Whale's Tale Full-Day Island Cruise - Champagne Breakfast, BBQ Lunch and Unlimited Drinks

The Whale’s Tale is a 100-foot twin-mast sailing schooner, and the distinction matters. This is not a transfer vessel with a bar tacked on. It’s a proper wooden schooner that carries a maximum of 55 passengers, sails when the wind allows, and has been running day cruises in the Mamanucas since it became one of Denarau’s original island day trips.

The destination is Schooner Island — a small, genuinely uninhabited island in the Mamanuca chain reserved exclusively for Whale’s Tale passengers. No resort, no other cruise ships, no day-tripper crowds. What you get is your group, the island, a BBQ lunch cooked by the onboard chef, unlimited drinks all day, snorkel gear, sea kayaks, and a crew that plays guitar and sings for the return voyage.

It’s a full day in the truest sense. Departs 10:00am, returns approximately 5:00pm.

At a glance

• Departs: Port Denarau at 10:00am
• Returns: approximately 5:00pm
• Maximum passengers: 55 adults
• Island: private, uninhabited Schooner Island (Mamanuca chain)
• Island time: approximately 2.5–3 hours
• Drinks: unlimited beer (Fiji Bitter, Fiji Gold), wine (red and white), soft drinks, and bottled Fiji Water throughout the day — included
• Food: champagne continental breakfast on boarding + gourmet BBQ buffet lunch on the island
• Transfers: complimentary from Nadi/Denarau hotels; FJD $35/adult, FJD $17/child for DoubleTree, Coral Coast, and Lautoka hotels (paid at check-in)

On board the schooner

Boarding at Port Denarau is followed by the Bula Continental Breakfast: fresh baked muffins and scones, Fiji fruits, juice, tea or coffee, and champagne. Champagne on a 100-foot wooden schooner before 10:30am while you watch the marina drop behind you is precisely as good as it sounds.

Once out of the marina, if conditions allow, the crew hoists the sails. The schooner is fast under sail and makes a satisfying visual as it moves through the Mamanuca waters — multiple reviewers mention this as unexpectedly memorable. The route passes Malamala, Bounty, Treasure, and South Sea Island before turning toward Schooner Island.

Drinks begin flowing from the moment you’re underway and continue all day. The crew manages service actively — guests consistently note that an empty glass is quickly noticed and addressed. Unlimited means unlimited: beer, wine, soft drinks, and bottled water.

Schooner Island

The island is small, flat, and genuinely private — no other boats visit while you’re there, no resort guests, no restrictions on where you go. Facilities include clean toilets and changing areas. The time ashore is approximately 2.5–3 hours.

Activities on the island:

• Snorkelling with provided gear — reef and fish life directly off the beach; reviewers note significant fish density, assisted by the crew’s fish feeding, and occasional encounters with baby sharks
• Sea kayaking
• Beach volleyball
• Glass-bottom boat tour (additional cost, where available)
• Swimming and simply being on an uninhabited South Pacific island

Kava ceremony: a traditional sevusevu ceremony runs on the island before or alongside lunch. The kava is prepared and served in the customary manner, the claps are taught, and the crew explains the tradition. It’s an unexpected depth of cultural content for what is primarily a sailing and beach day, and reviewers consistently highlight it as a genuine surprise.

BBQ lunch: the chef prepares a gourmet buffet on the island — the spread typically includes multiple proteins (beef, chicken, pork, fish, sausage), salads, fresh fruit, and tropical sides. The food is cooked fresh on the island, not brought pre-prepared from the boat. Vegetarians should request this at booking.

The return

The sail back is, for many guests, the best part of the day: you’re full, the sun is lower, the crew picks up guitars and sings, and the schooner moves back through the Mamanuca Islands toward Denarau. Multiple guests describe spontaneous dancing and singalongs. The crew is consistently described in reviews as the heart of the experience.

Special occasions: birthday cakes and anniversary provisions are available if you notify the operator at booking. A complimentary sulu is provided for special occasions.

Complimentary WiFi: available on both the boat and the island — a detail the operator highlights as distinguishing from other day cruises.

What’s included

• Return coach transfers (Nadi/Denarau hotels complimentary; other areas FJD $35/adult, FJD $17/child at check-in)
• Champagne continental breakfast (muffins, scones, fresh fruit, juice, tea/coffee, champagne)
• Unlimited beverages all day (Fiji Bitter, Fiji Gold, red and white wine, soft drinks, bottled Fiji Water)
• Gourmet BBQ lunch on Schooner Island
• Kava ceremony
• All snorkel gear
• Sea kayaks
• On-board and island entertainment (crew guitar and singalongs)
• Complimentary WiFi (boat and island)

What’s not included

• Motorised activities (power snorkel, jet ski, where available)
• Massage (bookable on the island)
• Transfers from DoubleTree, Coral Coast, and Lautoka hotels (FJD $35/adult, FJD $17/child at check-in)

A note on the snorkelling

Schooner Island is a Mamanuca beach reef — not a dedicated dive site. Some reviewers describe the coral as impacted (Cyclone Winston in 2016 caused widespread reef damage in the Mamanucas, and recovery continues). The fish life remains strong, the water is clear, and the crew actively feeds the fish to bring them close. It’s a pleasant beach snorkel, not a world-class dive site. Guests who come for the overall experience — sailing, food, company, culture — are consistently delighted; guests whose primary goal is pristine coral snorkelling may want to add a dedicated reef day.

FAQs

Is the Whale’s Tale the same boat you get when you book?

Yes — the operator guarantees no last-minute boat swapping. When you book the Whale’s Tale, you sail on the Whale’s Tale.

Is this suitable for families with children?

Yes, with a minimum age of 3 years (infants 0–2 free of charge; children 3–15 at child rate). The island activities, the kava ceremony, the fish feeding, and the general social warmth of the crew make it a consistently popular family day. Sea sickness prevention is worth thinking about for younger children — the open ocean leg can be bumpy if the wind is up.

What about sea sickness?

Several reviews mention rough seas on the return in high-wind conditions. If you’re prone to motion sickness, sit amidships (the middle of the boat) and take preventative medication before boarding. The schooner is a stable vessel but it’s not immune to Pacific swells.

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Operated by Whale’s Tale Cruises. Departs Port Denarau at 10:00am. Returns approximately 5:00pm. Check in at the Port Denarau booth before departure.

By: Sarika Nand