Blue Lagoon Cruises – Explorer Cruise – 3 Nights

The best part of this cruise is the way it turns a short Fiji holiday into a moving island journey. In four days, you sail from Denarau to Modriki, the Yasawas, Naukacuvu, Narara, and the Sacred Isles, with time for beaches, villages, reef swimming, and local customs.

I like the small 32-cabin ship, which feels more personal than a large resort ferry, and I like that meals, shore excursions, snorkeling gear, and many drinks are built into the fare. The optional Malamala Beach Club stop is another smart first-day extra if you want a relaxed start.

The main caution is cost. At about $1,177.51 per person, this is a premium short cruise, and the fare does not cover every drink, spa treatment, diving, sports fishing, or your post-cruise hotel transfer.

Key points before you book

• Three nights aboard M.V. Fiji Princess: You get a compact island cruise rather than a simple day trip from Denarau.
• Modriki and the Cast Away connection: The first anchorage is linked with the Tom Hanks film, with a beach stop and time ashore.
• Shark swimming depends on sea conditions: A secret reef location may offer a swim with reef sharks, but it is not guaranteed.
• Sunday brings a Fijian village church visit: The third day adds a cultural stop that feels different from the usual beach program.
• Malamala can extend your first day: The optional beach club visit includes a FJD$50 food and beverage voucher.
• Cabin choice matters: Orchid Deck cabins are generally the better pick for extra position and bed choices, while Hibiscus Deck cabins sit lower on the ship.

A short cruise with a proper island route

This is a good fit for you if Fiji is part of a larger holiday and you have only four days for a sea trip. The cruise does not try to cover every island. Instead, it links several attractive stops with meals, guided shore activities, and plenty of time on deck.

You sail aboard M.V. Fiji Princess from Port Denarau. The ship has 32 cabins, all with private facilities and external windows. That is a useful middle ground: you get a real cabin and a moving view, but not the scale or anonymity of a major cruise liner.

The daily rhythm is simple. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning tea, and afternoon tea are included. Sparkling wine is offered with breakfast, and tea and coffee are available in the main dining area around the clock. Artesian water stations are found on each deck.

You also receive a stocked mini-bar on departure day, with two Fiji beer brands, soft drinks, French sparkling wine, cookies, local snacks, and water. After that, other drinks are extra unless covered by the included arrangements. That distinction matters when you are comparing the price with a resort stay.

Day 1: Modriki and the Mamanuca Islands

The cruise begins at Port Denarau, with a welcome aboard before sailing toward the outer Mamanucas. The first overnight stop is described around Monuriki and Modriki Island, so check the exact anchorage at check-in if the distinction matters to you.

This is the island connected with the film Cast Away, which gives the stop a little cinematic flavor without needing much explanation. The real appeal is simpler: a beach, clear water, and the pleasure of reaching an island by ship rather than by a crowded transfer boat.

You have roughly half a day and evening around this first stop. The short schedule means you will not get a full island exploration. Instead, expect a taste of the setting, time to swim or walk, and the first chance to settle into the ship’s routine.

For a smoother start, pack a small day bag. Your main luggage can go through the cruise check-in process, while your immediate essentials stay with you. This is especially useful if you choose the Malamala option before boarding the ship.

Adding Malamala before the ship departs

For a three-night cruise, you can spend the morning and early afternoon at Malamala Beach Club before joining M.V. Fiji Princess from the beach. This is an optional pre-cruise experience, not a replacement for one of the island stops.

The high-speed catamaran leaves Port Denarau at either 9:30 a.m. or 10 a.m., depending on the area of your pickup. The crossing takes about 25 minutes. At Malamala, you have time to use the club facilities before a tender boat takes you directly to the cruise ship around 3:30 p.m.

A FJD$50 food and beverage voucher is included for Malamala. I see this as a useful add-on if you have a late morning to fill and prefer a polished beach-club setting before the more relaxed ship experience begins.

The trade-off is that this creates a long first day. If you want a slow morning or are arriving after an international flight, you may prefer to skip the beach club and focus on boarding.

Day 2: Yasawa beaches and a possible shark swim

The second day takes you into the Yasawa Islands, where the schedule leaves room for a beach walk or swim before or after breakfast. This flexibility is valuable because you are not pushed straight from one activity into another.

The central thrill is a possible swim with reef sharks at a secret reef location. The activity depends on sea conditions, so you should treat it as a chance rather than a promise. The information provided does not specify the species, the exact site, or how long the swim lasts.

You will have access to snorkeling equipment, and the ship also carries water-sports gear. That makes the day easier than arranging separate equipment rentals. Bring sun protection and a secure way to carry anything you need ashore, since some activities involve transfers from the ship to the beach or reef.

The Yasawas are the point where the cruise feels most like an island-hopping trip. You are not simply looking at Fiji from a resort pool. You are stepping ashore, swimming, and moving on to the next anchorage by sea.

Day 3: Naukacuvu, Narara, and village life

The third day adds a different kind of experience. Sunday is treated as a day of rest in Fiji, and the schedule may include a village church service after breakfast.

That visit is important because it gives you a window into community life rather than presenting Fiji only as beaches and water sports. Church attendance is a cultural setting, so dress and behavior should be respectful. The supplied details do not specify a dress code, but modest clothing is a sensible choice for any village or church visit.

The ship then cruises south toward Naukacuvu and Narara Islands. You can expect a traditional Sunday roast on board, along with the usual meals and teas. The combination of village customs and a familiar meal gives the day a slower, more social feel.

A Fijian cooking lesson is also part of the advertised program. The supplied schedule does not specify the dish, instructor, or class length, so think of it as a cultural activity included within the cruise rather than a full cooking course.

This day may suit you best if you want more than scenery. It has less of the headline excitement of shark swimming, but it offers a useful change of pace and a closer look at local traditions.

Day 4: Sacred Isles and the return to Denarau

The final morning gives you another chance to snorkel, swim, or kayak. You then eat breakfast while cruising toward the Sacred Isles, followed by a buffet lunch.

After lunch, a high-speed catamaran provides the private transfer back toward Port Denarau. The return process is part of the cruise design, so you are not simply waiting for the ship to dock and finding your own way across the water.

The listed final stop at Port Denarau Marina is only about five minutes, which reflects the transfer nature of this last stage rather than a sightseeing stop. Plan your onward arrangements carefully because post-cruise hotel drop-off is not included.

The early start can be worthwhile if you want one last swim or paddle. It can also feel busy if you need to leave Fiji immediately afterward. I would avoid booking a tight onward connection unless the timing is clearly confirmed with the operator.

Cabins, decks, and what the price buys

All cabins have private facilities and external windows. The main choice is between Orchid Deck and Hibiscus Deck.

Orchid Deck has 28 cabins. The upper deck includes nine cabins with queen beds and three with either a queen bed or two singles. The middle deck has 16 cabins, mostly with queen beds, with some twin-bed options. Four middle-deck cabins have a small single day bed suitable only for a child under five.

Hibiscus Deck has four lower-deck cabins. Two have queen beds, while two offer either a queen or two singles. If cabin position matters to you, ask about the deck and bed arrangement before departure, since the actual allocation is provided at check-in.

At $1,177.51 per person, the fare is not cheap for three nights. The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for meals, island transfers, snorkeling equipment, shore trips, entertainment, and several nights of accommodation.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a quiet room and independent beach time. You are paying for the moving route, scheduled activities, meals, crew service, and the convenience of having the trip arranged in one package.

The included items are generous but not unlimited. Spa treatments, products, sports fishing, diving, and drinks outside the stated inclusions cost extra. Hotel drop-off after the cruise is also left to you.

Food, drinks, and onboard comforts

Three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners are included, along with morning and afternoon teas. That removes much of the daily expense anxiety that can come with a cruise.

Breakfast includes sparkling wine, which gives the morning a festive touch. Tea and coffee are available in the main dining area, and water stations operate 24 hours a day on the decks.

The departure-day mini-bar is a nice welcome, but do not assume it is replenished throughout the cruise. The listed contents include Fiji beer, soft drinks, French sparkling wine, cookies, local snacks, and water.

For downtime, the ship has a swimming pool, guest library, lounge bar, outdoor deck areas, and scheduled entertainment. Wi-Fi is available in the lounge bar and outdoor decks when the ship is within range. It should not be treated as a constant connection across the whole route.

You also receive a Blue Lagoon Cruises beach tote, a sarong, and a reusable drink bottle. These are small extras, but they are useful on a trip built around repeated shore transfers and swims.

How active is the cruise?

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The program includes swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, beach walks, and transfers between the ship, tenders, and islands.

You do not need to take part in every activity. The schedule allows time to sit on deck, read in the library, or enjoy the scenery. Still, the best value comes if you plan to get into the water and join the shore visits.

Conditions at sea can change the program. The shark swim is specifically dependent on sea conditions, and any water activity can be adjusted for safety. The cruise is therefore better for flexible people than for anyone who needs every advertised activity to happen exactly as written.

Who should book this Fiji cruise?

I would recommend it for a first Fiji visit with limited time, couples who want a mix of scenery and activity, and families who like having meals and excursions organized. The private facilities and small cabin count make it more intimate than a large ship, while the included program keeps planning simple.

It also suits you if cultural contact matters. The village church service and cooking lesson give the cruise more substance than a sequence of beach stops.

I would hesitate if you dislike fixed schedules, shared ship spaces, or weather-dependent plans. The fare is also hard to justify if you plan to spend most of the time in your cabin or already have a low-cost island resort arranged.

Should you book Blue Lagoon Cruises?

Book this three-night cruise if you want a compact, all-in-one introduction to Fiji’s outer islands, with beaches, reef activities, village culture, and meals included. The route makes good use of four days, and the small ship offers a more personal setting than a large cruise vessel.

Before paying, confirm your cabin deck, bed setup, transfer timing, and the exact first-day anchorage. Also budget for drinks outside the included mini-bar, spa services, optional activities, and your return hotel transfer.

For a short Fiji holiday, I think the cruise is worth considering because it saves you from arranging several island transfers yourself. Just go in expecting a premium package with a set schedule, not a cheap floating hotel.

FAQ

How long is the Blue Lagoon Explorer Cruise?

The cruise lasts approximately four days and includes three nights aboard M.V. Fiji Princess.

Where does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Port Denarau on Denarau Island, Fiji.

What meals are included?

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning tea, and afternoon tea are included. The package lists three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Cabin accommodation aboard the ship is included, and every cabin has private facilities and an external window.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included, along with use of the ship’s other facilities, including the swimming pool and guest library.

Can I swim with reef sharks?

The itinerary includes a possible swim with reef sharks at a secret reef location, but it depends on sea conditions and is not guaranteed.

Is Wi-Fi available?

Wi-Fi is available in the lounge bar and outdoor deck areas when the ship is within Wi-Fi range.

Is transportation back to my hotel included after the cruise?

No. Hotel drop-off after the cruise is not included. A high-speed catamaran transfer back toward Port Denarau is included as part of the final day’s arrangements.