Lrorogers

2 hours ago, alwaysonaship said:

Thank you for the pictures of the St Regis. We will also be celebrating our 50th. Love  the PG and enjoyed Moorea so much last time, and wanted to spend more time in Bora Bora..looks like we picked a nice hotel

Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary as well!  We absolutely loved the range of experiences that we had aboard the PG and the on island stay on Bora Bora.  

The St. Regis resort on Bora Bora is gorgeous, the staff are wonderful and the breakfast that is included is just lovely.  

You will have an incredible time, I'm sure!  🙂

Congratulations on your milestone anniversary!  So special that you are creating this incredible experience for your wife!

My husband and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary and a milestone birthday last July on our first trip to French Polynesia.  We did a 3 night pre stay on Tahiti before boarding the PG for 10 nights...then we flew to the St. Regis, Bora Bora for 4 nights before flying home to Toronto, Canada.

The trip was incredible!  I think that you have made a fabulous choice to stay on Moorea pre cruise and to also experience Bora Bora post cruise!  

In looking back, we wish that we had gone to Moorea pre-cruise, as 3 nights in Tahiti beforehand would have been better spent elsewhere. We did love boarding the ship in the afternoon and our 10 nights on the Paul Gauguin was amazing....beautiful sites (especially some of the smaller islands like Fakarava, Huahine, and two nights on each of Moorea and Bora Bora), staff and food.  We would return to do another cruise in a heartbeat and would opt this time for a Deck 4 cabin as a balcony in our room was really not needed, as someone else said, the ship has so many wonderful common areas that the extra cost is really not worth it for a balcony IMO.  The snorkelling in French Polynesia, especially in Bora Bora, is outstanding!

The beauty of the St. Regis, Bora Bora resort is indeed also incredible...definitely a splurge for a big celebration!  We bought some alcohol at the duty free in LAX to take to the St. Regis post stay...Do be sure that they know about your big celebration because they also had a lovely bottle of champagne, flower turn down service, and a delightful mini chocolate cake for us during our stay at the resort.  I did use a separate TA to make arrangements for our pre and post cruise stays and they had lovely perks. 

Keep an eye out for promos on the PG cruise, especially around Valentine's day, as you can add a lovely complimentary bottle of bubbly, Godiva chocolates and an extra OBC simply by calling PG directly or telling you TA to do so.  The ship also recognized our celebrations in a lovely way.

I am attaching a few photos of our stay at the St. Regis below....you will have an incredible time!  Enjoy!

Cheers,

Lisa 🙂

Just saw your post....I hope that you are having a fabulous time in paradise!  I look forward to seeing your photos and reading your reflections when you return!

🙂 Lisa

We loved both our Pure Snorkelling and Raanui snorkel excursions (both booked privately)....You can finish both in the morning and still tender to the PG beach in Bora Bora for the afternoon of their first day in Bora Bora if you wish....Bora Bora IMO is all about the lagoon and snorkelling....some of the best we have done in the world (and we have snorkelled in the Great Barrier Reef and  love the Hawaiian Islands for this as well....but Bora Bora was incredible!). 🙂

I agree with the above replies...it was our first sail aboard the PG last July (and hopefully not our last)!  The staff, food, attention to detail, and destination, of course, were fabulous!  The facilities were perfect for us....we loved the smaller size of the ship and the ability to enjoy the common spaces without hordes of people competing for seating.  

We would go back in a heartbeat!

I cannot remember the individual pricing for swim suits, but items like pants and dresses seemed to be in the $10-18 range. My husband and I found the laundry package well worth every penny.  It helped us pack lighter and they did a great job with everything...It was also wonderful to have clean clothes heading home.  

On 9/24/2018 at 8:45 PM, MrRandal said:

Have to agree about the laundry plan, one of the best values on the ship, and exemplary service.

Indeed!  And it was wonderful to come home with the laundry already done! 🙂

SOME TIPS THAT WERE VERY HELPFUL TO ME IN MY PLANNING AND A FEW I HAVE ADDED FROM OUR OWN EXPERIENCE:

 

 

• get your snorkel equipment in the ship’s marina right after the 5 pm drill; a long line up forms very quickly
  

• The Olympus TG5 underwater camera is incredible! I had read reviews, several trip reports both on this forum and on Trip Advisor and of course seen the potential photos it takes….best purchase ever! Very easy to use as well.
  

• Watch for the PG’s Valentine’s Day special, even after you have booked. Thanks to this tip from Dana, I called PG and added the complimentary promotion of $200 OBC, a box of Godiva chocolates and a bottle of bubbly to our account.
  

• We enjoyed so many of our meals…loved the first menu at L’Etoile. Also loved having our breakfast and lunches there as well…such a great view both inside and outside during the day. Also really liked the “themed lunches”…the Greek lunch was amazing (this coming from someone of Greek descent ;) )
  

• Best excursions: Marc’s Lagoon Tour (good introduction to Huahine and tried delicious Poisson Cru for the first time), Ato Lissant’s tour in Fakarava (incredible time spent snorkelling and at the Blue Lagoon), Pure Snorkelling in Bora Bora (great snorkelling), and Raanui Tours in Bora Bora (amazing up close encounters with sharks, rays and wonderful snorkel stops)…loved the smaller group sizes...booked many privately.
  

• Enjoyed seeing the pearl farm in Huahine on Marc’s Lagoon tour…bring $$, some great pearls to buy…I ended up buying pearls on Motu Mahana, the dock at Moorea, and at Robert Wan in Bora Bora.
  

• Loved Motu Mahana....what a blissful and idyllic experience…and there are good merchants there to buy vanilla (bean/paste/extract) and pearls...and bring your snorkelling gear.
  

• Try to get to the market in Papeete before/after the cruise…best pricing on souvenirs/gifts. I ended up buying a few pareos, Manoi oil, and some Tiare French milled soap. There are also of course pearls for sale, but did not initially find anything that spoke to me there.
  

I hope that my reflections help. For those who are planning a trip on the Paul Gauguin…..enjoy, it is an incredible experience!

 

For others (like us) who have just come back:

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” ―Pat Conroy

 

….we are definitely playing this incredible voyage in “the quietest chambers…of our minds” and loving reliving the memories!

 

Cheers,

Lisa

P.s. One final tip to add to my original list that my husband and I were just reflecting on....

- We definitely found that the PG laundry package was worth every penny on our 10 night cruise, and it was indeed more cost efficient than having to send out each individual piece of clothing for two people.

We did use it extensively. Our clothes always came back beautifully done, and on the same day when given before 9 am in the morning. In addition, it was great to have clean laundry to take home. :)

Hi Doug,

I remember seeing an episode of this show when they were in the Mediterranean....the guests were, indeed, quite something.

It will be interesting to watch to see our beloved destination...hopefully they (the guests on board) do not ruin its "innocence".

;) Lisa

Absolutely stunning photos!!! And the St. Regis Bora Bora just got added to my never-ending bucket list. :hearteyes:

Thanks so much Laura! Your review was so helpful and got us excited before our July trip!

Yes, the St. Regis Bora Bora was a bucket trip stay for sure....it really was stunning!

I am glad that you enjoyed the photos.

:) Lisa

Your pictures are amazing! Your review is so helpful for someone just starting to plan a trip for 2020. Thank you for sharing!

Thanks very much for your kind reflections MNmomof4! I am glad that you enjoyed the photos and review!

:) Lisa

Thank you for posting , your review and pic's have us very excited for our second PG cruise

My pleasure DGK, I am happy that the review and photos are helpful. How exciting that you have the opportunity to experience another amazing cruise on the PG!

I look forward to reading about your experience!

:) Lisa

Thanks Red4lisa! So wonderful that you are making it back to paradise!

:) Lisa

We were on the ship last month. While we did not have any kids of our own the stewards of nature program did happen but there were only about 4 kids in the program that we could see. I would estimate that the oldest was about 12. Your 17 year old may be too old for the group. I think she would have a spectacular time with you on various excursions.

We were on the same cruise with Flight Medic, and I agree, your 17 year old would probably enjoy excursions with you. The program looked great for younger kids though, and one of the families we met, had their son enrolled. He seemed to enjoy it but also enjoyed excursions with the whole family.

p.s. Hi Flight Medic!!...We miss 4:00 pm tea time with you! ;) Lisa and Drew

Lisa - The TG5 did a great job for you and several others have purchased one based on info provided by a few including yourself.

 

Now the pressure is on .... I'll need to capture some pretty spectacular stuff later this year ... but I love a good challenge :)

Hi TBK,

I am sure the photos I have taken won't hold a candle to your beautiful shots....I am excited to see your upcoming photography!

:) Lisa

Thank you for this wonderful report and for sharing your beautiful photography! The Olympus TG5 was on our radar but now it's a must purchase item! Welcome back to YYZ! :)

Thanks BeachTunes, glad you enjoyed the photos! :D

The Olympus TG5 was the best purchase made for us...and very easy to use. I was blown away by the underwater shots but equally impressed with many of the out of water photos as well.

Cheers,

Lisa

Thank you Lisa! We loved your trip report and pictures! Your pointers are appreciated!

 

We especially appreciate your feedback on Dr Poole's excursion. It won't even be whale watching season while we are there so we will probably give it a pass.

 

We have an ATV tour booked during our pre-cruise stay in Moorea. Kayaking off the ship's marina is a must for us. We planned to do that in Huahine but your pictures of the Jurassic Park-esque scenery while kayaking in Moorea are making us rethink things!

 

And it's great to know that Marc's tour can be wrapped up in time to make it back to the ship for the moonfish presentation. Decisions, decisions!

 

Thanks again, fellow Torontonian! :)

Happy to help!

We tried to do a whale watch, post cruise while on Bora Bora but we were too early in the season.

Awesome that you will be doing the ATV tour on Moorea...and, yes, the views from the kayak on Moorea were amazing.

If you do Marc’s tour, just let them know in advance that you wish to be back earlier (at 3:00 pm)....he arranged an earlier drive back for those from the cruise.

Sooo excited for you....have a wonderful trip and I look forward to reading your reflections!

:) Lisa 🇨🇦

Hi BeachTunes,

My husband and I are also from Toronto and have just completed our first trip to French Polynesia as well...we did the 10 night cruise in July and loved it!

I just posted a TR on this forum, but a few reflections to your plan which looks well organized:

- We love to snorkel as well (and have also travelled numerous times to Hawaii and once to Australia for snorkelling)...our favourite excursions on this trip included the two we did on Bora Bora for snorkelling...Pure Snorkelling (which you have booked) and Raanui Tours for an amazing up close experience with sharks and rays..highly recommend both.

- I was hesitant to initially book anything on Huahine, but as TBK says, we were first-timers and are so glad that we booked Marc's Motu tour....it was a great way to see the island. We had our first encounter snorkelling with sharks and a wonderful motu lunch...very picturesque. I do recommend doing this...it is a private tour. Ask Marc to be back by 3 pm and you will make it in plenty of time to see the Moonfish demonstration which is interesting.

- Honestly, I would pass on the Dr. Poole's dolphin tour...while it is a way to see the island, you will have spent some time on Moorea in advance and truthfully, it was "meh". I would instead consider an ATV tour and look into snorkelling with another excursion...or just enjoy the ship that day (we kayaked from the ship's marina one of our day's on Moorea).

- They don't really hold your suitcases in advance of boarding the ship...so my husband sat with them (that had an area with ice water and some shade set up) and I ran to the market in Papeete to pick up some small gifts.

We did an overnight in Los Angeles on the way home to break up the flight from Papeete as we had also flown to Tahiti from Bora Bora where we had stayed post-cruise.

Have an wonderful time....you will LOVE this spectacular part of the world and the ship and staff are AMAZING!

Cheers,

Lisa :)

Beautiful photos! So glad you had such a memorable time in FP :) Thanks for sharing!!

Well - you brought tears to my eyes. We leave a week from today for our first visit to FP. Thank you for sharing the quotes, the tips, and recommendations. We are using Marc in Huahine and trying to decide whether to come back early for the activities on the ship. There’s just so much to do and so little time. I echo your comments on all the good advice that has been contributed (TBK & deladane in particular) and am grateful for it as well. Thanks for adding fuel to the excitement and anticipation.

You're welcome Gogirlvet!....And how exciting that you are about to experience a trip to paradise so soon! We asked Marc in Huahine to have us back to the dock for the 3:00 pm tender to the ship....the activities on the ship (ie. moonfish demonstration, sign up for the Bridge tour on the first day, etc.) are worth it.

Plus, by 3 pm, you feel like you have had a full day and want to be back on board. Truthfully, we loved the excursions that ended by 1:00 pm so we could also enjoy all that the ship offered.

Have a fabulous trip!

Beautiful photos! So glad you had such a memorable time in FP :) Thanks for sharing!!

Hi Deladane!

Happy to share, and give back in whatever way I can. Thank YOU for all of your helpful information and great trip report....it gave me so many wonderful tips, including purchasing the Olympus TG5 camera....love it!

:) Lisa

I recognize some of those pictures :)

 

Thanks for the review, so helpful to others planing their trip to paradise.

Hi TBK,

Glad you enjoyed the reflections and photos. Thanks for your help in planning and continued inspirational photos.

:) Lisa

SOME TIPS THAT WERE VERY HELPFUL TO ME IN MY PLANNING AND A FEW I HAVE ADDED FROM OUR OWN EXPERIENCE:

• get your snorkel equipment in the ship’s marina right after the 5 pm drill; a long line up forms very quickly
  

• The Olympus TG5 underwater camera is incredible! I had read reviews, several trip reports both on this forum and on Trip Advisor and of course seen the potential photos it takes….best purchase ever! Very easy to use as well.
  

• Watch for the PG’s Valentine’s Day special, even after you have booked. Thanks to this tip from Dana, I called PG and added the complimentary promotion of $200 OBC, a box of Godiva chocolates and a bottle of bubbly to our account.
  

• We enjoyed so many of our meals…loved the first menu at L’Etoile. Also loved having our breakfast and lunches there as well…such a great view both inside and outside during the day. Also really liked the “themed lunches”…the Greek lunch was amazing (this coming from someone of Greek descent ;) )
  

• Best excursions: Marc’s Lagoon Tour (good introduction to Huahine and tried delicious Poisson Cru for the first time), Ato Lissant’s tour in Fakarava (incredible time spent snorkelling and at the Blue Lagoon), Pure Snorkelling in Bora Bora (great snorkelling), and Raanui Tours in Bora Bora (amazing up close encounters with sharks, rays and wonderful snorkel stops)…loved the smaller group sizes...booked many privately.
  

• Enjoyed seeing the pearl farm in Huahine on Marc’s Lagoon tour…bring $$, some great pearls to buy…I ended up buying pearls on Motu Mahana, the dock at Moorea, and at Robert Wan in Bora Bora.
  

• Loved Motu Mahana....what a blissful and idyllic experience…and there are good merchants there to buy vanilla (bean/paste/extract) and pearls...and bring your snorkelling gear.
  

• Try to get to the market in Papeete before/after the cruise…best pricing on souvenirs/gifts. I ended up buying a few pareos, Manoi oil, and some Tiare French milled soap. There are also of course pearls for sale, but did not initially find anything that spoke to me there.
  

I hope that my reflections help. For those who are planning a trip on the Paul Gauguin…..enjoy, it is an incredible experience!

For others (like us) who have just come back:

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” ―Pat Conroy

….we are definitely playing this incredible voyage in “the quietest chambers…of our minds” and loving reliving the memories!

Cheers,

Lisa

La Orana,

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

― Gustave Flaubert

I was just sharing photos with loved ones and thought that many on this forum might appreciate our reflections and photos from our recent trip to French Polynesia last month (July 2018).

I want to thank everyone who had posted trip reports and tips (especially Dana’s -aka Deladane’s fabulously detailed trip report, TBK’s inspiring photos and helpful tips, and Laura’s - aka “yourSLCwoman” recent trip report as well) and all who answered my questions this past year as we planned for this incredible adventure.

My husband and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary and a special birthday at one of our “Bucket trip” destinations…French Polynesia. We spent just over two weeks in July visiting beautiful islands, gorgeous motus, and breathtaking atolls including: Fakarava, Huahine, Rangiroa, Taha’a, Moorea and Bora Bora aboard the Paul Gauguin.

In short, this experience was incredible!

We arrived and stayed in Tahiti a few days before boarding the cruise. We enjoyed 10 nights aboard the amazing Paul Gauguin which was awesome and afforded us the opportunity to see so much! There were only 320 guests on board, and the staff, food, and of course, the destinations were second to none. The ship and staff really live up to their stellar reputation…it was undoubtedly the best cruise we have ever been on! We then flew to Bora Bora, and extended our stay for a few days after the cruise to experience an overwater bungalow at the St. Regis…absolutely beautiful!

We so loved meeting many wonderful people on board (some from this cruise critic forum), especially FlightMedic and his lovely wife, KMorg123 and her wonderful family, and Tina with her kind husband!

SNORKELLING:

“The best way to observe a fish, is to become a fish” - Jacques Cousteau……and we did become fish!

For my fellow snorkelling friends…..life underwater in French Polynesia was magical! I had purchased the recommended Olympus TG5 camera just before our trip (thanks for the inspiration Deladane!) , and it did not disappoint! The plethora of fish, the pristine coral, and clarity of the water were mesmerizing….We snorkelled every chance we got! For the first time ever, we swam with black tip sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, spotted rays and even saw an octopus up close! It was undoubtedly some of the best snorkelling that we have ever experienced!

DH and I also changed our snorkel gear from the one piece to a proper snorkel and mask after the concerns that arose with the full face masks…and we quickly adjusted and loved our new equipment!

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” ― Mary Anne Radmacher”

French Polynesia is indeed, also a place of which dreams are made…It is absolutely beautiful, inspirational, a feast for the senses, and life affirming. My husband and I feel so blessed to have been able to complete this journey. We hope to one day return to this spectacular part of the world!

http://s38.photobucket.com/user/lrodopoulos/slideshow/Our%2010th%20Anniversary%20in%20French%20Polynesia

I am including the above link to my online photo album (just copy and paste it into a different tab/window)….Sorry for the many photos…you may wish to pour a cup of coffee or glass of wine….and I hope you enjoy the photo journey!

Maururu,

:) Lisa

p.s. I will add some tips from others that were very helpful to me in my planning, and a few of my own in an additional post on this thread.

Well la-de-dah! I'm betting there's luggage storage in the ferry terminal, to the right of where the PG docks, as you face the water. Really close. Not sure of this, we didn't check ours, just guessing.

Thanks Wendy. :)

Hi - Could you tell me if the food trucks and other places around Papeete accept US Dollars? We are headed to Paul Gagauin this September :)

Not sure as we paid in XPF....someone who has been here before might be able to chime in.

What I will say, is that there are food trucks around the island, and they are great!.....Last night, my husband and I walked to some that were set up very close to our hotel (Manava Suites)....great food and MUCH better pricing than any hotel. On Monday night, we had headed into the market in Papeete and had dinner at the food trucks there....good selection of options.

Cheers,

Lisa :)