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In the relaxed ambience of a Blue Lagoon Cruise you will be taken on a magical
voyage. Departing from the crowds, and sailing past the Mamanuca Islands, you
will be spirited towards the exquisitely remote Yasawa Islands. Only a few
hours each day is spent underway, with the rest spent at anchor in a sheltered
lagoon and ashore, so you can go exploring, play water sports, enjoy cultural
activities or simply do nothing at all.
You will experience first hand the ancient Fijian culture, where people live
today as they have for hundreds of years. You’ll be welcomed as an honoured
guest when you visit a traditional Fijian village and take part in the Yaqona
Ceremony. Finally, you will feast by the original Blue Lagoon made famous in
Hollywood movies. Nanuya Lai Lai, our breathtakingly beautiful, pristine and
private island is available exclusively for your enjoyment, as are its crystal
clear waters and sweeps of fine white sandy beaches.
With over 50 years experience in cruising these islands, a fleet of five
boutique cruise ships, and six unique itineraries, we offer you the luxury of
choice – when you’d like to depart on your voyage, how long you’d like to spend
in a remote paradise, and the style of ship that will allow you to relax.
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The
Story of Blue Lagoon
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This is the story of Blue Lagoon Cruises. In many ways it is a special story as
it shows how a dream can come true.
Today, Blue Lagoon is one of the most outstanding success stories of the South
Pacific tourism industry.
We wish you a wonderful cruise and hope that you enjoy the ultimate Fiji
experience ...
...a Blue Lagoon Cruise.
Gerrard Harvey
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The history of Blue Lagoon Cruises is simple and unique. It’s the story of a
love affair with the islands of Fiji – and of a man who dared to dream and then
created one of the most enchanting cruise experiences in the world.
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The Beginning
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Blue Lagoon Cruises was founded in 1950 by Captain Trevor Withers, a young New
Zealand stockbroker with a passion for the sea. Withers and his friend, Harold
Gatty, the renowned Australian aviator, came to Fiji with the intent of
establishing a fishing industry, at a time when the then British Crown Colony
had no tourism. Visitors to Fiji, for the most part, transited Nadi Airport or
were shipboard passengers enroute between North America, New Zealand or
Australia.
The Withers-Gatty team set up headquarters in the capital city, Suva, and began
assessing the potential for tuna fishing using two small chartered boats.
However, before they could proceed, protocol and Fijian tradition demanded that
they make a special visit to the islands to pay their respects to the local
chiefs.
At the picturesque Yalobi village on the island of Waya in the Yasawa Group,
Withers discovered that the Chief, Tui Waya, and his people could neither speak
English nor share a common dialect with his crew. Communication problems were
resolved when the chief indicated that they should sail to the nearby island of
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, which would later be crucial
to Blue Lagoon Cruises.
After four years of effort, Withers and Gatty finally 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. However, the future for Withers was not so clear and he
began to dream of taking visitors on a cruise through the idyllic Yasawa
Islands: a dream that was to become Blue Lagoon Cruises.
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A Slow Start but an enduring icon
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Withers’ enthusiasm for this new cruise project was not shared by many. Critics
asked logically, "Where are the tourists?" Still, determined to make his dream
a reality, Withers returned to the Yasawa Islands to solicit once again the
support of the chiefs and his people. To his delight, the cruise proposal was
met with enthusiastic promises of co-operation.
While pondering over a suitable name for the venture, Withers remembered his
association with the original version of "Blue Lagoon" filmed on location in
the Yasawa Islands in 1948. He had lent a hand on the set, where he had met and
liked the attractive English star, Jean Simmons and the name "Blue Lagoon",
therefore, seemed totally appropriate for the idyllic cruise he envisaged.
Withers purchased his first boat from the New Zealand Civil Aviation
Authorities in Fiji . The vessel was christened Turaga Levu (Great Chief, which
was Withers’ local nick-name), and, amidst much merriment, it was launched down
the slipway into Suva’s Walu Bay.
The first cruise date was then scheduled and advertised – with a complete lack
of response. As the hour of the inaugural departure drew near, it appeared that
if the Turaga Levu was to sail at all, it would sail empty. Withers, though
tempted to cancel, was reluctant to disappoint the islanders anxiously awaiting
its arrival and invited six Fijian men on the wharf who had previously assisted
him to become the Turaga Levu’s first cruise passengers.
For the first month, Withers set sail every Monday, often carrying Fijians to
their Yasawa villages but without a single paying passenger. Finances began to
run low and it was 10 days into his second month before Withers secured his
first charter, an American Colonel and his wife who had made it quite clear
that they expected the perfect holiday. Unfortunately this didn’t prove to be
the case. Withers had earlier conducted a painstaking inspection of the Turaga
Levu to see that everything was shipshape: the only place, which required
improvement, was the ship’s toilet, where the seat would benefit from a new
coat of paint.
At the appointed time, the Turaga Levu set sail and soon the Colonel and his
wife were relaxing in fishing chairs trolling for tuna. Later that morning, the
calm of the cruise was shattered by a pained bellow from below. It transpired
that the Colonel was firmly joined to the seat, still sticky from the fresh
coat of paint. Some delicate and painful manoeuvring luckily parted man and
seat, but the damage to his nether regions was such that the Turaga Levu was
obliged to head back to shore in search of a doctor. On his return, drinks and
lunch restored the Colonel’s humour and, after overnight treatment, he decided
to continue the cruise.
During the following three months, only 27 passengers were carried on the
cruise. Bankruptcy was imminent and Withers was forced to make a final
desperate gamble. After securing agreement with the airlines flying the Pacific
to undertake a joint promotion in North America, he sold all his wordly
possessions for £7,000 to finance a whirlwind visit to travel agents in the USA
and Canada. The gamble paid off. The trickle of visitors rapidly became a
steady stream and Blue Lagoon Cruises was underway.
By 1966, Blue Lagoon Cruises had established an international reputation and
Withers, now suffering from poor health, was ready to retire to his beloved
Waya Island. After much deliberation, he sold the venture to Captain Claude
Millar, a well-known New Zealand shipowner so completing the first chapter of
the Blue Lagoon Cruise history.
This briefly is the story of Blue Lagoon Cruises. A simple story of a dream
that became a reality and a reality that fulfilled a dream.
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Today >
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