Fiji Cruise

I'm growing sick of the months of grayness and now that summer is only a few months away I'm getting itchy to start being outside and I've been finding myself fantasizing about tropical islands thousands of miles away from this rainy state.

DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER 18: Tui Tai Cruise in Fiji



"You'll spend most of your time wet on a Tui Tai cruise. From snorkeling to sea kayaking, there's hardly a water sport you can't do from the deck of the 140-foot (43-meter) boat, called the Tui Tai. Back onboard, hit the spa or watch paradise glide by from the floor-to-ceiling window of your cabin or from one of the on-deck lounges. Four luxe staterooms have iPod docking stations and queen-size beds; the other eight rooms are slightly more modest and have double beds."
*National Geographic 



This cruise would be one of the most luxurious getaways of my life... but every fucking thing is included in the price; every drink, any activity you wanna do, even diving lessons, every meal, spa treatments, massage done to the sound of a cascading watefall, a morning yoga class on the top deck, kayaking in a volcanic carter... I bet that week would be some of the most fun and easy-going 7 days of my life. It's really expensive for a cruise, at $3,900 per person for the cheapest double bed room, certified scuba classes, PADI diving courses, plus tourism tax but it must be a fucking amazing experience. 5 nights runs you about $3,200. Not doing the scuba and PADI course will save you between 800 to 1,000 bucks. Those are just the regular cruises. Now I am not even going to get started with the honeymoon resort packages of 5 days on the Tui Tai and 5 days at an amazing resort in Fiji... http://www.tuitai.com/honeymoon_packages.php



Each cruies only has 22 guests and 18 staff members. Tui Tai is the only luxury-adventure ship operating in the Pacific Cultural Triangle, providing guests a remarkable look at three distinct cultures that history and circumstance have put together within a nearby triangle of islands. In addition to visiting islands where indigenous Fijians live, Tui Tai sails to islands where Polynesians and Micronesians were relocated after World War II, and where the villagers live in their historically natural ways. Only the Pacific Cultural Triangle offers adventurers a chance to experience such strikingly different cultures and histories during a one-week visit.

Check out their website and fall in love... http://www.tuitai.com



Ahhhhh all these bright beautiful pictures uplifted my spirits.

I want to catch it while I can

DREAM ADVENTURE NUMBER FIVE: visit Antarctica

One of my life goals is to set foot on every continent; including Antarctica. They're quite expensive but the fact that so few people have ever set foot on our southern ice cap adds to the appeal. I can only imagine (until I get to visit) the snow covered mountains and giant icebergs. Researching arctic cruises. the best time to go is November to March (the arctic summer in which there is usually 20+ hours of daylight per day, average temperature between 20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit) and they normally take anywhere between 10 days to the grandest tour around the whole South Pole taking 3 weeks. Average price is between $8,000 to $10,000 for a 10 day to 2 week cruise.

I want to go there to see all the whales, seals and penguins living in their natural UNDISTURBED habitat. It's scary to think that with global warming their habitat is diminishing at a quicker rate that years before.

They more expensive cruise is a 6000 mile trip that circumnavigates around the whole continent of Antarctica (from Argentina to New Zealand) but most of the trips to this winter wonderland leave from South America.

It's scary to think that it may not be around for too many generations past mine...

November & Early December (Late Spring / Early Summer)

	Winter pack ice is starting to melt and break up. The scenery is white, clean and pristine with pack ice and giant icebergs.
	Courting season for penguins and seabirds � see spectacular courtship rituals.
	Seals visible on fast ice.
	Spring wildflowers in the Falklands and South Georgia.
	Elephant and fur seals establish their breeding territories.

Mid-December and January (Mid Summer)

	Normally Antarctica's warmest months.
	Longer days create great light conditions and fabulous photo opportunities at midnight.
	Antarctic chicks hatch.
	South Georgia and the Falklands � first penguin chicks emerge and fur seals are breeding.
	Seal Pups visible on South Georgia and the Falklands.
	Receding ice allows for more exploration.

February and March (Late Summer)

	Whale sightings are at their best.
	Penguin chicks start to fledge.
	Receding pack ice allows ships to explore further south.
	More fur seals in the Antarctic Peninsula.

http://www.coolantarctica.com/Travel/antarctica_travel_home.htm