Evan gathers force to become a category four Cyclone. Image: Herald Sun

Crystal Symphony will visit the Bay of Islands, New Zealand instead of calling into Lautoka, Fiji as Cyclone Evan heads toward the Fiji islands later today.

Four people have been reported dead and eight missing in Samoa following the cyclone that hit the island nation last week with neighbouring Fiji now bracing for category four Evan that is expected to reach wind gusts of up to 270 kilometres per hour.

Cyclone Evan is currently moving at 20 kilometres per hour and will pass just north of Vanua Levu Island today, reaching Nadi tomorrow morning according to the Fiji Meteorological Service 11:59am advisory and all flights into and out of the Fiji Islands have been grounded. 

No other cruise ships have been affected with P&O Cruises releasing a statement on their Facebook page this morning.