A cruise ship has run aground on a Fijian island that serves as a key filming location for the hit CBS reality series Survivor, mere days before production on the show's 51st season was set to begin.
On April 4, the Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, struck a reef near Monuriki Island in Fiji's Mamanuca Islands. The vessel was carrying 30 passengers and 31 crew members at the time. According to the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), all individuals were safely evacuated from the ship following the grounding.
Blue Lagoon Cruises attributed the incident to severe weather. In a statement, the company explained, "The ship... dragged whilst at anchor during a severe weather event and as a result grounded on a nearby reef." The subsequent arrival of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu prevented salvage efforts, leading to further damage and the ultimate decision to retire the 22-year-old vessel.
The company confirmed the ship remains at Monuriki Island and that removal operations are expected to take one to three months.
This timing creates a striking juxtaposition, as the MSAF has confirmed that Survivor is scheduled to film its 51st season on the Mamanuca Islands from April 15 through July 3. Fiji has been the show's permanent filming home since 2016.
Monuriki Island is no stranger to the screen. Beyond its role in Survivor, including as the setting for the 'Edge of Extinction' twist, it was famously the filming location for Tom Hanks' 2000 movie Cast Away.