Blue Lagoon Cruises

Blue Lagoon Cruises was founded in 1950 by Captain Trevor Withers. Captain Withers was a young New Zealand stockbroker with a passion for the sea. Having originally planned to establish a fishing industry, Withers and his friend and renowned Australian aviator Harold Gatty found themselves obliged to tour the local Fijian islands to satisfy local protocol. This gave them a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and untapped potential of Fiji. After four years of striving to set up their fishing venture, the pair were forced to concede that the idea simply was not viable. However both had fallen in love with Fiji and wanted to remain in the islands. Harold Gatty went on to establish Fiji’s national airline Air Pacific. Withers on the other hand conceived a dream of taking visitors on a cruise through the idyllic Yasawa Islands. This led to him setting up Blue Lagoon Cruises. After a slow start, Blue Lagoon Cruises was well and truly established by 1966. The company had earned an international reputation and Captain Withers was ready to retire to his own beloved Waya Island. After much deliberation, Blue Lagoon Cruises was sold to a well-known New Zealand ship owner named Captain Claude Millar. Today Blue Lagoon Cruises is an international brand and well-recognised name on the international cruising circuit. We provide considerable financial support to the Yasawa Islands community, with particular focus on children’s education, helping to provide books, uniforms and medical clinics as well the construction of schools.