There were some beach stops on my educational cruise. In fact on the first sea day we were offered the opportunity to borrow a mask and fins for use on all of those adventures.

Our first such outing was a dazzling stretch of white sand called Champagne Beach on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, supposedly named because there is some sort of effervescence bubbling up through the sand due to volcanic gases. Well, we tried to feel this phenomenon and while we didn’t experience it, when I spilled some of my champagne on my feet I understood the concept. Kidding!

Sailing on we stopped a couple days later on the most populous island of Vanuatu called Efate where we visited a spot featuring a blue hole called the Blue Lagoon. These are freshwater swimming pools fed by underground springs with a beautiful turquoise color. This particular one is quite popular with both cruise ships and locals as it is close to the largest city and capitol, Port Vila!

Our last beach day was also in Vanuatu on Mystery Island. This was my chance to both kayak and snorkle. Locals were hired to both provide the kayaks and guide us. It was a little chaotic due to the rough sea and the timing of the multiple groups hoping to participate. I saw all but one of the kayaks return with someone towing them and the guide suggesting it was a little too wavy to continue. I, of course, disagreed and found a willing companion to accept the challenge. Off we went down to the point and back while I worked harder than I ever had before. It wasn’t until I saw the video taken of us until I realized why! Snorkeling was amazing as there were multiple reefs and many fish in spite of the choppy water.

.