A first-time cruiser’s experience on the Blue Lagoon Fiji cruise – Part One

I must be honest. I’ve never been all that fussed about going on a cruise before. The thought of being on a ship for days has never appealed to me as a holiday activity. But, that is what makes my journey on a Blue Lagoon cruise in Fiji so extraordinary.

The four nights aboard the Fiji princess is an experience I will never forget. The combination of glorious scenery, exciting activities and scrumptious food was complemented by an opportunity to immerse myself into some of the village culture and capture the spirit of this beautiful country and their people.

The scene was set from the moment we disembarked at the Nadi airport and we were serenaded by a local band. Right then and there, we were under the spell of the friendly Fijian people.

Read more: 5 secrets to planning the perfect Fiji cruise

Care for over-60s travellers

From an over-60s perspective, I was impressed with how well I was taken care of on the trip from the hotel to the Fiji Princess. This included a one-hour trip on the catamaran ‘Cheetah’ in which we were treated to bubbles and nibbles. I was originally daunted when I saw the small boat that took us from the cat to the Fiji Princess, but once again, everything was done with such ease and good humour, and we were serenaded by the crew before getting on our way to our Blue Lagoon adventure.

Welcome to the island

As we headed for the Sacred Islands we were treated to a delicious lunch which set the scene for the rest of the trip. Immediately the breathtaking scenery captured my heart. Islands of all shapes and sizes appeared to rest beautifully atop the blue ocean. Any fears I had of a rough journey were laid to rest as we glided along, eventually anchoring at the Sacred Islands. There was an opportunity to go ashore and snorkel here, but I elected to stay aboard, with a glass of bubbles, to enjoy the beauty from the sky deck.

Evening entertainment

Prior to the captain’s dinner that evening, one of the crew mixed me a colourful cocktail called ‘Island Dream’. This event was the most formal of the trip. Well, at least we put on our shoes before thoroughly enjoying a delicious variety of food from the four-course menu.  Then it was back to the sky deck to enjoy the cool breeze, soft music and the company of all sorts of interesting people.

The cruise really begins

The next day I was about to have a dream fulfilled. I was excited to be cruising toward the Blue Lagoon. We passed more Yasawa Islands and headed for Nanuya Lailai on which Blue Lagoon Cruises owns their own private beach.

I’m old enough to remember the original version of the film Blue Lagoon and had always longed to see if it really was as beautiful as portrayed in the movie. I was delighted to find that it was even more spectacular than I could have ever imagined.

The combination of the deep blue of the sea; the lighter greens of the coral cays, and the island surrounded by palm trees, took my breath away. With book, bathers, sunscreen, hat and towel packed, we headed for a day on the beach. It wasn’t long before I was enticed to plunge into the refreshing waters of the Blue Lagoon. 

Learn more about the Blue Lagoon Fiji Cruise here. Have you been on a cruise to Fiji? Let us know what your experiences were like in the comments section below.