The Yasawa Princess is a simple, no-frills small cruise ship offering a fun way to experience the Maldives.
The cabins are basic but comfortable, with a small en-suite toilet and shower. All cabins have air conditioning and can be double or twin beds. The space is tight, with a small wardrobe and some drawers.
The ship has 33 cabins on three different levels. Lower Main Deck, A Deck and Bridge Deck. They either have a port hole or a small window. There are no balconies.
There is a bar and restaurant on the main Deck, with some outdoor seating. The Bridge Deck has sun beds and a small seating area.
The ship has a fully equipped PADI-qualified dive school.
You can book on Full Board or All-inclusive.
The food is simple but tasty. Plenty of fresh fish daily. The Chef certainly knows how to make delicious food. There isn't an extensive buffet with a big selection like you have in the resorts but what you do get is delicious. After all, this is a small 3-star ship, but the food is very tasty, and the Chef Chandrah will always try to accommodate any dietary requirements, please mention this at the time of booking.
The Staff are great and go above and beyond to ensure a great experience.
Every day, you stop at a different sandbank or uninihabited island. The crew go out early to set up the chairs and umbrellas on the beach (no sunbeds). You usually go over to the island/sand bank around 10 am, then back to the ship for lunch at midday, and then back to the same island/sandbank at around 2 pm - 4 pm. Snorkelling is arranged both in the morning and afternoon with some of the crew. They will use the small dingy to take you to the reef, and sometimes, the snorkelling may be off the dhoni.
Diving is arranged in the morning and afternoon.
80% of the guests on board are non-divers, so this is great for the divers as they are not diving in such large groups as you would on a regular safari boat.
Some excursions are free of charge, such as night fishing, local island tour and Male Tour. There is a Beach BBQ once per week, which is included in the price.
Chargeable excursions include Whaleshark snorkelling, Nurse Shark Snorkelling and Manta Ray Snorkelling.
What I love about the Yasawa Princess, is the crew. They go out of their way to make sure you have a great time. It's a very laid back atmosphere. There is no need to dress up for dinner, it is all very casual. You get the opportunity to meet other people, dine with them, socialize with them. You get to see some amazing sand banks and uninhabited islands and plenty of snorkelling and sunbathing.
I've had the opportunity to experience plenty of amazing resorts in the Maldives, but from a personal point of view, my favourite experience has got to be the Yasawa Princess.
Do scroll down on Koamas Tropical Escapes Face book page to January 2023 where you will be able to see a day by day picture diary of the cruise.
The Yasawa Princess is a simple 3 star, ship offering great value for money, exceptional service and amazing Maldivian experience.
