MotuIslander

There is a BIG difference between an extension cord and a power strip with a switch or surge suppressor. The issue has to do with how power is generated and distributed on a ship. 

A normal surge protector only breaks the circuit on the “live” electrical wire, whereas both the “live” and “neutral” wires carry current on a cruise ship.

See: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/TVNCOE/Documents/SafetyAlerts/SurgeProtectiveDevices.pdf?ver=2017-08-11-142750-690 

9 hours ago, carolina cruisin said:

You will not regret sailing on Paul Gaguin.  One of our most memorable trips!!

PG spent it's first 8 years as Regent (which was originally Radisson). They are still very similar in terms of customer service. Some of the crew have been on board for 25 years (Hi Rafi!)

Oh I remember our very first, a Trip of a Lifetime. We returned the next year and almost every year since. Be prepared to come home with the French Polynesian Flu. The only cure is regular return visits!

Demographics vary by cruise. Longer itineraries tend to have more French passengers. 7, 10 & 11 tend to be majority American with sizable amounts of Canadian, Australian and New Zealanders. Plus many other countries.

Dress code is Elegant Casual (men in trousers with button shirts, ladies in dresses or slacks &  blouses). FOR DINNER. During the day, just not bathing suites in dining rooms. 

We have been on 16 sailings and usually do ten days. We also like 11's (Cook Islands) and have done one 14 day Marquesas sailing. Seven days is too short. Marquesas is is great, but sea days are not always friendly to a small draft ship. It is at its best in lagoons of the Societies.

For us (you may be different), we spend little time on veranda as the upper deck is so close, so we spend all our time there. You will find many repeaters on Deck 4 (window stateroom).

Much disagreement about best month to travel. I am sure others will offer their opinions, but we tend to go in June-August. That is winter in the south pacific, but it is only about 2 degrees cooler and there is less weather. That means that the waterfalls might be less spectacular, but it is also a bit less humid. Next year, we are going in April. So...go figure.   All months are great and all months will have SOME rainy days (maybe for an hour or two).

You can use shipboard credits for excursions. Sometimes if you book them ahead, they charge your CC. Check with PG to verify.

No Concierge perks like Regent (we had a Penthouse on the Splendor last year and got several perks).

Make a reservation for dinner in Le Grill and La Veranda (Lke Regent's Seti Mari) the minute you walk on board. You might be able to make another later in the cruise if it is more than 7 days.

Remember that it was a Regent ship during it's early years and many of the crew have been on board for much of it's 25 year run. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

We will be on Splendor in ten days. Maybe we will see the last of the Pool Grill?😦

On 12/4/2022 at 1:14 PM, Wendy The Wanderer said:

I was just going to mention that!  

 

We board on January 21st , so take good care of her, @cwm, and thanks for doing this!

Hi Wendy -

We will be on 12/20-1/5 and will make sure that they leave it in tip-top shape for you!

On 9/11/2022 at 9:36 AM, Wendy The Wanderer said:

This is worrisome.  The ship was quite French for our first two PG cruises (2000 and 2003), with the CD doing bilingual speeches, for instance.  I found that aspect quite charming, although some American guests didn't think so.  Over the years, the ship seemed to cater more primarily to anglophones.  I do hope that there's not an ongoing negative attitude onboard towards English-speaking passengers.

Hi Wendy!

We were on board this past June and we found that some of the new senior office were very French, but the crew at large was very much the same as you will remember (many ARE the same!).

We are in the Mandarin Oriental for our December cruise on the Splendor. We booked a year and a half ago, so that may be why we got the M.O. What I am wondering about is our Son who will accompany us on this trip. He will still be 17 and so qualifies for the special kid's rate on the sailing. We did have to pay for his airfare and a small additional amount for the hotel. Does anybody have any idea what the hotel will do with us? A room with two queen beds would be OK for the one pre-cruise night, but I don't see that as an option on the Mandarin Oriental web site. Suites are very pricy.

On 8/9/2022 at 8:39 AM, minidonuts85 said:

Great info here! 

Anyone have a list of what liquors are included vs a surcharge for top shelf? I am a grey goose drinker and wonder if it is included. Thanks! 

Grey Goose is included (it is not top-shelf)

You can print your own if you want.

PG LUGGAGE TAGS.pdf

On 8/20/2022 at 6:16 AM, shrkdive1 said:

Besides cabin 304 on deck 3 we were also told cabins 417 and 418 were available on deck 4.  Are they noisy at all being so close to reception?

We have been in 419, 421, 423 and we are booked in 431 next year. We have also been on decks 7 and 8 and I would say that 417 and 418 are no noisier than many other staterooms. Easy access to dining and disembarkation level. Not as close to Pool Deck.

On 6/2/2022 at 7:00 AM, minidonuts85 said:

All of our proctored emed test kits were reimbursed by our health care provider (Kaiser) including shipping. I like free! 

FYI:  Kaiser reimbursed us for our Emed tests the first time we bought them, but now says that the max reimbursement for "Home" tests is $12 each. Yeah, I know that these are more like lab tests as they are proctored online, but that is all I could get from Kaiser. I have filed a formal challenge to this...still waiting to hear back after a couple of weeks. What is really interesting is that they confirmed (repeatedly) that they WOULD pay for the $199 PCR test at LAX the night we fly to PPT. Go figure!

Our June sailing shows up on the Ponant site, but without the ability to do very much. The Ponant app says it cannot not open because I don't have any bookings.

Medallions arrived ahead of USPS schedule. Only took one day once they had it in their hands.

Well, it looks like PK Express has handed our medallions off to USPS and they are showing delivery this Saturday. 7 days pre-cruise.  

We received an email from Ocean Notifications that our medallions were on the way (about 2 weeks before sailing).

Like others here, our order has been in Carson, CA for several days now. USPS has never touched this package, so it is not their issue. Package is apparently at PK Express in Carson which is a US branch of a Chinese based business with an F rating with the BBB. They do have a tracking system which is based in Russia.

All in all, doesn't give you a warm, fuzzy feeling!

I am wondering if 2023 fares are cruise only simply because it is so far in the future? I wouldn't be surprised if you can book your flights through PG later, if you desired. Not that you cannot get a better deal by booking yourself, we just like to have PG take care of it all for us. 

Maybe next year...

20 minutes ago, MotuIslander said:

I think that everybody in our group (26 total) is, or will be, vaccinated. I had thought of contacting ATO about the Blue Lagoon tour, but I have not done so yet. I will survey the group and shoot an email to Ato as soon as I get a chance.

I sent Ato an email and polled my group for interest.

4 hours ago, FlightMedic555 said:

Not sure so I wanted to reach out.  Also not sure if group has been vaccinated.  Looks to be challenging to go if the rules stand 

I think that everybody in our group (26 total) is, or will be, vaccinated. I had thought of contacting ATO about the Blue Lagoon tour, but I have not done so yet. I will survey the group and shoot an email to Ato as soon as I get a chance.

On 3/18/2021 at 11:31 AM, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

421 - 424 is a great place on Deck 4. Far enough away from reception to not hear anything, mid ships, close to the rear elevator as this one is not as busy as the front one.

Agreed. We have been in most everything from 419-423.

Ditto what TBK and Wendy said. If it weren't for category upgrades, I would only book deck 4 cabins.

On 2/18/2021 at 8:04 AM, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

Hopefully everything goes fine for the June 16th cruise. Just don't sit in Steve's bar chair 😉

 

1 hour ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

 

Wow, yes, but how about all the folks that took a voucher instead because they thought it was their only choice?  Still not exactly covering themselves with glory, are they?  And it isn't just the hospitality industry that is having adverse effects, is it?

 

Thanks for the update.  Still hasn't persuaded me to cruise the PG again.

Wendy,

I am MORE than happy with the terms of my Future Cruise Credit!

We too have been waiting a long time for this sailing (even though we sailed last year, and the year before). This was to be a trip with about 20 of our friends and I am sure it would have been a really great time. We would have been flying this weekend for a three-night stay at the Tahiti IC prior to our 14th cruise on the PG. 

Almost all of our group have transferred their FCC to the identical cruise one year from now. PG treated us all more than fairly and they always have!

I am REALLY disappointed that we cannot sail next week, but that is due to COVID-19, not my favorite cruise line.

Regards,

Steve

On 3/24/2019 at 12:53 PM, TinyG said:

Could I get a morning mimosa? Is bar service available on the last morning?

Yes. At least at the Pool Bar. That's  where they usually look for us when it is time to drag us kicking and screaming off the ship.