Our Story - The History of Blue Lagoon Cruises

The history of Blue Lagoon Cruises is simple and unique. It’s the story of a love affair with the islands of Fiji - and a man who dared to dream, and then created one of the most enchanting cruise experiences in the world.

THE HISTORY OF BLUE LAGOON CRUISES

“In many ways, this is a special story, as it shows how a dream can come true.

Today, Blue Lagoon Cruises is one of the most outstanding success stories of the South Pacific Tourism Industry.”

IN THE BEGINNING 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, Epei Voli, as an interpreter. With Epei’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, Wither 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 Island: a dream that was to become Blue Lagoon Cruises.

A SLOW START 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 chief 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 envisioned.

Withers purchased his first boat from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authorities in Fiji - a 13-metre American built, twin diesel craft used during the war as a fast crash boat. Undeterred by negative popular opinion, Withers had a team of shipwrights and engineers redesign it to accommodate six passengers and a crew of four. The vessel was christened “Turaga Levu” (Great Chief, which was Withers’ local nickname), 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 set 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 Turaga Levu’s first passengers.

The first stop was the Island of Waya, home of Withers’ staunch friend Tui Waya. As the boat entered the spectacular lagoon, the resounding boom of the largest wooden “Lali” drums in the island echoed across the bay, affording Withers

Captain Withers (Right) with former Governor General of Fiji, the late Ratu Sir George Cakakou (Left).

and his guests a royal welcome. Despite the lack of passengers, the islanders reinforced Withers’ resolve and faith in the venture over countless “bilos” of “Yaqona” (the traditional drink of the islands) and reminded him of the Fijian motto “Tabu Soro”: “Never give in”.

For the first month, Withers set sail every Monday, often carrying Fijians to their Yasawa villages but without a single paying customer. Finances began to run low and in was 10 days into his second month before Withers secured his first charter, an American Colonel and his wife who 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 as pained bellow from below. It transpired that the Colonel was firmly joined to the toilet seat, which was still sticky from its fresh coat of paint. Some delicate and painful maneuvering luckily parted man from seat, but the damage to his nether regions was such that the Taruga 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 an agreement with the airlines flying the Pacific to undertake a joint promotion on North America, he sold all his worldly 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.

Within a year, Withers acquired a second boat, Viti II, a 17-metre motor yacht formerly used by the Fiji Government. The Yacht, which was refitted and renamed Blue Lagoon, carried 10 passengers and a crew of five. 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 Miller, a well-known New Zealand shipowner, so completing the first chapter of Blue Lagoon Cruises history.

“He began to dream of taking visitors on a cruise through the idyllic Yasawa Islands: a dream that was to become Blue Lagoon Cruises.”

THE POPULAR CRUISES Millar moved to Fiji with his family and expanded the Blue Lagoon Cruise fleet by refitting his exnavel, 34-metre Fairmile motor yacht, La Rita and renaming it M.V. Sayandra. Several years later, this was joined by another Fairmile class vessel, M.V. Romanda.

During a visit to Hong Kong, Millar was impressed by the lines of new passenger launch and so, on his return, he contracted the Fijian Government Shipyard to construct a vessel of similar design, which was to be the first of the “Popular” class vessels for Blue Lagoon Cruises.

Launched in 1970, the original 39-metre M.V. Lycianda had 20 self-contained, airconditioned cabins on two accommodation decks a dining saloon and bar and it joined the M.V. Sayandra and M.V. Romanda on cruises through the Yasawa Islands. In 1972 and 1974, sister ships M.V. Taleianda and M.V. Oleanda joined the fleet to replace the aging Fairmiles. Millar then looked for other areas of expansion and in 1976 launched M.V. Salamanda, the company’s fourth Popular class vessels in as many years.

With this enlarged fleet, he was able to introduce a six-day passenger and cargo service between Lautoka and Labasa, the principle centre on Fiji’s other main island, Vanua Levu. A further vessel, M.V. Marieanda, was commissioned two years later, increasing the company’s cruise fleet to five.

(Left) A traditional Fijian Kava ceremony and (Right) Blue Lagoon Cruises’ second owner, Captain Millar.

THE CLUB CRUISES

THE GOLD CLUB CRUISES

In 1987, Captain Millar retired, selling the major interest in the company to Marine Management Limited, headed by David Wilson, the founder of the Tapa Tours group of companies. Wilson assumed the responsibilities of Chairman of Blue Lagoon Cruises Limited.

Encouraged by the success of the “Club” Cruise concept, Wilson believed that great potential existed for a luxury cruiser that had both appearance, sophistication and ambiance of a millionaire’s private yacht. A sleek new vessel was designed to Blue Lagoon Cruises’ specifications, by international marine architect Buress Corlett, incorporating the very latest in marine technology and passenger comfort. The construction contract for the new multi-million dollar vessel was won by Chilean shipbuilders ASENAV, and the famous interior yacht design consultant, Susan Puelo, was commissioned to create luxury interior fixtures, furnishings and finishes.

Under his direction, the company was restructured and new technology, information systems and controls were introduced, together with new policies and marketing strategies. The M.V. Salamanda was withdrawn from the Labasa route and refitted as a passenger-only cruise vessel to join her sister ships in providing another regular sailing for the Yasawa Islands.

In 1980, at the personal request of David Wilson, Captain Trevor Withers, again joined the Board of Directors and wrote a history of the company’s early development. Upon his death in 1981, in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were scattered over the water surrounding his beloved Yasawa Islands.

By 1981, the stage was set for further expansion.

Completed in mid 1996, the sophisticated M.V. Mystique Princess sailed from Valdivia in Chile, on her delivery voyage to Fiji via Easter Island and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The arrival of the vessel in August 1996, heralded a new era for cruising in the romantic South Pacific with the introduction of Blue Lagoon Cruises luxury “Gold Club” cruise programme.

Convinced there was a demand for a new “Up-market” cruise, Wilson commissioned the construction of a new 54-metre, 66 passenger “Princess” class vessel, the M.V. Yasawa Princess, to introduce a four-day/ three night Blue Lagoon Cruise programme.

The design features of the M.V. Yasawa Princess proved to be so popular with passengers that in 1986 another vessel, M.V. Nanuya Princess, was commissioned to the same design to operate a seven day/six night Club Cruise. The original M.V. Lycianda (pictured below) was sold to become a floating restaurant in Suva and replaced with the new, redesigned 39 metre “Popular” class vessel of the same name.

The original 39-metre M.V. Lycianda, launched in 1970 and replaced in 1986.

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BLC18112 06/07/2018

Today, Blue Lagoon Cruises operates 3, 4 or 7 night cruises to the Yasawa Islands on board M.V. Fiji Princess.