sita

Couple of asides regarding Tahitian sunsets. First, they are quick, hardly any lingering twilight due equator location; plus they are earlier than many are used to. I am sure you will add some great Bora Bora sunset shots to your collection but also encourage you to try for some sunrises. The best atmospheric photos we have taken over many trips in FP have turned out to be those during the sun rising.

Have a super trip and; please, share your photos when you return.

thanks Twin!

Can anyone provide a link to the ferry schedule to Moorea?

To answer your question, along the long other side of the ship are some staff quarters; primarily for officers and supervisory positions. Majority of the staff quarters on the the deck below. We love being on this deck and book it when available. We rarely saw any crew (suspect they get back to their quarters long after we're asleep and rise before the sun) and hardly any guests either given only 14 cabins. Happy planning!

Cook's Bay, Moorea, from tender dock

Gorilla playing keyboards in the mountains at right, face looking up at the sky at left (complete with nostril hole) used to be the regular anchor for PG back in the day

this is exactly the detail of info I was looking for!

Looking to book a beachside bungalow at Moorea Sofitel pre-cruise and wondering if you have a recommendation for both location (specific bungalow numbers?) and how to get the best rate. Thanks much!

Dominique bien sur; divemaster extraordinaire!

Just to be clear, all equipment is provided free of charge/ included in dive price when diving with the PG crew. Including wetsuits. We like to use our own mask/snorkle/wetsuit but have found theirs to be fine and we use their BCD/regs with no issue. If you bring your own equipment, they will set it up for you each dive and store in between. The marina crew is top notch and it has spoiled us for other dive providers.

Outside the reef in Bora Bora (Tapu) and either of the Moorea dives recommended. Yes, the coral has taken a hit but still lots of see including lots of sharks, tropicals, turtle, rays, eels, wrasses, etc. There is also a dive to the Manta Ray site (protected) in Bora Bora which is intermittently offered. It is on the complete other side of the island. We did it once and saw several at a distance; others have been more fortunately (see multiple You Tube videos); kind of fun just for the ride circumnavigating BB.

Water likely 80F at depth in October, seems vis always 100+; you're a little late for whale sighting but you never know! Have fun and, if you can, report back on the current conditions.

Tenders run on both days; surprised when I read reviews where people don't make it to the motu; it is heaven on earth, truly. A photo from the motu is the 'money shot' on nearly every PG catalog...quintessential french polynesia. Recommend you plan to go on the first day as you may like to go back on the second.

Its not private, by the way, but a prime section is 'reserved' for the PG, it is on the same motu as the Pearl Beach resort. If you google an aerial view of BB it is Tevairoa motu at apx 11 o'clock. The southern sandy tip is the PG part; soft sandy beach, bathwater lagoon, sometimes good snorkeling on the coral heads. Lacks bathroom and chairs but has a little hut serving drinks, chips.

Enjoyed the telescopic views from the PG but if you can't make it to one of them, recommend asking at reception for a current star chart and take a look topside yourself. The open sky is incredible. A dazzling milky way on view in Rangiroa ranks high in PG memories.

Sita, why don't you join us PG flu sufferers on the Reunion?

Emdee, wish we could; the timing didn't work out for us

BPCruiser, have fun anticipating, imo this is one trip where it truly exceeds your dreams.

We have been on the PG a couple of times in October, mostly due to it being an anniversary month but also trying to fulfill the dream of seeing the humpbacks, which come up from Antartica to calve Aug-Oct (apx). No luck on the latter… yet :o)

We have also been in Feb, April and July, Nov. (Chronic PG flu sufferer; deck 3-4 always) We prefer October as we found it to be less rainy and with less humidity than Feb/April and the water was cooler in July. It's not cold, mind you, just maybe 4-5 degrees cooler. We're divers and appreciate the warmth at depth. But weather is, of course, unpredictable.

Have a great time and circle back to CC and let us know all about it!

Terrific info Emdee; much appreciated!

Thanks Emdee, you may be right. I remember reading that you like the Sofitel, any room recommendations? We will likely stay on the beach rather than OW; many thanks!

Hello,

Some time ago, someone (thinking Emdee) posted a wonderful map of the moorea hotels including the most recommended OWB based on views…. could someone help me find it? Have tried various word searches; Thank you!

We bought ours several years ago at the Radisson Tahiti in a little crafts shop they had there for local wares. It hangs on the wall behind our bed and we love it. The Radisson is now the Pearl and unknown if they still have the little shop; might try to call before making a special trip. They had several sizes, colors, etc. Good luck in your hunt!

Lunch recommendation in Moorea - Restaurant Les Tipaniers, short walk (west, I believe) from your hotel

Great itinerary for scuba diving, our dives in Rangiroa (both outside the pass, the tides were flowing the wrong way for us to dive the pass) rank as out best dives ever (by far)

That said, if getting certified in advance of this cruise is not possible, the ship has an excellent Discover Scuba program. After a short class (slides and discussion, maybe 45 minutes long) and a check-out in the pool with equipment, you will be able to go on at least two dives, usually inside the reef in Bora Bora and Shark Gallery in Moorea. On your itinerary, perhaps another dive would be included

The dive crew is truly top notch and they will ensure your introduction to the sport is safe and thrilling. In 2003, we took the DS course on the ship, whetting our appetite to be certified and take several scuba trips including many return trips to the beloved PG.

Regarding booking the anniversary ceremony package (which is different from renewal of vows private ceremony)

If you tell your agent or PG that you are celebrating your anniversary on the cruise, you will receive an invite to the ceremony along with all other celebrating couples. I have been when it was just a handful and other times when it was 20 couples or more; I think the more the merrier. On a seven day, it has ususally been held on the first overnight in Bora Bora.

At the celebration, they read a poem, wrap each couple up in a Ti fe fe, place flower crowns on your heads and take picks with Gauguin and provide cake/sparkling wine. The ship's photographer is on hand but most couples exchange their cameras with others and take pictures. They usually start by who has been married the longest and work their way down to the honeymooners.

In our cabin (If I remember correctly at the start of the cruise or the second day) we also received a congratulatory note from the captain and a lovely decorated piece of cake and a couple of flutes of sparkling wine.

This was all without cost. Maybe someone who has been recently can advise if anything has changed.

Its a lovely event.

Hi Alex

You’re in for a treat. The water in FP is phenomenal and the PG dive crew is top notch. Also, you’re at the tail end of the humpback season so there is an outside chance of seeing them, (Moorea and sometimes Huanine). If you’re up for it, recommend the Discover Scuba on the PG, you’ll get to dive Toopua & Shark Gallery with your husband.

The snorkeling, is adequate at Tahaa but need to swim towards the reef. There are a few coral heads at the Bora Bora motu but IMHO, the BB motu is not to be missed; it is truly spectacular.

About the diving

Toopua is inside the reef, loads of tropical’s and my dive log repeatedly notes octopus, eels, rays at a distance. They oftentimes offer a night dive at this site through an outside operator. We did this once. Night dives are not for us, though I have a clear memory of looking up at 40 ft below and CLEARLY seeing a star filled sky. Kind of cool.

Tapu is outside the reef, tropical’s, gigantic napoleon wrasse, turtles, reef sharks, large, curious lemon sharks.

I would encourage your husband to take all dives but if had to choose only one in BB would dive Tapu.

Shark Gallery and The Canyons dive sites are adjacent. Tropicals, lots of sharks, turtles, eels. Can’t really recommend one over the other but, again, would do both, especially since you double your odds of seeing humpbacks.

There will probably be an outside operator dive in Huanine as well.

The water will be in the low to mid 80s (at depth) and visibility routinely over 100 ft. It is supremely convenient departing for the dives from the ship’s marina and the crew is very professional and all about service. Dives are offered at least twice per day, though I seem to remember only 1 dive site each day (as opposed to doing say Toopa and Tapu on the same day)

Not sure if your cruise is one Cousteau is on, if so, book dives early.

When you board, there will be a dive desk in the reception area and they can fine-tune your dive schedule.

Feel free to ask any questions. French Polynesia is heaven on earth.

I'm going to (respectfully) disagree with RZ3 and encourage you to do the Discover Scuba on the PG. The dive staff is top notch, it will not require a large time commitment and the diving conditions will likely be better than you imagine. I cna't think of a better introduction to scuba.

We did the discover scuba on the PG over 10 years ago and it began a keen interest in the sport. We have since dove several times back thru the PG as well as elsewhere throughout the world. Nowhere did we find a better dive crew and the diving is exceptional.

The intro dive in Tahaa was not available to us at the time but would seem could take too much away from a day which many consider the best onboard, the motu BBQ.

In looking over my dive log for Toopua, the vis was usually 100+ and once was only 70… :o) The dive site includes loads of tropicals, likely octopus, moray eels and sometimes eagle rays swiming in formation at a distance. A fantastic first dive.

In Moorea, yes the coral has suffered with the crown of thorns, but in 2013, it seemed to be doing better and there were plenty of tropicals, sharks, turtles, etc.

The prep for the two dives (brief powerpoint presentation and pool time trying out equipment and comfort underwater) probably took maybe 3 hours total.

The dives themselves are in the ports where you have two days so really no an issue. It is so convenient diving on the PG, quick walk to the Marina, short zodiac ride to your dive… You can still do excursions on dive days, once you know the schedule for the beginner dives (you will find out the first day when signing up for Discover Scuba.)

Side note, do not miss the bora bora mot. Heaven on earth.

Feel free to ask any additional questions and share with us your adventures when you return!

Would love to see your underwater ones, when available

It would be lovely to hear names of the crew members on this sailing…. Elmo? Cesar? Voltaire etc; it must be nice both for the repeaters and for the long time crew…. thinking mutual admiration. Please send sea mail to us!

Where is can rain every day but oftentimes just for a few minutes… or just around the mountain peaks where the clouds 'hang out.'

One time on the Motu Mahana, there was a quickly arriving and torrential downpour just after lunch was served. Lasted maybe 5 minutes but coincided with a tender service and half the beach cleared out. The rest of the day was sunny, warm and dry with little evidence of it ever happening.

Have a super trip!