Pops150

Yep! Deck 4 and #436 ...... excited! :D

I trust this big THANK YOU goes both to Tahitianbigkahuna and Wendy. Very helpful. Yep...I am that early-riser and so will plan accordingly.

Pops

Howdy once more!

OK.....getting ready to book for 14 days in August. :D

Can not dredge up your suggestions on cabins/decks. I don't need a balcony but would enjoy seeing the passing scenery. Money is not a big deal - mostly I want to be "in the mix" and enjoy the other guests, the crew, the locals, etc., etc.

Been an anthropologist all my life but that is NOT going to influence my attitude toward this trip! This is for fun. As always, look forward to hearing from you.

Pops

Always makes me teary. :)

Super! Got to delay anyway!

Hey, here's a question .....I'm dealing with PG directly on the 11/18 14-day trip. I am a single traveler. They quote $10,650 (w/air). I cam doing my own air and so they'll knock off $1450, bringing their end down to $9,200. Their catalogue lists the PH stateroom at $7,645 for this itinerary (w/air). I know, the "pp" is buried but can I get this cheaper? Thanks again! :-)

Yes I still am posting stuff about Moorea ... yup I know backtracking ...

 

Everyone including myself says to stop by Carmeline's when your in the main village. So here are the temptation photos ....

 

 

 

 

So what did we choose?

 

 

Followed by ....

 

 

Remember your in FRENCH Polynesia ....

 

And the ice cream is locally made with Tahitian vanilla ;)

Just getting air sorted as they can't get me on the AF from LAX. Slightly more cumbersome Portland to PPT. All is well and thanks again!

Pops ....

 

I've stayed in 310 ... loved it!

 

Easy on/off

 

Same stateroom as most others ...

 

Large cubby area under the port holes which was nice for extra stuff.

 

Grab it .... many returnees go deck 3/4 as the price is good plus the easy access. You mozzy up on deck for your balcony ;)

Hello!

Back again. I have a chance to nab #306 for the November 18 departure to Marquesas etc. Some posters say Porthole Staterooms not that bad. Deck #3 has some access advantages, etc. From what I can see, the PHs don't make THAT big of an impediment. Reactions?

Thanks,

Smitty

My review will include my knowledge of 18 trips to French Polynesia and/or the Cook Islands which includes 7 cruises, 5 being on the Paul Gauguin. Some will be inclusive of many trips and some will focus on our latest trip that being the Reunion Cruise of July 26, 2017.

 

For you that drive into the LA basin to fly to Tahiti we’ve done this many different ways. The most affordable for us as we drive 230 miles is to park at the Fly Away next to the Van Nuys airport off Roscoe. It’s only$4 bucks per day and the R/T for the bus to LAX is around $18 bucks. So for about $90 the two of us can go for 12 days and this includes the parking and bus round trip. Fly Away drops us off right in front of the terminal. There are several Fly Away parking areas around the LA basin. If you live in the LA area you have other options such as shuttles but the price tag could be higher unless you live very close to LAX.

 

First let me give some detail about the air carriers. Overthe years we’ve taken 5 different carriers but I’ll focus on Air Tahiti Nui andAir France as they are the big two.

 

Air Tahiti Nui – Located in the Tom Bradley InternationalTerminal at LAX. If you drive, shuttle or take a bus you will be dropped off right in front of the terminal. If you’re flying into LAX and then going over to the international terminal you will proceed differently depending on the terminal you arrive at. If you arrive at terminal 1-3 you will need to go outside the terminal and take the LAX terminal bus to the international terminal. If you arrive at terminals 4 – 8 you can access the tunnel/skyway system which will allow you to stay in the secured area. This is only valuable if you’ve checked your bags straight through to Tahiti and you’ve already got your ATN boarding pass. Do an internet search for LAX / tunnel / international terminal.

 

ATN typically opens 4 hours prior to departure. If you get there 3 ½ hours prior to departure there will be a long line ;) They will weigh your bags and if over by a few pounds typically no big deal but this isn’t the case on the return so be warned. If you’re going economy we prefer the side seats as the AirBus 340’s have a configuration of 2-4-2. This will change when they get their new Boeing 787’s. Most take the red-eye which is what we prefer.You will get a light meal about 45 minutes after takeoff and breakfast about 90 minutes before landing. Nothing fancy but it is edible. Soft drinks, juice,beer, wine and water are included … as much as you want. ATN has 5 planes, four have been re-furbished, and one has not. You have no way of telling which plane you will end up with, it’s a roll of the dice. We’ve been cold on the flights and hot on the flights and a few times just right, again it is a roll of the dice. Flight attendants are French Polynesian and are very nice, they change into local garb after the takeoff which adds to the charm, your heading to paradise. Downside for some is the late night return flight leaving FAAA international around midnight. Some head for the airport once the Paul Gauguin arrives back on Tahiti, usually around 7:30 pm. This makes it possible to get off board and catch the late flight.

 

Air France – Located in terminal 2. Air France opens 4 hours prior to departure. Currently using Boeing 777’s and on our last flight December 2015 was a 2-3-2 configuration. The 777 is a quiet plane and most are newer than the 340’s that ATN fly’s. Flight attendants are French and charming. Same as ATN in the meal department, a petite meal after takeoff followed by breakfast 90 minutes before landing. Same free drinks. IMO the food was superior on Air France. A red eye flight with an early am landing. Down side can be the return as it is early morning, about an 8:00 am flight. This means getting up at 4:00 am on the Paul Gauguin unless you’re spending a few extradays. Typically, not always, AF is a tad less money if you’re booking your ownairfare.

 

If you’re having Paul Gauguin book your flight as a package you may not be able to pick the carrier unless you pay for a deviation. If you’re on your first Paul Gauguin cruise I recommend purchasing all-inclusive, it takes the guess work out of it and PG is a well-oiled machine. As we’ve taken so many trips to French Polynesia we typically book some things on our own. I’ll talk about that later. Bottom line: we prefer Air France but that may change once ATN has their new aircraft … some coming as early as late summer 2018.

 

Arriving at Faaa international airport – No matter what airline you arrive on you will be taken through customs which can take 30 – 60 minutes depending on where you were sitting in the aircraft. As you arrive at customs there will be a small Tahitian greeting party play music and a dancer or two, always sets the tone for your visit to paradise … I love the ambience, gets me all excited. As you get through customs you will grab your bags and proceed through the agriculture check but I must say in my 18 trips we’ve never been stopped and checked. Once out the door you will be in the open terminal where you will either grab a taxi, have ground transportation arranged or you will rent a car. A Paul Gauguin representative will be there to great all and check your name off the list. They will assist you in getting to the right person for pre-arranged transportation or point you to the taxi area. If you’re renting a car go to your right and proceed about 100 feet where you will find the desk for all the major car rental places. Past the car rental desk is the bank ATM.

 

The next part will include pre-cruise suggestions and how to get the most out of your time spent on Tahiti prior to boarding. Then suggestions after you board but prior to the ship departing. I’ll add this over the next few days.

Thanks so much or the rundown on arrivals and departures!

What a great review(s). I will be a first-timer on PG for either the August or October, 2018 14-dqy trips, I am certain this will get all straightened out but, because I am "Mr. Planner," ;p I'd like info on a couple of scheduling items.

#1. I get on a plane in Medford, OR and fly to LAX. By that time I am sure PG will have given me my departure-time from LAX to Papeete, right? Is it likely I'll be dropped in Tahiti / Faa'a (Papeete) at such an hour as to make it reasonable to transfer to the ship? Or ..... something different?

#2. Same for my return. Is it likely the PG people will place me on a flight relatively close in time to the docking? Or.....what?

Many thanks,

Hubert

My review will include my knowledge of 18 trips to French Polynesia and/or the Cook Islands which includes 7 cruises, 5 being on the Paul Gauguin. Some will be inclusive of many trips and some will focus on our latest trip that being the Reunion Cruise of July 26, 2017.

 

For you that drive into the LA basin to fly to Tahiti we’ve done this many different ways. The most affordable for us as we drive 230 miles is to park at the Fly Away next to the Van Nuys airport off Roscoe. It’s only$4 bucks per day and the R/T for the bus to LAX is around $18 bucks. So for about $90 the two of us can go for 12 days and this includes the parking and bus round trip. Fly Away drops us off right in front of the terminal. There are several Fly Away parking areas around the LA basin. If you live in the LA area you have other options such as shuttles but the price tag could be higher unless you live very close to LAX.

 

First let me give some detail about the air carriers. Overthe years we’ve taken 5 different carriers but I’ll focus on Air Tahiti Nui andAir France as they are the big two.

 

Air Tahiti Nui – Located in the Tom Bradley InternationalTerminal at LAX. If you drive, shuttle or take a bus you will be dropped off right in front of the terminal. If you’re flying into LAX and then going over to the international terminal you will proceed differently depending on the terminal you arrive at. If you arrive at terminal 1-3 you will need to go outside the terminal and take the LAX terminal bus to the international terminal. If you arrive at terminals 4 – 8 you can access the tunnel/skyway system which will allow you to stay in the secured area. This is only valuable if you’ve checked your bags straight through to Tahiti and you’ve already got your ATN boarding pass. Do an internet search for LAX / tunnel / international terminal.

 

ATN typically opens 4 hours prior to departure. If you get there 3 ½ hours prior to departure there will be a long line ;) They will weigh your bags and if over by a few pounds typically no big deal but this isn’t the case on the return so be warned. If you’re going economy we prefer the side seats as the AirBus 340’s have a configuration of 2-4-2. This will change when they get their new Boeing 787’s. Most take the red-eye which is what we prefer.You will get a light meal about 45 minutes after takeoff and breakfast about 90 minutes before landing. Nothing fancy but it is edible. Soft drinks, juice,beer, wine and water are included … as much as you want. ATN has 5 planes, four have been re-furbished, and one has not. You have no way of telling which plane you will end up with, it’s a roll of the dice. We’ve been cold on the flights and hot on the flights and a few times just right, again it is a roll of the dice. Flight attendants are French Polynesian and are very nice, they change into local garb after the takeoff which adds to the charm, your heading to paradise. Downside for some is the late night return flight leaving FAAA international around midnight. Some head for the airport once the Paul Gauguin arrives back on Tahiti, usually around 7:30 pm. This makes it possible to get off board and catch the late flight.

 

Air France – Located in terminal 2. Air France opens 4 hours prior to departure. Currently using Boeing 777’s and on our last flight December 2015 was a 2-3-2 configuration. The 777 is a quiet plane and most are newer than the 340’s that ATN fly’s. Flight attendants are French and charming. Same as ATN in the meal department, a petite meal after takeoff followed by breakfast 90 minutes before landing. Same free drinks. IMO the food was superior on Air France. A red eye flight with an early am landing. Down side can be the return as it is early morning, about an 8:00 am flight. This means getting up at 4:00 am on the Paul Gauguin unless you’re spending a few extradays. Typically, not always, AF is a tad less money if you’re booking your ownairfare.

 

If you’re having Paul Gauguin book your flight as a package you may not be able to pick the carrier unless you pay for a deviation. If you’re on your first Paul Gauguin cruise I recommend purchasing all-inclusive, it takes the guess work out of it and PG is a well-oiled machine. As we’ve taken so many trips to French Polynesia we typically book some things on our own. I’ll talk about that later. Bottom line: we prefer Air France but that may change once ATN has their new aircraft … some coming as early as late summer 2018.

 

Arriving at Faaa international airport – No matter what airline you arrive on you will be taken through customs which can take 30 – 60 minutes depending on where you were sitting in the aircraft. As you arrive at customs there will be a small Tahitian greeting party play music and a dancer or two, always sets the tone for your visit to paradise … I love the ambience, gets me all excited. As you get through customs you will grab your bags and proceed through the agriculture check but I must say in my 18 trips we’ve never been stopped and checked. Once out the door you will be in the open terminal where you will either grab a taxi, have ground transportation arranged or you will rent a car. A Paul Gauguin representative will be there to great all and check your name off the list. They will assist you in getting to the right person for pre-arranged transportation or point you to the taxi area. If you’re renting a car go to your right and proceed about 100 feet where you will find the desk for all the major car rental places. Past the car rental desk is the bank ATM.

 

The next part will include pre-cruise suggestions and how to get the most out of your time spent on Tahiti prior to boarding. Then suggestions after you board but prior to the ship departing. I’ll add this over the next few days.

Thanks but you may have misunderstood. I will easily drop close to $500 on SEs but I'll also be content to stroll around ports and towns, see a few sights, taste some local food, etc.

Hello and thanks!

You and another kind person have provided almost identical tips and they seem like the sorts of activities I'd enjoy.

I'd favor some over-the-road sightseeing and also mild beach and snorkel stuff on the PG islands. Looks great. As well, wandering around a port, enjoying the older architecture, trying some local snacks - all this is in my wheelhouse.

I guess more than anything else I look forward to meeting folks with diverse likes and backgrounds!

You are nice to offer a "reconstruction" but please don't unless it would be fun for you!

Best wishes,

Pops

Dear FM-

Many thanks for a prompt and informative reply!

This gives me some direction and all your suggestions sound good and do-able. :D

Best,

Pops

Hello All,

I am considering this 14-day cruise for late November 2017. It was recently featured in "Mighty Ships," the Smithsonian series (which I find fascinating).

The cruise looks like something I'd enjoy but, looking at the number of shore excursions, I am wondering - if a guest skips the majority of shore excursions (very expensive), then what will their day be like?

I assume we can go ashore and I assume most ports will have something of interest for me. How right (or wrong) am I?

Many thanks,

Pops