crisp1

If the 7 night cruise you are considering has overnights in Bora Bora and Moorea maybe you want to consider extending your cruise with another island. Although I haven't done it yet and from my research many recommend adding 2-3 pre cruise and head home the day you get off the ship- maybe with a stop in LA for a day or 2. ATN now has 2 flights a day- one at 10:30 am, the other the redeye- I'd consider that along with arriving early and getting 'adjusted' :D

That 7 night cruise for next year looks pretty good, but PG rep said if we take their air and hotel pkg, no points for you!

 

Not so much worried about the frequent flyer miles, because I want to make sure our plane gets there for the cruise, but no hotel points, even if Intercontinental has a shared ownership? If we want to add on Bora Bora and Moorea better to do it on our own, or are PG rates always better?

We had to book our own air and hotel. Just so you know Qantas and American code share with Tahiti Nui. I searched for air and hotel with skyscanner- got a good rate for our pre cruise at the IC in Papeete and even though we're actually flying on Tahiti Nui- I booked through Qantas and got the flight for less. I believe PG gives you a $1,500pp credit if you book your own air and hotel. Also keep in mind the transfers and day pass at the hotel with PG

Is this possible- cancelling our existing booking for our 10 day cruise and re booking to get the UBP- we'd loose our $200 obc and pay $100 more pp. Thanks

Wrong board :D

I'm not sure what to say about this. The coral reefs in FP have deteriorated markedly in the last 15 years since I first went there. Huahine might be the answer, but I haven't snorkelled there. Moorea had an attack of Crown of Thorns in 2008 when I was there, not sure what's happening now. Probably best bet is to do a motu picnic of some kind on BB or Huahine where the guide knows the best places.

My only experience snorkeling is in the Caribbean- the best being in St Lucia and St John- I'm sure the worst snorkeling in FP is still better :cool:

Thanks for the info and posting the pics Crisp!

Your welcome :D

I would happily do it "on my own" if I weren't actually on my own! As noted, I'm a solo female and I'm just not going to go off to another island by myself.

 

Ack. I really hate ship excursions. Really. But I still have zero interest on my Roll Call. One wouldn't think getting THREE more people to do something new and different would be so difficult. :(

Check out which other ships will be in port along with you and post on their roll calls- maybe you can find someone there to join you

Where is the best snorkeling on this itinerary. I have to indulge at least once :D

I can see the monetary and schedule/time benefit of renting a car and driving yourself around the islands. I am interested in 'local color', love meeting people and getting the history etc from a local instead of reading about it in a travel guide or app. My second or third visit to a place I might rent a car, but I think there is nothing better than supporting the locals and their economy. JMHO :cool:

You should be able to do Nevis on your own if you have an early enough arrival. It's a short walk from the pier to the ferry terminal. I'm sure there will be taxi's offering tours when you get off the ferry. I'd also check out Trip Advisor for tour operators on Nevis

The link to register

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2930144977701977089

Limited groceries in town. You are better off walking the mile or so to Carrefour which has everything under the sun. It's an easy walk along the road with a sidewalk pretty much the entire way.

Not that I'm in bad shape, but walking 2 miles for a few groceries is not on my list of things to do in Tahiti :D. We're not real big on breakfast- some fruit, maybe a pastry, juice and coffee, but want to purchase something for a light lunch for Saturday- bread, cold cuts, cheese- these can't be bought in town? Also looking for an alternative for dinner to the IC- dw doesn't eat seafood. Is there something near the IC or should we go into town later in the afternoon on Friday and eat there or at the trucks by the pier.

There will be PG webinar at 7pm Eastern on 4/15/2015 for the Moana- your Travel agent should have the link to register. I'd post it here, not sure if I'm allowed.

crisp1 - I am not sure this board even has a moderator, but CC rules prohibit large sections of material from other webpages to be cut and pasted. You are allowed to post a link to this material.

These offers are direct from PG cruises, not from a webpage. You can take advantage of these offers by booking direct with PG cruises or through your favorite travel agent

Just added

Book any of the select sailings below by April 30, 2015, we'll throw in Shipboard Credit of $500 per stateroom!

Tahiti & the Society Islands | 7 nights

Fares starting from $5,045 | May 9, 16, 2015

Fares starting from $5,145 | July 4; October 3, 10, 2015

Fares starting from $5,295 | August 8*, 15*, 22*; December 23, 30, 2015

Fares starting from $3,995 | December 16, 2015

REE Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program (AOTE)

· FREE participation for guests who book their children in the AOTE program on the following sailings:

o August 8, 15, 22, 2015 (7 night sailings to Tahiti & Society Islands)

· For children 9-17 years old

· Valid April 7 - April 30, 2015

· Value: $329/child

· New bookings only

· Some restrictions may apply

· Here is the link to the program to learn more: http://www.pgcruises.com/ambassadors-environment-youth-program

Past Guest Promotion for Paul Gauguin Cruises and REGENT SEVEN SEAS

· Past guests of Paul Gauguin Cruises and Regent Seven Seas receive 10% off on select 2015 m/s Tere Moana sailings

o August 22, 2015 - Lisbon to Barcelona

o December 12, 2015 - Colón to St. Maarten

o December 19, 2015 - Colón to Puerta Caldera

o December 26, 2015 - Roundtrip Puerto Caldera

· Past guests of Paul Gauguin Cruises and Regent Seven Seas receive 10% - 20% off on ALL 2016 m/v Tere Moana sailings

· Past guests also receive a $100 per person ship board credit on these corresponding sailings

· Ship board credit can be applied to other family and friends traveling on the same sailing

· This is the honor system for Regent Seven Seas past guests

· New bookings only

· Valid March 16 - May 31, 2015

· Some restriction may apply

American Express Cardmembers benefit, too

· American Express PLATINUM cardmembers receive a $100 per person ship board credit on select 2015 (7) night sailings to Tahiti and Society Islands and select (11) night sailings to Cook Island and Society Islands

· American Express BLUE/GOLD or GREEN cardmembers receive a $50 per person ship board credit on the same select sailings

· Cardmember must pay with the appropriate Card in order to receive the ship board credit offer

· New bookings only

· Valid March 15 - May 15, 2015

Check out Patrick Adventures. He does a great 1/2 day tour, will pick you up at hotel and drop you at pier. However if you have a ton of luggage I don't know what you would do. Maybe you can leave the bags at hotel and he will drive you to ship. The food trucks are awesome but not sure it's worth the round trip cab ride while staying at the hotel.

Do you have a link to Patrick's website- my searches come up with Marama tours.

Thanks

Windstar now cruises round trip year round out of Papeete with a little over 100 pax on it's Wind Spirit

Everyone seems to recommend just going to the Motu on Taha'a. We are beach people- go one day every weekend during the summer and early fall. But we never can spend more than a few hours. PG offers a 3.5 hour off road island tour. If we take this will we still have enough time to swim and relax at the Motu. Or does everyone still recommend just going to the Motu- we would probably end up back on the ship by early afternoon- or is it that good and we won't want to leave

We'll be checking in late Thursday night and plan an easy day for Friday- maybe a trip to the market for some groceries. Some recommend eating dinner at the trucks near the pier- or is there other recommendations. Checking out on Saturday and are thinking about a half day island tour. Should we take a cab to the pier and drop off our bags and have the tour company pick us up there or ask the IC if we can leave them there and take a cab after our tour.

Any recommended sightseeing half day tours?

We'll be checking in late Thursday night and plan to take it easy on Friday- maybe a trip into town to buy some groceries. We'll be checking out Saturday morning and instead of spending half a day in town are thinking about taking a half day island tour. Will the hotel keep our bags until early afternoon or should we take a cab to the pier, drop off our bags and have the tour pick us up and drop us off there. Any half day recommended island tours?

Thanks everyone. My kids want me to bring back tee shirts- dd wants a Boro Bora one. Recommendations where to get the best/ least expensive?

Thanks for all the responses and recommendations. After some consideration I booked the IC lagoon view for the 2 nights pre cruise. The confirmation I got stated XFP 3912 for the breakfast buffet. I thought there was free internet in public areas at this hotel-my confirmation states XFP 1100 for 24hrs. I'm thinking about taking the hotel's shuttle into town our first day and check out the market and purchase some groceries. Also thinking about the 4 hr 4X4 for the second day- morning with Tahiti -Safari. Think the 7 hr will be too long and get us to the ship too late

I posted this on the Pacific Islands board too, but it seems like the 'experts' are right here :D

We're booking our own air and hotel. The IC has a discounted rate of $220 per night US non refundable and a another with no deposit and that can be cancelled up 3 days prior that includes breakfast for 2 daily and the circle island tour for $367/ night US. These rates are for a garden view room, For 420 more per night we can get a lagoon view- worth it?

This seems like a no-brainer but I've read mixed reviews of that tour and am wondering what the actual cost is for breakfast at the IC

Thanks

We're booking our own air and hotel. The IC has a discounted rate of $220 per night US non refundable and a another with no deposit and that can be cancelled up 3 days prior that includes breakfast for 2 daily and the circle island tour for $367/night US.

This seems like a no-brainer but I've read mixed reviews of that tour and am wondering what the actual cost is for breakfast at the IC

The rates are for garden view for $20 more per night we can get a lagoon view- worth it?

Thanks