Ormylad

Hi, We were on deck 7, on embarkation day when we were docked, a team were painting outside and all the dividers were open. But I don’t know if they will allowed to be opened during the cruise. You will need to check.

23 minutes ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

 

Well, this just would confirm that the stops on the tour that the PG provides on disembarkation vary, or have varied over time.  We've done it several times, and it was all stops to the *west* of Papeete, not to the east (which all the stops above are.)  The Museum of the Islands (anthropology, archaeology), a marae, once the Gauguin Museum (no paintings), a cave.  But haven't done this for a few years, so I guess they've shifted it.

 

It would make sense to do the above eastern stuff if they were dropping you off at the Pearl.  Interesting that they've changed it--I quite like the eastern part, especially the black sand beaches like Venus Point.

On our tour the following day we were informed that the Museum of the islands is currently closed for renovation. That would explain the changes. The bus for the Tahiti Pearl left the ship 15 minutes after ours for the IC but followed the same trip.

I guess they need to provide a 2 hour trip whilst the rooms are being prepared.

We enjoyed the trip, we were able to get our bearings around Papeete for the following days.

Hi,

We took this tour on 9 February 2019, just checked on my photos.

There were 3 stops 

1 The home of Norman Hall author of Mutiny on the Bounty which is now a museum

2 Venus Point 

3 A viewing point of the bay were Mutiny on the Bounty took place.

We were then dropped off at the I C and the rooms were ready and 

I hope this answers your question.

We were taking 2 extra nights post  cruise at the IC. We did take the 6 hour tour around the Island the following day which included the waterfall the only repeat stop was Venus Point.

If you are flying out that night you may wish to chill in the IC all day until you depart for the airport.

If you are taking a meal at the IC before you depart, leave plenty of time, some fellow cruisers did not get their meals in time  on February 9 and had to leave to catch the bus without finishing their meal.

Good for you!!  have a good trip until your thrown off.

Firstly it is unfair to say that you are “thrown” off the ship.  dcr1975 accurately describes what happened on 9 February 2019, however what you need to appreciate that the crew and outside contractors only have from 9.30, when you leave your room to 15.00 when the next set of passengers embark, to maintain the ship. On the 9 Feb the woodwork around the pool was being sanded down and revarnished so the pool deck was out of bounds. I don’t think they will be doing that every trip so you may be able to sit on deck.

We chose to stay 2 extra nights at the IC Tahiti and left with several others who chose to do the same as a group to the airport. The Oceana Marina had docked on 10 Feb and the IC Tahiti also had a large group from that ship there but they were bussed by Air Tahiti Nu separately.

The problems start when you get to the airport, there are only 3 desks open for economy and 1 for business.

Some had  checked in on line and joined a shorter queue at the Airport but had to wait for a gap in the business queue so they didn’t gain much time.

But none of this is the fault of PG.

Below are the instructions for dis- embarkation.

It is open seating in all three restaurants, you eat where you want in any of the restaurants there are no reserved tables except when  a director entertains passengers. You can eat as a couple or join others that you have met on the cruise.

You have to book the Le Grill or the Veranda restaurants and here you can specify a table for how many you wish.These bookings are taken at breakfast or lunch and if full you can book for the following night. The main restaurant always accommodates those who wish to dine there, there are no reservations that I know of for the main restaurant.

We had no problem, some people like to eat with others, the maximum number per table is 10. Obviously the bigger the group the  noise emminated from the group increases, and tables for 2 near these can be noisy.

We were always accommodated for when we asked for a table for 2 in a quiet area in all restaurants.

If you are seated at a table for 4 you are asked if you mind if two others join you, if you say no they just take the other places away, if you say yes then they leave the place settings in case someone wants to share, in our case no one wished to share.

If in the deck 5 restaurant there wasn’t a table currently available they suggested that you go to the piano bar on that deck and they came for you when a table in the quiet area was available usually within 10 minutes.

The crew get to know you very quickly, they will know which wine you like, which drink you like at the bar and how where and how you like to eat.

You are looked after and it doesn’t matter what deck  you choose for your cabin, you will be treated equally.

My advice is go with what you want to do, if you wish one night to eat with someone you have met do it if not don’t.

I agree with all the comments made.

We were on the last 14 day cruise and embarked on February 9 2019

My wife has mobility issues climbing up and down stairs, we did all the tours mostly on 4x4 and buses with no issues.

The crew are masters at getting people on and off the tenders, when it was rough they had 4 strong crew two on  the tender and two on the stairs and people were manually moved on and off.

There were two passengers who used wheelchairs around the ship and they were accommodated and did most of the tours.

Those on tours assemble in the Grand Salon on deck 5 for checkin, The tenders leave from deck 3 and the passengers queue down the stairs from  5 to 3.

You can work around this I used to checkin  on 5 while my wife went down to Deck 3 using the lifts, she waited for me and joined me when I reached Deck 3.

You will need to access what is right for you and your wife, but from our experience you will have no problems.

The moto BBQ was the easiest for my wife so don’t miss that!.

I hope this helps.

Just read this review, we were on this trip, we are still making our way home to the UK.

We totally agree on the comments made and extremely grateful that we do not need to repeat any of this  review. We have no negative comments to make about how we were treated by all at PG.

On our return to the U.K. we will place review on this board.

For those making this trip you will be spoilt rotten by the crew and will come away with many memories.

Hi I asked the same question in Nov from PG the reply is as follows :-

“Ia Orana - Hello from Paul Gauguin Cruises,

Thank you for your e-mail, it is our pleasure to assist you. Shore excursions open around 3 pm Pacific time on the 60 day mark.

We hope this help in your planning.


Mauruuru and regards, 

Customer Service – Paul Gauguin Cruises
11100 Main Street, Suite 300, Bellevue, WA 98004
www.pgcruises.com
(800) 848-6172 |  fax (425) 440-6186  “

 Good Luck we leave UK on 23rd January to start our cruise 26 Th Jan and we got all that we asked for.

Hi,

Firstly I would like to thank you all for your postings regarding PG cruising the information from you all is very helpful regarding the ship and life on board etc.

This will be our first cruise, to celebrate our Golden Wedding. We are fairly well travelled and included the Cook Islands on our return from New Zealand. We loved our trip there and decided to try the French Polynesian Islands while we were relatively fit.

After looking at all the options with other cruise lines we have booked via our TA in the U.K. the PG 14 day cruise to the Marquesas etc. in Jan 2019.

The small ship is ideal for us, although some of our experienced cruising friends warn that small ships are bad in rough seas but we feel that it is a risk worth taking.

My questions relate to the trips available on this cruise their suitability for 75 year olds.

We can only snorkel from a beach, climbing in and out of boats to swim is not an option any longer.

Do you have any experiences of the trips available?

We wish to see the interior of the islands but note the warnings relating the uneven roads etc. Do any of you have any experiences of the rides?

With the exception of Papeete are tenders used on all the islands?

Have any of you experienced the ATVs ?

Another question is how do you book the laundry package? it doesn’t seem easily available on line

Kind regards

Al

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