70 years of Sailing

Blue Lagoon Cruises is the founder of small ship cruising in the Fiji Islands and 2020 marks their 70th anniversary which also makes them one of the oldest tourism providers in the South Pacific.

The history of Blue Lagoon tells the story of a love affair with the islands of Fiji – and of a man who dared to dream about creating one of the most enchanting cruise experiences in the world.

Captain Trevor Withers, a young New Zealand stockbroker with a passion for the sea, founded Blue Lagoon Cruises in 1950. Withers and his friend, Harold Gatty, a renowned Australian aviator, came to Fiji at a time when tourism to the pacific nation was virtually unknown. Visitors to Fiji, for the most part, were in transit at Nadi Airport or were ship passengers enroute between North America and New Zealand or Australia.

Withers and Gatty had a vision to establish a fishing industry in Fiji. To start the venture, the duo visited the islands to pay respects to the Chiefs. It was at the magnificent Yasawa Island, Waya Lailai, where they enlisted the help of a young villager, Epeli Voli, as an interpreter. With Epeli’s help, Captain Withers obtained the full support of the Yasawa people for his fishing venture and established firm friendships with the chiefs and the people of the Yasawa Islands.

After four years of effort, Withers and Gatty concluded that their hopes of establishing a tuna fishing industry in Fiji were not viable. But, both men had fallen in love with Fiji and wished to remain in the islands. Gatty went on to establish Fiji Airways, the forerunner to Fiji’s national airline, Air Pacific (now once again called Fiji Airways). However, the future for Withers was not so clear. He still had his mind on the sea and began to dream of taking visitors on a cruise through the idyllic Yasawa Islands: a dream that was to become Blue Lagoon Cruises.

The current main vessel, M.V. Fiji Princess is a far cry from the ships of old and moving into this 70th year of operation, Blue Lagoon Cruises has also taken the bold move of becoming ‘single use plastic free’. Providing all guests with reusable drink bottles (that they then take home with them) and the installation of filtered mineral water stations throughout the ship will remove the need for plastic water bottles and the glass crusher on board also aids in reducing waste and their impact on the environment.

To celebrate their anniversary, Blue Lagoon Cruises has the following special deals and cruises planned for 2020:

1. Celebrate Your Anniversary on Ours – Book a four- or seven-night cruise to celebrate your wedding anniversary and receive complimentary inclusions of a candle-lit dinner for two* at our beach on Nanuya Lailai, a celebration cake as well as commemorative champagne flutes and French sparkling wine to kick start your cruise. *Valid for all four- and seven-night cruises departing between 1 April and 31 December 2020, subject to availability.

2. Welcome Back to Paradise Cruises – two cruise dates that invite previous Blue Lagoon Cruises guests back on board for a custom seven-night itinerary taking in their favourite sites and locations and a few new ones. Family cruise departs 25 September 2020, Adults Only cruise departs 20 November

3. Cheers to 70 Years – Celebrate with a wine tasting cruise with Villa Maria Wines and their chief wine maker on board for this four-night cruise to run daily wine tastings, wine matched dinners and wine themed after dinner entertainment. Departs 26 October 2020.

4. Photograph the Fiji Islands – tailored to guests with a love of photography, guests can improve their skills and take some great shots of the Fiji Islands with our professional photographer and educator on board for the duration of this seven-night cruise. Departs 13 November