Blue Lagoon Cruises has long been the small-ship specialist of Fiji’s Yasawa Islands, and its three-night Explorer Cruise remains one of the easiest sells for clients who want an authentic Fiji cruising experience without giving up a full week of their holiday.
Sailing aboard the line’s new flagship, MV Yasawa Princess II, the itinerary is a compact introduction to the southern Yasawas, built around swimming, snorkelling and village visits rather than sea days and formal dining. For agents fielding requests for a short, high-value add-on to a Fiji stopover, it is worth having front of mind.
History of Blue Lagoon Cruises
Blue Lagoon Cruises traces its roots back to 1950, when New Zealand stockbroker Captain Trevor Withers and Australian aviator Harold Gatty set out to establish a tuna fishing venture in Fiji. When that plan proved unworkable, the pair turned their attention to tourism instead, and Blue Lagoon Cruises was born. Withers sold the business to Captain Claude Millar in 1966, and the company has continued operating small-ship cruises through the Yasawas ever since, now as part of the South Sea Cruises Group.
The brand celebrated 75 years of continuous operation in 2025, making it one of the oldest tourism operators in the South Pacific. That milestone was followed in April 2026 by the arrival of MV Yasawa Princess II, a new flagship built to meet growing demand for small-ship cruising in Fiji. Blue Lagoon Cruises has also built a long-standing relationship with the Yasawa village communities it visits, and supports them through the Vinaka Fiji programme.
Cruise options
The Explorer Cruise departs Port Denarau on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu and spends three nights working through the southern Yasawa Islands, anchoring at a different location each night. The ship carries a maximum of 44 guests and rarely spends more than four hours a day underway, which keeps the focus on time in the water and ashore rather than time on deck watching the horizon.
Clients who want more time in the islands have two other options on the same ship. The four-night Wanderer Cruise pushes further north into the Yasawas, while the seven-night Escape to Paradise combines both routes for a full exploration of the island chain. All three itineraries use MV Yasawa Princess II, so agents can upsell a client from the Explorer Cruise to a longer sailing without changing vessels.
About the ship
MV Yasawa Princess II is a 45.8 metre catamaran with a shallow draft, allowing it to reach islands and reef anchorages larger ships cannot. It carries up to 44 guests looked after by a crew of 22, largely drawn from local Fijian communities.
Onboard, guests have access to an air-conditioned dining room and lounge on the upper deck, an open-air sun deck for alfresco dinners and sunset drinks, and a library and viewing lounge at the front of the middle deck. A small onboard spa offers massage treatments, and snorkelling gear, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available at no extra cost. The ship is single-use plastic-free, with filtered water stations and a reusable bottle for each guest, and complimentary Wi-Fi and daily laundry are included. A hydraulic stern platform makes it easy to get in and out of the water directly from the ship.
The cabin types and what they are like
There are two cabin categories on board, Hibiscus and Orchid, both around 14.5 square metres and configured with a queen or twin beds, accommodating a maximum of two adults. Every cabin has air-conditioning, an ensuite bathroom and a window, so there are no inside cabins on this ship. Orchid cabins sit in a more central position on the middle and main decks, making them the pick for clients who prefer a steadier ride and easier access to the ship’s public areas.
The big drawcard of these cabins has to be the large windows – offering views as you cruise the Yasawa Islands. There are window shades, so you can close them for privacy or wake with the sunrise and enjoy the views. The large bed is not only comfortable but still allows for ample space to walk around in the cabin.
Guests will recieve a gift on the bed: a sarong, a reusable water bottle (with filling stations located on each level), a beach bag, and a lovely Pure Fiji gift pack. Added to that is a fully stocked mini bar on day 1, which includes wine, beers, soft drinks, chocolate and snacks. This is not replenished daily, but there is plenty to last your voyage.
The dining
Meals are included throughout the cruise and served either in the air-conditioned dining room or, weather permitting, under the stars on the sun deck. The onboard rhythm follows a set of themed dinners: a Captain’s welcome dinner with crew entertainment on the first night, an Indian thali buffet with Bollywood dancing on the second, and a South Pacific-style buffet followed by Fiji-style bingo on the third. Coffee and tea are available around the clock from a complimentary barista station, and the dress code stays casual throughout.
The activities
The Explorer Cruise is built around a full programme of swimming, snorkelling and cultural experiences rather than optional extras. Guests can join a shark snorkel at Mouva Reef, take an early morning swim at South Sea Cay before breakfast, snorkel the coral gardens off Drawaqa Island, and visit Soso Village, a chiefly village where locals share insight into everyday Yasawa life. A cooking lesson, kava ceremony and the option to attend a village church service are also part of the itinerary, along with kayaking and paddleboarding whenever the ship is at anchor. Because the route can flex around weather and local events, the exact running order of activities can vary between sailings.
Hot tips
Advise clients to start their cruise with a day at Malamala Beach Club rather than heading straight to the ship. Malamala sits on its own private island around 30 minutes from Port Denarau and doubles as the pick-up point for Explorer Cruise guests, so there is no extra transfer involved. The complimentary Moments at Malamala package includes an FJD 50 food and beverage voucher per person, and guests can spend the morning at the infinity pool or in a beachside cabana before boarding MV Yasawa Princess II in the afternoon. It is an easy way to add a resort day to the itinerary without adding a night to the trip.
How to book
The Explorer Cruise can be booked through the Blue Lagoon Cruises agent booking portal, via wholesalers and inbound tour operators, or directly through the line’s reservations team.
With a new flagship now in service and three itinerary lengths built around the same ship, Blue Lagoon Cruises has made it straightforward for agents to match the right Fiji cruise to a client’s timeframe, and the three-night Explorer Cruise is the natural entry point for those short on time but keen on the real thing.
