Up for a cruise?

Well with Blue Lagoon Cruises you have options!

Blue Lagoon Cruises have introduced a new seven-night cruise that will depart from Port Denarau and the new three night and five night cruises will be departing from Suva.

South Sea Cruises, general manager – Fiji & Asia Sales, Loretta St Julian‑Ooms said: “With borders for international travel still closed, along with the great response we’ve had from our Christmas and New Year cruises, we decided to add some completely new destinations to our portfolio for the local market to enjoy.

“There are many Fijians who have not explored the remote islands of Fiji, so we have on offer three amazing itineraries.”

Below are excerpts of an interview with Ms St Julian‑Ooms:

Tell us abit about the Blue Lagoon Cruises three new cruise itineraries?

The 3 Night Kadavu Islands cruise departs Suva for an exciting Kadavu adventure. The cruise takes in the islands of Dravuni, Vuro, Yabu and Namara so passengers can discover some of the best sites of Kadavu including the great Astrolabe Reef, swim in the crystal-clear waters with visiting manta ray, a guided hike and see one of the largest sea bird rookeries in Fiji.

The 5 Night Lomaiviti, Kadavu & Beqa Islands cruise departs Suva exploring two historical sites of Fiji being Levuka, the Old Capital and Makogai, the home of the Leper Colony of the early 1900s.

The cruise then takes you south to Kadavu to discover the Great Astrolabe Reef as well as to enjoy pristine lagoons to swim and snorkel in.

If you have not had a chance to swim with mantra ray, this is your chance to experience this thrilled activity.  At Beqa Island, passengers get to witness fire walkers perform their legendary ritual, before returning to Suva.

The 7 Night Vanua Levu & Yasawa Islands cruise takes passengers from Port Denarau to Savusavu to visit the J Hunter Pearl Farm and the KokoMana Cocoa and Chocolate Factory tour.

In Taveuni, visit the International Dateline and Bouma National Heritage Park with a stop at the Wairiki Catholic Mission church.

Two very remote islands in Fiji are Kioa and Rabi, where passengers visit the village and experience the Polynesian and Micronesian cultural displays on offer including entertainment and handicrafts.

Kavewa Island is the next stop for a day of relaxation and lunch ashore followed by a spectacular cruise down the northern Vanua Levu coastline as the MV Fiji Princess heads towards the Yasawa Islands.

Two of the main highlights in the Yasawa Islands are the scared limestone Sawa I Lau caves and a day at the Blue Lagoon Cruises private island Nanuya Lailai, before steaming to Drawaqa Island to snorkel some of the most lively reefs in the Naviti region and for nama lovers, you can have a nama snack while you’re out snorkeling!

Tell us bit about your target market?

Locals who generally take an overseas holiday and enjoy exploring new destinations but can’t travel overseas right now due to border closures have had on their bucket list to visit some of the more remote islands but still located within easy cruising from Suva and / or Port Denarau.

And of course anyone keen to do a cruise but have never found the time or had the budget.  Our cruises are definitely great value for money right now!

Wish to visit some of the historically important destinations within Fiji are fortunate enough to have the time to enjoy a local holiday

What is the cost of per person (per adult, per child, on each of the trips?

• 3N Cruise – $2995 per cabin (up to 2 people), one child 5-10 years inclusive can share the parents cabin for $225  (children 0-4 years inclusive are free of charge)
• 5N Cruise – $4495 per cabin (up to 2 people), one child 5-10 years inclusive can share the parents cabin for $375  (children 0-4 years inclusive are free of charge)
• 7N Cruise – $6495 per cabin (up to 2 people), one child 5-10 years inclusive can share the parents cabin for $525  (children 0-4 years inclusive are free of charge)

These great prices include accommodation for two people, all meals, selected beverages and a range of activities on and off the ship each day.

Are there family packages offered for the three different cruises?

Yes, we have 4 x triple share cabins on our vessel which are ideal for small families.  A child rate is available in triple share cabins that can accommodate 2 adults and 1 child 0-10 years inclusive (FJ$75 per day for 5-10-year-olds & 0-4-year-olds are free of charge). Larger families would need to take additional cabins depending on their size.  Cabins can accommodate two people.

What activities can guests expect during the different cruises?

We created these itineraries around the amazing islands and the attractions they have to offer.

There are activities for all ages with lots of time at the beach to relax, swim, snorkel, delicious meals, and themed dinners such as Thali, BBQ, Pacific and Seafood as well as entertainment each evening.

Depending on the cruise selected, each of our new cruises offer a range of different excursions to enjoy.

Tell us a bit about the vessel?

The vessel we will use for the cruise is the MV Fiji Princess. It measures 179 feet (55 metres).

Accommodation Onboard

M.V. Fiji Princess has 34 air-conditioned cabins accommodating up to 68 guests and up to 30 Fijian crew,

Each cabin features a yacht-style en suite, storage space, TV for in-room movies, vanity table, hairdryer, soft towels, and bathroom amenities by Pure Fiji. All cabins are above the waterline and feature windows with ocean views.

What were some of the feedback from your festive season Cruises?

The constant feedback on our cruises have been in regard to our fabulous crew who go above and beyond to make the cruise enjoyable for all our guests.

The tips shared for the crew by local passengers have also been overwhelming which the crew have been so grateful for.

Two groups of passengers composed a song to sing and dedicate to the crew to thank them for an amazing time away. Our standard of food and the variety offered has also been highlighted with many having returned for a second cruise already or looking to book to travel again soon!

Feedback:  maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj