Fiji cruise ship retires after reef grounding ends 22-year service

A well-known Fiji cruise vessel will be retired after running aground on a reef near Monuriki Island earlier this month.

This brings an end to more than two decades of service by the ship in Pacific waters.

The MV Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, will not return to operation following the incident on 4 April 2026, which caused significant damage to the vessel and triggered a major response effort.

All 30 passengers and crew onboard were safely evacuated at the time of the grounding, with no injuries reported. They were transferred to Denarau Island shortly after the incident.

The ship struck a reef near Monuriki Island during a sudden squall, with early assessments indicating damage to the rear left side of the vessel, including the steering area.

The vessel was also reported to be taking on water after the impact.

Following the grounding, specialist salvage teams from Australia were brought in to assist recovery efforts.

All 23,000 litres of fuel onboard were removed by 6 April as a precaution, along with other oils stored on the vessel to reduce the risk of any marine pollution in the surrounding reef system, officials said.

Fiji Princess in happier days: Fuel was removed from the vessel as a precaution after it ran aground in April, with specialist teams brought in to support recovery and environmental protection efforts around the reef. Photo/South Sea Cruises Group/file

Authorities confirmed no immediate evidence of fuel tank breach during early inspections but precautionary action was taken due to the sensitivity of the reef environment.

Spill response equipment was placed on standby during the initial response phase although rough sea conditions limited deployment at times.

Retirement after 22 years

Blue Lagoon Cruises has now confirmed the vessel will be retired after 22 years of service, marking the end of its role in Fiji’s tourism industry.

The company is managing cancellations and changes to bookings for April as it transitions operations to a replacement vessel.

A new ship, the MV Yasawa Princess II, is scheduled to enter service later this month, featuring 22 cabins as part of the company’s updated fleet.

Pacific maritime safety

The grounding has again highlighted the risks of operating cruise vessels through reef-heavy waters across the Pacific where sudden weather changes, narrow passages, and limited margins for error remain ongoing challenges.

In island nations such as Fiji, reefs are not only key to tourism but also to marine ecosystems and coastal protection, meaning even single incidents can have wide environmental and economic implications.

The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji is expected to complete its investigation into the incident including the circumstances that led to the grounding and the response that followed.

No timeline has been confirmed for the release of its final report.

While the immediate environmental risk was contained and all passengers were safely evacuated, the focus now shifts to lessons from the incident and how future operations can reduce similar risks in sensitive reef areas.