Full Day Snorkelling Cruise in Tranquility Island Resort

This tour was billed as an 8 hour day sailing cruise with charm and character on a historic 23m ketch. The reviews were good, and we were excited. So one day last week our party of 4 adults and two small kids assembled at the appointed pick up time kerbside on Vila's main street. After waiting 1/2 hour with no pick up we started calling the tour operator, with no one answering the phone and no calls returned. It was not a good start and alarm bells started ringing. The bus finally turned up 50 minutes late, with the story that the driver waited for a couple at another hotel who didn't show up..... if in fact true (he would have waited 40 minutes) this was NOT OK and they need to seriously rethink their pick up protocols. The mini bus was in poor condition, dirty, holes in the seats, and no air conditioning. Most of Vila's commuting buses were in better condition, and for a tour operator offering charm and character, and after waiting in the heat kerbside with little kids for an hour this was NOT OK. After stopping in the middle of town, the driver disappeared with no explanation and eventually came back with the tour operator rep who asked for vouchers/payment, when it had already been booked and paid for online......NOT OK. Off we went and were eventually deposited at a remote beach at 9.45 and no one around as the bus driver just took off without explaining anything, .....NOT OK ....and no sign of a 23m charming ketch to be seen! Instead there was moored off-shore a beaten-up 5m scuba boat covered in a tarp. Eventually some people arrived for a transfer to Tranquility Resort and their very obliging private driver, a Vila resident, explained that the ketch was being repaired due to cyclone damage and he couldn't understand why we hadn't been told this. At no stage in the booking and confirmation process, nor on their website/social media, nor in the 6 weeks after the cyclones, nor at their Vila office on the day was there any indication that there would be no sailing ship, an integral part of their sales pitch and experience we were buying.......ABSOLUTELY NOT OK! After over another 1/2 hour waiting around another bus arrived with a company tour rep, who confirmed our worst fears, that the beaten-up scuba boat would be our "charming" means of transportation. This day was getting worse by every waiting minute and after some discussion with the understanding and hopefully embarrassed rep, we ditched the tour and she organised at our request but at our expense the bus to take us to Hideaway Island (which by the way was welcoming and super efficient). In Australia the failure to advise such a material change in a tour product is called misleading conduct. I don't know what it is called in Vanuatu, but for a country that is so heavily reliant on tourism, it reflects very badly on the tourism industry. It's simply NOT OK. On the only positive note, the refund was issued quickly! At the time of writing the website has not changed. Given they have now had 7 weeks to do so, I don't expect that it will any time soon.

The whole day was fantastic from being picked up in Vila , taken to Coongoola , Champagne on Board , Seeing the Turtle hatchery , Sailing around to a gorgeous beach , snorkelling, having a delicious lunch and finally returning to the Bus and returning to Port Vila A trip to always remember although we have done it many times it just gets better

Despite not going on the sail boat ( alternate boat was provided) I feel like we had a wonderful, authentic, Vanuatu experience. The snorkeling was fab, I found a turtle! Visiting the turtle sanctuary and learning about the work they do was incredible. And I got to hold a turtle! Lunch was lovely. Our driver Jason, guide Emily we’re fabulous. A really wonderful day and experience.