Hello! When my husband and I booked this dream 16-day late July vacation 10 months ago, I was fully mobile. Now, after being diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis in February, I do have some questions.
First, about my mobility situation, I can walk, at a relatively fast clip, for 1/3 mile and not much more, before having to sit down. It is tougher for me to walk at a more leisurely pace so I guess maybe I can do 1/5 mile at that slower pace. Standing in line is tough for me too, after about 2 minutes. I do have a great aid for myself and that is a walking cane that I can open up to a seat. So if I am standing in line and can’t take it anymore, I can open up my “cane seat” and sit for a minute or two and get relief. Or after walking for that 1/3 mile, I can then sit even if there are no seats or benches in sight.
I am not concerned at all about walking around on the Paul Gauguin cruise ship itself. I can do short distances easily. I can also climb stairs fine and can get in and out of tenders easily. One of my main concerns is walking along the docks to get to the ship at each port. Some of those in the Caribbean are very long, so I’m wondering about Tahiti and the Society Islands. So here are my questions:
1. How long is the dock/pier in Tahiti to embark the Paul Gauguin?
2. How long are the docks/piers at each of the stops on my cruise, at Huahine, Taha’a, Bora Bora, and Moorea?
We also have an after cruise extension in the overwater bungalows at Le Bora Bora resort.
3. How long is the walk from the resort’s lobby to one of the far end overwater bungalows?
4. Or is there maybe a golf cart shuttle to take us there?
Now a question about some excursions we have signed up for.
5. We are on for a 4 x 4 tour of the Island of Tahiti. My question here is not about mobility, but just about wear and tear on my back. I will bring a lumbar support pillow. On Moorea we are also doing a 2 person ATV. Will that be enough cushioning to go on these rather bumpy rides?
Thank you so much for any information you can give me!