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Seventh Heaven and Cloud 9 are two of the most stunning restaurant bars we have been to. Located in the middle of the ocean in the Mamanuca Islands, these floating day clubs are an absolute blast to visit but are different from one another in more ways than one.
So you’re finally taking that trip to Fiji and you’re dying to go to one or the other. The problem is, you don’t know which is right for you. Is one day trip better than the other? Is it worth the cost? What is there to do? I had the same questions when I first went, so I completely understand where you’re at.
That’s why I went to both of them to figure out all of those answers and more so you could make the best use of your time and money when deciding which to visit. You’re on vacation, after all, you deserve the best experiences that Fiji has to offer!
About the Floating Day Clubs
Seventh Heaven
Located in the beautiful waters of the Mamanauca Island cluster, this little slice of paradise is called Seventh Heaven for a good reason! With two levels of comfortable and well-shaded places for you to hang out, it is easy to spend a whole day here eating, drinking, kayaking, snorkeling, and relaxing. It also has a 5-meter (16-foot) diving board if you’re feeling brave! Suffice it to say, there is plenty to do for families with children over 10, groups, couples, or solo travelers.
Seventh Heaven takes it one step further by offering more than just delicious food and drinks, however. If you’re in the mood you can book a massage or help the local environment during a coral re-planting tour. If you’re interested in either of these enquire with Viator beforehand so you don’t miss out on this opportunity! The staff are incredibly accommodating and more than happy to help you with whatever you need during your time aboard.
If you want to know more about Seventh Heaven, make sure to check out our blog on everything you need to know before visiting here!
If you are considering visiting Seventh Heaven we highly recommend booking in advance. Not only do you get round-trip ferry service from Port Denarau and a complimentary cocktail on arrival, but you avoid the $22 USD per person docking fee if you arrive by a private boat ($45 USD if you arrive by a commercial operator) so overall it’s a much better deal!
Book your trip to Seventh Heaven here!
Cloud 9
Cloud 9 is just as appropriately named and sits in the same stunning blue waters of the Mamanuca Islands. This 2-story floating paradise offers an elevated party vibe and plenty of places to kick back and relax with a cocktail in hand.
This floating bar rents snorkeling equipment to any who wants to use it, but keep in mind there are limited supplies. However, if you are interested in paddleboards, or even jet-ski rental you can reach out to Viator beforehand to arrange activities for the day. When you book your trip in advance you also get a $60 FJD bar tab included – score!
It is important to note that Cloud 9 is more of a party scene and encourages drinking and mingling with its other passengers. There are sometimes events and live DJs on board, which is great if you want to dance! But if cigarette smoke or overly intoxicated people bother you keep in mind that this is something you are most likely to encounter while aboard. So if you are traveling with children or are more interested in a relaxing day this may not be an experience you are after.
Which Floating Platform is Easier to Get to?
To get to either of these floating day clubs you can easily take a day trip from Port Denarau. They actually both take around 45 minutes to get to by boat, so there isn’t a clear winner here.
Both Seventh Heaven and Cloud 9 are actually located fairly close to one another in the Mamanuca Island archipelago and the boats depart from Port Denarau Marina.
Cloud 9 includes resort transfers to and from resorts in Denarau, Nadi, and Wailoaloa, while Seventh Heaven only provides hotel transfers to resorts in Denarau.
Related Reads: Make sure to visit one of the Mamanuca Islands during your visit on an epic island day trip to Malamala Beach Club or Tivua Island!
Which Floating Bar is More Affordable?
Adult admission and transportation to Seventh Heaven costs $73 USD, while Cloud 9 costs $105 USD. That being said, Cloud 9 offers an included $60 FJD ($27 USD) food and beverage voucher to use while there. So when you include this voucher value, both trips are around the same amount. But if you don’t plan on eating or drinking enough to use up the voucher then Seventh Heaven would be the more affordable choice.
Both floating day clubs have very similar prices for their food and beverages. However, Cloud 9 does offer a more premium selection of alcohol and the prices can reflect this. You have to pay to rent snorkel equipment at both platforms, but Seventh Heaven has kayaks you can use for free for half an hour.
You also get a bit more time at Seventh Heaven if you take their 9 am departure. You get around 5 hours on the platform compared to 4 hours with Cloud 9. This makes the Seventh Heaven day trip a bit better value for the money.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
Pros and Cons of Each Floating Day Club
Seventh Heaven
- Price: $73 USD for adults (17+) and $60 USD for children (10-16)
- Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off from select locations in Denarau only, round-trip ferry service, one free cocktail on arrival, free use of kayaks for 30 minutes, and use of snorkeling equipment (for a rental fee)
Pros
Larger and newer platform – Let’s be honest, nobody likes an overly crowded area. Fortunately, this floating day club is quite large and has many day beds and areas to hang out – much larger than Cloud 9’s! Seventh Heaven opened in 2022 and Cloud 9 in 2013, and you can definitely tell that Seventh Heaven’s amenities and space look newer and more refined.
Larger menu selection – Another great reason to visit Seventh Heaven is their substantially larger food menu. They offer delicious wood-fired pizzas and other staples like burgers, fajitas, and more.
Longer experience – It’s easy for time to fly by between all the activities, eating, drinking, and hanging out. If you choose the 9 am departure time to Seventh Heaven, you’ll get around 5 hours on the platform, whereas you only get 4 hours on Cloud 9. This means not only a better bang for your buck but also more time to have fun on this floating paradise! Please note: The 11 am departure time for Seventh Heaven is a shorter experience. You will only get around 4 hours at the day club if you choose this option.
More to do – Once at Seventh Heaven, you can choose just to relax or can participate in some activities if you wish. You can have a massage in one of the private massage rooms, rent snorkeling equipment and explore the reef, go on a coral planting tour (enquire beforehand about this!), take the “Leap of Faith” off the diving board, or go kayaking!
Cons
Limited land transfer services – Pick-up and drop-off services to hotels outside of Denarau are not included. So if you are staying outside of Denarau, you’ll have to take a taxi or find your own way to the Port Denarau Marina to catch the boat over to Seventh Heaven.
No live DJ – I have to be honest, the live DJs that Cloud 9 has sometimes are pretty sweet. While Seventh Heaven still plays great music and keeps the vibes high, sometimes it’s just more fun to have a DJ!
No bar voucher – When visiting Seventh Heaven you don’t get a food and beverage voucher like you do for Cloud 9. All food and beverage purchases will be on you! That being said, we found the food and drinks to be reasonably priced. Plus, this tour is overall cheaper than Cloud 9 making up for the lack of voucher!
Cloud 9
- Price: $105 USD for adults (16+) and $95 USD for children (10-15)
- Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off from select locations in Denarau, Nadi and Wailoaloa, round-trip ferry service, $60 FJD voucher, use of snorkeling equipment (for a rental fee)
Pros
Hotel transfers from more areas – The Cloud 9 day trip includes roundtrip hotel transfers if you are staying in Nadi, Denarau, or Wailoaloa, whereas Seventh Heaven only includes transfers from Denarau.
Wood-fired pizzas – The pizzas here are surprisingly good, like, wow. I could have eaten a whole one to myself! You will not be disappointed with whichever pizza you order. Plus, they even offer options for vegetarians and gluten-free guests.
$60 FJD food & beverage voucher – Cloud 9 has great drink selection and when you book a ticket in advance you get a $60 FJD ($27 USD) bar tab included! That’s pretty much two drinks on the house. How can you not love that?
Live DJs – You’ll have to be careful not to spill your drink while you’re dancing to the fantastic live DJs Cloud 9 has aboard some days!
Morning and afternoon departure times – When going to Cloud 9, you can choose to leave the marina at either 9 am or 1 pm. Having the afternoon departure time is a nice option and may fit some people’s schedules better than the morning departure times offered by Seventh Heaven.
Cons
Smaller platform – Even though Cloud 9 only allows 100 people on its platform at once, it can get seriously crowded very quickly. Even if you’re off at your own table you will still be pushed right up next to people which can make it hard to relax, hear, and enjoy yourself. If you go on the 1 pm departure, you may also have trouble finding any seating when you arrive because it will most likely be taken up by the 9 am departure guests.
Limited food menu – Don’t get me wrong, the pizzas are amazing! But sometimes I would rather have a burger, you know? Cloud 9 only offers pizza which may not seem like a big deal, but if you want something more you’re out of luck.
4-hour experience – Cloud 9 is not only more expensive but also a shorter experience compared to Seventh Heaven. While 4 hours on the platform is still a pretty long time it would be nice if you could stay longer and hang out especially since you traveled all that way to get there.
No Diving Board – There isn’t a designated “diving board” to jump into the water on Cloud 9. People were climbing onto the railing on the 2nd level to jump in, whereas Seventh Heaven has a large dedicated diving board for jumping in called the “Leap of Faith”.
Related Read: There are so many things to do in and around Nadi, some of our favorites are the Fiji Mud Pools and the Garden of the Sleeping Giant!
Are Cloud 9 and Seventh Heaven Worth it?
Yes, these two floating destinations are totally worth your visit! Each offers incredible views, great food and drinks, amazing snorkeling, and great vibes! Laying on a lounger, having a delicious drink, and looking over Fiji’s incredible ocean will certainly be a highlight of your trip. But which is right for you?
We think both experiences are some of the best tours in Fiji, but we had an overall better time at Seventh Heaven. While spending a day on Seventh Heaven is our top pick between the two (it was pretty close), both offer something different depending on what you’re after.
Cloud 9 is an intimate day club offering more of a party scene with more drink options and DJ events. If you want to socialize, dance, and get a little more wild this is a great choice for you. However, while Seventh Heaven does offer that same opportunity to meet other people and have fun it also excels in the chance to relax and enjoy the pristine surroundings. It’s also cheaper overall, has more food options, and you can stay aboard 2 hours longer!
Both day trips offer free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand when you book with Viator. This means you get the flexibility to easily cancel or reschedule your trip if something comes up or the weather forecast isn’t looking too great. Plus, you can reserve in advance to secure your spot and not have to pay until 48 hours before you go, which is super handy when budgeting for your Fiji trip!
So which will you choose to visit? Personally, I recommend going to one and then the other! I mean you’re on vacation, after all, might as well try them both out for yourself!
Book tickets for Seventh Heaven here and tickets to Cloud 9 here!
Related Read: For more fantastic beach clubs (and party hot spots!) check out our guide on the best things to do in Canggu, Bali!
Where to Stay in Fiji
There are so many great areas to stay around Fiji. You can choose to stay on the main island of Viti Levu or venture out to the smaller surrounding islands. With so many choices, it can be hard to narrow it down. To help, these are my top picks for each area in Fiji that fit a range of budgets.
Nadi – The Ramada
Located right on Wailoaloa Beach, the Ramada Suites by Wyndham is the most luxurious hotel in this area. It features an exclusive pool and restaurant for guest use only. It is the tallest building in the area offering incredible views of the coastline and sunsets!
Because of its close proximity to the airport (only a 15-minute drive), many people stay here for a night before or after their flight. It’s a good place to spend some time before catching a ferry out to an island. A King Studio Room with a sea view goes for around $200 USD. Check availability and book a stay at the Ramada here!
Port Denarau – Radisson Blu Fiji Resort
The Radisson Blu Resort is just stunning, and for what you get, the price is very reasonable too. This resort is huge offering tons of activities for both families as well as couples. There is an adults-only pool as well as an area specifically for kids. It is beachfront and offers spa services as well.
Rooms here start from around $400 USD per night and range from standard hotel-style rooms with king beds or two queens, up to two-bedroom suites. Some rooms feature courtyard views while others have a view of the lagoon. All rooms have a balcony and minibar. Check availability and prices at the Radisson Blue Resort here!
Yasawa Islands – Barefoot Manta Island Resort
Barefoot Manta Island Resort is perfect for those wanting a real island getaway experience without paying huge amounts of money. Surrounded by a vibrant protected coral reef, this is the best place to go for ocean lovers. You can even swim with manta rays just off the shore from May-October!
You can easily get to Barefoot Manta Island Resort on the Yasawa Flyer ferry that departs Port Denarau regularly. The ride should take about 3 hours.
They offer dorm beds for only $29 USD a night. There are also private beachfront bungalows available starting at around $200 USD per night. Check prices and availability for Barefoot Manta Island Resort here!
Mamanuca Islands – Beachcomber Island Resort
Beachcomber Island Resort is one of the most popular island resorts to stay in Fiji. Its affordable pricing mixed with its close proximity to Viti Levu make it one of the best places to stay in Fiji. You can reach the Beachcomber Resort from Port Denarau by riding the Yasawa Flyer ferry. The ride should take about 2 hours.
There are many different rooms and bungalows to choose from – something for every budget! Remember all these prices also include ALL your meals. Dorm beds go for as little as $60 USD per night, whereas you can get a standard twin room for $225 USD. Check prices and availability at Beachcomber Island Resort here!
Coral Coast – Maui Palms
Mixing beach life and luxury, the Maui Palms is perfect for those wanting a bit of pampering on their holiday. There are lots of on-site activities and the snorkeling right in front of the resort is great. Expect an infinity pool, games room, bar, restaurant, and beautiful ocean-view villas with private balconies!
The location on the Coral Coast means you don’t need a boat to get there but can still experience some of the tranquility and beautiful beaches you might find on the smaller islands. There are also a few restaurants nearby, so you won’t be confined to the hotel. Rooms and villas here start at around $250 USD and up. Check prices and availability for the Maui Palms here!
If you’re looking for more info about where to stay in Fiji, be sure to read our blog. It includes detailed info on each area, the best things to do nearby, prices, getting to hotels, and so much more.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
There you have it – a full comparison between Seventh Heaven and Cloud 9! I hope this helped make your decision easier, but just know that ultimately you will have an amazing time no matter which experience you choose!
For more ideas and help planning your Fiji holiday, be sure to check out the rest of our Fiji guides. You can get started with one of the popular ones below:
12 Things to Know BEFORE Visiting South Sea Island, Fiji