Question re Port Denarau

[PollyLong]

I am looking at a Princess cruise to fiji in December this year, and from what I can gather on the Princess website, Port Denarau is not a tender port. However, when doing a bit more research on the web, it appears that in fact cruise ships anchor off shore and tender passengers aboard. Can someone please clarify? My husband has a mobility problem and tender ports don't suit us so it's really important that I know for sure.

 

The cruise also stops at Suva but the ship appears to dock. Confirmation would be great.

 

Thanks so much for any advice.

[Murgat]

I am looking at a Princess cruise to fiji in December this year, and from what I can gather on the Princess website, Port Denarau is not a tender port. However, when doing a bit more research on the web, it appears that in fact cruise ships anchor off shore and tender passengers aboard. Can someone please clarify? My husband has a mobility problem and tender ports don't suit us so it's really important that I know for sure.

 

The cruise also stops at Suva but the ship appears to dock. Confirmation would be great.

 

Thanks so much for any advice.

 

Definitely a tender port. We have tendered ashore with a mobility scooter without issues - staff very helpful and the tender wharf is well constructed. We organised an excursion to a Fijian village travelling in a large bus with a luggage hold where the foldable scooter could be stowed away. Suva is a docking port. There are taxis and tour operators right on the wharf offering tours and transport. Haggling is in order.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Murgat

[PollyLong]

Thank you Murgat, I appreciate your advice. Have you been to Luganville in Vanuatu and is it a tender port?

[Bob&Janet]

Thank you Murgat, I appreciate your advice. Have you been to Luganville in Vanuatu and is it a tender port?

 

No tendering at Luganville ... there is a dock there.

 

There isn't anything much to see or do in Luganville itself, but the locals do set up a lot of market stalls in the dock area. There are also lots of taxis and other locals right there at the bottom of the gang plank selling tours.

 

Cheers

Bob

[Murgat]

I agree with Bob. I did a (solo) canoe trip down the Riri river in the morning to a blue hole - an excellent half day tour. In the afternoon we scooted ashore and wandered around. It was hot and dusty but interesting in a low key slightly seedy way.