Fiji Princess Review

4.0 / 5.0
44 reviews

Sweet and sour - but mostly sweet

Review for the South Pacific Cruise on Fiji Princess
User Avatar
Neron
First Time Cruiser • Age 90s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Oct 2009

Maybe Blue Lagoon needs to revise some of its brochures. The one I have states that embarkation is from 12 noon, with sailing at 3.00pm. Not quite so. Pre-embarkation is at a building in Lautoka, and for early and conscientious passengers the wait is tedious and boring. For those of you with travel acumen and a timetable to match, far better to arrive late than early, and to recieve VIP rush treatment.

It's some 35 years since I took a Blue Lagoon cruise. The ship in those days was the Lycianda - still in service I believe, but those casual days are long gone. The 6 night Gold Club cruise is now on the swept-up Fiji Princess catamaran. But gone is the welcoming bottle of champers in the cabin, and gone is the lobster from the Captains Cocktail Party - as are the cocktails. These are the most obvious signs of the cut-backs and reductions to the service - I assume to counteract Fiji's devaluation. I had paid close attention to a previous poster a few months back and noted that paid-for refreshments have escalated to near exorbitant levels. Like $9 for a glass of very average Ausie plonk wine, or $4.50 for a small can of Coke? Possibly the $150 cabin credit incentive had something to do with that, but I think the owners of Blue Lagoon need to learn that reduced service and increased prices will not gain friends or influence people, and it will certainly not attract the tourists Fiji needs. Only about 30 travelers were aboard, on a boat catering for 70.

Three decks of cabins averaging 13 square metres each, but each very cleverly designed, with a one-piece plastic moulded en suite (that as another poster said, could accommodate one sitting on the toilet, whilst cleaning teeth and showering at the same time), but nevertheless, an amazing amount of storage and wardrobe space. The lighting could use an overhaul, being about nil in the wardrobe and minibar area. A very comfortable queen-sized bed. The air-conditioning seems to have received some criticism on the forum; certainly the thermostats do not seem to work very well, but the system is re-circulatory - just like your home heat pump - and just needs a little intelligent control. Like turn it off when you don't need it.

Cabin Review

Cabin top

Cabins small by most standards (approx 13sqm), but very well designed. Not the sort of cabin to spend a lot of awake time in, but in the Yasawas, who needs it? If you want less noise and less stairways to climb, ask for a Saloon Deck cabin, right forr'd. Not that Blue Lagoon will give you a choice, but it's worth a try.

3 Helpful Votes
previous reviewnext review

Find a cruise

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.