Tivua Island Day Cruise + Sunset Dinner Cruise (Captain Cook Fiji Combo) • Fiji Travel

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji runs two distinctly different experiences from Port Denarau — a daytime island escape and an evening sunset dinner — and this combo bundles them at a 10% saving on the dinner cruise. You can do both on the same day, or split them across two separate days. One firm scheduling note: the dinner cruise does not operate on Mondays.

At a glance

Operator: Captain Cook Cruises Fiji
Combo: Tivua Island Day Cruise + Fiji Sunset Dinner Cruise
Saving: 10% off the sunset dinner cruise when booked as a combo
Day cruise: departs daily 10:00am, returns 5:00pm from Port Denarau
Dinner cruise: operates Tuesday–Sunday (NOT Mondays)
Can be done: same day or separate days
Children under 3: free on both cruises (must advise at booking)
Children 3–15: child rates apply; Kids Club for ages 5–12 on day cruise
Vessels: Ra Marama (tall ship), Fiji One (sailing catamaran), or similar

Experience 1: Tivua Island Day Cruise

Tivua Island is Captain Cook’s private coral atoll in the Mamanuca Islands — a circle of white sandy beach surrounding 500 acres of coral gardens. The island is uninhabited and small enough that you feel like you have it almost to yourself, even when capacity fills. Day cruise capacity is up to 200 guests on the island, but the natural layout of the beach and activities means it rarely feels crowded.

The vessel and crossing

The day cruise operates aboard Ra Marama (a tall-masted sailing ship) or Fiji One (a large sailing catamaran). The crossing from Port Denarau takes approximately 45–90 minutes depending on conditions and vessel — some guests describe a genuinely scenic sail; others note it can feel like a long motor on slower-wind days. Go in knowing the travel is part of the experience.

One reviewer noted the boat “goes extremely slow on purpose” and that this left under 4 hours on the island. That’s honest context: plan your time on the island with that in mind if the crossing is longer on your day.

What’s included at the island

Morning and afternoon tea
Tropical buffet lunch (fresh local ingredients)
Open bar: beer, wine, and soft drinks throughout the day
Glass-bottom boat tours (guided, included)
Snorkelling (gear included, guided tours available)
Use of canoes and paddleboards
Captain’s Kids Club for ages 5–12
Senikai Day Spa treatments (additional cost)
Beach volleyball, treasure hunt, sandcastle building

What to know: shade and cabanas

There are complimentary sun loungers on the island. Shaded cabanas on the main beach are available for hire at FJD $109 per cabana — reviewers mention the free loungers are on the back side of the island, which has a turtle nesting zone that limits beach access to the water from that area. If direct beach-to-water access matters to you, arriving early to claim a shaded spot near the main beach is worth the effort — or factor in the cabana hire.

Diving at Tivua

Day Scuba diving at Tivua is operated by Viti Water Sports. Options include introductory dives (start in the pool, then reef) and beach dives for certified divers. A purposefully sunk shipwreck is available for advanced divers. Dive spots include drop-offs, wall dives, hard corals, and schooling pelagic fish. Book and pre-arrange with Captain Cook Cruises.

Other Tivua highlights

The island is known for seasonal turtle nesting and the chance of seeing baby black-tipped reef sharks in the shallows. Tropical Hibiscus gardens are a photographic feature. The coral snorkelling starts directly off the beach — no tender boat required to access the reef.

Experience 2: Fiji Sunset Dinner Cruise

The dinner cruise operates aboard Fiji One — described as one of the largest sailing catamarans in the Southern Hemisphere, with capacity for 220 passengers and approximately 100 guests at dinner, each seated at their own table. The format is relaxed and social.

What’s included

Complimentary welcome drink on boarding
Tropical buffet dinner prepared fresh by local chefs
Fijian cultural entertainment (singing, dancing)
Return hotel transfers from Denarau-area properties

A standard dinner menu includes: prawns, lovo chicken, beef curry and rice, sautéed local vegetables, kokoda (fish marinated in coconut cream), wild fern salad, and tropical dessert. The kitchen accommodates most dietary requirements with sufficient notice — advise at booking.

Practical note: sunset timing

The dinner cruise departs in the evening, and the sequence of boarding, sailing, and the sunset itself can mean dinner service starts close to golden hour. If sunset photos are a priority, head to an outdoor deck early after boarding rather than waiting until you’re seated for dinner.

Special occasions

Captain Cook Cruises offers Romance, Wedding, Proposal, and Vow Renewal packages aboard the dinner cruise, with additional catering and photography options. Celebratory cakes for any occasion can be arranged in advance.

Children on the dinner cruise

Children are welcome. The dinner cruise has no dedicated kids activities — it’s more relaxed by design — and children must remain under adult supervision at all times. Parents provide floatation devices for infants under 5.

Same day vs two days

Doing both in one day

Efficient if your Fiji stay is short and you want two experiences. The day cruise returns to Denarau at 5:00pm; the dinner cruise departs in the evening. You’ll need time to refresh between trips. Bring a change of clothes in a day bag.

Splitting them across different days

The relaxed choice. Tivua Island is comfortable enough that a slow morning and long afternoon on the island feels exactly right, without watching the clock for a dinner departure. The dinner cruise then gets its own evening where you can fully settle in.

The operator explicitly allows both options — “cruises can be booked open-dated and on different days.”

What’s included in the combo

Full Tivua Island Day Cruise (see above)
Fiji Sunset Dinner Cruise (see above)
10% discount on the dinner cruise component
Hotel transfers from Port Denarau area properties (confirm your hotel at booking)

What’s not included

Scuba diving at Tivua (additional cost, arranged separately)
Senikai Day Spa treatments (additional cost)
Premium cocktails or spirits beyond complimentary bar
Cabana hire on Tivua (FJD $109 per cabana)

FAQs

Why doesn’t the dinner cruise run on Mondays?

Operational scheduling. If your stay includes a Monday and you want both cruises, plan the dinner cruise for a different night and the day cruise on any day you prefer.

Is Tivua Island better or worse than South Sea Island?

They’re different in character. South Sea Island (South Sea Cruises) is 30 minutes from Denarau and particularly good for families with younger children. Tivua is Captain Cook’s private atoll and takes longer to reach, but the open-bar inclusion from morning to evening, the tall-ship sailing experience, and the snorkelling off the beach directly make it a more immersive day.

Can children under 3 participate?

Children under 3 are free on both cruises but must be advised at booking. They cannot participate in the Kids Club or snorkel experience independently.

Day cruise departs 10:00am daily, returns 5:00pm. Dinner cruise does NOT operate Mondays. 10% saving on dinner cruise when combo-booked. Tivua Island: open bar all day, glass-bottom boat, snorkel, Kids Club, morning/afternoon tea and lunch. Dinner cruise aboard Fiji One: ~100 seated guests, buffet dinner, cultural entertainment.

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By: Sarika Nand