Yasawa Princess Cruise
Yasawa Princess Cruise
4.7
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
Closed
Saturday
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
We are a Snorkel tour Cruise operator from the Maldives. Daily Excursions to sand banks, Picnic islands and Local Islands.
Male, Maldives
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Yasawa Princess Cruise
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.7
18 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Tinarinaloves
Hucknall, UK19 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
What an amazing time we had, I can’t think of a better way to experience the Maldives.
It’s hard to know where to start with the good points. Staff - fantastic from a chef who can’t do enough to make sure your food experience is great through attentive but not over the top drinks service, knowledgable/helpful snorkelling guides to cabin staff who kept our room spotless.
While the setting, a different island or sandbank every day with crystal clear waters and loads of snorkelling is what we went for, the staff are what made the holiday so enjoyable. I can see why so many people return to this boat again and again.
There are no bad points to this holiday from our perspective. If you want a chilled out, relaxed but fun way to experience the Maldives then this holiday is for you. Don’t expect fancy rooms, professional evening entertainment, people dressed up to the nines at night or gourmet food this isn’t a 5 star hotel. Do expect clean rooms (with better service than the last P&O cruise we took), a wide range of well prepared, varied food dishes, music to dance to, well set up beach parties once a week and well guided snorkelling activities.
Do pack lots of swimwear, casual clothing, sun cream and some insect repellent, only really needed on the evening parties and larger islands if you go through foliage or shady areas.
We don’t scuba dive so can’t comment on that aspect of the trip but the divers always seemed happy when they returned.
While we won’t be going again next year we do intend to return another year.
Thank you Yasawa Princess team for a wonderful holiday.
It’s hard to know where to start with the good points. Staff - fantastic from a chef who can’t do enough to make sure your food experience is great through attentive but not over the top drinks service, knowledgable/helpful snorkelling guides to cabin staff who kept our room spotless.
While the setting, a different island or sandbank every day with crystal clear waters and loads of snorkelling is what we went for, the staff are what made the holiday so enjoyable. I can see why so many people return to this boat again and again.
There are no bad points to this holiday from our perspective. If you want a chilled out, relaxed but fun way to experience the Maldives then this holiday is for you. Don’t expect fancy rooms, professional evening entertainment, people dressed up to the nines at night or gourmet food this isn’t a 5 star hotel. Do expect clean rooms (with better service than the last P&O cruise we took), a wide range of well prepared, varied food dishes, music to dance to, well set up beach parties once a week and well guided snorkelling activities.
Do pack lots of swimwear, casual clothing, sun cream and some insect repellent, only really needed on the evening parties and larger islands if you go through foliage or shady areas.
We don’t scuba dive so can’t comment on that aspect of the trip but the divers always seemed happy when they returned.
While we won’t be going again next year we do intend to return another year.
Thank you Yasawa Princess team for a wonderful holiday.
Written February 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trevor H
Thaxted, UK34 contributions
Mar 2025 • Couples
For those into snorkelling, diving, or fishing, there can't be a better experience than than being aboard this wonderful old ship. As first-time snorkellers, we were provided with goggles and fins and shown how to use them. All the crew are brilliant and will go out their way to ensure a first class experience for all onboard. The chef and team produce amazing top rate food three times a day, including an incredible weekly beach bbq. The air-conditioned cabins ensure a comfortable sleep. We were greeted on arrival at Male airport and taken all the way to check on the way home. A massive thank too, to RTC Travel for this fabulous experience.
Written March 19, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kah10859
Atlanta, GA24 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
We spent a week on the Yasawa Princess in November of 2021...their first sailing after the pandemic lock down. I absolutely loved the trip. The crew was fantastic, and the food was freshly prepared each meal. The boat is a bit, shall we say, rustic...but I loved it! Want to go barefoot to dinner with wet hair and no makeup? No problem! Need to go grab something from your room before the dive boat departs? Go ahead, you can be back in 2 minutes! The dive masters were awesome and did their best to find the best dive sites and calmest, clearest waters. Even though I'm a diver with no claustrophobia while underwater, I do kind of have an uneasiness about being below deck on a boat with only one way out. After checking out the cabins on the lower deck, I am glad I opted for a cabin on the main deck and I felt it was a good choice for me to have splurged on that upgrade. Plus, the upper deck cabins give you a place to dry your wet suits and gear. The biggest negative about the entire trip for me is that the bed was quite hard - but i definitely slept soundly each night in spite of it! They could definitely invest in some memory foam matresses😜. All in all, a wonderful time and I met some really great people. If you love to dive or snorkle, the Yasawa Proncess is a fantastic way to see the Maldives if you don't require posh.
Written August 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fhdCornwall
Callington, UK144 contributions
Feb 2023
Yasawa Princes continues to provide a unique experience of the Maldives. It is a small cruise vessel catering for 25 - 35 passengers. Unlike a stay in a resort you visit different island or sandbank every day and therefore get to snorkel on a different reef every day. Snorkelling is guided by two or three crew members who are able to point out some of the more unusual sea life that you are passing. Less experienced snorkellers are carefully monitored. At the same time as the snorkellers are on the island the divers are off in the Yasawa's dhoni to visit a carefully selected dive site.
As well as the snorkelling and diving there are evening fishing trips (not very successful in our case), evening beach barbecues with dancing, trips to a local island, a different cocktail every evening and a Maldivian evening on the last night where men can wear a sarong if they wish. The crew are all very friendly and are very keen to make sure you enjoy your holiday. The food is excellent, cooked by a Sri Lankan chef who is really proud of his work. Above all the other passengers invariably seem to be friendly and to mix well.
The Yasawa Princess does not provide 5* luxury. What it does provide is a friendly, welcoming and exceptionally enjoyable experience of cruising the beautiful seas of the Maldives with like minded people while being cared for by a lovely crew who we came to think of as friends.
As well as the snorkelling and diving there are evening fishing trips (not very successful in our case), evening beach barbecues with dancing, trips to a local island, a different cocktail every evening and a Maldivian evening on the last night where men can wear a sarong if they wish. The crew are all very friendly and are very keen to make sure you enjoy your holiday. The food is excellent, cooked by a Sri Lankan chef who is really proud of his work. Above all the other passengers invariably seem to be friendly and to mix well.
The Yasawa Princess does not provide 5* luxury. What it does provide is a friendly, welcoming and exceptionally enjoyable experience of cruising the beautiful seas of the Maldives with like minded people while being cared for by a lovely crew who we came to think of as friends.
Written February 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
j287129
Bristol, United Kingdom3 contributions
Jan 2020
Yasawa Princess is a 40 yr old, previously cruising for many years in Fiji for Blue Lagoon Cruises. We returned to her after 30 yrs and found the same outstanding service delivery whilst we visited pristine snorkelling reefs in the company of 26 other amiable Brits. The facilities aboard are functional ( not marble and chrome ) but provide all the amenities needed. This is a not like a live aboard dive boat where divers have priority. Excellent facilities are available for both and all equipment and instruction for both is there in equal measure.
The uninhabited islands and cays are reef fringed an ideal for spotting a myriad of coral fish, sting rays, reef sharks, moray eels and best of all giant manta rays with wings pens of about 3 mtrs. Casual lunches or dinners ashore were a delight. All days on beaches were shaded by the pre set up umbrellas ( by the crew )
The ship was aided by and excellent tender ( dhoni ) and a fast open topped shallow drafted launch that could be run up to the beach.
All food and bar deliveries were of a high standard ( not haut cuisine ) served buffet style. Dress was completely bare foot casual .
Cabins were fully functional but not contemporary to the eye.
Overall the crew provided an excellent service and not doubt were handsomely rewarded by the optional tip at cruise end ( not hard sell pressure for a contribution whatsoever ever.
Best advert is that many of our fellow passengers were multi repeaters.
The uninhabited islands and cays are reef fringed an ideal for spotting a myriad of coral fish, sting rays, reef sharks, moray eels and best of all giant manta rays with wings pens of about 3 mtrs. Casual lunches or dinners ashore were a delight. All days on beaches were shaded by the pre set up umbrellas ( by the crew )
The ship was aided by and excellent tender ( dhoni ) and a fast open topped shallow drafted launch that could be run up to the beach.
All food and bar deliveries were of a high standard ( not haut cuisine ) served buffet style. Dress was completely bare foot casual .
Cabins were fully functional but not contemporary to the eye.
Overall the crew provided an excellent service and not doubt were handsomely rewarded by the optional tip at cruise end ( not hard sell pressure for a contribution whatsoever ever.
Best advert is that many of our fellow passengers were multi repeaters.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fhdCornwall
Callington, UK144 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
We have just got back from our ninth fantastic trip on the Yasawa Princess. There is a reason why 80% of the guests on board are returners, it is the fact that once exposed to the amazing experiences you will have onboard the boat you become hooked, and just have to come back for more. The staff are all very helpful and are determined to ensure that you enjoy your holiday. A number of them will take it in turns to come on the guided snorkelling trips with you, both to video the experiences and to point out the many colourful reef fishes that you will see. The amount of effort that they put into the weekly beach barbecue and disco is huge and we all get to enjoy the results. This year, however, the disco was interrupted by the news that there were mantas feeding off the stern of the Yasawa and a number of the guests went back early to watch and snorkel with them. There are just so many exciting experiences available that sometimes you just have to choose between them. I am happy to say that those of us who stayed to the end of the disco found that the mantas were still feeding when we got back. The whole holiday was a wonderful experience and we will be returning for a tenth time next year!
Written April 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brenda m
6 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
We are a family of 4 with 2 teens. We had a great time. The staff are humble individuals doing a great job. The cabins are comfortable with AC. We came to improve our diving and that we did. We are beginners and received the attention and care we needed. The food is really good and the chef takes so much pride in preparing it. The other cruisers were enjoyable to learn about.
It’s not like a regular cruise where there is unlimited food. Breakfast /lunch and dinner provided at set times. So perhaps bring your own snacks.
We are not big drinkers - so can’t comment on the bar. However, those around us seemed to enjoy the experience.
Most are here to snorkel and dive. We stayed one week.
Thanks to the staff for a great experience and memory for our family.
It’s not like a regular cruise where there is unlimited food. Breakfast /lunch and dinner provided at set times. So perhaps bring your own snacks.
We are not big drinkers - so can’t comment on the bar. However, those around us seemed to enjoy the experience.
Most are here to snorkel and dive. We stayed one week.
Thanks to the staff for a great experience and memory for our family.
Written December 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elliemae2008
London, UK35 contributions
Jan 2020
I adore the ocean and top of my bucket list was to visit the beautiful Maldives and snorkel with the whale sharks and mantas (if possible). I wasn't disappointed. The snorkelling was sublime - crystal clear, impossibly blue water was like a magnet. Sharks, rays, mantas, turtles, millions of fish, moray eels and the magnificent whale shark.
The boat was really comfortable - great cabin with air con and a good bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef was most attentive to my needs as I am allergic to fish. All the staff were wonderful and friendly and my shipmates were a great bunch.
Hopefully, I will return.
The boat was really comfortable - great cabin with air con and a good bathroom. The food was excellent and the chef was most attentive to my needs as I am allergic to fish. All the staff were wonderful and friendly and my shipmates were a great bunch.
Hopefully, I will return.
Written July 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert L
Bridge, UK11 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
There is nothing else like this trip. A different reef to snorkel or dive on each day, unbeatable care from the staff, good food, and just fun, fun, fun.
En suite and a/c cabins.... Casual attire..... All inclusive.... Marine wildlife to dream of.
This is not 5 star glitz, but it's a 7 star holiday made by the ship (she's a character), the staff, other guests and the surroundings.
Totally brilliant.
En suite and a/c cabins.... Casual attire..... All inclusive.... Marine wildlife to dream of.
This is not 5 star glitz, but it's a 7 star holiday made by the ship (she's a character), the staff, other guests and the surroundings.
Totally brilliant.
Written February 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rglg001
maryland93 contributions
Nov 2019
We just recently took a two week cruise on the Yasawa Princess that turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and relaxing trip we have taken, and we travel extensively. The Captain and crew treated us like royalty. Going to a new island or sandbar every day far surpassed staying in a Bungalow resort and was far less expensive. Three excellent meals a day, fishing, snorkeling, diving and opportunities to see many islands and incredible sunsets sets this adventure at the top of the chart.. If you are going to the Maldives, take the Yasawa Princess.
Written November 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello. Please could someone tell me if shoes are allowed on board or is it a shoeless boat? I don't want to over pack. Thank you.
Written November 26, 2023
What is the advantage of cabins on the higher decks? Can engine noise be less here for example? Does anyone have any cabin or deck tips at all? Thank you.
Written April 29, 2023
I was on the middle deck. I think that the noise will be incrementally louder on the lower decks... the main noise is the engines warming up in the early morning, around 0600, as the boat prepares to move to the next location, you do have to get used to waking up early but then breakfast is 0730-0900... you don't want to stay inside when you have those views 😀
Written April 30, 2023
Yes we do have a lot of Solo Travelers. As everyone go on the Excusrions together after a day or 2 we do have a very good atmosphere onboard.
Written September 23, 2019
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.