Thank you for all your help for our anniversary cruise in April

[davwen81]

We just wanted to share our thanks and thoughts on our anniversary cruise on 13th April. We had so many of you offer advice and tips before we left that we wanted to let you know how much we appreciated that help and how it made our anticipation build before we went. 

We had a superb time and can honestly say it is definitely one of our all time favourite cruises.

 

MOOREA PRECRUISE

We loved our time on Moorea at the Hilton and loved their plunge pool bungalows and the snorkelling and kayaking from the beach. Food was great. Drinks exhorbitant but we’d stopped in Maharepa to get supplies from the supermarket so we were prepared. The pizza restaurant at the OWB area was fantastic. We did splurge on a bottle of wine that night so it was over $100 with 2 pizzas, one entree and  one dessert to share which was plenty. It poured that night but we were moved under cover quickly and loved watching the rain fall around us. Then the reef sharks arrived, 8 in all and HUGE. Biggest we’ve ever seen. Loved the resort and would highly recommend it for the beach, the sunsets, great food and service. 

 

PG REUNION CRUISE

We caught the ferry back and had lunch at the ferry terminal upstairs where we could watch the line to board the PG get longer. We went down and waited and were allowed to board at 3pm. Easily processed in the Grand Salon and taken to our cabin. We had wonderful Jo Fea as our cabin attendant in 625, who was superb. Looked after us so well and made sure our room was beautifully decorated for our wedding anniversary. We thought this cabin and where it was on the ship was great. Half way between the pool deck, Le Grill and La Palette and down the passageway to La Verandah and only one floor from the Grand Salon,  two to reception and three  to the tender deck. Never used the lifts!

 

We ate in all restaurants and really enjoyed the people we met and the delicious food. La Verandah was a favourite and Arnold looked after us admirably with fabulous service and even sang to us on our anniversary. What a treat! He’s is part of the crew show and has a wonderful voice. 

Maitre d’s at both La Verandah and Le Grill were fantastic and went out of their way to look after us. Food in both was superb. Wine selections for white wine drinkers were awful to begin with. We are Australian and felt the Aussie white wine choices were awful. Stuff we’d never drink at home! However we finally found a Pinot Grigio and that was fine. But the included white wines were disappointing. Red wines seemed better quality.

Cocktails were fantastic! 

 

Our 2 week itinerary to the Tuamotu, Marquesas and Society Islands was fantastic. We did a couple of ship excursions in the Marquesas where it was difficult to find private excursions and they were both fantastic. All our private excursions were also great. 

 

The Gaugines and Gaugins were fabulous and made this trip so very much more than what we were expecting. Their entertainment - dance classes, art and jewellery classes,  their performances, their lovely warm personalities added all so much more to our enjoyment of our trip. 

 

Captain David Ljutic and all the crew were outstanding and very happy to stop and chat, assist in any way possible and go out of their way to meet your needs. 

 

Entertainment was excellent. . We had the Santa Rosa Band who were fantastic, Colour Blue duo from Uk, Michael Bird, a great solo singer, Gustavo Vierini, a fantastic illusionist, a White Party on the pool deck, Maeva Polynesia with the Gaugins and Gaugines, O’Tahiti E on our last night, a fabulous Polynesian dance company all made for great nights of entertainment. 

 

Speakers were also excellent and most interesting, on topics from Paul Gaugin, Oceans and Coral, wine making and tasting to Climate Change. We had a cooking demo with head chef, Palluaud Stephane, who was very entertaining and his poussin cru and truffle and mushroom risotto were delicious. 

We cant say that we have enjoyed a cruise more. For daytime activities to evening entertainment on this size ship, it was excellent.

 

 We were also lucky to be asked to dine with Dianne Moore the CEO of PG and her husband Bill, who were on as hosts for this reunion cruise and also celebrating their wedding anniversary. We had a delightful dinner with them and two other couples who like us were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaries. 

 We also loved the anniversary celebration that PG puts on for guests who register, which was held in La Palette with photos taken outside on the deck, where you are wrapped in a Tifaifai (Polynesian blanket) and your head is decorated with a floral wreath. It was just delightful. Our Cruise Director Gaelle was great fun also. 

 

Motu Mahane was as everyone had told us, a great fun day but unfortunately the weather wasn’t so kind to us that day and we left as storm clouds gathered. But the atmosphere, food and drink service was fabulous. 

Our day in Tahaa was a special war Memorial Day for NZ and Australia, ANZAC Day, and we were allowed to use the Captains lounge for our special Dawn Service organised by one of the NZ girls with Galle. That was very special for all of us and much  appreciated. 

 

So thank you all for contributing to our  anticipatory excitement, it meant a lot and was much exceeded by our onboard experiences. 

Cheers, Wendy and David 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Great to hear such a glowing report, glad you had such a wonderful time!  

 

Nice to hear that Arnold is still going, I'd heard that he's retired.  Such a fun guy.

 

Glad that Diane got to be onboard, she's a nice lady.

 

Cheers from the other Wendy and David!

[Hutchinj]

davwen81 -- Thank you for the recap of your cruise. It's so nice to read about how others had such a wonderful time on the cruise we are going to take next year. And that's a great tip about having lunch in the ferry terminal while waiting to board the PG.

 

Also, happy belated Anzac Day. We were fortunate to have been stationed in Sydney in the late 80's and enjoyed many visits to RSL's around the country and the moving tribute recited every evening:

 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

 

It's been many years since we lived there but we still "love a sunburnt country." :)

 

Cheers!