Blessing Ceremony

[imcpa]

Has anyone done or seen the Tahitial Blessing Ceremony that is part of the $250 anniversary package? My wife & I are interested, but fear it could be too corny or silly. For $250, I wonder if it is worth it.

 

And do they offer a smaller, similar group event for free

 

Thanks.

[Emdee]

We did the $500 full renewal of vows last year and it was very nicely done. My DD gave it to us as a 30 anniversary present.

We had the vow renewal on the bridge with the captain officiating. Michael Shapiro read something from Kahlil Gibran. Each of us spoke to each other and all present. we were lucky to have good friends and cousins with us so we had someone to celebrate with us.

Champagne was served ( Veuve) and DD had chosedn chocolate covered tuxedo strawberries - each the size of a kiwi! Hina was there as were two gauguines and another PG person - didnt know her from before. Sorry that Efren was not on board as we would have liked to have him there.

 

It was very nicely done.

 

They do offer a similar group event for free where they read a poem for all then each couple wears the heis and is wrapped in a blanket with Bora Bora behind you. We will certainly do this next year when we go in our anniversary month.

[Leejnd4]

Emdee,

 

We've been kicking around the idea of doing some sort of vow renewal while in FP. It's not actually our anniversary, but after 28 years of marriage we JUST became empty nesters (less than a month ago). Also, my wedding ring was stolen a couple years ago, and DH has mentioned he might give me a new one on that trip. A vow renewal seems like a good time to do that.

 

I like the sound of what you described, but $500 seems like a LOT! Also, in looking at the PG site, I can't really determine what the difference is between the Anniversary Package ($250), and the Vow Renewal package ($500). Here's what's on their site:

 

Renewal of Vows Package: $500

• Invitation to special gathering featuring

a Tahitian Blessing Ceremony performed

by Les Gauguines and hosted by the

Cruise Director

• Congratulatory letter from the Captain

• In-stateroom celebratory bottle

of Champagne

• One 8”x10” photo portrait

• Reception cake

• Box of chocolates

• Hei (crown of flowers) or lei

(necklace of flowers)

 

Anniversary Package: $250

• Invitation to special gathering featuring

a Tahitian Blessing Ceremony performed

by Les Gauguines and hosted by the

Cruise Director

• Congratulatory letter from the Captain

• In-stateroom celebratory bottle

of Champagne

• One 8”x10” photo portrait

• Flower turn-down service

• Anniversary cake

• Box of chocolates

 

The only difference appears to be the Hei/Lei, vs Flower turn-down service! So what do you get for the additional $250?

 

We'd love to do it on the ship - we actually met on a sailboat in 1981, and have a boat ourselves so it would be very meaningful for us to be on the water. But if it doesn't appear to be worth the $$ we may just do something at the IC, either in Papeete or Bora Bora. We have another couple traveling with us, so we'd at least have somebody there.

 

I would love your input. Thanks!

[Trend]

We are also looking at this as we did the group one for our 30th ten years ago and are returning for our 40th and my 60th birthday but this does sound steep.

Considering you get all the food you need and wine and liquor is free.

Would love to hear from anyone who has paid for either and what they thought.

[Emdee]

Leeann

 

When my DD first told me what she had planned - I thought it was a waste of money. But she wanted to do it for us. Our anniversary was in January but I had been ill so she didnt want to have a party at that time.

 

We were to have the vow renewal on Motu Mahana and the Gauginnes had decorated it with flowers and shells - even created a shell heart to stand in and an kind of aisle for us to walk down. However it was a rainy day so we chose to have it on the bridge.

 

Prior to the day we got a bottle of Roederer in our cabin with the chocs. The ceremony had the full renewal of vows and a very nice atmosphere. DD chose the chocolate strawberries instead of the cake. Since we knew the captain from many trips and also Michael and Hina it felt really nice. The staff were so nice on the ship - all day we had happy anniversary wishes. We got the heis which were nice.

 

If you want to see our pictures send me your email and I will send you some. My DH bought the full anniversary photo package ($79) plus the unlimited cruise package ( 299 I think) as we had OBC to burn I have never posed for so many pictures before except maybe on my wedding day.

[newonboard69]

We did the freebee and it was great! IMO it was one of the best memories we had on the cruise. They had the ceremony timed just about sunset on Bora Bora. Of couse the sunset was spectacular!

 

They invite all those that are having honeymoons and aniversaries to the La Palette Lounge. There you are greeted with a glass of champagne. There must have been at least 15 other couples in the group we had. Once everyone ws seated the 3 of the Gauguins sang a beautiful song while another did a special polynesian dance. Once that was done they had a cake and more champagne.

 

During the cake the cruise director read a wonderful poem that was perfect for the occasion. She then asked how many of us were honeymooners and she escorted them out on deck and everyone had their picture taken wraped in a special Tahitian blanket and a Hei (crown of flowers) for each. She then did the same for those with aniversaries moving from one year all the way to one couple who had been maried over 60 years. Each couple was wraped in this blanket the Heis were put on and a picture taken. The couple who had been married the longest recieved the Heis for the endurance.

 

They did this ceremony with class and great feeling from the crew and was no way corny or silly. You do not want to miss this!

 

The quality of this ceremony was indicative of the first class service you will receive on your cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Emdee]

Leeann,

DD said that the $250 event is the common ceremony plus the add ons - that are listed.

That is why she chose the $500 event.

 

I have done the other celebration for other anniversaries so its really nice if you dont want to spend the money. Ours was quite special though and we have some lovely memories.

[Leejnd4]

Leeann,

DD said that the $250 event is the common ceremony plus the add ons - that are listed.

That is why she chose the $500 event.

 

I have done the other celebration for other anniversaries so its really nice if you dont want to spend the money. Ours was quite special though and we have some lovely memories.

 

OHHH!!! I get it now. So the $250 difference is that you get a private ceremony, vs. the group one...plus all the add ons listed. That makes sense. Although their literature sure doesn't make that clear.

 

Your experience does sound very lovely! I would especially love it if they could do it on Motu Mahana. You see, I've been on the PG before - but I was with my mother! I'll never forget sitting in the lounge chairs under dancing palm trees, enjoying rum punch in coconuts, staring out at the ocean crashing over the reef and saying, "This is the most romantic place on earth"...and then looking at Mom! She laughed and told me I could kiss her cheek if I wanted to. :p I've been wanting to get DH out there ever since...and having a vow-renewal ceremony on the motu would be really special.

 

Well, I'll think about it. This vacation is costing so much already...what's another half-a-grand, right? :eek::cool:

[Emdee]

Leeann

Just want to warn you that Motu Mahana beach was totally destroyed some years ago so it a shadow of its former self. Howver, the PG has brought in sand and I actually thought it had improved in the last two years. Its amazing how nature giveth and taketh away.

 

The BB Motu has changed quite a bit as well but for me is still a special place especially when you take the first tender and there no one else on the Motu.

[Leejnd4]

That's right, I read about that. And apparently a lot of the coral from about 50 ft up was destroyed in the whole region as well. :( Sad, especially for divers like me.

 

But I'm glad to hear that they've made an effort to rehabilitate the beach. The last few reviews that mentioned Motu Mahana seemed to still love it, so I'll trust that it's still one of the most romantic spots on earth. :)

[Familygoboston]

We did the freebee and it was great! IMO it was one of the best memories we had on the cruise. They had the ceremony timed just about sunset on Bora Bora. Of couse the sunset was spectacular!

 

They invite all those that are having honeymoons and aniversaries to the La Palette Lounge. There you are greeted with a glass of champagne. There must have been at least 15 other couples in the group we had. Once everyone ws seated the 3 of the Gauguins sang a beautiful song while another did a special polynesian dance. Once that was done they had a cake and more champagne.

 

During the cake the cruise director read a wonderful poem that was perfect for the occasion. She then asked how many of us were honeymooners and she escorted them out on deck and everyone had their picture taken wraped in a special Tahitian blanket and a Hei (crown of flowers) for each. She then did the same for those with aniversaries moving from one year all the way to one couple who had been maried over 60 years. Each couple was wraped in this blanket the Heis were put on and a picture taken. The couple who had been married the longest recieved the Heis for the endurance.

 

They did this ceremony with class and great feeling from the crew and was no way corny or silly. You do not want to miss this!

 

The quality of this ceremony was indicative of the first class service you will receive on your cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This sounds perfect for us! My DH jokes that he said the vows and kept them, why should he renew;) But he's just kidding around, he's actually just embarrassed about being the center of attention, he's actually a pretty romantic guy! ( he's the one who suggested PG over Europe because it would be more romantic!) I think he'd like this because we wouldn't be the only ones! Also, we aren't traveling with any others, I can see where the private would be so nice if you had your whole family with you! ( maybe for our 50th:rolleyes:)

 

Thanks for sharing your experience...Bora Bora is our anniversary eve, as it is another couple on our roll call, so it will be perfect timing!:D

[newonboard69]

Familygoboston...

 

We are, like you, not ones that like to draw attention to ourselves so this ceremony was perfect. Also, you dont have to recite any vows other than the ones you might say privately. Dont forget to take your camera!

[Leejnd4]

We're seriously considering doing the individual one. We'll have our very good friends Sandy & Bill with us. Charlie and I have been through a LOT these past few years (kid and health issues) and, they've been right there with us, helping us through. Just recently it appears to be behind us, and we are so happy to be starting this new phase of our lives as empty nesters.

 

So it would be very meaningful for us to have an individual ceremony, with Sandy & Bill present, where we can start anew and say new vows and truly have a starting point for this next phase of our marriage. And the location is meaningful too: we're sailors, and our plan is to retire in 5 years, get on our boat and go sailing...indefinitely. We expect to end up in French Polynesia on our journey - we'll start by heading down to Baja, cruise around the Sea of Cortez for a year or so, then do the "puddle jump" across the Pacific to the Marquesas, tool around FP and other parts of the South Pacific for a while, before we head off to wherever the wind takes us. In fact that's one of the reasons I wanted to get Charlie on this cruise - I wanted him to see French Polynesia, so he could see how beautiful it is and plan our eventual long-term voyage accordingly.

 

I'm still considering other options, though...such as, perhaps, a land-based ceremony on either Tahiti or Moorea, pre- or post-cruise. Maybe hire a local holy man to perform it on the beach, or see what the ICs have to offer - I dunno. The $500 price tag is a little off-putting - Charlie tends to be more conservative about money, and he might think it's too steep for what you get.

 

Anybody have any ideas for how to plan a vow-renewal ceremony in Tahiti or Moorea?

[Leejnd4]

Anybody have any ideas for how to plan a vow-renewal ceremony in Tahiti or Moorea?

 

Well, forget I asked! :D Charlie wants to do the one on the ship - the private one. So I guess we're renewing our vows onboard the PG! :D:D

[Emdee]

Leeann you wont be sorry its really nicely done and not tacky at all. I initially went through with it to please DD who wanted to do this for us but found I liked it a lot.

 

In fact I think one would be more selfconscious in the BB one with all the couples and people around. While its just select here and you feel you are among friends.

Do pay the $79 for all the vow renewal pictures - the photographer did a great job there and he even took pictures of us out on the bridge with the view of Tahaa in the background!

[Familygoboston]

We're seriously considering doing the individual one. We'll have our very good friends Sandy & Bill with us. Charlie and I have been through a LOT these past few years (kid and health issues) and, they've been right there with us, helping us through. Just recently it appears to be behind us, and we are so happy to be starting this new phase of our lives as empty nesters.

 

So it would be very meaningful for us to have an individual ceremony, with Sandy & Bill present, where we can start anew and say new vows and truly have a starting point for this next phase of our marriage. And the location is meaningful too: we're sailors, and our plan is to retire in 5 years, get on our boat and go sailing...indefinitely. We expect to end up in French Polynesia on our journey - we'll start by heading down to Baja, cruise around the Sea of Cortez for a year or so, then do the "puddle jump" across the Pacific to the Marquesas, tool around FP and other parts of the South Pacific for a while, before we head off to wherever the wind takes us. In fact that's one of the reasons I wanted to get Charlie on this cruise - I wanted him to see French Polynesia, so he could see how beautiful it is and plan our eventual long-term voyage accordingly.

 

I'm still considering other options, though...such as, perhaps, a land-based ceremony on either Tahiti or Moorea, pre- or post-cruise. Maybe hire a local holy man to perform it on the beach, or see what the ICs have to offer - I dunno. The $500 price tag is a little off-putting - Charlie tends to be more conservative about money, and he might think it's too steep for what you get.

 

Anybody have any ideas for how to plan a vow-renewal ceremony in Tahiti or Moorea?

 

I think it's lovely that you and Charlie are looking forward! And your plan sounds delightful...we will wave to you from the deck of the PG:D

I recently asked a friend what she and her husband had talked about for plans after the last kid goes off to college (next year). She said they've never discussed it. I'd say they are in for some rough days ahead:eek: