jbmom2120

Thank you!  This is a great post.  I appreciate all the info 😀

6 minutes ago, Lord_autolycus said:

Oof! Sorry to hear that! Are they saying you’ll get a refund or did they push for future credit as your “only” option?

We had the choice of a refund, but decided to book for the summer 2021 & transferred the money to the new booking. I sure hope it goes!

On 1/19/2021 at 11:43 AM, Lord_autolycus said:

Thanks for all the replies. I thought I had my cruise critic board account set up to send emails when people responded, but they never came, and I forgot to check regularly! Funny timing on me deciding to check the board this morning... I just got an email from my credit card saying there's a pending credit to my account from PG Cruises! Here's the full timeline for anybody interested:

1. February 25, 2020: Booked cruise and made deposit (can't remember the %, but it looks like 20-25% of total; no airfare was included). This was for the Nov11 Society Islands and Tuamotus departure (sorry, can't remember the exact name).
2. August 3, 2020: Had TA notify PG Cruises that we were cancelling before the normal deadline to get full refund - $100/person admin fee
3. Jan 19, 2021: Pending credit to CC used to pay deposit on Feb25. It is the correct amount (deposit - $200). This is 169 days after the cancellation. They had our deposit for 329 days total.

It looks like the last update on our particular cruise dates is that it did actually happen but on Le Soleal instead of on the PG. I'm sure that would have ultimately been fine. It was simply not ever worth the risk of a positive test from one of our 4 family members going or someone else on the ship, which would have ruined the whole thing for everyone. I'm glad we seem to be getting the credit finally. It's entirely too slow processing things from PG/Ponant. It will definitely have us a little less enthusiastic about recommending the PG to friends and family, and will make us less likely to do business with Ponant or a subsidiary of theirs. Maybe we'll get over it since FP is so wonderful and the staff and crew on the PG are amazing, but it might be lower down the list of trip priorities for a while.

Hi, Le Soleal did not end up taking the Nov 11th cruise. Ponant had switched the sailing back to the PG. Then It was cancelled 😞 one week before we were to set sail. (AFTER we made final payment 😡 the week before.) We were very disappointed. 
I’m happy for you that you received your money back. 

20 minutes ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

None do  

Thanks a million!

Hello,

Do any of you know if any of the islands on the Paul Gauguin Society Islands & Tuamotus requires vaccines in order for passengers to get off the ship?

Thank you!

On 7/21/2020 at 9:30 AM, klkaylor78 said:

PG dive team is great but relatively strict so bring all of your certification card with you as well as a log of your dives/log book.  

You can look at the dives on their website but if it says advanced you have to have the PADI Advanced open water, they also require the Deep Diver Certification on some dives - and hold to the rule.  Check your schedule but if you want to dive you will need to log into the excursion page on day -60 and reserve the dives - they sell out the first day on most cruises.

Some dives need to be sched. on board at the dive desk so getting on board early is also important if you want to sched. those dives.  The marina will hold all of your gear and you can drop it off the first day. The dive staff is just great - dives are a lot of fun but a bit pricey - sorry don,t remember the exact cost.

In closing the diving from the PG is great - sign up early, bring your documents, and try to get some recent experience if it has been awhile as the trips are pretty tight on time.

 

We did the pre and post PG cruise hotels with PG and they had it down to a science -but lots of folks got off the night we docked for flights home but don't know all of the ends and outs of doing that - sorry.

Thank you!

On 7/13/2020 at 8:41 AM, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

The PG is pretty consistent about arriving at 7:30 pm. No guarantees of course but it's always been around that time. We've gotten off that evening and headed to the airport. I would recommend making a taxi reservation from the ship's desk. There is a fee for this but it's worth it to know there will be a taxi waiting for you. 

 

I've also gotten off the ship and enjoyed the food trucks and entertainment and then came back on-board around 11 pm .... no problem.

 

Things are a bit different now with C-19 so who knows what to expect at this time.

Thank you 😊 

On 7/13/2020 at 9:59 AM, FlightMedic555 said:

I should have mentioned that if you dive with the PG team you leave directly from the ship via a zodiac to your dive site.  The PG team sets up all of your equipment.  If you decide to use a private company you have to take the tender to shore and then have arrangements with the private company.  It is so much easier and more enjoyable to use the PG team for the dives.

Thank you!

Hello,

We have high hopes to be able to cruise on Paul Gauguin this year. 😃 

Approximately what time of the day does embarkation start? 

Our itinerary shows that we arrive back into port at 7:30pm and spend the night in Papeete at the end of the cruise.   How close to 7:30pm does the ship arrive & approximately what time are folks able to get off? Has anyone experienced disembarking the night of arrival back to Papeete?  Is that a possibility?  Otherwise, what time would folks have to be off the ship on disembarkation day?  If we have a late flight out, what is there to do on disembarkation day, considering that we will have our luggage with us?

We have not yet been on a ship that has stayed overnight in a port....how does that work?  Do they have a certain time that you need to be back onboard the ship at night, or can a person come back on the ship at anytime?  

Has anyone booked a scuba diving excursion thru Paul Gauguin?  What do the prices usually run thru the cruise line for a scuba excursion? Is there easy accessibility to booking a scuba trip on our own?  

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

23 minutes ago, MICHE99 said:

Our date is February 16th and it will be $100. 😬 If it’s a perfect day we will splurge. 

Wow, I'm feeling blessed!

I hope you have the perfect day!

Will you come back and let me know how much it cost to get out there?

1 minute ago, MICHE99 said:

Lucky you. 🍀

How much is your date & price showing?

Just now, MICHE99 said:

Yikes. Great price. What is your date?

April 15th

I called Park Hyatt directly, they do not take day pass reservations over the phone.  The lady that I spoke with at the hotel said to book it thru resortpass dot com  She also said that meals and beverages are NOT included.  She said that it is about 30 minutes from the cruise ship port by taxi. 

I booked the Beach Full Access pass for $50.00 per person for our date. 

I forgot to ask her how much a taxi would cost to get out there. Does anyone here know?

Thanks, Karen

On 2/7/2020 at 10:51 AM, paul58 said:

Follow Port Royal's advice about the Park Hyatt. tel #1-869-468-1234 or parkhyattstkitts@hyatt.com

I just call Park Hyatt, she told me they only take bookings at resortpass dot com

I just called Part Hyatt on St Kitts, the gal there informed me that I would need to book thru Resortpass.com, she would be unable to take reservations via the phone.  She told me the differences in the packages and said that none of them included lunch.  She said they are 30 minutes by taxi from the cruise ship port and that the snorkeling is very good there.  The spa access pass allows you to have a locker and use the showers...in addition to a few other things.

1 hour ago, AF-1 said:

you are good to go.  those other options are available with the medallion class app.  have a great cruise

Thank you! 😎

Hello,

Thank you for setting this thread up and for all the people who are helping us newbies to the medallion.

We received our medallions today and there was a pamphlet that said "Instructions". It looks more like an advertisement for the different options available (Ocean View, Play Ocean, Ocean Now, Ocean Casino & Ocean Compass). 

My question is, do I need to set anything up?  (I have already downloaded the MedallionClass app and set up everything in our profile on the Ocean Ready app. Is there anything else that I need to do?  Or do we just show up to the ship and the Medallions are ready to start working?  

Thanks again.

K 

16 hours ago, Petoonya said:

TBK beat me to the punch- yes Google Fare Suisse Papeete and you can see what dining is  close, but there is a lot more.  Fare Suisse does take credit cards. If you'd like to have a some XPFs there's an ATM right at the Champion Market a block away. Beni and his wife Theresa can make restaurant recommendations for you. We always use the lunch/ dinner trucks Papeete Roulottes- amazing food. It's about 1.5- 2 miles but a nice walk. Good way to see much of Papeete.

 

You can also see where the pier is from Fare Suisse- just move the map a little to the east and you'll see what looks like the outline of a dock on the water. There your ship will await you. Beni or Theresa will bring you there on your day of sailing:)

 

 

Great, thank you!

On 9/13/2019 at 2:49 PM, Petoonya said:

Yes they DO speak English. And I'd email once again as they usually respond within a few days. info@fare-suisse.com You may not have tried to book directly with them and if not I'd recommend it.

I just did a mock booking at that email address and didn't see terms and conditions. I've stayed with them several times and they are are very nice people and respond within a day. It's not fancy like a hotel but very clean and comfortable. You won't be disappointed as the rooms are so reasonably priced for Tahiti. Their room quotes are given in euros as the exchange rate is better.

Hope it works out for you.

2 minutes ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

Benni is a great guy  ...... just book it as they are usually full well ahead of time 😉

 

Reasonable, clean, A/C and within walking distance to many things

Hello,

Thank you both for your replies.  

I did end up booking it earlier today.  At the end of the booking, It asked me if I agreed to the terms and conditions and then if I agreed to the privacy policy.  The website never did let me read what those were....

I did receive an email response confirming my booking, so I am grateful for that.

Do you happen to know if they take credit cards? Or should I be prepared to pay in another currency?  If so, which currency is best?

It looks like a place well suited for us.  We like to walk, so I am happy to hear there will be many things to walk to.  

May I ask, what kind of restaurants are near by?  

Thanks again for your help!

I have a question in regard to a hotel in Tahiti called Fare-Suisse.

I tried to book a room on their website and as I was at the end of the booking it asked me to verify that I agreed to the terms and conditions.  I am unable to find the terms & conditions on their website, therefore did not agree.  

I tried to contact them to ask what the terms & conditions are that I would be agreeing to, via email 11 days ago, and have not received a response. 

Does anyone know if I were to try & call them, if they speak English?  Does anyone know what their terms and conditions are?  Is it normal that it would take a long time to respond to email?

Thanks in advance.

K

3 minutes ago, janert said:

We booked Bumpiing Tours. Levi, who is the owner was great.  We went snorkeling on Champagne Reef, to a waterfall that you jump or walk/ swim in the water to reach, and sightseeing.  It was great.  This was a private tour.  There were 6 of us in a nice van.  I think he also books tours for individuals till we has a full van.  He is a very nice person.  His wife is the person who returns emails.

We had no problem getting into water for Champagne Reef, except it is rocky in the beginning.  Several of us had water shoes that we wore out to waist deep water, then put on flippers and threw our water shoes back to shore.  One of Levi "helpers"  got them and watched them till we got back.  

Thank you! How long ago did you go?

1 minute ago, MartinsCruise said:

Thank you for then information.  The last time we were there, we went by boat which was much easier than going in from the shore.  It was a ship's excursion but they don't offer it for our upcoming sailing.  If I could find a tour operator who does this, we would book through them.

I saw a dive shop listed online, they might have a snorkeling excursion that you could participate in. It’s called champagne reef dive and snorkel, champagnereef.com

1 hour ago, MartinsCruise said:

I would also like to find out how easy it is to get transportation there.  Every time we've gone it was included in an excursion but this time we just want to go to snorkel.

We have taken a taxi/van in the past.  It was very inexpensive and we told the driver what time we would like him to come back and pick us up.  

I have put in a couple of emails to the Ministry of Tourism as well as to another tourism email for Dominica.  I am hopeful to hear back from them very soon.

I'll come back here & post, when I hear something.  

Have a great cruise.

Is there still beach access to Champagne Reef?  (We haven't been there since the hurricane?)

Thank you!

16 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Chip/PIN are a bit difficult to find I the USA, but they do exist. 

CapitalOne also will issue a PIN for their Master Card.  What is nice about both the Andrews and CapitalOne cards are that both charge ZERO foreign exchange fees and both cards have no annual fees.

 

Hank

Hello Hank,

When I called CapitalOne before we left, they told me that if I used my PIN, it would be considered a CASH ADVANCE and that fees would apply.  The gentleman that I spoke with said that applied to all of their cards.  

We didn't have any issues using our CapitalOne card without the PIN on our recent trip to England and Norway....not sure about the rest of the world. 😊