A cruise around Fiji on Yasawa Princess with Blue Lagoon Cruises is different to staying at a resort. You get the freedom to explore multiple islands without the hassle of packing and unpacking, while the small size of the ship allows for a more intimate experience. Blue Lagoon Cruises has been sailing around Fiji for more than 75 years, and Yasawa Princess II continues that tradition with a distinctly local flavour. With just 44 passengers and an all-Fijian crew, it feels less like a floating resort and more like being part of a family. Whether this suits you will depend on what type of holiday you enjoy and what you want to see and do in Fiji.
What Is Blue Lagoon Cruises’ Yasawa Princess Ship Like?
Yasawa Princess is a 46-metre catamaran carrying up to 44 guests across 22 cabins. Originally launched in 2009, the ship previously operated in New Zealand before undergoing a substantial refurbishment and joining Blue Lagoon Cruises in April 2026. Don’t expect the bells and whistles of a mega-ship. There’s no waterslide, Broadway-style theatre, parade of specialty restaurants or fancy cabins or suites. Instead, the atmosphere is relaxed and sociable, with the focus firmly on what’s happening beyond the ship.
Yasawa Princess Cabins
Yasawa Princess has 22 cabins which are spread across two decks and are all the same size. They’re comfortable and practical rather than luxurious, with large windows, air conditioning, charging ports, Wi-Fi and bathrobes. None of the cabins have a balcony.
Light sleepers should take note that engine noise varies depending on your cabin. The lower rear cabins are closest to the engines, while the bow cabins can be quieter (although you may be able to hear the anchor being raised and lowered here). Earplugs are supplied if you need them.
We loved the convenience of having a daily bag of laundry. My husband and I opted for carry-on luggage for our Fiji trip and found this easy to manage thanks to the free laundry service. Our bag laundry was always returned to our cabin on the same day.
Blue Lagoon Cruises Food
The food on Blue Lagoon Cruises in Fiji is tasty and uncomplicated, with one main restaurant and a bar, plus several memorable meals served outdoors. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style, while dinners vary from casual meals to the Captain’s Dinner, which is the only plated dinner of the cruise. Meals focus on generous portions, fresh ingredients and Fijian flavours rather than elaborate fine dining.
Everyone on our cruise agreed that the standout dining experience was the traditional lovo. Meat, fish and vegetables including taro and yams are cooked underground before being uncovered for dinner on the beach. It’s a meal that offers an insight into Fijian culture and eating it with sand between your toes on the beach with new friends certainly beats a regular restaurant.
Blue Lagoon Cruises Activities
The itinerary combines spectacular scenery with opportunities to experience Fijian culture. Days can include snorkelling, swimming, kayaking and visits to remote islands, while shore excursions introduce passengers to village life and local traditions. There are also opportunities to learn about Fiji’s marine environment, including talks from a visiting marine biologist. Overall, passengers are encouraged to engage with local culture and learn about everyday life. However, Fiji’s weather has the final say.
On our sailing, high winds meant one village visit and a couple of other activities had to be cancelled because it wasn’t safe to operate the tenders. Don’t get too caught up in the scheduled itinerary as weather conditions may mean that some things aren’t possible. Provided you’re willing to go with the flow and can move past feeling disappointed if you can’t do something, you should have a great time. Even in windy weather, the captain can find a sheltered bay to anchor in so everyone can swim.
Service on Blue Lagoon Cruises’ Yasawa Princess
There are 22 crew members looking after a maximum of 44 passengers, creating a two-to-one passenger-to-staff ratio. More importantly, the service feels warm and genuinely personal rather than polished to the point of becoming impersonal. Crew quickly learn guests’ names and there’s plenty of time for conversation, jokes and questions about Fiji. It’s this human connection that makes the experience feel very person and quite different from a larger cruise ship.
Is Yasawa Princess Good For Honeymooners
On paper, a small ship sailing through the Yasawas sounds like the ultimate romantic escape. In reality, a cruise on Yasawa Princess with Blue Lagoon Cruises is more social than intimate. There are no balcony cabins and relatively few tables for two. Tables are generally arranged communally, encouraging guests to chat and make friends. That’s not necessarily a negative. If you’re a sociable couple who enjoys meeting other travellers, it can be great fun. But newlyweds looking for uninterrupted privacy and romantic dinners for two may be happier at a resort or on a different type of ship.
Who Will Enjoy A Blue Lagoon Cruise on Yasawa Princess?
Yasawa Princess II is best for active, sociable travellers who value authentic experiences over luxury facilities. It’s great for travellers who enjoy meeting people, exploring ashore and learning about local culture. However, you’ll need reasonably good mobility as Yasawa Princess has no lift and no stabilisers.
Is A Blue Lagoon Cruises In Fiji Worth It?
Yasawa Princess II may not offer the luxurious facilities of a five-star island resort, but it provides something a resort can’t. Being able to wake up in a different part of the Yasawa Islands almost every day and experience remote beaches, villages, and reefs is reason enough to board Yasawa Princess.
The ship is comfortable rather than flashy, the food is generous rather than gourmet and the entertainment is low-key. However, this doesn’t matter as you’re booking a Blue Lagoon Cruise for the access, the culture, the friendships and the feeling that you’re seeing a different side of Fiji.
Disclosure: The writer sailed as a guest of Blue Lagoon Cruises.
Want more great cruise advice? Check out our tips for choosing the perfect cruise, cruising with grandchildren, cruising with tweens and cruising with kids of all ages, solo cruising, the best activities on Ovation of the Seas, doing a Transatlantic cruise with kids, cruising in Australia or Papua New Guinea, Iceland cruise tips, cruising on a megaship, scoring a bargain cruise fare, cruising the Mediterranean, making the most of a cruise ship kids club, luxury cruising with kids, and the Byron Beach Club on Carnival Cruises. We have also reviewed Disney Wonder, Viking Vesta, Douglas Mawson, Carnival Encounter, Celebrity Edge, Carnival Adventure, Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, Carnival Splendor, Voyager of the Seas, Nieuw Statendam, Viking Helgrim, Pride of America, Coral Expeditions in Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef, Celebrity Solstice, and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.
