Comments on: Cruise to Fanning Island

By: Weekly Photo Challenge – Waiting | Journeys with Johnbo

Weekly Photo Challenge – Waiting | Journeys with Johnbo — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 10:46:41 +0000

[…] On our first cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines, our itinerary took us to a small coral atoll in the Pacific. It’s native name is Tabuaeran, however you can find it on the charts as Fanning Island. The snapshot I feature for the challenge this week is of two boys, one of whom is a performer on a stage show put on for the cruise line guests. While he waits to perform, he’s obviously been charged to care for his brother. You can find more photos in a gallery of Fanning Island imagery here. […]

By: photobyjohnbo

photobyjohnbo — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 03:18:23 +0000

In reply to PV lady.Sorry to hear you didn't go ashore. I don't know much about the maritime law, but do know NCL chose to register a ship in the US so they would no longer need to stop at a foreign port on their Hawaiian cruises. I do wish there were more options for cruisers to visit Fanning Island.Safe travels on your journey, my friend.

By: PV lady

PV lady — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 02:32:24 +0000

Hi, I am in a Seabourn Ship as I write this, very disappointed. We stopped at Fanning Island this morning and raised the national flag of Kiribati, we were stopped for 15 minutes, canoes and a fishing boat started to come out to great us, then the captain announced that the swells were too high and it appeared the water near the island looked unsafe so we wouldn’t be going ashore. The swells didn’t appear high at all to the 10 of us looking out, no white caps, just gentle swells. Then I come inside and start googling to look at photos of what I am going to miss…. and I find the 1886 U.S. maritime law which is the Passenger Services Act, it prohibits foreign ships from traveling between U.S. ports without stopping in a foreign country. Our last port was American Samoa.
Only 30 minutes later the captain announces we will be docking at Kona earlier than we had thought….. and we are going faster than ever… 18 knots.
A couple weeks ago we were in Port Vila in Vanuatu and the taxi drivers stoned the tour busses, with people in them….
Why would we not stop at Fanning Island? Has something changed? Or does this law make ships comply with laws they want to skirt if there is a reason they can grasp onto?
I feel badly for the people who were excited about our visit…. imagine living there and seeing us pull up closely and then cruising away before the canoes and boat could inform us all was well.
Loved your photos, wish they were mine!

By: Smiling Notes

Smiling Notes — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 16:14:58 +0000

You must have had such a wonderful time there..thanks for sharing 🙂

By: photobyjohnbo

photobyjohnbo — Thu, 21 May 2015 07:40:02 +0000

In reply to Louise Reynen.Thank you for your comments. What a great idea to bicycle around the island. I wish we would have thought of it.

By: Louise Reynen

Louise Reynen — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:19:28 +0000

My husband and I took that cruise, the sixth last voyage of the NCL Wind. We have been on 27 cruises and Fanning Island is on top of the list of most amazing places we’ve been. We didn’t go to the beach. We rented bikes, from NCL, and toured the island, stopping briefly under the trees while the rain passed. The homes were remarkable in their use of island materials and corrugated aluminum. It was such a treat to see the warriors in their woven-palm and fish-parts outfits. All of the items for sale at the market were island finds, literally. Our lives were so enriched by this visit. In addition we loved the 4 sea days travelling to and from the island. We were apaulled when we overheard other cruise passengers complain that going to Fanning Island was a waste of time. To us, it was a journey back in time, one we will never forget. Thank you for your story and for stirring up memories. I wish another cruise company would pick up this itinerary.
Louise Reynen and Skip Layton, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

By: Louise Reynen

Louise Reynen — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:18:02 +0000

My husband and I took that cruise, the sixth last voyage of the NCL Wind. We have been on 27 cruises and Fanning Island is on top of the list of most amazing places we’ve been. We didn’t go to the each. We rented bikes, from NCL, and toured the island, stopping briefly under the trees while the rain passed. The homes were remarkable in their use of island materials and corrugated aluminum. It was such a treat to see the warriors in their woven palm and fish parts outfits. All of the items for sale at the market were island finds, literally. Our lives were so enriched by this visit. In addition we loved the 4 sea days travelling to and from the island. We were apaulled when we overheard other cruise passengers complain that going to Fanning Island was a waste of time. To us, it was a journey back in time, one we will never forget. Thank you for your story and for stirring up memories. I wish another cruise company would pick up this itinerary.
Louise Reynen and Skip Layton, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

By: Tropical Breezes – Fanning Island Revisited | Journeys with Johnbo

Tropical Breezes – Fanning Island Revisited | Journeys with Johnbo — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:32:08 +0000

[…] can read more about our trip to Fanning Island in an earlier post. Click here to view more images of Tabuaeran and read about our visit […]

By: Butchart Gardens – Cascades of Color Any Time of the Year | Journeys with Johnbo

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 18:03:49 +0000

[…] Bahamas is obligated to have at least one foreign port on any United States itinerary. Click here to read more about the effect of this act on a Hawaiian Cruise we enjoyed in 2007. You can read […]

By: photobyjohnbo

photobyjohnbo — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 12:27:00 +0000

In reply to Barry Tregenza.Thanks for your comment. It's interesting to know about something other than the tourist industry on the island.