Blue Lagoon Cruises has released three cruises that offer an opportunity to experience the culture and history of many isolated islands in the South Pacific. The premium cruise is planned to depart on Monday March 26th 2001* for a seven-day, six night Gold Club Cruise aboard the five star MV Mystique Princess. The historical and cultural cruise will enable passengers to reach islands never before visited by any cruise company in the South Pacific.

This is the first time Blue Lagoon Cruises has offered to the public a cruise which will experience three different South Pacific cultures � Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian.

Highlights of the cruise include, a visit to the 180th Meridian and International dateline, a Kioa Islander greeting in outrigger canoes, a guided tour of parts of Taveuni Island, including the Bouma Eco Park, waterfall and a visit to Levuka Island, Fiji�s first capital.

Islands visited will include Rabi and Kioa. Previously untouched by tourists, these islands do not have resorts, restaurants, hotels or other tourism infrastructure. Blue Lagoon has been able to include these islands in the itinerary because of the high respect in which Blue Lagoon is held by the South Pacific Islanders and because of the additional income that it provides to the islands to host the cultural displays and tours.

�In the past, visitors to the South Pacific have found travelling to these islands too time-consuming and expensive. Schedules and transfers are also very difficult to arrange. For the majority of these islands one needs to lodge an intention to visit the islands with the chief, and this can be a very exhausting process. Blue Lagoon Cruises takes care of all the formalities associated with the isolated islands, so you can experience all these cultures with an exceptional standard of cruising.� stated Mr Gerry Harvey, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Lagoon Cruises.

Costs covered in your cruise include accommodation, cruise transportation and services, all meals, themed dinners, cruise entertainment, guided tours and shore excursions, ship to shore transfers, entrance fees, cultural welcome ceremonies on each island, snorkeling equipment hire and all non-motorised watersports.

This cruise to unique destinations requires a longer cruise period of seven days and travels four to five times the distance of a standard Blue Lagoon Cruise.

For booking or enquiries contact your local travel agent or call the Blue Lagoon Cruises on 0011 679 661 622 or visit their website on www.bluelagooncruises.com

* Other Departures 10th � 16th September 2001 25th � 31st March 2002

For further information and pics contact:

Impressions Marketing Communications Tracey Leitch 02 9969 4011 tal@one.net.au

ITINERARY

DAY ONE - Monday March 26th

1.30 pm Check in at Blue Lagoon Cruises pre boarding lounge at Lautoka. 3.00 pm Board MV Mystique Princess and depart for Nanauira Island As the Mystique Princess sets sail afternoon tea is served. Your first evening commences in style with complimentary champagne and hors d�oeuvers on the sky deck followed by the �Captains Welcome Dinner� of South Pacific cuisine. Entertainment from your crew with a wide selection of tropical cocktails from the bar. 9.00 pm Arrive Nananuira anchor at Oni Beach.

DAY TWO - Tuesday March 27th

6.00 am Optional early morning swim at Oni Beach. The morning sunrise reveals a magical experience as the light reveals a pristine white sandy beach, fringed with palm trees and a tranquil lagoon. Rejoin the Mystique Princess for breakfast onboard as the captain sets course for historical Levuka Island.

7.00 am Depart for Levuka, morning tea and lunch served enroute. 12 noon Arrive Levuka � opportunity for a historical walking tour of Fiji�s first capital. Meet and talk to long time residents of the island. 7.00 pm Dinner is a scrumptious Asian buffet with entertainment by the crew 10.00 pm Depart for Taveuni Overnight anchorage at Waiyevo

DAY THREE - Wednesday March 28th

6.00 am Optional early morning swim. Breakfast onboard and depart for a tour of the island of Taveuni. Renowned for its flora and fauna, visit the 180th Meridian, Bouma Eco Park, Bouma village and waterfall.

12 noon Return to the vessel for lunch served enroute to Kioa Island. 1.00 pm Arrive at Kioa Island where the vessel will be met by a small fleet of outrigger canoes, paddled by Kioa islanders in traditional costume. The canoes will escort the passengers ashore for a guided village tour and traditional Polynesian entertainment. You will also have the opportunity to purchase handicrafts and utilise the beach and lagoon for swimming and snorkeling. 8.00 pm Dinner features an East Indian buffet, which highlights cuisine of the East Indian settlers. Overnight anchorage at Kioa

DAY FOUR - Thursday March 29th

5.00 am Cruise departs for Albert Cove - Rabi Island. 6.00 am Be the first in the world to wake up to witness the sunrise on the 180th Meridian. 7.00 am Breakfast served and then all ashore for swimming and snorkeling. Here you can explore the island by foot, or just laze on the beach under a palm tree. Morning tea and a barbecue lunch will be served on the beach. 10.30 am Depart for Tabiang village. Passengers go ashore for a guided tour of a traditional Banaban village, rich in culture and heritage. Their history will fascinate you. Attend a traditional Micronesian cultural show performed by the islanders, followed by a shell and handicraft markets.

DAY FIVE - Friday March 30th

1.00 am Depart for Savusavu Island

6.00 am Arrive Savusavu. Breakfast on board and then disembark for the Hot Springs Hotel Savusavu. This town has an exciting history and remains an interesting legacy of the colonial period with its old estates and townships. Morning tea at the Hot Springs Hotel and then wander at leisure back to the ship.

11.30 am Set sail for the Yadua Passage and lunch is served enroute.Time to relax and lie on the sky deck in your deck chair with a book � Blue Lagoon style.

6.30 pm Night anchorage at the Yadua Passage. Dinner is served with entertainment from the crew. Night fishing competition with the crew.

11.30 pm Depart the Yadua passage for the Yasawa islands.

DAY SIX - Saturday March 31st

6.00 am Optional early morning swim.

9.00 am Passengers disembark at a traditional Fiji village, where you are welcomed as honoured guests. The village green is the setting of an ancient �Yagona� ceremony followed by authentic �meke� entertainment and �sere� singing.

12.00 noon Lunch is served as the Mystique Princess sets sail for Blue Lagoon Cruises own private island paradise Nanuyalailai. 1.00 pm Arrive to your tropical island, with delicate coral and a myriad of tropical fish - it is a snorkeller�s delight. Once ashore a variety of activities await you. In the late afternoon you can witness the preparation of a traditional feast or �magiti,� in an earth oven called a lovo. After dinner the beach party continues well into the night.

DAY SEVEN - Sunday April 1st

6.00 am Optional early morning swim.

7.30 am Depart for Lautoka. Breakfast and morning tea is served as the MV Mystique Princess cruises through the Yasawa Islands. 12.00 noon Arrive at Lautoka wharf, Fiji.

Cruise itinerary subject to wind, tides and weather

For further details call Tracey Leitch on 02 9969 4011