Explore the world with Pete & Judy on the 2018 Holland America Grand World Voyage

Land Ho!

Nuka Hiva came into view about 7 AM. The skies were a nice blue with some puffy clouds on the horizon. The temperatures were surprisingly mild, but it was still early, and we suspected that it would get hotter as the day went on.

We dropped anchor about 7:30 AM. The tender boats were in the water shortly thereafter and headed to shore to pick up the French Polynesian immigration officials. Our scheduled arrival time was 9 AM but the Captain anticipated being able start tendering earlier. As we mentioned previously, due to the high number of four stars and above no one is offered priority tendering.

Tendering

Tender tickets were going to be passed out starting at 8:30 AM by the Lido pool. This was a change from our first port when they passed out tender tickets down on Deck four in the wine bar. Passing out tender tickets by the pool was better because it was easy for everyone to see where the line started, and where the line ended. When they were passing out tender tickets from the wine bar, people would approach from different directions and the beginning of the line was not as readily apparent.

By the time I got to the Lido pool around 8:25 AM, the line wrapped about half way around the pool. The line was already moving when I arrived as they started to give out tickets before the scheduled 8:30 AM starting time. The line moved fast, and it only took me about five minutes to get to the front where I received two tender tickets: Blue 10.

They started calling tenders about 8:35 AM with groups Blue 1, 2 and 3 being the first to go. A few minutes later they called group Blue 4.

Around 10 minutes after 9 AM, Mark, the event manager, announced that they were experiencing mechanical issues with some of the tenders and until the tenders were repaired tendering would be delayed. Capt. Jonathan came on over the PA at 9:35 AM. When we heard his voice, we expected bad news, as the captain doesn’t usually come on the public-address system to say everything is great. Capt. Mercer explained that three tenders were out service due to various mechanical issues, but that the technical department was working as fast as possible bring them back into service.

They started calling groups again at 10:21 AM when they announced groups Blue 5, 6, 7 and 8. We were in group Blue 10 so we still had a few more minutes to wait. At 10:45 AM they called our group and we headed down to Deck A to board the tenders. There wasn’t any line or backup around the hallways leading to the stairway down to Deck A. We turned in our tender tickets to the crewmember minding the stairs and headed down the stairs to the tenders.

As we boarded the tender, we were surprised to see Henk, the hotel director, onboard the tender helping passengers board the tender find seats. Despite the delays all the passengers aboard our tender seemed to be in good spirits and we are soon underway to shore.

Welcome to Nuka Hiva

The tender ride took about 10 minutes. After getting off the tender, we headed down the dock where we were greeted by a welcoming committee consisting of people passing out flowers, beating drums, and singing traditional songs and chants. Once we passed by all the ceremonial well-wishers there were a half-dozen people holding signs either selling tours or trying to find people who had already prearranged a tour.

We spoke with one woman who was holding a sign advertising a taxi service which indicated that you could hire a taxi for $12 for one hour. We told her that we would take her up on her offer for one hour. After some discussion, it turned out that $12 was a per-person price with a minimum of six people required. We couldn’t find anybody willing to give us a ride down to the museum about a mile away. We would have preferred to have taken a taxi to our furthest point and then walked back, instead of walking to our furthest point with the hope of finding a taxi to ride back.

The weather was still surprisingly pleasant with the clouds providing some shade, which kept the temperatures down and there was a nice breeze to keep things cool. Every so often the clouds would clear, and we feel the full intensity of the sun and the apparent temperatures rise.

Walkabout

Unable to find a taxi, we started to walk towards the museum with a planned stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral at the halfway point. The total distance to the museum was only about a mile, and if it didn’t get that much hotter we figured we could walk to museum and be OK walking back if we couldn’t find a ride.

After about a quarter mile we came across the Moana Nui Restaurant/Pizzeria where we saw a passenger beckoning to us, so we crossed the street and walked to the deck of the restaurant thinking it might’ve been someone we knew. It turned out he was simply a friendly passenger waving to passersby inviting them into the restaurant/pizzeria to get a cold beer.

It was still a little early for lunch, so we decided to keep walking towards the Cathedral and the museum.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is about a block off Main Street. We spent about 15 minutes wandering around the Cathedral and the grounds which is right across the street from the school which was a just letting out students for lunch.

Once we were back on the main street we spotted some workers fashioning a roof out of palm fronds. We stopped by to chat with them for a few minutes. We learned they were repairing the roof over the pavilion we were standing on.

Museum

The museum is located behind the He’e Tai Restaurant and Inn (www.marquesas-inn.com) which is also a bed and breakfast. There is a sign pointing the direction to the museum, but it is not clear you’re heading towards a museum until you’re right at the front door. The museum consists of three rooms, two of which are a gift shop with the third being the actual museum. The museum operator, Rose, also runs the restaurant and B & B. She is very friendly and will gave us a personal tour of the small collection. We took a picture with Rose and she was looking forward to getting a copy, so she could post it on her Facebook page. Rose is from Oklahoma and went to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. She has been in Nuka Hiva for over 20 years.

Lunch in town

After our visit to the museum we walked around to the restaurant for lunch. There is an inside section but most of the tables are out on the porch. We decided to sit outside where it was quite pleasant in the shade.

The menu, which is in French, is on a large chalkboard which is moved from table to table. We recognized enough French to spot something with fish and something that was a steak and that is what we ordered. I also ordered a local beer and Judy ordered a peach flavored iced tea which was served in a can. The restaurant had free Wi-Fi with the password available on request.

The food arrived promptly and was very good. The restaurant stayed busy throughout our visit as other passengers and crew arrived.

After we paid our bill, we asked our waiter if it was possible for him to call a taxi. He said he would get one for us and asked us to wait by the street. As it turned out the taxi driver was our waiter himself in his personal car. He drove us back to the tender port area for no additional charge. On the way back, he mentioned that there was a French dignitary visiting in a few days which was why we saw so many people out sprucing things up.

Tiki Tuhiva

He dropped us off by the post office, which was closed, and we spent the next 20 minutes walking in a big circle past the hospital and some government buildings. We then headed up a small rise that overlooked the bay where they had constructed a large Tiki statue called Tiki Tuhiva about a year ago. It is quite prominent and easily visible from the ship. The accompanying sign indicates that it is the highest contemporary sculpture in the Pacific.

As we were looking down on the Bay, we could see the tender boats going to and from the ship. We spotted an outrigger canoe that was chasing a tender, staying close behind, riding on a wake generated by the tender.

A bar/restaurant and some shops were adjacent to the pier. There were some local musicians sitting at one of the tables putting on an impromptu concert. It was quite entertaining.

Before we went back to the ship, Judy walked through the shops and picked up a T-shirt and a very nice tunic.

Once back on the ship we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in our cabin.

Dinner

Several of the ladies from our table, bought some very nice Haku Head Leis which they had custom-made from vendors near the tender pier. We weren’t specifically looking for leis and missed these vendors even though we were in the general area. So if you’re interested in a nice Haku Lei when, you visit Nuka Hiva be sure to inquire near the pier and you’ll probably find the people selling them.

Queens lounge

Sarah Chandler and Tom Suha were in the Queens Lounge for encore performances this evening. They both put on new shows, about 20 minutes each. Sarah is an incredible performer and we always enjoy listening to her when we have the chance. Tom Suha, is an amazing performer as well and we also enjoyed his show very much.

I feel like I am right there with you because of all the details you give about everything.

Great pictures.

I continue to enjoy your posts.

Keith

Appreciate the pictures and details on French Polynesia! Enjoy!

I have an Epson Perfection V39 Scanner to scan everything. I bought the 1000 minute package which gives you a 10pct bonus...

 

This years internet speed is much improved over 2016. Upload speed is pretty good.

Thank you for the info!:)

Pete,

I realize you eat all your dinner meals in the MDR, but maybe you know the answer or could ask a fellow guest. Is the dinner buffet in the Lido a buffet where you make your own salad and serve the food yourself, or is everything made/served for you? I've heard varying reports. I wondered if dinner in the Lido is different on a WC than a short cruise. Thanks in advance for any clarification you can provide.

Tom - booked the 2019 WC

Pete,

 

 

 

I realize you eat all your dinner meals in the MDR, but maybe you know the answer or could ask a fellow guest. Is the dinner buffet in the Lido a buffet where you make your own salad and serve the food yourself, or is everything made/served for you? I've heard varying reports. I wondered if dinner in the Lido is different on a WC than a short cruise. Thanks in advance for any clarification you can provide.

 

 

 

Tom - booked the 2019 WC

I'll check...

It is made or served to you just like at lunch.

I think they need to remove “priority tendering” from the list of Mariner benefits. On our Prinsendam Christmas cruise they suspended it as well.

Pete,

 

I realize you eat all your dinner meals in the MDR, but maybe you know the answer or could ask a fellow guest. Is the dinner buffet in the Lido a buffet where you make your own salad and serve the food yourself, or is everything made/served for you? I've heard varying reports. I wondered if dinner in the Lido is different on a WC than a short cruise. Thanks in advance for any clarification you can provide.

 

Tom - booked the 2019 WC

It is made or served to you just like at lunch.

I checked out the Lido for dinner - As KirkNC reported, no change from lunch. The only self serve items are something you can grab that is already plated - like a desert or appetizer. Pre made sandwiches are self serve. Anything that is removed from a tray or tub is done by the Lido staff. No self serve salads. No self serve buffet line.

My observation is that while the World Cruise may have more choices and better food - the operation of the LIDO appears to be the same as any other cruise.

I think they need to remove “priority tendering” from the list of Mariner benefits. On our Prinsendam Christmas cruise they suspended it as well.

Neptune Suites still get to join any tender group without getting a ticket, but they join the current tender line with the rest of the folks who have tickets. They simply show their room key instead of handing over a tender ticket. For example, they can't go to the head of an existing line that has already formed on deck 1 leading down to deck A, but they join whatever line is in progress whenever they like,

I think they need to remove “priority tendering” from the list of Mariner benefits. On our Prinsendam Christmas cruise they suspended it as well.

We really enjoyed priority tendering on our 42 night Volendam cruise (= 3x 14 nights back to back). No tickets needed and we went down when we wished. We also had 3 wine tastings, 3 officer receptions, 3 Mariner lunches with tiles each time, and some of us were invited to a special dinner with the Captain or Hotel Director. It all depends how many other high Mariners are on board.

Neptune Suites still get to join any tender group without getting a ticket, but they join the current tender line with the rest of the folks who have tickets. They simply show their room key instead of handing over a tender ticket. For example, they can't go to the head of an existing line that has already formed on deck 1 leading down to deck A, but they join whatever line is in progress whenever they like,

We have experienced "priority tendering" several times since becoming "4-star" and what you described above is the way it was done with us. I think that is only fair to those already in line, I don't think we should expect to be sent ahead of the group lined-up already. we were comfortable with the way it was handled and there were no complaints from anyone around us.

Day 17, 20 Jan – At Sea

It’s always nice to have a sea day following the day in port. We won’t see another stretch of 8 consecutive sea days for the rest of the cruise. Until the last month of our cruise, our longest stretch of consecutive sea days will be three.

Tomorrow we will spend the day in Avatoru, Rangiroa, followed by Papeete, Tahiti, then Mooera and finally Bora-Bora. These days in French Polynesia can be especially taxing due to the high heat which is typical of this part of the world.

Coffee with Hamish

The guest this morning for “Coffee with Hamish” was Sarah Chandler. Sarah explained that she started with a saxophone because her sister had already started with clarinet and there were limited instruments to go around. She fell in love with a saxophone and has been playing ever since she was a young girl. She picked up playing the flute as a second instrument which was required as part of her university training.

Sarah got her start in cruise ships about 10 years ago when a saxophone player in a band had an injury which required them to find replacement on short notice. She had to be in Barbados in three days to join a band and she ended up staying with them for several years and eventually ended up with her own show.

She also showed off her engagement ring and announced that she is getting married to a magician this September.

Knitting

Judy is making great progress on her “Starting Point” shawl, and I am making slow but steady progress on my square which I think I can now call a rectangle. I have been doing ribbing for last couple of days but need to do more than one or two rows a day to make any progress.

Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em remains quite popular. I signed up for just one game today to give everyone a chance to play at least once. My game was in the morning and I finished in fourth place without any significant hands worth repeating. The downside about cruise ship poker is that they want to finish the games in under an hour, so the blinds double every 10 minutes until they reach $3200 and $6400. This forces a quick conclusion, but takes most of the skill out of how you play the last few hands.

There hasn’t been much action on the blackjack tables. I’m not playing, and many other folks won’t play a table where a Blackjack pays 6/5 instead of 3/2. This increases the house edge by a factor of four. These odds are becoming more common in Las Vegas as well, but we all have the choice to avoid games we no longer enjoy when the house increases their edge. Unfortunately, most of the casino staff now spend their days staring into space rather than dealing. Only the Texas Hold’em table and some slots are seeing much action.

Ukulele Performance

Today at noon the ukulele class performed “Vini Vini Vana Vana” and one other song they have been practicing since Panama. They were assembled on the small bandstand by the Lido pool (now referred to as the Lido Dome). It was quite muggy around that time, and then started to rain, which required the closing of the retractable cover over the pool area. Once they closed the cover, it got even hotter, forcing them to open it a crack. Fortunately, it stopped raining in a few minutes and they were able to fully open the pool cover.

Lunch

While we watched the Ukulele performance, we enjoyed our lunch by the pool which consisted of custom-made sandwiches from the Lido sandwich bar.

Drawing Class

In today’s drawing class, Ben talked about Art History. He started with Cave paintings and how they used charcoal from their fire to draw on the sides of their caves. He then moved on to Egyptian painting and reliefs and how the hands and feet would both be drawn as right or left ones. Then he moved on to Greek painting and sculpture and how it took it’s influence from Egyptian art. About every third class or so Ben focuses on art history as opposed to the actual drawing.

Crafts

The attendance for crafts has dropped slightly over the last few days so Judy is no longer turned away. Attendance is still good, probably about 100 people, but now the number of available kits matches the number of interested guests. Today Judy made a lavender sachet.

Library

There is usually a large jigsaw puzzle in progress in the Library. Here is a picture of the current puzzle in progress

Pub Trivia

Our pub trivia team assembled as usual at 5 PM in the piano bar. One of the questions today was what state appears on the label of a Jack Daniels bottle. Well, wouldn’t you know, since we were sitting at the bar there was a bottle of Jack Daniels about 2 feet away, so we are able to read ‘Tennessee’ on the bottle.

Dinner

The theme for dinner this evening was Tropical Paradise, which was advertised as a chance to kick back and dine between lush palm trees. The dining room was decked out with paper palm trees with the waiters all wearing colorful Hawaiian shirts. We received woven straw hats at our place settings. Everyone remarked that we were certainly receiving a lot of hats so this cruise and I suspect there’ll be more to come. There was a gourmet burger on the menu which included a fried egg along with barbecue and other tasty toppings. Judy ordered the Seabass and we each shared our respective items.

Robbie Howard

Robbie Howard was the headliner in the Queens lounge this evening. He put on a fantastic second show leading off with his imitation of several singers singing the classic hit my way including Ricky Ricardo and Fred Mertz. The show wrapped up the stirring and crowd-pleasing rendition of Neil Diamond’s classic, Sweet Caroline. Robbie doesn’t sell CDs, but he did say that if you send him an email from his website (HERE) he will send you a few tracks at no charge. Robbie is a great entertainer and we always enjoy the show very much.

Neptune Suites still get to join any tender group without getting a ticket, but they join the current tender line with the rest of the folks who have tickets. They simply show their room key instead of handing over a tender ticket. For example, they can't go to the head of an existing line that has already formed on deck 1 leading down to deck A, but they join whatever line is in progress whenever they like,

We stay in Pinnacle and Neptune Suites and have been 5 star Mariners since this new program began. When we are ready to go ashore (not on an excursion), we would just go down to the gangway and get at the end of the line -- we never jumped to the front of the line.

Things were a little different when I had to use a Rollator. After they scan my card, on the Vista and Signature ships when we tendered, I had to use the service elevator to get down to the boarding dock. The crew would stop people, take my Rollator and help me onto the tender. When we realized that they stopped others, we made certain that we went ashore after the majority of the excursion people were loaded onto the tenders. We didn't want to hold up anyone.

Great reporting.

You are going to need an extra suitcase to get all those hats and crafts home at the end of the cruise.

I checked out the Lido for dinner - As KirkNC reported, no change from lunch. The only self serve items are something you can grab that is already plated - like a desert or appetizer. Pre made sandwiches are self serve. Anything that is removed from a tray or tub is done by the Lido staff. No self serve salads. No self serve buffet line.

 

My observation is that while the World Cruise may have more choices and better food - the operation of the LIDO appears to be the same as any other cruise.

Thanks Pete for checking into this and your prompt reply

Tom

Enjoying your posts! We had Martin Beaumont on our Koningsdam sailing and we enjoyed him very much.

Rangiroa

We arrived at Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia around 7 AM. Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls in the world stretching over 50 miles and comprised of over 400 smaller islands, only two of which are inhabited. To get to the protected interior our ship must navigate through a relatively narrow passage called Tiputa Pass, located between the two inhabited islands. The currents can be swift when passing thru the gap. Capt. Jonathan, with the assistance from the harbor pilot, paid close attention to make sure all went safely.

The main town on the most populated island is Avatrou. Avatrou sits at the end of the most populated island. Ships will normally tender into a pier at the opposite end of this island. Occasionally ships will tender into the other inhabited island on the other side of the entrance gap to the lagoon.

Tendering

We anchored about 7:30 AM and tendering was expected to start shortly thereafter. However, due to heavier than expected wave action on the starboard side, they had to move tendering to the port side which caused some delays.

Tender tickets were being handed out near the Dive-Inn grill this morning. This location allowed people to move chairs and tables in a way to create a line where they could sit and eat breakfast while holding a position in line. Tomorrow we’ll be alongside a pier and no tendering will be required. With as much tendering as we are doing this cruise I’m sure they will continue to refine the tender ticketing procedures.

At 8:50 AM they called our color group and we proceeded to Deck A to board our tender. Once again the hotel director, Henk, was on board the tender guiding guests to their seats. We were on the tender at 9 AM, left the ship at 9:05 AM and arrived at our shoreside pier at 9:11 AM.

Sarah and Helen

Two of our favorite performers, Sarah Chandler and Helen Wilding, were on our tender and we are able to snap this photo once we were ashore. They resemble each other, and were frequently mistaken for each other during the time they were on the ship.

Visiting a Local Church

Our plan today was to visit one of the many local churches on the island. I was unable to easily find any information about what time services were held in the various churches, but I finally was able to contact some regional officials for the local Mormon Church who were very helpful in setting up a visit to their Church on Rangiroa.

We had arranged to be met at the tender landing by some of the missionaries, but due to the delay in our tendering we missed the missionaries who had to return to the church since services were starting at 9 AM. Once we were ashore, we quickly found a taxi to take us to the church for five dollars a person and we arrived around 9:30 AM. We were warmly welcomed even though the services were already in progress. We took seats towards the front and we enjoyed the final 15 minutes of the service which was delivered in French.

During the break between the Church service and Bible study we chatted with the missionaries who were from France. They had been there about four months of their two year mission.

One of the parishioners called us a taxi which arrived in about 15 minutes. While we waited we had a chance to talk with her for a few minutes and learn a little more about her life on the island. We appreciated the hospitality we received while visiting the church and were made to feel very welcome.

Island Tour

Our taxi was actually a private vehicle pressed into service during the cruise ship visits. Our driver took us to the far end of the island were Avatrou is located for a ‘windshield tour’ before we headed back towards the tender landing. Even though everything was closed, since this was a Sunday, there are not very many commercial establishments on the island.

After we finished our island tour our driver dropped us off back at the tender landing. We spent another hour wandering through a small convenience store, where we picked up a bottle of local wine and a few other snacks, and the shops set up for the day on the tender landing.

You can rent one of these for 2 hours for $50

Evening Aboard the Amsterdam

There was a short line for the tenders and we were soon back on the ship. We spent the remainder the afternoon relaxing in our cabin before we joined our table mates for Pub Trivia followed by dinner and the evening show.

Most of the people at our table ordered the Szechuan Shrimp with Thai basil. As expected the food was delicious and service continues to be outstanding.

Queen’s Lounge

Fred Moore was the entertainer in the Queen’s Lounge this evening. This is his second show this cruise. He has a great magician with a wonderful sense of humor, a terrific wit, way of engaging the audience to become participants in many of his tricks and illusions. In addition to his wonderful performances we enjoyed dinner with him a few nights ago and have chatted with him around the ship on several occasions. If you ever see Fred Moore on the evening entertainments program be sure to catch the show.

Great reporting.

We saw a couple of those tiny cars on Bonaire a couple of years ago that you could rent. I may be able to get in it, but I would never get out of it.

Enjoying your reports! Thank you

Denise:)

Will catch up on posts soon....long days. Having a great time.

Day 19, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Papeete

The Amsterdam arrived in Papeete, Tahiti around 7 AM. We took advantage of our extended port visiting hours to sleep-in and relax in our cabin. The ship will remain overnight and leave for Moorea at 4:30 AM tomorrow.

It was nice to be tied up to a pier, rather than having to tender. Tendering is always a hassle, but the most frustrating part is the difficulty in predicting when you may be able to get ashore. Not only is the speed of the tendering operation unknown and variable, it’s never clear what time you will need to arrive at the Lido Dome to get a tender ticket if you need to be on one of the first tenders.

This is a major resupply port and we expect to be replenished with fresh fruits and other supplies. This is also a major changeover port for all the guest entertainers who have been with us since Panama and some since Fort Lauderdale. They will be heading back to their homes or other engagements. A new crop of guest entertainers will join us and for the next couple of weeks.

Walkabout

We left the ship around noon when we ventured out to walk around the downtown area.

The gangway connecting the ship to the pier was narrow and two-way traffic was not possible. Consequently, we had to wait about 5 minutes to leave the ship as we waited for a couple dozen people to board the ship who were coming back from a tour. Since we were leaving so late, there were quite a few crew members waiting to go ashore as well. They were there first so we lined up behind the crewmembers, but once the line started to move, the crewmembers insisted that we go first. One thing we have learned after many days sailing with Holland America is that it is impossible to allow a crew member to go in front of you in any type of queue. They will always insist that you go first.

Our first stop was the Tahiti Tourisme's visitor center which is located right next to the ship. They had some local maps and sold a few different types of souvenirs.

We headed off down the main street that follows the harbor, taking it easy as it was already pretty hot. Crossing the streets in Papeete is easy. Cars will insist on stopping once they see you have any desire to cross the street. If you are standing near the curb, be ready to cross, as the cars will be stopping and don’t try to motion them to continue – it won’t work.

Centre Vaima

Our first stop was the Centre Vaima which was Papeete’s first shopping mall. It has seen better days and now feels a little run down. There is Apple contract store here – not an official Apple store, but they have many products and accessories that you would find anywhere. Surprisingly, the store doesn’t offer free Wi-Fi.

We continued westerly down the main street, popping in and out of shops that caught our eye. Judy spotted a shirt in one store that looked nice for me – and we were pleased to find it in my size and it fit well.

Parc Bougainville

We passed by Parc Bougainville, named for the person who discovered Tahiti for the French, and continued on until we reached a large traffic circle called Place Jacques Chirac. We turned around after reaching Place Jacques Chira and headed back toward the ship, but now walking down a street a block away from the harbor.

Place Tarahoi

Our first stop on the way back was Place Tarahoi. If you didn’t know that Place Tarahoi was Papeete's governmental center you could be excused for thinking it may be a school or small college. Place Tarahoi is home to the Territorial Assembly and other governmental offices. The complex is open to the public but we couldn’t see inside the assembly meeting chamber nor were there any types of tours offered.

The heat was getting to us, so we sought refuge at the nearby McDonalds which provided an airconditioned refuge and a chance to get a quick bite to eat.

Cathédrale de l'Immaculée Conception

Feeling a little refreshed we continued our walk passing by Tahiti's oldest Catholic church, Cathédrale de l'Immaculée Conception. The church was open, and we spent a few minutes looking inside.

Papeete Market

Papeete’s local market, Marché Municipale was next on our list of places to visit. Most tour guides list this as a must-see destination and describe a large bustling marketplace as you would find in many other places around the world. By the time we arrived – around 3 PM, the place was almost empty and not very bustling. The lower level sells fresh foods and produce with the second level selling local items of interest and souvenirs. Judy found a few T shirts and a belt made from sea shells.

City Hall

Nearby was a large building, surrounded by a large lawn and protected by a high fence. This is the Hotel de Ville – which is the Papeete Town Hall. This building is a replica of Queen Pomare’s mansion who was the leader of Tahiti from 1827 to 1877. We walked inside and spotted a wedding chapel which was much larger than I would have expected for a wedding chapel in a City Hall. I was a little surprised to discover a wedding chapel in the City Hall in the first place. Apparently, everyone must be married in a town hall in Tahiti to create a legal marriage and then they may have a religious ceremony later in a church.

The rest of the building held the type of offices you would expect in a city hall. We did spot this beautiful mural in the main lobby.

Fabric Shop

Very close to the ship we discovered a nice shop selling Hawaiian Print fabric. This area appeared to be a mini garment district as we spotted a few other fabric shops nearby. They had a nice selection of fabric and Judy spent some time browsing before she picked out some blue lace fabric. Judy spotted a few balls of what looked to be acrylic yarn tucked away behind the counter. She was happy with her fabric purchase and did not ask to look at the yarn.

We arrived back on the ship around 3:45 PM.

Food Trucks

We have read about the Papeete Food trucks or Roulottes that appear every evening at Place Vaiete which is very close to the cruise ship pier. They start setting up around 5:30 PM and are usually open for business around 6:00 PM.

We left the ship at 8 PM and walked over the Place Vaiete to check out the various trucks that had assembled. There were about a dozen trucks that were selling everything including Hamburgers, Seafood, Chinese and Crepes. Unlike food trucks in the USA, most of these food trucks had dedicated seating areas, menus and table service. You can think of these as more mobile restaurants rather than USA style food trucks where you would likely order and eat standing up. After wandering around the area, we settled on the Roulotte Chez Manava which served primarily Chinese food. Judy ordered the Fouyoun Ha (chunks of fried egg, chopped mixed vegetables and chopped chicken breast) while I ordered grilled Mahi Mahi served with French Fries. The food was served piping hot and the serving sizes were enormous. Keep this in mind as you order as you may want to consider sharing. The price was 1400-1700 CFP with the final total (including drinks) coming in at 3250 CFP or about $32. We paid cash using CFP – a few trucks took credit cards and they would probably take USD, but I would be prepared with some local currency to avoid disappointment.

Mana, the Spirit of Tahiti

At 9 pm we headed back to the ship to catch the special “one time only” Polynesian show. We arrived at the Queen’s Lounge about 9:20 for the 9:30 show and the place was packed. We managed to find a few seats open way in the back on the lower level, but the view from anywhere is still pretty good in this small showroom.

Loving your reports.

Pete,

Love your reporting and pics. Brings back memories of being there.

Denise:)