10/12/08 Suva, Fiji

Unfortunately, I can’t really say much about Fiji since I barely left the ship. On the way to Suva, we were told that there was a serious outbreak of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne virus with several unpleasant symptoms and no real treatment options. I was barely into the third week of my nine week vacation, so I really didn’t want to take any silly chances. The ship’s staff was passing out insect-repellant wipes, warning everyone to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, etc. Worst of all, I had scheduled a walk in the rain forest! Now, if mosquitoes want to come looking for me, that’s one thing. But it just didn’t seem too smart to walk voluntarily into a rain forest. So, along with a long line of other passengers, I cancelled my excursion. I was brave enough to catch a shuttle into town for a little souvenir shopping but that’s all I saw of Fiji.

I later heard from some passengers who did go on excursions that the Fijians said that there wasn’t really much of a problem. I guess that HAL was erring on the side of caution and just covering their own butts. I probably would have done the same thing in their position. We depart for Port Vila, with a sea day on 10/13.