Blue Lagoon Cruises says the stranded MV Fiji Princess will take between one and three months to remove after running aground during Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, and the company has declared the vessel retired owing to cyclone-inflicted structural damage.
The cruise operator confirmed the ship ran aground on April 4 as Vaianu swept through Fijian waters and that subsequent damage means the Fiji Princess cannot be safely refloated. “The process to remove the ship is currently expected to take anywhere from 1–3 months, with the exact timing subject to ongoing assessments, planning, and approvals,” the company said in a statement, adding that the timetable remains contingent on survey results, regulatory permissions and weather windows.
Blue Lagoon Cruises said it has engaged expert consultants and professional salvors and is working closely with insurers to develop and execute a recovery plan. The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) is being kept updated and has provided support to the operation, the company said, noting that authorities and specialists are coordinating on safety, technical and environmental issues.
Environmental protection is being prioritised in the recovery. Blue Lagoon Cruises said the recovery team will focus on minimising impacts to the surrounding marine environment while carrying out removal operations, though it did not provide details on specific measures such as fuel removal or debris containment. The company described the involvement of specialized salvors and consultants as central to ensuring the work meets international salvage standards and local environmental safeguards.
The firm also flagged operational and customer-service consequences from the incident. Blue Lagoon Cruises is contacting guests affected by the grounding to arrange alternatives as quickly as possible, the statement said. It did not disclose how many passengers or bookings were affected or whether refunds or rebookings would be offered, but said insurers and legal advisers were involved in resolving the commercial and logistical fallout.
The retirement of the MV Fiji Princess marks a significant outcome for the vessel: once assessed as structurally compromised beyond safe repair or refloating, the ship will be removed rather than restored to service. Blue Lagoon Cruises did not outline plans for replacement capacity or how the loss will affect its future sailing schedule, instead emphasising the immediate priorities of safe removal and environmental protection.
This latest update follows the vessel’s grounding during Tropical Cyclone Vaianu on April 4 and represents the company’s most detailed public timetable to date for recovery. Officials and the salvage team will continue assessments and seek necessary approvals before commencing full-scale removal work, with Blue Lagoon Cruises stating it will provide further updates as plans are finalised and actions progress.
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