J&DfromTheVillages

For me this is a trip of a lifetime ...I never spend that much $$$$ on me alone ...you know being a Mom and all ...but yes I did it

I really hope it lives up to my expectations ...South Pacific and Tahiti are a dream come true

 

Hopefully weather will cooperate and no crrrrraaaazzzzzy mosquitoes ...apparently some are very hungry and carry a disease ...Yikes ...i hear vanilla is a good repellent ...who knew ?

 

Thanks for all input and contact ...still nothing for Huahine ...anybody ?

 

Michele

We took Marc's lagoon tour that was entertaining. It was $100pp and included a black pearl farm visit, snorkeling, decent picnic on a motu with music from the boat captains, open bar (lots of local punch). He also offers a combo tour, and ski doo tours - all meeting up at the same motu for lunch. He can be reached at: reservationsathuahine-natiquedotcom.

We previously did a 4 hour ship's snorkeling tour HUH990A for $49pp that was also entertaining. Good snorkeling, entertaining guides - no lunch.

PLEASE FORWARD CONTACT NUMBER OR EMAIL ooops capitals ..i am sooooo not computer savvy

One email address to reach Leon Revault of PA'ATI is: oviriexcursionsathotmaildotfr. Remember to put the symbol for "at" and the period for "dot" when you email him. Natacha responds to these emails. Also you can check out the reviews on Trip Advisor. One person posted a review in 2013 that covered the tour in detail. You will need good water shoes for these sites. Have a blast - we did!

We have decided togofor it exactlyfor the reasons of very long flights and heckhow often will I go back there .2of our stops are difffernt and spending 3days in Bora Bora sounds awesome

as an avid snorkeler i love gorgeous waters

I do need a contact in Huahine and Fakarava and Rangiroa

We already have excursions booked with Patrick,and Jocelyne and Bruno

If you could please share contact addresses

 

 

Swimming with sharks freaks me out ...any danger ...Im scared they will smellmy fear ....i may just stay on board or real close to our guide ..I am a big chicken

I do have fins packed as is my madk and snorkel andbag

 

Thanks

 

Michele

We did a tour TWICE with Leon Revault of PA'ATI in Rangiroa (we were on a BTB and loved his tour so much that we booked it for the second cruise as well). This tour is called Ile aux Recifs - an amazing lagoon about an hour by boat from the ship...but well worth it! Once there we did some snorkeling in a quiet coral garden, then did was I called "lagoon hiking" in waist deep water for about 1/4 mile to the next motu which was right at the reef. Our guide led us on a walk over the jagged coral to see the tide pool and ocean on the other side. On the lagoon side of the reef is a natural jacuzzi - interesting. From there we did another "lagoon hike" to the next motu where Leon had a fantastic lunch underway which included an amazing hot coconut bread. After lunch he put the leftovers at the edge of the sand. We were amazed to see 5' black tipped sharks skidding across the sand to get a bite. After a while he grabbed the tail of one so we could touch it. Awsome! He and his guides wove hats for us.

After lunch we did the 1 hour boat ride back to an area called The Acquarium - a sandbar very close to our ship. Thousands of colorful fish. Next it was into the pass to see dolphins. The water was a little choppy that day so Leon and a friend who also had a powerful boat trolled to the end of the pass, then hit this throttle full force causing huge wakes. The dolphins were like performers on cue. They began jumping and making flips in the waves. What a show! A perfect end to a perfect tour!

We just returned from 20 amazing days in French Polynesia on Princess. Our VEST BEST lagoon tour was with Patrick on Bora Bora, but you have to be careful. There is someone else on the dock who calls himself Patrick who will allow you to think HE is the person you have booked with. Several folks on our first cruise got caught up in this scam.

The real Patrick dresses in traditional tahitian dress, long hair, and has an office gal with him to collect money. He has 4 bright yellow outrigger canoes that each accommodate 12 passengers. The canoes are covered with live flora and fauna and look wonderful.

We opted for the 3/4 day Lagoon Tour with Polynesian Feast for $125pp. Patrick was so helpful to some of our members who were uncomfortable getting in the waist deep water with the sharks and rays. Once they saw the rest of us having a great time, he encouraged them to join us, stayed right with them and showed them how to touch and feed the rays. Made their day!!! We did snorkeling in several locations, then went to his motu for a fabulous feast with roast pig and all the local trimmings including champagne, wine, sodas, and bottled water. Even the plates were woven from leaves! Patrick and his other captain played the ukuleles during lunch. After lunch, he did the fire dance. Exciting! I kept expecting his long hair to catch fire! Fantastic day! His web site is patrickatmaohinuidotnet.

Is abtb too much ..20 days in Tahiti ....

I love beaches and snorkeling

Is this too much ?too long or just heavenly ?

 

Michele

Absolutely NOT! We did not want to fly that far for just 10 days, so we opted for the BTB. Just returned a few days ago. The first cruise went to Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas in addition to the Society islands. By stopping at the Society Islands twice we had the opportunity to do an island tour on one trip and a snorkeling tour on the other. By the end of the 20 days we saw everything we wanted. It was wonderful. If you want information on some of the fantastic tours we took, email me at judithbrauchy70atgmaildotcom.

Assuming you're on Princess? They'll have tours you can sign up for right there at the airport. Be sure to sign up for Princess transfers. The tour will only cost you $12. Plus if you have the transfer for the return to the airport they will let you stay on the ship all day so you won't have to figure out what to do on that last day until your 11:0pm flight..

Thanks for the info! We will sign up for the transfers now!:)

We get into Tahiti very early in the am on the same day that we board. The ship overnights there. What do most folks do from 5:30am until one boards at noon?:confused:

Best things to do-tours on Moorea

Hi Tikiintahiti, We are new to the South Pacific and have many questions. Would you consider responding to our email address to take a dialogue off this thread? If so, our email is: judithtimothy@yahoo.com Thanks. I printed your list of Best things to do on Moorea.:)

This has nothing to do with it..Our RCI roll call had 4 people on it for our August western med and the ship was sold out..We were only two of a handful of Americans onboard..there's your answer.

Thanks. I didn't realize Cruise Critic was primarily an American Tool. All of our previous cruises had very lively threads, so I've been disappointed that this one has been less active. I've learned something each cruise from our fellow passengers on Cruise Critic! Did notice that Princess lowered the price significantly for our cruise/tours yesterday.

random question, and hope to not sound rude.. but what does it matter how full or empty the cruise is????

My question was prompted from an extremely quiet thread for our sailing. I was simply wondering if the room sales was sluggish and perhaps that was why so few fellow passengers posted to our thread.

Can anyone tell me how to find out how many cabins have been sold on a particular cruise? The thread for our cruise (Sapphire Princess, July 14 Vancouver to Whittier) is really quiet. I was wondering if, perhaps, the cabin sales are sluggish for this sailing.

Can American dollars be used for restaurants, etc. in Vancouver?

Hi all, We are cruising to Alaska on Princess Sapphire on July 14, 2012. Although we have done lots of previous cruises, this is our first to Alaska and unfortunately, NO ONE on our thread (so far) has been to Alaska before. Would some experienced Alaska visitor who would be willing to answer some port questions please post onto our thread. We will be stopping at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway before starting the land portion in Whittier. We need your expertise! :p

Don't know if you will ever see this, but we are going on Princess Sapphire to Alaska in July 14, 2012, by none on our thread (so far) have ever been. We are looking for an experienced Alaska cruiser to share information. Please post on our thread if you don't mind answering some novice questions!:)

Oh, we also just got a Priceline bid of $120 for Friday, July 13 in the Granville Entertainment District in Vancouver. Thanks, Judy and Dan from St. Louis

Vancouver, BC - Just booked on Priceline 12/22/2011

 

 

9/10/12 - 9/12/12: 4* Opus Vancouver (Granville Entertainment District) at bid of $122 per night. Bid this area to be close in downtown pre-cruise. Plus $48.02 taxes/fees = total of $292.02 for two nights.

and

9/26/12 - 9/27/12: 4* The Westin Wall Centre (Vancouver Int'l Airport) at bid of $105 per night. Bid this area to be close to airport post-cruise. Plus $24.47 taxes/fees = total of $129.47 for one night.

 

Based on what I researched prior to bidding, my winning bids are higher than some other winning bids. This might be due to the length of advance time before check-in or some event that I could not find info about. We went forward because we wanted things firmed up now.

I am gathering data for a South Seas cruise in 2012 and am seriously considering the Aranui 3. Sounds exciting! We've cruised Princess and Celebrity many times, so for the South Seas, we were looking for a different experience. This sounds like it! One question about the rainy season. When I looked at weather on line it indicated that Dec./Jan. had an average of 12.5" of rain per month vs. June and July having only an average of 1.68" per month. Simply based on that, it looked like June/July is the best travel time. Can any of you who have already traveled there give me some feedback on your weather experiences?

Thanks,

Judy and Dan from St. Louis