We chose Fiji Princess as it fitted our itinerary for Fiji. Also Blue Lagoon Cruises offered a two for one deal which made for a very competitive deal. When we boarded from Port Denarau we were made most welcome and indeed the friendly service was maintained through out the voyage. Nothing was a bother and the ships company were well organised. Meals were somewhat average with reasonable choice. However, there were a number of issues which detracted from the overall cruise. 1/ The Fiji Princess is an aging ship and in parts needs renovation. 2/ There was a air con leak in our cabin which lead to mold growth in the carpeted corner. 3/ The air con unit was noisy. 4/ The shower head was partially blocked with salts and sprayed water every where leading to excessive towel use. 5/ The on board Still Vacuum Cleaners when in use in the hallways and cabins produced a very high whine that could be heard over the entire ship. The sound was very unpleasant especially when reading etc. 6 Finally the beach afternoon was set up well with refreshments on an Island most likely used weekly by the Fiji Princess passengers and staff. We were surround by washed up plastic waste on the beach and behind the camp. Some off us made a pile of plastic to be collected. The Crew had no intention of taking the rubbish back. I believe Blue Lagoon Cruises has a responsibility to do so for the environment, the use of the beach and to keep tourist happy. Read Less

Check in at Port Denarau was easy. We had complimentary pickup from our Nadi hotel. On arrival, you drop off the bags and they advise what time to come back for boarding. You can then have a drink, look around the shops etc. You are greeted with a nice drink on arrival and welcoming singers and staff and shown to your cabin. Room: Orchid room, which was clean and had fresh towels and toiletries. What is missing is storage space & hooks. There are no draws, and in the cupboard, there was only 4 hangers. After a while, our room attendant managed to get 3 more hangers for us, which I found a bit strange. The storage could be solved easily by putting a set of draws in the wardrobe or having a lot of hangers for people to use. There is a shelving area up against the windows which you can put some things on, but most stuff has to stay in your luggage which is stored under the bed. The bed was large enough but too soft for people with back issues. As we did the 7 nights, once the 3 night guests departed, wonderful Harry (guest relations) had our mattress replaced and it was better option for us. The shower/toilet takes a few days to get used to. There is no shower curtain and space is tight, but after a few days, we worked out how to not get water everywhere. Also being in an Orchid room, you have replenished mini bar each day. 2 soft drinks, 2 waters, 4 beers & 1 x white wine (Chardonnay) & 1 red (Shiraz). There is a form to fill out which you place on the bed with what you have used. I have to say nearly every day we had to chase for something to be replaced which got a bit annoying after a few days. Other things for the room: If you like to watch a movie (as there are no tv channels), you can go to reception and get a Hard drive which has a big selection of movies to choose from free to watch. You need to return this or you will be charged FJ200 which is fair. Drinks on board: If you are lucky enough to have an Orchid room, depends on how big a drinker you are as to what the end bill will be. Drinks are a bit on the expensive side. Soft drinks FJ8 = $5.17 // Beers from FJ11 = $7.10 // Wines per bottle from FJ73 = $47 // Cocktails from around FJ28 = $18.10. Every day there is happy hour in the afternoon where the cocktail of the day is 30% off. Food: There is a Captains dinner on the beginning of the 3night & 4night itinerary. 4 courses and delicious. Other food is buffet style with a great, tasty selection. Breakfast is buffet with an egg station for omelettes, poached, fried etc. A couple or mornings also champagne on offer. Service: Fijians are always amazing people. On this cruise, staff were friendly and a few of them go over and above to make your stay wonderful. A few others are friendly but need to understand that guests are paying a premium for this cruise and expect great service all the time (not some of the time). Laundry: There is a self service laundry on board which the guests can use in the morning and staff in the afternoon. Just check with them what the best time is. Itinerary: We enjoyed visiting Modriki Island where Castaway was filmed. This didn’t happen on the 1st day, but the following morning a few went for an early swim and walk. That afternoon, quite a few did snorkelling with the reef sharks which they enjoyed. Afternoon we visited Soso Bay and the Fijian island village. Always enjoyable to meet the local Fijians. There was an option the next morning for a church service or time to go snorkelling which we did and the captain joined us. 4th day – Sacred Isles. Unfortunately for us, it was low tide. This was one of the places where it was very difficult for some people to enjoy the beach, because of low tide. You had to walk over rocks etc just go for a swim. Thankfully the snorkelling was good. 5th day – Blue Lagoon (Nanuya Lailai Isl) which BLCruises has a large section for their private use. This for us was the highlight of the trip. Amazing beach, great snorkelling and fish feeding and you could easily just swim back to the ship if you wished. We were there for full day and that evening which included a traditional feast, dances/singers and then a shell market. Great day. 6th day – Early morning walk on the island for those up to it (steep hill first up) and good views, we then did the boat transfer back. Off then to Sawa-I-Lau caves. First section is easily accessible and they have floats etc for those who just want to stay in the 1st section and not go underwater to the 2nd cave. Great experience. 7th day – Off the ship for a school visit this morning (which was wonderful interaction with the kids) then to Drawaqa Island where a Marine Biologist was onboard for a presentations. BLCruises state in their itinerary between May to October, you have the opportunity to snorkel with the MANTA RAYS. We all discovered, by the Marine Biologist, that the only real chance you have is at high tide, and again we got there at low tide (and I was pretty angry about it along with a lot of others). A lot of people were very disappointed. This was one of the main reasons we did this itinerary and cruise. Cannot understand why BLCruises would not amend the itinerary to maximum the chance for their clients, if they are going to advertise this on their itinerary, why did they not do Manta Rays 1st and then the school? The school could have been visited in the afternoon instead. Thankfully the whole afternoon wasn’t a loss. The snorkelling was wonderful off the beach from Bare Foot Manta Resort. We decided to do Blue Lagoons 7 night cruise for a special occasion. Having cruised previously on 2 occasions, with their competitor we wanted to try BLCruises. Overall we had a great time, but it could have been a wonderful experience if just a few things were amended by BLCruises. Read Less

Did not meet expectations but mostly made up for that with the unexpected First, th things I expected that were not very good – great scuba diveing and some great kayaking over shallow clear waters and reefs. I expected some great scuba diving during the 7 night cruise - hopefully two times, with 2 dives each time for 4 dives total. Two dives is pretty common for one morning or afternoon dive trip. Instead scuba diving was a low priority and it seemed they were saying due to unexpected conditions and scheduling we only reached the dive shop that Blue Lagoon Cruises uses, late on the 2 days I went and only got one dive each trip, just 2 dives in 7 days. The first time was late afternoon and the dive site was close to the dive shop – almost like get their money, get em wet and wrap things up for the day. The underwater visibility was not as good as expected – maybe 40 feet on the first dive and 60 feet on the second trip. I believe both dive sites were recommended ones and they were OK – just not as good as expected and seemed a low priority for BLC(Blue Lagoon Cruises). I also expected lots of opportunity, on several days, to kayak with my wife in a double kayak over crystal shallow waters and reefs. The best beach break, at the Blue Lagoon, we were caught in a situation I am surprised they did not try to relocate or schedule for our cruise – the best lagoon ever between 2 islands, but the better side was off limits that day because they were filming Survival Fiji. We were stuck on the other side of the lagoon on another big wide beach but at low tide with huge coral flats that prevented kayaking and even prevented the shuttle boats from getting us all the way to shore – had to wade across low coral, weeds and muck about 30 feet to the beach and then the only ocean access required a longer wade through the same just to snorkel. Mostly we were stranded on a well supplied beautiful beach by the low tide and no access to the better side, where we could have kayaked. Beach walking, tide pool investigation and lounging were about the only options – or deal with the much, weeds and coral to get out far enough to snorkel. About mid trip at BLC’s private island where we stayed overnight – a full day and a few hours the next morning, there was one double kayak, about 3 single kayaks , a couple of paddle boards and a couple of glass viewer chest boards. My wife and I got off on the first tender and paddled 30 minutes or more and we also kayaked later in the day when the double kayak was available and also I went once on a single kayak. There was too much going on the next morning, in the short time the next morning, so we just got the one day of decent kayaking. An UN expected item - the food was just poor to good and the long break between 12:30 lunch and 7:30 dinner time frequently left us hungry so we ate the few snacks we had brought along to fill in. You should probably buy and take some snacks and food you like before you get on board. The mid afternoon tea sometime did not have much to snack on or it was all gone if you didn’t get there right away. The good chocolate chip cookies were not available on board mid morning and afternoon if there was a tea break on the shore. The fish and chicken items seemed to be the only really good meats and bacon was always on the rare side – we are with the crispy bacon crowd. Once my wife was served a slice of pork that was all fat. A lamb chop I was served on the farewell dinner on the sky deck was almost all bone. A nice beach lunch with made to order sandwiches for everyone , my wife’s order had beetroot and mayonnaise which she crossed off the order, as instructed. The chicken on her sandwich was poor and gristly. She said it was the worst sandwich she ever had. On a small ship the buffet is limited in variety and lunch and dinner seemed to be ever more challenging to get our fill of something we liked. Some of the fish preparations were very good. A final UN-expected problem – sometimes you had to be some of the first in line for things. The crew did a beautiful job of setting up beach umbrellas and loungers at 3 stops, but not enough for everyone, so you needed to be on the first or second tender if you wanted a shade umbrella. Mats and towels were available but not more umbrellas. Usually if morning or afternoon tea was during a shore break, the crew set up a nice tea and goodies arrangement, however, if you did not get on it early, there was not enough hot water, and goodies and you could get shut out or not get the favorites if you didn’t go right when it started. Some favorite lounging areas of the ship and dining areas get full and if you want a specific area you have to get there before it gets full. The sky deck which was nicely furnished was one place on the hip where you could usually get away from it all. I just wanted to detail what I felt were the downsides for me for others who might have the same expectations. Anyway the good stuff that helped make it a 4 star cruise for me. Unexpected was the amount of excellent snorkleing. If you love to snorkel this cruise will have a lot of very good snorkeling for you. I did not participate in a couple of the favorites but was impressed with the two times I went on their special snorkel trips – the fish feed – lots of fish over a coral head and the cave snorkel/swim was a beautiful cathedral like cave with open top and good light, then pretty much just a dunk underwater into another beautiful cave that was a bit darker and only a few light sources. Passengers who went on the shark feed snorkel said it was great. The captain free dived down to feed the sharks below the snorkelers. I had done a lot of shark scuba dives so I stayed on board with my wife who does not do those activities. Unexpected - the beach breaks were very good and the scenery. Usually deserted exotic beaches and if it was for several hours shade umbrellas and loungers were set up by the crew and tea was served on shore if it was mid-morning or mid-afternoon. The first beach stop, just an hour or so for swimming and beach combing was on the island where the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks was filmed. At the Blue Lagoon were were provided custom sandwiches and drinks in a padded carry pouch for lunch on the beach. Snorkeling tours were provided from some beaches and all stops had snorkeling opportunities. The cruise company’s private island was very nice for a full day, overnight and a few hours the next morning for jumping and diving off the back of the boat, a fish feed snorkel, a snorkel trip to the outer reef, more loungers and shade than passengers, a coconut husking/basket weaving/usages demonstration, lunch and dinner on shore with a night song and dance show from some native islanders, a fire pit preparation demo, and later everyone watched the crew dig up of the fire pit food for dinner. One double kayak, 3 single kayaks, two paddle boards and 2 belly glass viewing ports boards were available all day and next morning at the private island. Also better than expected – 3 village visits, and on the private island, a hike to the other side where the small village had a tea house where the cruise line bought us all coffee, tea and pastries. Another village we visited in the evening had a kava ceremony for us then also served a delicious, sit on the floor, dinner of crab, and 2 types of fish. The villagers and their tour guides were exceptionally friendly. At one island we went to the Methodist church service – the singing, unaccompanied by instruments, was very good, unfortunately tradition requires the service be delivered in Fiijan so that got a little long and boring, except watching the antics in the front rows that were reserved for the kids. So the cruise salvaged a 4 star rating with the unexpected extra nice things. The cruise did not meet my expectations for scuba diving or kayaking and the food was mostly disappointing and not always as much as we liked at the right times to keep us satisfied. Read Less

We usually go on large cruise ships. The experience we encountered with Blue Lagoon Cruises, being a small boutique cruise, we found to be very enjoyable. From the moment of our very smooth embarkation the crew made us feel part of their family. The cabins are spacious enough for that size ship, they are clean and serviced daily. Meals delicious and plentiful. The crew and the Captain went above and beyond to make sure all passengers were accommodated and having a enjoyable time. One of the Island villages we visited, invited us to attend their Sunday church service the following day. Words cannot describe how moving we all were with service and especially the singing by the choir. Other wonderful experiences included a visit to a village primary school where we were entertained by the children, snorkeling with reef sharks in crystal clear waters, traditional lovo dinner at Blue Lagoon, snorkeling in a limestone cave, dinner at a village eating traditional food, with our fingers and a walk over a mountain to reveal a spectacular view. We have come away from this cruise with wonderful memories that we will hold close to our hearts forever. Thank you Blue Lagoon Cruises for an unforgettable experience. We hope to be back again one day. Read Less

We wanted to cruise around the Fiji Islands. The Captain has no control over the weather but he always found safe mooring at night. The weather (wind) affected most of the planned activities but as promised the captain and crew made other plans that compensated for the missed features. Would have been great to get onto the beautiful beaches but water was to rough for safe passage in the tenders. Our safety was the captain's highest priority. My wife has many food in-tolerances but the chef and his team went beyond themselves to accommodate her complex dietary needs. It was the first holiday we have had without any issues caused by food. We thank them all so much. Everybody else's food was excellent and abundant. Waitstaff were very helpful and attentive. Ship was kept spotlessly clean at all time. We made many friends through the planned on-board activities each night. Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful in Fiji. We are going to book a 7 day cruise next year. Thanks once again for a wonderful holiday. Read Less

We recently booked this cruise to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and we weren’t disappointed. We booked the 7 day cruise and the scenery was spectacular. Our cabin was very comfortable, small ensuite but satisfactory. Everything was layback and very casual, food excellent ( too much!). All Fijian crew were more than exceptional, from the captain who spent time with us, doing everything from taking us snorkeling and cleaning our Snorkeling goggles, sitting on the floor of the deck playing guitar and singing to of course driving the ship, to the lovely staff that serviced our rooms and served us the beautiful food. Every need accommodated with a big smile and usually immediately. There were lots of activities snorkeling, fishing, diving, beach excursions, swimming etc. you could do as much or as little as you wanted. We had a fantastic holiday, and would recommend this cruise to all our friends. Read Less

I chose this cruise because of their great advertising, which is totally false!The catamaran is old,decrepit,dank,and in dire need of a total overhaul!Those beautiful photos of a chef flaming food, it never happens, and their idea of exotic dishes is chicken done seven ways, lamb sausages, spattering of fish, meals served in an open dining area that is hot and humid and the flies feast on your food before you have a chance to!Majority of the meals are buffet, and there are flies, gnats, and tiny roaches around the food and coffee area.The place you may find relief from the heat could be your cabin,except your cabin is small, dank, and disgusting where the a/c knob turns without any change in the temperature.The ensuite bathroom is so small you have to shower with one foot in and one foot next to the toilet. When you wash your face or brush your teeth all you can smell is the sewer coming up from the drain.Don't lean on the sink because it wobbles.They also have a 24/7 deodorizer in the cabin spritzing every so many minutes.Stay away, book Captain Cook Cruises you will be so sorry if you book the Fiji Princess.Crew are great, and I feel for them having to work under the most horrible conditions!Their brochure is totally false advertising, and when I complained they said the ship went under total renovations after my cruise, that was a lie because we had to be out of our rooms by 9:00a.m for their quick turn.Lies, Lies,False Advertising! Run to Captain Cook Cruises. Read Less

We had waited 4 years to do this cruise on the Fiji Princess around the Yasawa Islands for a 2nd time & I was worried that the memories were actually better than the last trip. WOW, if even possible it was even better the 2nd time around. From the moment you check in at Port Denarau you are made to feel special. All the Fijian staff have the most wonderful welcoming smiles and dispositions. Nothing was to much trouble and by day 2 they were calling you happily by your first name. We had a special dietary request, non dairy Milk which was organised prior to the cruise. The staff were so well organised that we never even had to ask from day 1, fresh Coconut Milk in a jug as soon as we surfaced for Breakfast, awesome touch. Everything from the comfortable beds, hot showers, Extensive drink selections, the shore excursions, the crazy antics of the crew with activities like Beach Aqua aerobics & sing a- longs to the amazing foods it was ALL just fantastic. At the airport returning back to Australia we sat trying to sort our diaries so we can book again asap. we will not leave it another 4 years, we will be back within the year!! Vinaka to all the amazing crew, you made the start of 2018 & our New Year Celebration a very spacial one!! P.s. We have done a lot of cruising mostly large ships & the Fiji Princess is still our favourite Read Less

This cruise would suit all age groups. Soooooo relaxing, yet lots of great activities. Beautiful snorkeling every day, pristine remote beach visits almost every day (with kayaks and SUP’s). Wonderful, friendly islanders to meet in the remote villages. Cave snorkeling. Mooring up to a coconut tree in the Blue Lagoon, with hammocks and a full bar/meals set up. Even a fishing expedition in a tinny (all inclusive). Delicious, local fresh food. Gorgeous village dancers visited the ship for a heartwarming, fun performance. I cannot recommend this cruise highly enough. Very friendly and efficient Fijian crew members. Magnificent panoramic scenery. Nothing better than sitting up on one of the back decks with wine, cruising off into the sunset. This is the best way to really see Fiji, away from the resorts. Whether you are a young (or not so young) romantic couple, elderly (but reasonably mobile), adventurous single, a family (large or small), a reunion or a wedding party. Absolutely perfect!!! Read Less

This was my third cruise with Blue Lagoon Cruises with my family. I was born with a physical disability, and the crew took it upon themselves to make sure that I was well taken care of. From helping me in every way possible with getting my food. To getting on the motorboat going to the island from the ship. I can remember all of the cruise directors from all three of the cruises, and how well they made sure I was taken care of. Ben Berwick was the cruise director on my first cruise, and he was really funny. He always loved to make the passengers laugh. Including me. Big Joe was on the second cruise as cruise director, and he was funny too. As was Sefo on the cruise last year. The Fijian people are warm, and welcoming. That's one of the things I love about coming to Fiji. Read Less

The cruise was terrific, the staff was always attentive, very energetic, and happy. They were very hardworking as well, setting up our private beaches and shuttling us between the ship and our activities multiple times a day for a week was amazing. And for being "on" all the time, never once did I see them slacking or getting frustrated. Every staff member enjoyed what they do and it showed. The staff was also very welcoming and warm. We toured the engine room, the bridge was always open to us, the captain would always be involved too, he was never a no-show. It was wonderful. The excursions were also terrific, many snorkels, saw lots of fish up close (sharks, mantas to name a few), sunsets, caves, traditional villages, ceremonies, and private beaches. I could go on and on. We really had access to the best of the best. The other passengers were terrific too. It doesn't feel crowded but the ship was still full. Surprisingly to me, the average passenger was a retiree or an empty-nester. However, they were very active. Partook in mostly all of the activities. snorkeling, hiking, dancing etc... amazing. Bottom line: great time. Do the 7 days. Read Less

We did the 7 day cruise with our three girls ( aged 13, 15, 17) - what a wonderful week. The Fijian hospitality was fantastic and we felt we got to see Fiji in a more authentic way than if we had spent it at a international resort. The boat is fully staffed by locals, you visit great snorkeling sites every day and places made famous by movies ( Cast Away, Blue Lagoon and Survivor). The food is fresh and plentiful. The staff are very accommodating. The Cabins are compact but well appointed and servicing was fantastic with cleaning twice a day and fresh towels always provided. The boat is old but well maintained. It seems they have a proven formula as the cruise has been operating for more than 30 years. The village visits were highlights. We would highly recommend this cruise as a way to experience Fiji. Note it is normally an adults only cruise except for a few weeks each year. Read Less

Within two hours of departure, we had our first beach/swim opportunity on the Castaway beach. Happy hour appetizers and dinner followed. Early riser were treated to a sunrise swim before breakfast and departure to the next beautiful beach. Morning tea on the beach. lunch on the ship before a bit of snorkeling. Afternoon tea. Some time to read before happy hour and dinner. Activities such as a village visit, paddle boards, cave snorkeling and dinner from a pit were added. Each day seemed perfect and then was followed by an even better day. The ship is beginning to age but is spotless. WiFi was wonky - best in the morning or in the reception area. The three main gathering areas (dining, lounge and top deck) are comfortable and encourage socializing. The crew was friendly and fun. They went out of their way to accommodate our interests. The food was very good and and varied. We especially enjoyed the Fiji, Indian and Lovo dinners. By the second morning our egg preferences where known. Great coffee. The other passengers were a mix of New Zealanders, Australians, and handful of Europeans, Canadians and Americans and four Chinese. Everyone was friendly and delightful to be around. No one packed their ego. We are looking forward to returning! Read Less

We chose this cruise simply because we were in Fiji for our daughter's wedding, decided to take another week after the event and I couldn't decide on resorts. I thought a boutique cruise would get us the most Fiji possible in 7 days. I am so glad I couldn't decide on resorts because this cruise was amazing. Port Denarau was OK. There is a bistro near the check in desk and I felt safe the entire time we waited. Embarkation was organized and easy. The ship is well loved and care worn but clean and maintained. You actually feel that you are on a boat, not a floating city. The small size meant that you got to know the crew and your fellow passengers. It felt good to go on adventures and take meals with new friends, sort of like a summer camp experience. The cabin, we were in 15, was small but adequate. The point isn't to spend time there except to sleep and get ready to do something else anyway. There is only a closet which necessitated living out of our suitcases, something I don't like to do, but they slid easily in and out from under the bed and I got over it. In all reality, if you bring more than swim gear, a couple of casual outfits and underwear you are over packing for this cruise. You could probably skip the underwear. It is very casual. The bathroom is tiny- no shower curtain so the whole thing gets wet but it drains quickly. The food was great. 3 meals plus 2 teas- more than anyone needs. Breakfast offers eggs to order, meats, potatoes, baked beans (a UK thing I guess), multiple bread choices. Mimosas for morning imbibers. Tea and a self-serve espresso/coffee machine that I am still missing, 2 weeks later. Morning tea was some form of cake and fresh fruit (the most delicious fresh fruit possible) and off course tea, coffee choices, fruit juice. Lunch was a steam table set up, sometimes on the beach, and usually was a choice of proteins (fresh fish and chicken or beef), some veggie selections, variety of starches and always the fresh fruit was available. Once day we had box lunches on the beach. Then beach time or a snorkel trip and afternoon tea- same as morning only tea sandwiches added. then beach or a snorkel trip and time to clean up for dinner. We had 2 Captains nights where we were served at the table- given a choice for entree (appetizer in US), main course and dessert and all was delicious. 1 night there was a Lovo (Fijian cook out) on the beach with pork, fish and the great accouterments. One night was Indian night- saris were provided and the food was Indian. One night we was scheduled for a feast with a local village but weather prevailed and the feast was brought to us and we dined on board- again, delicious. If you go hungry on this cruise it's because you are too busy having fun to eat. Activities were mostly water related- beach days, guided snorkeling trips, cave snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking. The snorkeling was really terrific, as good as I have experienced having snorkeled in Hawaii and Caribbean. If you want to scuba or deep sea fish you can arrange it with the crew and that is the only extra expense other than alcohol. And spa treatments. I had 2 massages. One on board- the room isn't terribly spa like but the massage was good and one on the beach where the massage was just ok but the beach was wonderful. There was dancing but it was after 8 p.m. and to be honest we hit the sack too early to participate. The crew entertained with guitars several times. Any down time was self-made and consisted of enjoying the sunset with a cocktail and our new found friends or reading in a deck chair. WiFi is a bit spotty of more than adequate for posting photos to Facebook to make your friends back home jealous. People trying to work had some issues. I think it was karma. One day we visited a village and toured the school. We had 2 Kava ceremonies. The crew was fabulous. The Captain kept us out of the way of a cyclone and our weather was close to perfect. The service is good and everyone in the crew is friendly and just plain nice. They could not have been better trained or more personable. Disembarkation was clouded by the tears in my eyes after the crew sang us off the boat. Everything went smoothly however. Would I go again? HELL YES! Read Less

We chose this cruise on the recommendation of family who did the cruise, "Majestic Princess" in 96/97. The compelling factor was the number of passengers (70) capacity we had 58. We went in March 2017 in the wet season so we had very high humidity, sunshine, rain. We considered that we had a true Fiji experience staying at a resort in a byre (reviewed on TripAdvisor) prior to boarding and after disembarking and doing two half day tours. Our cabin was on the same deck as the Lounge Bar and as we are mobile senior citizens this was ideal for more than one reason. The whole crew and those we did not see were wonderful and nothing was too much trouble, The seas were calm except for one day when we steamed out to the last island but it was nothing and not constant only when we were out in open water and not on the lee side of the hundreds of islands that make up the wonderful country of Fiji and especially the 20 or so that make up the Yasawa Island group. Our cabin was air-conditioned perhaps a little too well as each time we left it glasses, video recorders, cameras and the like immediately fogged up and cameras took almost an hour to be useable, small concern. Having done a couple of earlier cruises on bigger ships we did not expect a cabin any larger than it was but the shower took a little bit of working out, but again you are aboard ship. If you could not get out of bed for breakfast, 10.00am was morning tea. The dining area one deck below us was absolutely magical perhaps it was the very fact that the weather was warm and very humid as it would in the wet season and one had night shows of magnificent lightening flicking across the sky. If you are travelers who want to have their day full of busy activities forget it, you do as much as you want and as little as you want, but who in the South Pacific would want to stay onboard as great as it was instead of getting ashore in landing craft which were expertly driven by both the guys and the gals that made up the Fiji crew. Activities were mainly ashore and/or in the wonderfully warm azure water or under it with expert guidance. The service was at all times impeccable and could not be faulted. Due to weather conditions many onshore activities the Lovo was cooked and brought aboard and we missed a meal on shore and cocktails on the Sun Deck but no worry no hurry it is Fiji time. We watched the crew load the landing craft and bring ashore morning and afternoon teas and this would be a disaster unless one is Fijian as we feel that they can do everything all with a smile on their faces and they can all sing. We were entertained by village dancers and had a shell market on board as weather did not permit otherwise and we knew that all things offshore was "weather permitting" and this did not worry us in the slightest. There are special cruises that take place in holiday times for children, so not all cruises have children. We were able to join in the fun of dressing, ladies in saris and this was an experience and the men had it easier. The other fun event was a fashion parade showing the different ways of wearing a sulu (sarong) seven of us were able to represent a group of islands and I was Miss Yasawa and was loudly cheered by many of the crew who lived on islands in this area. Unfortunately for them I was runner-up. Being onshore was a daily event visiting villages, schools and a church service or just laying back on the provided sun lounges and doing nothing except have a dip in the blue, blue warm water. We did tie up to a coconut palm, we did see the movie "Blue Lagoon" and swim at Blue Lagoon and swam at Castaway Island again another movie location for "Castaway" complete with "HELP ME" written in rocks on the beach. We took things for the villages and schools but did not realise that we went to more than one school, we will know next time when we go in 2020. Some of the students had a one and a half hour walk to school over a hill to the other side of the island to get to school and of course the same back to their village after school. Our school children would be aghast at what the Fijian's do not have, our grand children were in disbelief that the schools did not have all of the social media and media tools. It would be a great cruise for our kids to see the Fijian kids. Read Less

Friends took this cruise three years ago and raved about it. We concur. It was a week of island-hopping through the Yasawa and Mamanuca island chains. We snorkelled often (first time), swam from many beaches, relaxed on beautiful beaches, had dinner on one beach, were entertained by Fijian singers and dancers, visited a school in one village, had Fijian dinner in another village, listened to beautiful singing at Sunday church service in yet another village. Swam with sharks, explored a sea cave and swam underwater briefly to get to a second cave. The ship itself was lovely, a great variety of seating on three decks if you wanted to be with others or on your own. Our captain, Jotiko, was multi-talented; he sang, played guitar, and led snorkelling expeditions in addition to running the ship. The crew was lovely -- very friendly and helpful. Shore activities, especially meals and morning and afternoon tea, can be complex, but they made it look easy. Crew members are very friendly and are very good at what they do. They kept us as busy as we wanted to be. Read Less

WOW WOW WOW !!! We booked the Blue Lagoon 2x night / 3x day cruise 10 years ago with our children for my 40th birthday and thoroughly enjoyed it then. I was wanting to do something special for my 50th birthday and knew the Blue Lagoon 7x nights cruising the Yasawa Islands was exactly what I wanted to share with my husband (no kids this time) celebrating my birthday. And we are so very pleased we booked! We have done a lot of travelling all over the world and this would have to be at the top of our list of places we've visited! The service from the lovely staff in Port Denarau, the ship, the crew - extremely efficient, friendly, funny, nothing is too much for them in helping you, the cabin - everything is catered for, the lounge and dining areas along with the top deck bar - all very comfortable. The food is amazing, catering for all with various dietary needs, the variety of entertainment, the visits to the local villages meeting the beautiful Fijian people, especially the children who sing and dance when visiting their school - the children's voices are so beautiful. The snorkelling is amazing, such an enormous variety of fish, white tip reef sharks and coral, the colours a true delight to see. The beaches are so beautiful, the colours of the water, the amazing sunsets - picture postcard perfect. One of the most amazing days was spending the day on Blue Lagoons private island snorkelling, eating, sun baking, reading, kayaking, stand up, enjoying a Vomo beer while sitting in the crystal clear waters, beach volley ball with the crew, walking to the other side of the island visiting Lo's Tea House, having a beautifully made Lovo dinner cooked superbly for us followed by a night of dancing entertainment from the local villagers and the ladies displaying the beautiful works in necklaces, colourful mats etc. It was a magic day and night! We also met some amazing people on the cruise who are now good friends and we are all looking forward to meeting up again next November 2017. Thank you Blue Lagoon Cruises for a most wonderful holiday - we will be back. Kim & Graham Caldwell Read Less

The crew make this cruise good fun. Captain will select the best route based on weather conditions. We had good weather, so you hardly noticed the boat moving at night. Crew take passengers ashore using tenders (small craft). They are safety conscious and they are prompt, should you wish to return to the boat. Several very good snorkelling locations. The visit to the school near Kese was a highlight. Good comical attempt at All Blacks haka by school pupils. Food is plentiful and great variety, but not 5 start restaurant quality. Still very good. Highly recommend this cruise if you want a bit of an adventure and great Fijian crew who took the time to ensure everyone had a good time. This cruise is generally adults only, however on several occasions each year, kids are allowed. There were 10 ranging from 5 to 15 years. Our kids were well catered for and entertained. Read Less

There are so many choices in the islands of Fiji, so my daughter and I decided a cruise through the Yasawa Islands would give us a sampler in a small amount of time. The Fiji Princess is a small, 65 passenger plus crew ship with dining and lounge areas, as well as a large sundeck. Because of small size, there was no fitness or true aquatic area. I believe there were only about 45 passengers onboard our cruise, which made for no waits or crowding. The Island Princess did seem very seaworthy, even in some pretty good Pacific swells. The cabins are tiny, with virtually no space for clothes, and minimal plug ins for any devices. Air conditioning was powerful and consistent throughout. The bathroom area is a tight fit for any big person, and the shower head was held up by the clothes line! The cabin was clean, and serviced daily. Except for sleeping and changing clothes, we didn't spend much time in our cabin, because activities were pretty regular. We adapted to it quickly, because the itinerary, as well as the crew and fellow passengers....mostly from New Zealand and Australia...were wonderful. However, Blue Lagoon's advertising as a "boutique" experience is hyperbolic to put it mildly. A better characterization was from a Kiwi on board who called it "a bit rough around the edges". Food was plentiful, and pretty good, but not outstanding with the exception of sashimi served at one meal. Breakfasts were also very good. Complementary beverages were included in cabin refrigerators, but alcoholic drinks were otherwise pretty steep. There were several highlights. The pacing of the activities was about right...not too much, but enough to keep you moving. With the exception of the first snorkel trip, which was disorganized and a bit chaotic, the excursions were handled well. Because of its small size, the Island Princess was able to anchor just a short swim from a gorgeous iconic South Seas Beach in Nanuya Island. Blue Lagoon leases this beach area, and it was already set up with umbrellas, chairs, hammocks and water toys including kayaks and paddleboards before we disembarked. Clean flush toilets also. As Fiji was and is heavily influenced by the British Empire, morning and afternoon tea were served, as well as a decent lunch. Snorkeling...though not outstanding because of reef bleaching and cyclone devastation...was fun, and a wonderful dinner was served by torch and electric lights at night. A Nanuya village provided a colorful music and dance program, and my daughter played beach volleyball with crew and fellow passengers. Equally fascinating were visits to a Fijian village for kava ceremony and dinner, and a magnet school in Naviti, which was devastated by a Category 5 cyclone in February of 2016. Like seemingly EVERYBODY in Fiji, the kids are accomplished and enthusiastic singers. A snorkeling trip to a reef at Barefoot Island was outstanding, though our group did not seeing migrating manta rays. The reef itself was large, and rich in both coral and fish...though not pristine by any means. I can't say enough good things about the wonderful crew, with perhaps the exception of the Cruise Director, who seemed aloof and not terribly friendly or conversational. Perhaps he was just too busy or preoccupied. Within a couple hours of being onboard, it seemed like most of the staff knew my name, and enjoyed conversation. The crew running the landing boats were exceptional, especially getting back to the Island Princess on a rough dark night from the Fijian village. A friendlier, more congenial crew you will not find anywhere. Go on this cruise if you are an adaptable traveler, and don't mind "rough around the edges" You will enjoy the wonderful people of Fiji, the Yasawa Islands and their amazing sights. If that doesn't suit you, there are more than 300 islands...many with fine resorts...as well as many things to do on the bigger main islands of Fiji. Even though this was by no means an inexpensive cruise, both my adult daughter and I enjoyed it immensely Bula! Read Less

Unpack your bags and for the next week you are in heaven. Everything was so well run. The ship though not lavish was well appointed. The crew are so welcoming and can not do enough for you. We visited some of the most beautiful islands. We have dived and snorkeling in many parts of the world but nothing compares to this. You can be as active or chilled as you want. The food was great the cocktails were fabulous. They cater for all ages and abilities. The tender boats were easy to enter and exit(even for me with a dodgy knee) most of the days were spent exploring the lovely islands but you only had to ask and the crew would take you back to the ship. There were some memorable cultural experiences as well along with a visit to a local school. We were humbled by the welcoming locals who were still rebuilding after cyclone Winston. The friendliness of the Fijian people was something we could learn from. We can not recommend this cruise highly enough. We will return! Read Less

We had a great time on our 7 day cruise with Blue Lagoon Cruises. The staff was unbelievably accommodating and went well out of their way to make sure we were taken care of. Jone, the cruise director really made things special by his attention to detail and his wonderful sense of humor All of the excursions to the villages, the snorkeling trips and the onboard activites were well run and coordinated. While "Fiji Time" is often referred to on the islands as to why things don't get done in a timely manner, we never experienced that on the ship. All of our departures and arrivals were on time and the staff was professional. The joke on the ship is that "The more you eat, the better you float". Needless to say, we floated very well! We enjoyed visitng the local villages and learning about Fijian culture. The snorkeling was good but I wish we were there before the cyclone Winston as there was some damage to the reefs. Overall, we highly recommend BLC and thank them for a great time Read Less

We thoroughly enjoyed the 4 night Wanderer's cruise around the Yasawa Islands with Blue Lagoon Cruises and would recommend it to all travelers who have an interest in seeing the beauty of Fiji and meeting Fijians but not if you are uninterested in other cultures or want to sit around endlessly socialising with people just like yourself and you don't want to exert yourself. Despite the threat of the impending cyclone and some necessary modifications to our itinerary for the safety of all on board as well as the villagers and students in the school we would have visited and who needed to go to their homes to be safe, it was a wonderful cruise. The Captain handled the impending threat with calm efficiency and we enjoyed the cruise very much thanks to him and his crew of friendly, helpful and efficient people who were also excellent singers and provided the pre-dinner entertainment each night. You can be sure that you are in very safe hands if an unforeseen circumstance arises. The small number of passengers and crew resulted in an intimate, friendly atmosphere and gave us the chance to get to know people. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other 32 passengers from many countries, seeing the beautiful Yasawa islands, being pampered with lovely meals, glorious views, swimming in warm waters and the wonderful Saw-i-Lau caves, admiring the reef and fish, entertained in a Meke Concert by very talented villagers and meeting the villagers. We wish the people of Fiji a speedy and successful recovery from the devastation wrought by cyclone Winston and we strongly recommend that travelers continue to visit lovely Fiji with its warm and friendly people and support their recovery from this disaster. Read Less

Blue Lagoon Cruises are my "Happy Place" I just finished cruise number 5 and this time brought some first time BLC friends with us. They had an awesome time and we are already talking about cruise number 6. The staff are second to none and they make you feel like their family. The activities will blow your mind with new adventures every day. I loved watching my friends faces light up when they saw Nanuya Lai Lai for the first time. Swimming in the famous Saws-I-Lau Caves is an experience never forgotten. This cruise is for the young and old alike. The ship is extremely comfortable and unlike big ship cruising your cabin will be your bedroom and the ship your home. The food is scrumptious and you eat on the islands you visit including a special Lovo night on The Blue Lagoon Island with Meke to follow. You also have theme nights, Captain's Dinner aboard all of which is more dressy but only if you want to as dress code is casual but respectful. You can drink a cocktail while floating in the sea, nothing is too much trouble for the wonderful crew. You will meet and mix with wonderful people and share memories you will never forget. Visiting traditional Villages is a highlight and you will eat traditional Fijian Food one night at a village. You will meet beautiful village children and the happiest people I have ever met. This is a boutique cruise full of adventure on a very comfortable small ship with maximum 64 passengers completely different to big ship cruising. If you like big ship cruising you will find this completely different but you will realise what you have been missing. Same if you are used to big resorts, this is so much better. If you are travelling alone you will find this a great option as you can spend a week at a resort without really meeting people but on a Blue Lagoon Cruise the crew and other passengers will make you part of a very happy and fun group. Every time I've cruised we have had singles that have thoroughly enjoyed their experience. If you come to Fiji, please consider at least a four day BLC you most certainly will not regret it. Read Less

It was our first (but not last) cruise with Blue Lagoon Cruises. We sailed to the Yasawas from Port Denarau on the 7 nights' cruise. Everyone made our time enjoyable and relaxing. The food was great, the cabin comfortable, the destinations glorious and the crew top class. Nothing was too much trouble and the Fijians' natural gregariousness and genuine care shone through. Ni Sa Bula Vinaka Read Less

I hate big ship cruising but I LOVED the Fiji Princess. Embarkation and disembarkation for the 7 day cruise is from the Denaru Marina, in Nadi, Fiji and involves the crew singing both a greeting song and a goodbye song. The ship's crew is fabulous: friendly, caring, attentive, warm and entertaining (they sang to us often). They really make this cruise, but the ship itself and the itinerary are also great. The ship has 30 cabins so 60 passengers are the max. This makes for a fairly intimate experience and one gets to know many of the other passengers, many of whom are from New Zealand and Australia. The ship has really nice and well designed cabins with lots of storage including under bed storage for your suitcases (the beds are raised platform style). Every cabin has a window and ensuite bath which is small but very functional. The shower converts to a hand held shower which makes it so much easier to shower. There is even a medicine cabinet in the bathroom to store all your essentials. Our cabin was on the Hibiscus Deck and we were so glad as this deck has the dining room and reception area (where one goes to board the tenders for trips) and the self service free laundry room that has 2 washers and 2 dryers. The lowest Orchid Deck has the bar and lounge area and the upper Orchid deck has its own sun deck. The food on the ship is great and plentiful with several choices at every meal. Fresh fish is almost always available as is beautiful salad fixings every lunch time. In addition to the 3 meals they serve morning and afternoon tea which usually includes fresh tropical fruit of all kinds. The 7 day tour winds up and around the Yasawa Islands and includes visits to the islands where the movies Blue Lagoon and Castaway were filmed as well as an excursion to the caves featured in the Blue Lagoon movie. In addition there is snorkeling almost every day and sometimes twice per day, village visits at many of the islands and a visit to the cruise company's private beach which is really beautiful and includes a song and dance performance by the villagers of that island. The reefs of Fiji are in marvelous condition, healthy, lush, colorful and well populated with a large variety of fish and other sea creatures. We took this cruise mainly for the snorkeling and were not disappointed. In all, I whole heartedly recommend this cruise. Read Less