Karen Lynn Posted October 30, 2013 #1 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Anyone done the overnight in Bora Borta (Intercontinental?) with Oceania or a Helicopter excursion there or Papeete? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuck.qc Posted October 30, 2013 #2 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Here's how we plan to do it in March: 3days precruise in an OWB , you get the 'overnite experience' and by booking it on your own and NOT with O you save quite a bit. Use that $$ towards a heli tour of BB:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted October 30, 2013 #3 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Anyone done the overnight in Bora Borta (Intercontinental?) with Oceania or a Helicopter excursion there or Papeete? Thanks! Been to Bora several times.. it is only about 4 miles long by 1 mile wide and 1500 ft high in one spot. IN truth seeing the island from the distance or lagoon is by far better than seeing it on land and way better than in the air. The view from the ship and its anchorage will exceed any other vista possible. The Helo is a total waste of money and time... The hotels, are among the most expensive in the pacific... an over water room ( which they have put in almost a thousand, will with tax run you a cool 1200 to $1600 per night Then there is the food and drinks which will easily add another $400 to $500.. As for overall cost don't forget to add the $600 a day/night cruise cabin you will also have paid for. so what the Heck...Oh don't forget the bugs that come with the room... at least they are free. So for 20 total hours $2600. for which you will be asleep 8 of those so 12 hours awake; $200+ an hour when you could have a much better view and meal for no more from the ship Want to do something original.? ..Take a 2 hour around bora bora wave runner tour for $250 This is the prime reason people want to see Tahiti from a cruise ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted October 30, 2013 #4 Share Posted October 30, 2013 There is no dramatic vista on Tahiti from the air...pretty blaha. Same with Moorea. Here the views from sea/lagoon and the ship far surpass anything on land.... trust me.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted October 30, 2013 #5 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Been to Bora several times.. it is only about 4 miles long by 1 mile wide and 1500 ft high in one spot. IN truth seeing the island from the distance or lagoon is by far better than seeing it on land and way better than in the air. The view from the ship and its anchorage will exceed any other vista possible. The Helo is a total waste of money and time... The hotels, are among the most expensive in the pacific... an over water room ( which they have put in almost a thousand, will with tax run you a cool 1200 to $1600 per night Then there is the food and drinks which will easily add another $400 to $500.. As for overall cost don't forget to add the $600 a day/night cruise cabin you will also have paid for. so what the Heck...Oh don't forget the bugs that come with the room... at least they are free. So for 20 total hours $2600. for which you will be asleep 8 of those so 12 hours awake; $200+ an hour when you could have a much better view and meal for no more from the ship Want to do something original.? ..Take a 2 hour around bora bora wave runner tour for $250 This is the prime reason people want to see Tahiti from a cruise ship. Agreed! The island itself isn't much....it's all about the lagoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted October 31, 2013 #6 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Agreed! The island itself isn't much....it's all about the lagoon. ..and to see the lagoon, all you have to do is take a 4X4 drive around the island that also takes you to 2 peaks with fantastic views of the lagoon (on a sunny day). Much easier and cheaper than a helicopter and almost as impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaitape Posted October 31, 2013 #7 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Yes! And, you will have a grand view of the lagoon from the ship! Arriving and departing though the pass is great so be sure to be out on deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Lynn Posted October 31, 2013 Author #8 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Perhaps the overwater villas might be preferable for a pre cruise stay in Papeete? I think Sofitel get great reviews... Thank all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted October 31, 2013 #9 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Perhaps the overwater villas might be preferable for a pre cruise stay in Papeete?I think Sofitel get great reviews... Thank all!! Papeete and the main island is the center of commerce. It has the airport, seaport and govt.. It is not at all attractive... well back in 1983 is was sort of...but not today. There are 2 things good to do on Tahiti and one of them is leave...:rolleyes: Its a big busy industrial port The best of Tahiti is to view Moorea across the channel.. The allure and romance and gin clear waters of the lagoons will not be found in the main island.... Moorea, Bora to some extent, but not Tahiti Save your dough, for lagoon experienced in the outer islands. Thiti is a place to arrive and rest up and figure how to get to the real Polynesia not a French themed collection of strip malls and tourist shops. Hotels are for resting crummy beaches, marginal waters, traffic. Don't get your heart broken when you arrive. remember this is the start not the best. Oer water rooms are built on sand bars... no coral and darn few fish they look charming but picture a hotel room built over a swimming pool... sterile and clear water. No coral, some fish but all that pretty turquois water you see in the pictures is an underwater Sahara devoid of almost all life. Great for swimming...terrible for snorkel or coral. Gin clear and 84 degree water people love and rave. Not so experienced snorkelers and divers... who steer clear of sand areas and lagoons for the reef edges.. You want to see real coral and virgin reefs,even better than the great barrier reef.... get in the water at Fakarava... the finest fish and coral you will see on this cruise... better than anything else in Polynesia. Your $$, Spend them well and don't listen to the hype of the hotels... Bora Bora to day is almost door to door around the lagoon with resort after resort all with "over water cities" built out into the lagoon... because of the huge profit from wide-eyed visitors from Tulsa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Lynn Posted November 1, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Thank you so much! Great great tips. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted November 1, 2013 #11 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Thank you so much! Great great tips. :) I know when you get to Bora, which used to have 2 hotels with maybe 50 over water rooms, and see that there are now 11 mega resorts with hundreds upon hundreds of over water rooms.. that you will appreciate your decision.... Giant pier complexes hundred's of yards long.. Like looking at suburbia on the water...like every half mile another complex stretching far out into the once vacant lagoon If you want to get close to the water, have fun take a 2 hour guided wave runner tour around the whole lagoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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