TheDarkestBlue

Hi! 🙂 Yes, since we bookended the cruise at the Hilton, wound up in that mall a bunch, (each morning to grab a latte at Brioche Dorée) and it had more stores than I anticipated, super convenient from the pedestrian bridge at the Hilton. https://www.pacificplaza.pf/boutiques/ Since we spent so much time being active, didn’t get to do much shopping during the cruise, except the local handicraft tables at the dock while for waiting for the tender. At the mall I bought some Hinano beer glasses at the Carrefour, which had all kinds of souvenirs at reasonable prices. The best advice I can give you regarding souvenirs is to turn it over and make sure it's made there in French Polynesia. Pareos are everywhere and I kept looking, they are all so unique, so many different colors and patterns, I never grabbed one until we were leaving the airport! Some excursions you can create your own, I hear. Now that I have it at home, I was twisting it around, and my husband looked at me and said it'll make a nice table cloth! LOL! 🙄🤣

There were only those high end (IDK- I'm not much of a drinker?) after dinner drinks one had to pay for, everything else was included. Those drinks, and a trip to the boutique or spa, seem to be the only things you could spend money on board for, besides excursions 🤙🏻

Here's his review video, just posted

That's sounds like a good way to wade into this, I know my teen would love it, lol 🙂 nice to have something to do together that doesn't take up the whole day because I don't think my dh would be into it. Thanks for the encouragement! Such a beautiful part of the world, warm and clear, I look forward to going back and seeing more 🧜‍♀️ 🩵

Thanks so much for such a thoughtful and well laid out answer! 🙂 It might be ok for me, I've grown up by the beach and been doing Pilates for a very long time. Much appreciate the time you put into your posting, it's a lot to think about. And another expensive hobby LOL 😆

Not to hijack this thread 🙂 but curious how old y'all were when you started scuba diving? What's the hardest thing about it, other than getting to the dive locations? What level of physical condition does one need besides solid swimming and good lung capacity?

Hi! We did the half day snorkel in the afternoon, see below: https://boraborah2o.com/bora-bora-snorkeling-tours.html HALF DAY TOUR 3.5 HOURS Several stops in which we aim to see the inner reefs, manta rays, eagle rays, a place teeming with life, a beautiful coral garden and if we are lucky more. Pick up time dependant on where you are based but usually between 8:15 am – 8:45 am for mornings and 12:45-13:15 pm for the afternoons

It was a pleasure to meet you, we had a wonderful time! I felt like I had to pinch myself on several occasions, lol, trying to take in what I was actually doing 🤗 You and JT make a beautiful couple, and I wish you many more excellent trips on your journey together ❤️

One of the nice things that can happen is you meet a fellow Cruise Critic poster, get to snorkel with them and see the big grin on their face 😊

They didn't tell me the times and I forgot to ask, lol, so was surprised to find the drift snorkel tickets indicated 8:15 pick up at the marina, on the back of the boat. Motu lunch on Huahine was 9:30 iirc. Both of these excursions were really good and well priced. I always get independent excursions and my expectations were low for the motu lunch but we had a great time 😁

You can call Paul Gauguin directly to book the excursions, no way to do it yourself online, kind of old school. If you were you able to see online what is offered for each stop on your trip, there is an excursion number (and the price) to call them with. Also, you can't see if that excursion's full unless you talk to them. I did it directly, not sure if the TA is supposed to, but it was easier to cut out the middleman for me, we were kind of last minute booking, and figured things would be full up, luckily we got what we wanted.

Hey LeeAnne 🙂 you're the one who brought up the word crazy not me, LOL! 🤪 It's not the case that they only offer mornings to the cruisers, whatever you want is available. If you only have one day there in Bora Bora, then you'll never make it back to the tender for doing the afternoon session, the sun was descending into a beautiful sunset when we finished dropping off the other two snorkelers at their hotel, by the time we got back to the dock it was close to 5:30. When I was booking this, I had a chat with Aimee about it, and while she encouraged me to go early in the morning that I would see more things, I really wanted to have a day where we could sleep in, which is what we did. First we went to a large coral garden, then we went off to find Manta Rays, which are the things they see more of in the morning, but not always. It was a hard swim to the edge of the channel over very deep water (they take your abilities/level into consideration). No manta rays. Then we went to a lagoonarium, very beautiful, then somewhere else and found a group of eagle rays that we swam over, tracking them a bit, so serene and graceful 😊 We had a good time and felt we saw a lot. I would add that you should bring your Paul Gauguin snorkel gear with you for all the excursions, even though the companies say they can provide equipment, it was much easier to use your own stuff that you've already fitted.

I had not checked out the products before I went, so my opinion is based on how it left my colored hair feeling that first day before I unpacked. Looking online, they appear well made and seemingly eco-friendly, according to the website. The problem with name brand products like this is that they are changeable from a product you might find on the shelf from that manufacturer. For instance, the amenities pouch I got on the airplane from United contained Sunday Riley products, they are a very expensive line, turned the tube of hand creme over and it was manufactured in China, and the lotion felt like nothing special. >>>When I asked Sunday Riley where their products are manufactured, they told me: “All of our products are manufactured in the US. We are based out of Houston, Tx." Here's some info on the company PG uses for the Algotherm hotel line amenities and large format bottles: https://www.groupegm.com/en/hotel-supplies-amenities-algotherm-1-en.html https://www.groupegm.com/en/distributeurs-448-en.html cat_algotherm_eng_fr.pdf

I'm an overpacker too, and my husband never lets me forget it as we trudge through the airport, LOL. I brought way too much stuff this time because of visiting two climates, San Francisco on the way over and for a couple days on the end - it felt funny to put on pants 🧜🏻‍♀️ I have come to put some of the toiletries and sunscreen that I can replace in my checked luggage, in ziploc freezer baggies, keeping the important items (hair and skin stuff) in my carry-on. After washing my hair three times in the first two days, I started using my conditioner as co-wash and it worked pretty well (I have shoulder length curly hair) https://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/19048/80484/care/conditioners/curl-3-in-1-conditioner?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7uSkBhDGARIsAMCZNJt-qLD2jo4JkkVS2Pg95JZFab-IESubRAhhJDWayPqdv7NIp0wV-YYaAluUEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#/sku/122626 The good news was that I didn't have to take my liquids out at TSA in any of the airports we came through, Newark, San Francisco and Tahiti.

I think you will not have any problem with the food, every day there were extensive offerings someone who eats like you. There were many vegetarian dishes that sounded yummy and filling.

Yes, only when the kids are off from school, but the best part, I think if they're under 18 they go for free🙂 The program was going on when we were just there, and the kids look like they were having a good time.

I'd say bring your own stuff, even my husband and kid wouldn't use it, certainly not of the caliber of Aqua di Parma or L'Occitane. All the swimming and Sun is going to strip that color right out of your hair so you might want to take your own products. The bath gel is okay, I only used the hand soap from the things provided. Also, there are no bars of soap, if you like that. There are very nice vanity kits, with nail file, Q-tips and cotton pads, sewing kit, hair bonnet. Lots of storage, one power outlet in the bathroom above the mirror. There's a standalone magnifying mirror on the desk, slippers in the closet, along with bathrobes and umbrella. I brought magnetic hooks for the walls that I got on Amazon, so we wouldn't run out of room for hanging wet clothes, even though there is a small clothes line along the back of the bathtub.

Hi there LeeAnne! 🙂 Happy that you have found a niche that you enjoy, I have only ever written 1 review on TA, and found it's not my style, writing official reviews. I prefer to try bring information that is helpful in a more casual atmosphere, like this forum. Sorry to disappoint, but please feel free to ask me anything?

Breakfast on La Veranda 🙂

Polynesian Night dress code and check out the fish drawn on the plate under the cheesecake,

Here is a menu from the last night on board at L'Etoile

Yes! I missed the demo but managed to get a lei 🌺

Thanks for mentioning it, I checked it out, and it turns out he was talking about me, lol 😆 I wrote to him. I have to say, everybody looked like they were having a great time, this was my best vacation ever.

la Orana! 😊 For your viewing pleasure, Society Islands June 10 - 17, 2023, dailies, room service breakfast menu, and disembarkation papers - we left independently, bookended this at the Hilton Tahiti and rented cars from Avis in downtown Papeete, highly recommend them. I am just back and still jet lagged, but wanted to get this out there. On another note, we had a YouTuber named Gary Bembridge, whose channel, Tips for Travelers, present on this cruise. I didn't speak with him or mention that I was a subscriber until the last morning at breakfast to give him his privacy, as I understood this to be his 100th cruise, and was with his SO. I believe he's going to be doing a review of it, saw him taking pictures all over the place. Usually puts his stuff up on Sundays. Fingers crossed I'm not in any of the pictures, LOL! Had a great time, food was really good and fresh, everybody on board lovely, excellent service all around 🤙🏻 Let me know if this works? I'm still sleepy 😶‍🌫️ PaulGauguinSocietyIslands6-10-23.pdf

Hi 🙂 Just wanted to say I'll be home in a few days and will post up stuff then 🫡