call New Zealand).

The Bay of Islands is a collection of coastal settlements steeped in history. Waitangi Treaty Ground, the actual spot where the Queen of England’s representatives and local Maori signed the document that made New Zealand a colony of Britain, is just a few minutes from Waitangi wharf and well worth a visit.

In the next town, Paihia, there are laidback places to eat and drink, and perfect beaches to laze on. A short ferry ride away is Russell, where you can traipse around the old whaling town and pay a visit to the country’s oldest hotel and church.

The Bay of Islands area is renowned for its marine life, so you’ll probably want to get out onto

BAY OF ISLANDS

the ocean on a small boat. If you’re lucky, you might spot Orcas and penguins — and if you’re really lucky, get to swim with the local dolphins.

— Kirsten Matthew

An aerial view of the islands

CHRISTCHURCH

You’ll be forgiven for thinking the captain

more French than Kiwi, in everything

Christchurch’s picturesque beauty often

has magically taken a pit stop in Europe

from the street names to the cuisine.

draws comparisons to England — think

when the ship docks in beautiful Akaroa,

But if you can tear yourself away from

manicured gardens and sweeping parks.

the gateway to your visit in Christchurch.

this très adorable corner of the world,

Despite being the third-largest city in

Nestled in the emerald hills of the

jump on a tour to historic Christchurch.

New Zealand, Christchurch has a distinct

Banks Peninsula, this tiny town is far

Also sprinkled with European inspiration,

village feel. Make the most of the slow pace by gliding down the Avon River

Hagley Park, Christchurch

in a punt, or taking a stroll through the Botanic Gardens.

For something a little left of centre, you could head to the International Antarctic Centre, where visitors can experience bitterly cold blizzard conditions and zoom around a custom-made track on a snowmobile.

While Christchurch is still in recovery mode from the 2011 earthquake, the locals, known as Cantabrians, are fiercely proud of their city and are determinedly rebuilding. They’ll welcome you with open arms and oodles of Canterbury charm. — Karleigh Smith

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FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK

Even the chattiest of travellers are silenced by the sheer beauty of Fiordland. This is the New Zealand you see on postcards, in guidebooks — and in your dreams. Your ship will glide silently through the magnificent “sounds” — the pristine bodies of water flanked by towering, often snow-capped, cliffs.

During your journey through Fiordland you’ll see the world-famous Milford and Doubtful sounds, along with Browne and Sutherland falls, which are among the tallest waterfalls on the planet. (Yes, that means you should have those camera batteries fully charged!)

This is the place to pull out your wet-weather gear — Fiordland is the recipient of more than 6,300mm of rain per year.

While undoubtedly gorgeous, the fiords of New Zealand are essentially uninhabited — even the Maori only passed through to hunt and fish. That’s what makes this part of New Zealand so special and a must-see port to spend time in. It’s one of the most

THOMAS NORD/shutterstock.com; PIERRE-JEAN DURIEU/shutterstock.com; A. VOGLER/shutterstock.com

untouched places in the world. — Karleigh Smith

Mitre Peak in Fiordland National Park

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PORTS OF CALL | N e w Z e a l a n d Art deco pervades Napier.

DUNEDIN

DUNEDIN

NAPIER

The Dunedin Railway Station

NAPIER

(via PORT CHALMERS)

New Zealand’s Art Deco capital, Napier is one good-looking, good-time town.

It’s also the biggest city in the Hawke’s the prettiest countryside, beaches, farms and vineyards in the nation.

A 7.8-Richter-scale ear thquake flattened much of Napier in 1931, and the rebuilding that followed dotted the town with gorgeous Art Deco and Spanish Mission buildings and monuments. Almost everything in town is Art Deco-themed, including the welcome bestowed on every ship that docks in Napier harbour. Be prepared for vintage cars, locals kitted out flapper-style and the throwback sounds of 1930s music.

After the warm welcome, many visitors The stunning Victorian and Edwardian

Dunedin is also home to what’s believed

are drawn to the seaside village of Ahuriri,

architecture — including the must-see

to be the world’s steepest road, Baldwin

with its boardwalk, estuary, design stores

railway station — hints at its past as one

Street. Gasping your way to the top is sure

and cheery cafés. Back in the centre of

of the nation’s first cities, but present-day

to result in a major thirst, which you can

Napier, there are great opportunities for

Dunedin is decidedly modern.

quench with a heady Otago pinot noir or

shopping, antiquing and eating a locally

a beer from Speight’s Brewery.

made Rush Munroe ice cream while

When school’s in, the population swells with students attending Otago University —

Chocolate fiends will love Cadbury

sitting on the foreshore’s Marine Parade.

and where there are students, you know that

World, where cocoa bean worshippers

Even more diversions beckon just

great places to eat and drink can’t be far

can bow in front of a massive chocolate

outside of town — in the area’s vineyards,

away. These gems — from cosy brasseries

waterfall before sampling quintessential

flat and fabulous cycling trails and Cape

to shiny new restaurants — are mainly found

Kiwi treats, Chocolate Fish and Pinky Bars.

Kidnappers, a spot on the coast with

in Dunedin’s quirky village centre, called The

It’s hard to think of a better taste of southern

the largest mainland colony of gannet

Octagon for its eight-sided shape.

New Zealand than that. — Karleigh Smith

birds. — Kirsten Matthew

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DUNEDINNZ.COM/IAN BRODIE; MARC VAN VUREN/shutterstock.com; MARTIN MAUN/shutterstock.com; PATRICIA HOFMEESTER/shutterstock.com

Bay region, and a gateway to some of

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SHOWN HERE: The view from Mount Maunganui, Tauranga. BELOW: Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay on Lake Taupō.

TAURANGA

If you’re looking for a chilled seaside vibe, you’ll find it in Tauranga. The ship docks a short walk from one of the most spectacular beaches in New Zealand, Mount Maunganui — or “The Mount,” as the locals affectionately call it.

You can enjoy the pristine shoreline of this former Maori settlement with the sound of pounding surf ringing in your ears, but the area offers more than just postcard views.

Jutting into the waves is the extinct volcano the area is named for. A walk around the well-trodden base, with steep mountain

The Mount is conveniently brimming

walls on one side and rock pools on the

with trendy cafés catering to the beach

other, is a must.

crowd, so rewards you can actually eat

The most energetic and curious visitors

are easy to come by, too.

tackle the steep climb to the top of the 232m

After refuelling, the bustling port town

summit — and are rewarded with sweeping

of Tauranga, and its clutch of boutiques

views across the Bay of Plenty’s spectacular

perfect for browsing, awaits across the

coastline. (Reckon you’re up for it?)

bridge. — Karleigh Smith

wellington

New Zealand’s capital city is small, scenic and the centre for the country’s arts and culture. That means there’s plenty to do and see — and most of it just a short walk away from a great pub or café.

Much of the laidback city’s best sights are dotted around the waterfront,

SHOWN HERE: Wellington’s Beehive building, the executive wing of Parliament.

RIGHT: A cable car on its way.

where Wellingtonians gather to eat lunch, run miles, drink pints and take in the terrific views of the harbour. (Follow their lead and wrap up warm when you venture harbourside; this town isn’t called “Windy Wellington” for nothing.)

It’s here where you’ll find restaurants and bars; Frank Kitts Park, which is filled with public sculptures; and Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum.

The huge, brightly coloured museum is free and well worth a visit, thanks to the fabulous — and not the least bit boring — interactive exhibits explaining New Zealand’s history. Make a point of seeing the tattered Treaty of Waitangi, the document that colonised the country in 1840.

To mingle with locals, and emulate their style, head to the Central Business District, where you’ll find the shops of Lambton Quay. Nearby and also worth a look for its distinctive architecture are the New Zealand Parliament Buildings, known by the locals as The Beehive. — Kirsten Matthew

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Likuliku Lagoon, Fiji

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pacific islands

THE EXOTIC ALLURE of this region takes many forms: the ancient heritage of Fiji, the French-influenced culture of New Caledonia,

TOURISM FIJI

the serenity of Vanuatu. It’s like little else you’ve ever seen — or felt.

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PORTS OF CALL | F i j i

GOOD TO KNOW

Tuck In: The Fijian spin on ceviche, kokonda (ko-KON-da) makes a refreshing snack. Raw white coral trout is marinated overnight in lemon juice, which is replaced the next morning with the fresh white juice of a coconut. It’s topped off with sliced onion, tomato, chili and a pinch of salt. Eat it on the beach for added “Wow” factor.

Cheers: Try an ice-cold schooner of Fiji Bitter or Fiji Gold.

Both relaxation and adventure await in Fiji.

Get Wet: Want to fish, snorkel, dive or swim? Port Denarau is the spot. (Even for you lazy types who just want to lounge about and listen to the strains of the locals’ guitars.)

FIJI

Don’t be scared by all that firewalking-warrior stuff. Today, Fijians pride themselves on being the friendliest people in the world.

(Get ready to say “

” a lot.)

When you see the country’s lush, subtropical rainforest, traditional villages and stretches of pure white-sand beaches, you’ll know why everyone’s so happy.

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Give it a Go: For a thoroughly Fijian experience, visit Naililili Cathedral outside of Suva. The 100-year-old church was built from coral by early French Catholic missionaries. Today, local children from the nearby school knock visitors’ socks off with renditions of traditional welcome songs.

Who Knew?

Condé Nast Traveler magazine named Fijians the friendliest people in the world, but as late as 1860, many Fijians were cannibals. As one Fijian chief clarifies, “We are the friendliest cannibals in the world!”

For details on activities and attractions you can enjoy while visiting Fiji, see the onboard shore-excursions team.

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PORT DENARAU

top shore excursions port denarau

Beachcomber Island Getaway Oolala Savala Island Day Cruise ● Oolooloo Surf and Snorkel Day Cruise ● Firewalking and Cultural Show ● Nalesutale Rainforest Trek and Swim ● ●

suva ● ● ● ● ●

Forest Flying Fox Adventure Rainforest Walk A Tropical Delight: The Pearl South Pacific Resort The Jewel of Fiji Beqa Lagoon Day Cruise

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book.

One of the island’s beautiful beaches

When the first cruises began arriving in Fiji nearly 50 years ago, Port Denarau didn’t exist. Now it’s a lavish haven for well-heeled visitors and the Fijian wellto-do, with a modern retail complex, marina and golf club. Port Denarau is a short tender ride from your ship, and there’s plenty to choose from once you’re ashore.

This is your chance to experience authentic Fijian culture and hospitality, with shore excursions ranging from CHESTER TUGWELL/shutterstock.com; YUVIS STUDIO/shutterstock.com; SELFIY/shutterstock.com

leisurely beach relaxation to active watersports and exciting Fijian dances starring the country’s famed firewalkers.

Some of the more unusual attractions are located just out of town. Some 2,000 varieties of orchids are in bloom at Raymond Burr’s popular Garden of the Sleeping Giant, while Fiji’s ancient history

SUVA

A Fijian troupe performs a traditional meke dance.

The bustling capital of Fiji reminds

Molituva Village offers the opportunity

the 1,600-acre Sigatoka Sand Dunes

you that the world is still turning even

to take photos, capturing the energetic

National Park.

while you’re on holiday. Historic colonial

warriors as they perform a traditional

is on view in the archaeological digs at

Boaters can choose from heaps of

buildings mix with modern architecture in

meke dance — or to venture to Pacific

small craft at the marina, which head

a multicultural city that is full of the sights,

Harbour for the traditional firewalking

out to tiny islands such as Beachcomber

sounds and smells of the South Seas.

performed by the legendary Beqa

or Tivua. Here, visitors can dive, snorkel,

Window shoppers can ogle everything

warriors.

sail Hobie Cats, swim, luxuriate with a

from spices and local produce to Indian

If you’re on foot downtown, swing

massage, or just laze on the beach.

saris and electronics. Be sure to book

by the colourful Municipal Market just

After all that sun, one of the best ways

early for the popular shore tours. These

beyond the wharf in Usher Street and

to cool off — and squeeze in a little retail

can take you to the steamy jungle for a

get amongst the vibrant hurly-burly of

therapy — is to pay a visit to the marina

hike or zip-line thrill ride, or to a Fijian

commerce, island style. Mornings are

mall. — Roderick Eime

village for dancing and a kava ceremony.

best. — Roderick Eime

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PORTS OF CALL | N e w C a l e d o n i a SHOWN HERE: A beach on OuvĂŠa Island, New Caledonia. BELOW, FROM TOP: A Kanak dancer; a traditional island hut.

NEW CALEDONIA Pace yourself. The breathtaking sight of this archipelago glinting in the Pacific is just the opening act.

The main event starts when you step on shore to sample French delicacies in NoumĂŠa, and ancient Melanesian culture in tiny villages. Beaches here are total scene-stealers, and the grandest of finales takes place underwater: exploring the New Caledonia Barrier Reef, one of the largest in the world.

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ISLE OF PINES

Good to Know

Tuck In: In Nouméa, it’s all about French fare: bread, cheese and wine; pâté, patisseries, and foie gras. For something a little different, try the traditional Melanesian dish called Bougna. It’s a mix of local veggies, meat and seafood, marinated in coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked for hours in an underground Kanak oven. (Think of it as Mother Nature’s own crockpot.)

Nicknamed “the closest island to

particular is perfect for long, leisurely

paradise”, the Isle of Pines is just as

strolls or extended naps in the shade.

beautiful above water as it is below. The

But it’s not all about the beach here.

famed New Caledonia Barrier Reef is

Historic sites include Notre Dame de

favoured by divers and designated a

l’Assomption Church in the centre of Vao

UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is

Village, and the monument to St. Maurice,

surpassed in size only by its more famous

commemorating the first Catholic worship

Aussie cousin, the Great Barrier Reef.

service on the island. — Fiona Harper

Fish sightings are guaranteed at Piscine

top shore excursions

Naturelle — the Natural Aquarium — a fish reserve that has become a popular

ISLE OF PINES

snorkelling spot. It’s located at Oro Bay

●

and is protected from the ocean waves

●

by a pine forest, which also makes it tops

●

among those who prefer dry land.

Beach time is ridiculously picturesque

Island Discovery Snorkel the Natural Aquarium Le Meridien and Natural Aquarium

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book.

here: The bays are framed by bottle-green Araucaria pines, and the sand has the texture of talcum powder. Kuto Bay in

Cheers: The most popular local beer has a name that’s hard to forget: Number One.

PRZEMYSLAW SKIBINSKI/shutterstock.com; DUCANDAS/NCTPS; DUCANDAS/NCTPS; JAYTURBO/shutterstock.com

Give it a Go: On Amédée Lighthouse Island, you can climb the steps to the top of the lighthouse or get busy doing very little at all on the white-sand beach.

Get Wet: Nouméa’s Bay of Anse Vata and Côte Blanche boast perfect conditions for wind-surfing, whether you want to have a go yourself or just sit back and watch the locals.

Who Knew?

New Caledonian crows are flying geniuses. Researchers say that their advanced use of tools — sticks, leaves and other objects they figure out how to use to get their food — make them some of the smartest animals in the world, perhaps even brainier than chimpanzees.

For details on activities and attractions you can enjoy while visiting New Caledonia, see the onboard shore-excursions team.

St. Maurice Monument in Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

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PORTS OF CALL | N e w C a l e d o n i a

A serene beach in the Loyalty Islands

LIFOU ISLAND

Oozing charisma and warmth so typical of Kanak culture, Lifou Island is the kind of place that charms the soul. Dramatically sheer cliffs created by fossilised coral are topped with towering pines, and beneath them lies the beguiling turquoise Coral Sea. Caves carved by erosion create a sense of island mythology, while dense forest is not only pretty, but also provides essential compost required for taro, yam and banana

top shore excursions

crops. The coconuts you see are more than

A huge part of Lifou’s allure is its

just the perfect postcard props; their kernels

welcoming locals. The Kanak culture has

drive a copra industry that brings in much-

tendrils that reach back a few thousand

needed funds to this isolated community

years, creating a charming combination

in New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands.

of Austronesian, Melanesian and, more

●

recently, French influence. (“Kanak” comes

●

from the Hawaiian word kanaka, meaning

MARÉ ISLAND

“human being”.)

Remnants of the past can be seen in

LIFOU ISLAND ●

●

Melanesian Encounter Cliffs of Jokin Luecila Beach and Scenic Drive Forest and Secret Grotto

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book.

the traditional circular huts constructed from wood and straw that can still be found here, an art form that has all but disappeared elsewhere. — Fiona Harper

Snorkelling in New Caledonia

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The aquarium-like interior of Maré Island

to turn the neighbours back home green

(known locally as Nengone) was once

with envy, well, you’re really not trying.

a lagoon surrounded by a rim of islets.

The scene is just as spectacular

Fossilised coral rock has created an

underwater; book a snorkelling tour with

intriguing island landscape dotted with

the onboard excursions specialist. Have

caves and grottos. You’ll need robust

an underwater camera? Even better!

soles on your walking shoes if you’re

Maré Island was the first in New

to stretch your legs on an extended

Caledonia to be visited by English

hike, as honeycomb weathering has

missionaries in the 1840s. The 8,000 or so

created razor-sharp rocks — except on

residents today are still heavily influenced

the beaches, which are definitely the

by Christian values, which form an integral

barefoot kind.

part of their Melanesian culture. A handful

Jagged, charcoal-coloured cliffs ring

of villages are scattered across the island,

intimate beaches here. Dazzling white

and islanders sustain themselves with taro,

sand is kissed by gin-clear water that

yams, and crops from copra and banana

changes to incredibly turquoise a few

plantations. Take the time to chat to the

metres from shore. Though narrow, the

local ladies selling coconut juice in the

beaches here are some of the most

shade beachside, who will undoubtedly

photogenic in the South Pacific. If you can’t

be just as curious about you as you are

take a postcard-worthy snap guaranteed

about them. — Fiona Harper

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NOUMÉA

A little bit of France on the other side

spin through the stunning Jean-Marie

of the world makes for one of the most

Tjibaou Cultural Centre for a dose of

interesting ports in the whole South

Kanak arts and craft — as well as striking

Pacific. Quite unlike any other port in

architecture by Renzo Piano.

the region, Nouméa has a distinctive

The locals enjoy a hedonistic beach

“Euro” feel: cars on the “wrong” side of

culture, so there’s plenty to do out on

the road, strange money and signs in

the water — jet skiing, windsurfing,

Français. This isn’t Paris, though, so don’t

snorkelling — or if you just feel like

be afraid to try out your rusty French

lazing around. The quaint Tchou Tchou

when shopping for knick-knacks.

Train might look like kids’ stuff, but it’s a fun and easy way to see the town or get to the sexy beaches at Anse Vata

centre, transformed this Gallic colonial

or Baie des Citrons (Bay of Lemons —

outpost. Highlights of any visit include

named, we’re told, for crates of lemons

the Amédée Island Lighhouse (don’t

that mysteriously washed up on its

mind the snakes, they’re harmless) or a

sands one day). — Roderick Eime

DUCANDAS/NCTPS; DUCANDAS/NCTPS; AERIAL PROD/NCTPS; RPBW Architects @ ADCK - CCT Photographer O. Strewe; DUCANDAS/NCTPS

Nouméa was once a bit grotty, but a major facelift, especially around the city

top shore excursions NOUMÉA ● ● ● ● ●

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Amédée Island and its lighthouse; the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre, where exhibits illuminate Kanak art and culture; hang-gliders get an actual bird’s-eye view.

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The Tchou Tchou Train Lagoon Snorkelling Adventure Amédée Island Marine Reserve Tree To Tree Adventure Escapade Island Half-Day Trip

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PORTS OF CALL | Va n u a t u

VANUATU

The islands immortalised in the musical do not disappoint. Vanuatu is a land — or many lands; there are 83 islands in total — of peaceful, uninhabited beaches, age-old traditions and a rich, if rocky, history.

Today, volcanoes make for challenging hikes, and World War II

wrecks have become world-class dive sites teeming with colourful marine life.

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SHOWN HERE: Shark Bay off Tanna Island, Vanuatu.

BELOW: The Jetty, Vanuatu.

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Good to Know

Tuck In: Don’t mind the name; laplap is a Vanuatu specialty. The pudding-type dish is made of mashed bananas, root vegetables and creamy coconut milk.

It’s combined with meat or fish, wrapped in leaves and cooked in an earth oven.

Cheers: The local beer is Tusker Lager, brewed in Port Vila. Kava, the alcoholic drink of choice for many South Pacific nations, is considered especially potent in Vanuatu.

Give it a Go: Where else do you need to put flippers on before heading to the post office? The world’s one and only underwater post office is located off of Port Vila. Divers and snorkellers can also explore Million Dollar Point, where the SS and other World War II remains now serve as an underwater playground.

Get Wet: Set foot on Mystery Island’s stunning beaches and you may never want to leave. Not even the locals live there, it’s so pristine. The friendly faces you’ll meet in port commute to the uninhabited Mystery Island from the neighbouring island of Anatom each day to sell their handicrafts.

MYSTERY ISLAND

This teeny crescent-shaped islet circled

island, though it will take much longer if

by a fringe of reef barely rises above the

you linger and savour each step falling into

ocean at the southern tip of Vanuatu’s

the sand. Longer still if you opt to snorkel

island chain — the jewel at the end of a

and take the opportunity to explore the

necklace, you might say. The castaway

shallow waters peppered with coral reef

island of your imagination, Mystery

and absurdly colourful tropical fish.

Island is the sort of far-flung paradise

As for the mystery in its name, the only

Robinson Crusoe may well have chosen

real mystery is why it’s taken you so long

to be marooned upon: all emerald-hued

to discover paradise. — Fiona Harper

palms, crushed coral sand and sparkling aquamarine sea.

Waterfront bungalows in Vanuatu

Don’t be surprised if you feel your heart rate slow down a notch as you step ashore; it’s simply readjusting to “island time”. Here, your day revolves around the path of the sun and the falling of the tide, much as it does for the locals who live across the channel on Anatom (or Aneityum) Island.

Mystery Island is uninhabited except for a couple of bungalows that are rented out to modern-day castaways. It takes less than an hour to amble around the entire

Mystery Island, Vanuatu

Who Knew?

Long before bungy jumping fever took hold in New Zealand, Vanuatu tribes were doing their own version — jumping from wooden towers with vines wrapped around their legs and landing in layers of vines spread on the ground. The tradition began around 1,500 years ago in the southern villages of Pentecost Island. The jumps still take place every year during the Naghol festival, which is held to bless the yam harvest.

For details on activities and attractions you can enjoy while visiting Vanuatu, see the onboard shore-excursions team.

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PORTS OF CALL | Va n u a t u

A rocky beach in Efate, Vanuatu

PORT VILA

This compact and busy little city is a fascinating por t offering great opportunities to do some shopping and check out the colourful downtown boutiques, cafés and pubs — all an easy walk from where the ship docks. If you’re hanging out to get in the water — or under it — Vila offers great diving, snorkelling and watersports for all abilities.

Excellent for scuba diving, the area has famously warm and clear waters teeming

would be a trip to the Secret Garden, a

with marine life living on the numerous

lush, private two-acre botanical reserve.

wrecks in the harbour. The MV

Nature lovers should seek out one of

top shore excursions PORT VILA

wreck is a perfect introduction to this

the area’s Hawksbill turtle sanctuaries,

exciting sport, and you may even see a

where the rare animals are nurtured before

turtle or dugong while exploring.

release. Then there are rainforest hikes,

●

Onshore activities are many and varied.

which reward the active trekker with a

●

Culture and history buffs will want to visit

refreshing dip at the Mele Cascades falls.

the ethnological displays at the superb

Want to see it all? It’s possible to

National Museum of Vanuatu or take in the

traverse the entire island of Efate; all you

re-created village life at Ekasup Village. A

have to do is choose whether to do it by

more peaceful way to spend a few hours

bus or boat. — Roderick Eime

● ●

●

Ultimate Vila Discovery Buggy Off-Road Adventure Cascade Waterfalls Paradise Kayaking and Snorkelling Experience Tranquility Island and Turtle Sanctuary

SANTO ● ● ● ● ●

agical Gaua Water M Music Experience Cultural Activity Park Certified Dive: The President Coolidge Canoe the Riri River Northern Seaside and The Blue Hole

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book.

Divers will be in their element, too, and a visit to the world-famous SS wreck is an absolute must.

SANTO

Back on shore, highlights include visits to villages for cultural experiences and Nanda Blue Hole in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

52

trips to the mystical “blue holes”, where the crystal-clear water makes your canoe

Anyone familiar with the writings of James

you that Luganville was built from scratch

A. Michener will be eager to visit the port

by the U.S. armed forces in World War II as

You may be surprised to learn that this

of Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.

a forward supply base. Military buffs will

part of the world exports beef to Japan,

The best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer

be spoiled for choice of World War II sites,

Australia and the rest of the South Pacific;

put Santo on the map with his romantic and

which include the wreck of a B-17 Flying

out in the verdant backcountry you can

tragic

Fortress and the astonishing Million Dollar

ride a horse through the prehistoric-looking

Wide boulevards and Quonset huts (in the

Point, where tons of surplus equipment

jungle and see where the renowned Santo

unmistakably military Nissen style) remind

and machinery were dumped into the sea.

beef cattle reside. — Roderick Eime

.

look like it’s floating in space.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES FUN ASHORE

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WALA

One of two “twin” islands off the northeast coast of Malekula (the second-largest island in Vanuatu), Wala is a simple place where life is uncomplicated by computers, mobile phones and cars.

The 400 or so residents walk everywhere, unless they’re going to the “mainland” of Malekula about a mile away. Then they take a dugout canoe.

Once upon a time inhabited by a tribe of fearsome warriors and cannibals, this outer island of Vanuatu has become a sort of living museum, frozen in time. The locals

VALERY SHANIN/shutterstock.com; KARIN WASSMER/shutterstock.com; MARKHIGGINS/shutterstock.com; F. ENOT/shutterstock.com; KARIN WASSMER/shutterstock.com

are considerably friendlier these days, with warm smiles and a gentle nature.

Island traditions and customs involving superstitions and initiation traditions are beautifully illustrated in ceremonial dances, with men proudly adorned with groin sheaths and women swishing around in grass skirts. The village is only a short walk from the beach, and offers centuries-old customs and rhythmic beating drums announcing visitors’ arrivals.

If all that dancing makes you sweat, a refreshing swim is just a short stroll away. The water in Wala is crystal-clear, merging into an inky, cobalt blue, thanks to a deep-water channel not far from the crisp, white beach. — Fiona Harper

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Vanuatu signal drum, c. 1920, from Cooranbong Missionary Museum in NSW; traditional dugout canoe at Lamen Bay, Epi Island; Vanuatu carved-wood totem.

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fun ashore carnival cruise lines

53

9/7/12 8:30 AM

Let’s Get This Holiday Started

Dmitriy Shironosov

We know, there’s so much to do on board Carnival Spirit. Almost too much fun for one holiday. But with all her great dining venues, comfy beds, relaxing spots and exhilarating waterslides, the ship is just one part of your cruise getaway. Don’t forget to find the rest of your fun on shore in Carnival Spirit’s postcard-perfect ports of call. Choose from snorkelling and offroading, rainforest treks, traditional village ceremonies, and a whole lot more.

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist for all the details.

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9/6/12 4:17 PM

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See your onboard Fun Finds Shopping Expert for more information and vouchers

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9/7/12 10:22 AM