RIDING the swells between Mana Island and Modriki (Monuriki) — the setting for multi-award winning movie Cast Away — it was easy to see why the South Sea Cruises Seaspray Sailing Adventure day trip was so popular with international visitors to our shores.
Apart from the most stunning shades of blue sea along the journey, it was the antics of the crew on the fifteen-foot schooner, Seaspray, that kept the 32 guests entertained throughout the entire hour-long journey.
“We have had a lot of rave reviews,” said South Sea Cruises media sales executive Sanjeshni Nand.
“And this is for the whole experience — scenery and food but the most outstanding reviews we get are for the jovial crew.”
From the moment we were welcomed aboard the Seaspray after a one and a half hour trip from Port Denarau aboard South Sea Cruises superfast catamaran, Tiger IV, everyone was put at ease by our host, Anare.
South Sea Cruises takes security very seriously and this was clearly evident by the safety procedures Anare outlined before the Seaspray left the confines of the Mana Island lagoon.
My fear of the sea and creatures that lay lurking beneath the waves was heightened with the choppy seas and huge swells the Seaspray encountered on our journey.
But minutes into the trip, the soothing sounds of the crew on ukulele and guitars combined with the picturesque scenery as we sailed past Matamanoa and other islands that dot the Mamanuca Group quelled my fears.
In between ensuring every passenger was comfortable and hydrated, the eight-man crew sang and clapped and swayed to the chugging rhythm of iTaukei classics, old Hindi movie songs and island-style remakes of popular English tunes, complete with tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
A quick chat with fellow travellers who had doled out $239 for the experience, revealed that all were first timers and a return trip was definitely on the cards.
“It’s a lot to take in because there’s so much to see and do during the nine hours you’re engaged in the experience, from Port Denarau to Mana, Modriki, Yanuya, Mana and back to the mainland,” shared Anamarija and Danny from Sydney.
“And the crew really help make it happen.
“They just make this incredible experience absolutely sensational with their jokes, singing and brilliant service.”
Anare signalled the Seaspray’s approach to Modriki Island and from about 300m out, we could clearly see Tom Hank’s SOS ‘HELP ME’ spelled out using dried coconuts on an elevated area off the beach.
A few of the more adventurous jumped off the side of the ship with some of the crew and snorkelled amid the coral-filled waters off the beach.
Joining the others on the tender boat, I made my way to the island.
It is no wonder that acclaimed director Robert Zemeckis settled on Modriki as the backdrop for Cast Away.
Apart from being uninhabited, the island has all the hall marks of a survival drama film. Modriki is a rocky outcrop with beaches on the southeast side.
While the southeast beach is protected and calm and makes for great snorkelling, the windward side is hit by huge waves that crash onto the shore sending spray high into the air.
Snorkelers carved a colourful sight floating atop the sea under the watchful eye of the Seaspray crew while landlubbers like yours truly set out to explore Modriki.
The island is an idyllic paradise. White sandy beaches, sunlight dancing off azure seas and swaying palm trees, it has everything that was expected of a tropical island.
However, the fact that a Hollywood movie was shot there just added to the allure.
In the mid of conversations with fellow travellers, Anamarija and Danny announced that they had found “Wilson”.
For those not in the know, Wilson was a volleyball that found its way onto the beach in the movie Cast Away. It became a central ‘character’ and was Chuck Noland’s (Tom Hanks) sole companion while he was marooned on the island.
Everyone took turns capturing their moment with “Wilson” before boarding the Seaspray for lunch and the 3.7km journey to Yanuya Island.
Lunch had been advertised as a barbecue but what Chef Joe and the crew prepared was something akin to what you would expect at any five-star resort on the mainland.
And the quality of the food was evident by the queue for second and third servings.
As plates were emptied, the vessel anchored outside Yanuya and passengers were ferried on the tender to the island.
Yanuya boasts a population of about 500 with 135 households on the island.
The island is home to a health centre and Namamanuca Primary School which provides education for Years One to Eight for Yanuya, Tavua and neighbouring villages and children of staff of Tokoriki and Amunuca resorts.
Anare explained village protocol to the Seaspray guests before we entered the meeting bure for a kava ceremony.
Out came the cameras and mobile phones to capture many of the travellers first taste of the traditional iTaukei drink.
Guests were then invited by the villagers to the island’s shell market and to wander through Yanuya to get a first-hand glimpse of the reality of life on a Fijian island.
Half an hour later, it was back on board for the return trip to Mana Island and transfer onto the Cougar to Port Denarau.
The Seaspray Day Adventure departs Port Denarau at 9am and returns at 6pm.
For $239, you get unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks and water, snorkelling equipment, morning and afternoon tea and lunch, visit to Modriki and Yanuya Islands and one of the most entertaining trips you will ever make thanks to the outstanding crew on the Seaspray.
