7 Night Escape to Paradise Cruise
The 7 Night Escape to Paradise Cruise is the ultimate Blue Lagoon Cruises experience, exploring the full breadth of the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands over eight days. Departing every Friday from Port Denarau and returning the following Friday, this cruise covers the entire archipelago: from the famous Cast Away filming location on Modriki Island and the chiefly village of Soso, to the Blue Lagoon private beach on Nanuya Lailai, the sacred Sawa-I-Lau Caves, and Drawaqa Island where manta rays gather from May to October. With a maximum of 64 guests onboard and a 100% Fijian crew, this is Fiji at its most immersive.
Cruise highlights
- Swim with reef sharks at Moyia Reef
- Swim with manta rays at Drawaqa Island (May to October)
- Snorkel or dive around superb tropical reefs
- Visit Modriki Island, the Cast Away film location
- Dine under the stars at Nanuya Lailai, Blue Lagoon Cruises' private beach
- Experience a traditional Lovo feast and Meke performance by local villagers
- Explore the sacred Sawa-I-Lau Caves
- Visit remote Fijian villages and take part in a traditional Kava ceremony
- Two Captain's Dinners with à la carte dining and complimentary wine
- Dine on traditional Fijian meals and a range of international cuisine
What's included
The Escape to Paradise Cruise fare includes a generous range of complimentary inclusions, meaning very few extras to think about once onboard.
Optional extras
A small number of activities and services are available at an additional cost.
Day-by-day itinerary
The Escape to Paradise itinerary covers the full length of the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands, with a different destination each day. Note that due to tidal and weather conditions, the itinerary may be adjusted without notice.
Day 1 (Friday): Modriki Island
Set sail from Port Denarau to the outer Mamanuca Islands, with the first overnight anchorage at Modriki Island, famously featured in the film Cast Away. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and canapés while watching the sunset, followed by the à la carte Captain's Welcome Dinner and live entertainment from the singing and guitar-playing crew.
Day 2 (Saturday): Soso Bay
Swim with reef sharks at Moyia Reef in the morning (weather permitting). After lunch, visit the chiefly village of Soso for a guided tour. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Indian Thali dinner followed by a lively Bollywood dance performance.
Day 3 (Sunday): Naukacuvu Island
Attend a morning village church service. Spend the afternoon on the beach swimming, snorkelling, and sunbathing. In the evening, enjoy Happy Hour drinks on the Sun Deck, a South Pacific-themed buffet dinner, and Fijian-style bingo.
Day 4 (Monday): Yalobi Bay
Admire the stunning Sacred Islands and the volcanic formations of neighbouring Waya Lailai. Spend the day swimming, snorkelling, and relaxing on the beach. Watch the chef demonstrate the making of the traditional Roti in Lolo dish. In the evening, enjoy the second Captain's Dinner with à la carte dining and complimentary house wine.
Day 5 (Tuesday): Blue Lagoon
Visit the famous Blue Lagoon and Blue Lagoon Cruises' private island on Nanuya Lailai. Swim ashore from the ship or take a tender boat to shore, where a full bar awaits. Spend the afternoon snorkelling, fish feeding, trying non-motorised water sports, water aerobics, or playing volleyball. As the sun sets, enjoy a buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and a traditional Lovo dinner cooked underground under the stars, followed by a Meke performance by local villagers.
Day 6 (Wednesday): Sawa-I-Lau
Take an easy 40-minute guided walk for panoramic views of the Blue Lagoon. Lunch is served onboard before cruising north for a private guided visit to the sacred Sawa-I-Lau Caves. Visit the village of Tamasua for a Kava ceremony, a guided walk, a shell market, and a village-style dinner. Return onboard for a movie under the stars on the Sun Deck (weather permitting).
Day 7 (Thursday): Drawaqa Island
Visit a local island school (during school terms) before heading to Drawaqa Island, where a marine biologist joins for a presentation on local marine life and volunteer conservation work. Optional activities include snorkelling with manta rays (May to October) or a guided reef snorkel. Dinner is a Sun Deck BBQ under the stars, followed by a lively Fijian-style celebration.
Day 8 (Friday): Return to Port Denarau
Enjoy breakfast as the ship cruises back to Port Denarau. Upon arrival, be serenaded with the traditional farewell song Isa Lei by the crew, marking the end of your Yasawa Islands adventure.
Malamala Beach Club
All Escape to Paradise Cruise guests receive a complimentary Full-Day Pass to Malamala Beach Club, the world's first island beach club, including a FJ$50 food and beverage voucher per adult. For 7 Night Escape to Paradise guests, the beach club day is available on the Friday departure day itself, before joining the ship mid-afternoon.
Check your luggage in at Port Denarau, then transfer to Malamala Beach Club (approximately 25 minutes away) to spend the morning and early afternoon at the club. Mid-afternoon, a tender boat transfers you directly to the ship where your luggage will already be waiting in your cabin. The beach club shuttle departs at 9:30am or 10:00am, with check-in required at least 45 minutes before departure.
The ships
Blue Lagoon Cruises operates two catamarans with a shallow draft, giving them access to secluded bays and remote anchorages that larger vessels cannot reach. Escape to Paradise Cruise departures operate on either the MV. Fiji Princess or the MV. Yasawa Princess II depending on availability.
MV. Fiji Princess
The flagship vessel carries a maximum of 64 guests across 32 cabins spread over three decks. Ship facilities include an open-air dining room, lounge and bar, open-air Sun Deck with bar, splash pool, onboard spa, glass bottom boat, and complimentary snorkelling and paddleboard equipment. All 32 cabins are air-conditioned with private en suites, ocean-view windows, TV with in-cabin movies, hair dryer, bath robes, and bathroom amenities. Cabins are serviced twice daily.
- Orchid Cabins (28 cabins, Upper and Middle Deck): approximately 13 sqm, with either a queen bed or the option of twin single beds
- Hibiscus Cabins (4 cabins, Lower Deck): with either a queen bed or twin single beds
MV. Yasawa Princess II
The second vessel carries a maximum of 44 guests across 22 cabins. Facilities include an upper deck dining room, lounge and bar, open-air Sun Deck, onboard spa, sea pool, and water sports equipment. All cabins are air-conditioned with private en suites, ocean-view windows, hair dryer, bath robes, and bathroom amenities.
- Orchid Cabins (20 cabins): 14.5 sqm, with either a queen bed or twin single beds
- Hibiscus Cabins (2 cabins, Middle Deck): 14.5 sqm, with either a queen bed or twin single beds
Family cruising
For most of the year, the Escape to Paradise Cruise is adults only with a minimum age of 16 years. During designated Family Cruise Departure dates, children aged 5 to 15 are welcomed onboard. Children aged 4 and under are not permitted to travel. The 2026 family departure dates for the 7 Night Escape to Paradise Cruise are:
- 25 September & 2 October 2026
- 25 December 2026 & 8 January 2027
Child rates apply to 2 children sharing a cabin, or one child sharing with one adult (child fare plus adult fare). A child in their own cabin is charged the full adult single rate.
Guest rating: 100% — Best Yasawa & Mamanuca Islands Cruise