Blue Lagoon Cruises has retired its long-serving boutique cruise vessel MV Fiji Princess after the ship ran aground during severe weather on April 4 at Monuriki Island in the Malolo Group. The company said the decision to withdraw the Fiji Princess followed initial recovery efforts and was a “difficult but necessary” step, bringing an abrupt end to more than 22 years of service.
Company statements say the grounding occurred when the vessel dragged its anchor while at berth and was carried onto a nearby reef. Blue Lagoon Cruises did not disclose detailed findings from recovery operations or the extent of damage to the vessel in its announcement, but said the incident made continued operation untenable and prompted the retirement decision.
The Fiji Princess has been a fixture in the company’s operations, offering small-ship cruises across Fiji’s island groups and cultivating a loyal following among both international visitors and local travellers. For many guests, the ship has represented an intimate way to explore peripheral islands and reefs, and the retirement marks the end of a recognisable era in Fiji’s marine tourism sector.
Blue Lagoon Cruises said it will contact passengers directly to manage the practical fallout from the retirement. “Guests impacted by the retirement of Fiji Princess will be provided with an array of alternative options,” the company said, without detailing which vessels or itineraries would be used to accommodate rebookings. The operator emphasised it was working to resolve all affected bookings as promptly as possible.
As it moves to manage bookings and customer care, Blue Lagoon Cruises has invited past passengers to share photographs, memories and comments as a tribute to the Fiji Princess. “The team at Blue Lagoon Cruises appreciates the many guests who cruised on board Fiji Princess and we know many amazing memories were created,” the statement read, asking former guests to contribute images “as a final salute and as a fitting end to an amasing era of cruising.” The company closed its message with thanks: “a big vinaka vakalevu to everyone for their support and well wishes during this difficult time.”
The retirement of the Fiji Princess follows the April grounding at Monuriki — a small island in the Malolo group — and will likely have immediate scheduling implications for Blue Lagoon Cruises’ boutique offerings. The company has not announced whether it will replace the vessel or shift assets within its existing fleet to cover the Fiji Princess’s former itineraries. Further updates are expected as the operator continues to contact affected passengers and assess longer-term service arrangements.
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