Blue Lagoon Cruises has been sailing Fiji’s Yasawa and Mamanuca islands for more than six decades, and its three-night Explorer Cruise remains one of the most accessible ways for Australian travellers to sample the region without committing to a longer voyage. Sailing aboard the Yasawa Princess II, the itinerary combines snorkelling, village visits and island time with the kind of small-ship intimacy that keeps drawing repeat guests back to the operator.
I had cruised on Blue Lagoon Cruises before, on board the Fiji Princess, so I was excited to see the difference in the ships.
The cruise departs Port Denarau every Friday at 3pm, with check-in from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, and returns to Denarau on the Monday. For agents building Fiji itineraries, the short format makes it an easy add-on to a resort stay, giving clients a taste of the outer islands without extending their trip by a week or more.
Life aboard the Yasawa Princess II
Yasawa Princess II is new to the Blue Lagoon Cruises fleet in 2026, a catamaran carrying a maximum of 44 passengers and up to 22 Fijian crew. The shallow draft and hydraulic rise and fall boarding platform allow the ship to reach islands larger vessels can’t, including tying up directly to the beach at some stops.
Onboard, the pace is relaxed rather than resort-style. Entertainment includes a Captain’s welcome dinner, Bollywood dancing and Fiji-style karaoke, alongside crew performances that lean into local culture rather than generic cruise-ship fare. Cabin categories range from Hibiscus to Orchid, giving agents a spread of price points to work with depending on client budget.
There is a sun deck where you can get the best views for sunrise and sunset, a mid deck outdoor area with comfortable seating and shade if you want to get out of the sun, and the bottom deck is where you will board the tenders for shore excursions. For a bit of peace and quiet, there is a small library room with full windows offering views of the stunning locations you visit and a selection of books to choose from.
The ship’s flexible cruising model is worth flagging to clients: itineraries can be adjusted for weather or local events, so the day-by-day running order should be treated as a guide rather than a fixed schedule.
The cabins
Yasawa Princess II offers 22 cabins across two categories. Hibiscus cabins are the lead-in cabins, with Orchid cabins, the higher category. Both categories are sold on a twin or double configuration, giving agents room to quote couples, friends travelling together or solo clients across two price points. The cabins have ample space for storage and an open closet for hanging clothes. The bathroom is surprisingly big for such a small ship and has amenities like shampoo, conditioner, body wash and soap.
The big drawcard of these cabins has to be the large windows – offering views as you cruise the Yasawa Islands. There are window shades, but I kept mine open so I could wake with the sunrise and see where we were every time I was in my cabin. The large bed is not only comfortable but still allows for ample space to walk around in the cabin.
As a nice surprise, there was a gift on the bed of a sarong, reusable water bottle (with filling stations located on each level), a beach bag and a lovely Pure Fiji gift pack. Added to that was a fully stocked mini bar on day 1, which included wine, beers, soft drinks, chocolate and snacks. This is not replenished daily, but there is plenty to last your voyage.
Dining onboard
Meals are included in the fare and served in the air-conditioned dining room on the upper deck, with the sun deck converted into an alfresco dining space for dinners under the stars when weather allows. The format changes nightly: a Captain’s welcome à la carte dinner on the first evening, a traditional Indian Thali buffet paired with the Bollywood dancing on the second night, and a South Pacific-themed buffet dinner on the third. A bar on the upper deck serves drinks throughout the cruise, and a complimentary barista service pours tea and coffee around the clock.
Three nights, four islands
The Explorer Cruise’s strength is the variety packed into a short sailing. Shore activities include the Mouva Reef Shark Snorkel, a morning swim at South Sea Cay, snorkelling off Drawaqa Island and a visit to Soso Village, where guests are welcomed into the chiefly village for a guided look at traditional Fijian life.
The mix gives clients both the marine-life drawcard that Fiji is known for and a genuine cultural exchange, which tends to be the part guests remember most once they’re home.
Hot tips
Agents should encourage clients to start their cruise with a day at Malamala Beach Club before boarding. Billed as the world’s first island beach club, Malamala sits about 30 minutes from Port Denarau Marina in the Mamanucas and is also the pick-up point for guests joining the Explorer Cruise. Guests can check their luggage at the marina, transfer out to the island by 9.30am, and spend the morning on white sand before a tender collects them mid-afternoon to join the ship. It’s a far more relaxed start than a straight transfer to the vessel, and gives clients a full day of beach time, an infinity pool and island views before the cruise itinerary begins.
For a short sailing, the Explorer Cruise packs in a genuine sense of discovery, and pairing it with a Malamala day is a simple way for agents to add extra value to the booking without extra cost to the itinerary’s structure.
