Ocean Princess French Polynesia Review Jan. 24-Feb. 6, 2015

[ROWSE]

Oh my, what a huge day!

 

We awoke and hurried to the upper deck to see us pull in to Raiatea.

 

 

First we passed by Tahaa Island. The water was incredible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last picture is of Mount Tapioi. We felt this incredible urge to climb that mountain.

[ROWSE]

Our tour today was with Te Mara Nui Plongee. The price was $40 USD and we were to meet at the Visitor's Center Office. We would snorkel for 25 minutes and then be taken to Orefano Motu for as long as we wanted.

 

Our guide was the lovely Floriane.

 

 

Before we headed out, we trotted over to the Champion Market for some snacks. We got one of those baguettes and some apples. Turns out the apples were from Washington our home state. That gave us a great laugh.

Here I am showing our snacks. The long shorts were to cover the nasty backside sunburn I received in Rangiora.

 

 

We met at their dive boat and went out near a private motu for a little snorkeling fun.

 

 

 

[ROWSE]

We were dropped off at the motu and set up a noon pick up.

It was a lovely place. My husband found it so nice, he took a little snooze.

 

 

We also snorkeled all over the area. I found these two floating along.

 

 

Too soon, we headed back to the island. Here is a farewell view.

 

 

After returning to the ship for a lovely lunch, we headed out again. It was so hot we decided to just walk down to the sailboat bay and not attempt climbing the mountain. We saw lovely sites.

 

 

 

[ROWSE]

The water was so blue!

 

 

There was a barge bringing in sand. Interesting!

 

 

After awhile we headed back and the challenge of finding the entrance to climb that mountain just was too much so we asked a local and using sign language we found the way. We were just going to go up a little ways.

 

Here are some pictures to what we came across at first.

 

 

[ROWSE]

We were incredibly hot, and didn't have a ton of water, but we decided this was just too wonderful, so we kept on going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for showing us such a stunning part of the world!

 

Very exotic.

 

It's single digit weather here and there is snow on the ground.

 

The photos are warming me up.

 

Nice job!

 

Norris

[ROWSE]

We were so hot and sweaty and my feet were dripping. What does one do to alleviate that problem? Go barefoot of course. The path turned grassy so I did just that.

 

 

My husband joined me.

 

 

Just when we were ready to give up the top beckoned and we made it to this view.

 

 

 

 

[ROWSE]

Then we looked left. Bora Bora can be seen barely in the distance.

 

 

There were four other people on top with us at that time and two had taken a wrong turn and been chased by pit bulls and the owner gave them quite a scolding. Lesson, don't take a wrong turn!

 

Down went quickly chatting with one of the people we met at the top. We saw this on the way down.

 

 

 

It was about an hour up and quicker down. I only wish we would have had a lot more water. We headed back to the ship and caught the early show of the comedian then off to dinner. We were ready for a great night sleep.

[ROWSE]

We again went up on deck to watch our approach in to Bora Bora this time. The water was so beautiful and the day so bright.

After a short tender ride, this was the view.

 

 

There is just something about this mountain that gives off a magical vibe. It is so majestic standing high above the water, unreachable accept by the very dedicated and physically fit outfitted with mountain climbing gear.

 

This was looking back toward the ship from the tender area.

 

 

French flags were waving in the breeze.

 

 

 

More beautiful flowers.

 

 

We had a Regent ship in with us today.

 

[ROWSE]

Our tour today was a half day with Patrick's Lagoon Tour.

It was very crowded in the tender area so it was a little challenging finding our guide.

They came in a different area than the locals were telling us.

Eventually we did connect, and two others from our Roll Call joined us on this one.

 

We were in an outrigger. It was amazing how well they take the waves on the water.

None of the bounce that we have in our Sea Ray that's for sure. They just skim along.

We got to ride in the front on a lovely cushion.

Note: I am dressed from head to toe to swim, as I again added more sunburn to my legs yesterday in Raiatea.

 

 

 

Some clouds are coming in.

 

 

We went out to the reef for some more amazing black tip shark swimming.

 

 

Kind of hard to see but this is a barracuda.

 

 

And this is a lemon shark.

 

[ROWSE]

Then it was on to Sting Ray Central we liked to call it.

Way out on a sandbar, we found this.

 

 

They were so friendly...

 

 

 

And so many...

 

 

 

Not to be left out, there were sharks there too.

 

[ROWSE]

Then it was off to a coral garden area.

 

 

We were serenaded by Ed.

 

 

A side view.

 

 

Into the water....

 

 

 

I completely agree...

 

[ROWSE]

We continued on around the entire island.

The back side of the island is where all the

over the water bungalows seem to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They dropped us off at the tender area after an absolutely wonderful time!

We headed back on board and found a cruise critic friend,

who was headed off to the St. Regis Hotel to marry a very

lovely lady. Congratulations again you two!

 

 

Back onboard the skies seem to look a little angry, and we were tired, so we stayed on the ship.

 

 

The show was an early one for us tonight, and we went to the Cabaret Lounge. The show was a singer/impressionist. His name I believe

was Grant Galea. Probably spelled that wrong. He was the best

entertainer, aside from the production shows, that we saw so far.

 

Then it was off to dinner and a very yummy dessert.

 

 

We joined some cruise critic friends for some late night trivia and fun. What an absolutely amazing day!

[ROWSE]

We awoke and went up to breakfast in the Horizon Court taking

our food out back to the open deck that we love.

We were rewarded by this beautiful rainbow.

 

 

 

Getting on the tender, this was our view.

 

 

Our tour today was a 4 X 4 island tour with Natura Discovery. Our tour guide was Temara.

There were 8 of us today and it did feel very crowded on those bench seats.

Especially when the 4 X 4 climbs straight up, seems like any way, or down. We had to really hang on not to crush the person beside us.

 

Here are some of the views we saw on this tour.

 

 

 

[ROWSE]

A look back at our ship.

 

 

Bananas grow everywhere here.

 

 

A view of one of the roads.

 

 

The famous Bloody Mary's bar and restaurant was out next stop.

 

 

 

This guy was hanging out in the women's restroom. LOL

 

[ROWSE]

Of course we had to have one of their very overpriced drinks!

 

 

Some very famous people have been patrons.

 

 

 

Then it was off to Matira Beach

 

 

There is amazing blue water here, but I don't think it would be a good snorkel site.

 

 

Then it was on to some more 4 X 4 climbing. Another view.

 

[ROWSE]

This may have been the island with the most amazing water.

It was all so beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

Can you see the cave when I zoom in?

 

 

A picture of our transport for the day.

 

[ROWSE]

This is a picture of the canons that were added during WWII.

They were never fired.

 

 

We stopped for a little fruit snack and Temara cut many things for us

to try.

Her helper prepared a coconut for each of us to drink.

 

 

 

This area is what is left of a sacred site where sacrifices happened.

 

 

We were dropped off back at the tender pier rather early, and I think

a couple things on the list of things that would happen on the tour

were missing. This was a little more expensive than some of

our tours, so I was a little disappointed. It is what it is, we

always say. It was not a ship's tour so that's how it goes.

 

After drop off we decided to walk around awhile and found

a stream with these eels.

 

 

[ROWSE]

The local children seem to have a lot of fun

feeding the eels some of those baguettes.

The boys were daring each other to get in the

water. Fun to watch boys will be boys no

matter where you are.

 

 

Another lovely little church.

 

 

After a nice walk we headed back on board.

It was time to do a little laundry. The laundry

on this little ship was only on deck 7, but there

were many machines. I got some quarters from

the front desk. Wash is $2 and Dry is $2.

There were many machines so no problem

to get one.

 

Met up for trivia, and I wish this picture wasn't dark,

but the view out the window in the Tahitian Lounge

was amazing.

 

 

This was our Captain's Circle Party night, so had a couple drinks there

as well. Then off to dinner.

 

 

Went for another round of trivia and then off to sleep.

[jilly08]

Rowse,

I am enjoying your review immensely! You stayed at the same place I am staying and have done most of the same tours I am signed up for.

Your pictures are gorgeous and your comments are great!!

Thank you for taking the time to post all of this!

 

Jill

[ROWSE]

We grabbed a quick breakfast and then watched us sail in.

 

Moorea is stunning in the sunshine. If you remember

at the beginning we had a great deal of rain.

 

 

 

We took the tender over and met our wonderful guide Mickeal Fenua of Stand up Paddle. We have paddle boarded once before on a lake, so we

were excited to try the waves this time on the ocean.

 

Mickael was waiting with a paddle in hand to let us know "this was

our tour"

 

He is retrieving the boards for us to get on.

 

 

He was so very attentive and careful with us. What an

amazing tour guide! We loved this excursion!!!

These boards were so stable and even on waves we

did pretty well. Only one tip over for me and three

for my husband, although he was much more daring.

 

Here we go...

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Just one great adventure after another for you two!

 

Making the most of the opportunity-what fun!!

 

Then getting to call the Ocean Princess home...

 

Norris

[ROWSE]

There seemed to be a storm that came in while

we were having such fun.

 

 

 

 

We had stopped in an area for snorkeling and the storm hit us big!

We were in the water and it was rather exciting. I did

feel sorry for Mickael hanging on to the boards up there

but good sport that he is, he didn't seem to mind.

 

After snorkeling we headed to the beach area. Mickael

drove back to get a different vehicle, and we

snorkeled from shore. We snacked on the fruit and juice

he had given us. He also provided a huge bottle of water.

My husband tried out Mickael's board

It was not so stable. He sure had made it look easy.

 

 

This little sailboat class for the local kids came by.

 

 

We will remember this day forever. Thanks Mickael!!!

 

[PescadoAmarillo]

Kitty, I am so homesick looking at your lovely photos (even of the spartan Hotel Tiare Tahiti). Wonderful review! Glad you enjoyed it so much. We're hoping for a repeat, soon. (I need twins pics, too. Stat!)

[ROWSE]

We were so sad to have to bid Mickael goodbye! Just a

note, he also took pictures along the way and sent us

those after we got home. This guy is a treasure!

 

After being dropped off we decided to walk the

one mile in to the little town. The walk was beautiful

and there was actually a section off the road

designated for this so you weren't right in the

traffic. I think you can see it in this picture.

 

 

We found a place called the Moorea Yacht Club for lunch. Pricey,

but very worth it. I had a Pina Colada that had quite a punch!

The ships, not so much.

 

 

My husband had a beer.

 

 

 

Our view was spectacular!

 

 

Our food was amazing. This is a tofu dish.

 

 

My husband had a risotto.

 

 

We used our credit card here. Just a note. It really does

pay to use the credit card when you can, if you have

one that doesn't charge international fees. It was

always a lower charge than expected. It was nice

that the US dollar was a little more than the franc when

we visited.