Verokaren Posted January 22, 2020 #1 Share Posted January 22, 2020 I need some help from any experienced past Oceana cruisers to Papeete! I was told we would be able to do an early disembarkation to catch the 8:00 AM flight out, but yesterday heard from Oceana that the ship does not arrive until 5:00 AM, and we may not get off until 9:00 AM. This is completely counter to what I had been told before. Should I rebook all of my flights back?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitraveler Posted January 22, 2020 #2 Share Posted January 22, 2020 If your stop before Papeete is Moorea you can disembark there and make your own way to Papeete to catch the flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verokaren Posted January 22, 2020 Author #3 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Unfortunately, the Oceania route has us going to Moorea on Day 2 :(. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andee Posted January 22, 2020 #4 Share Posted January 22, 2020 We spent several days on Tahiti before the cruise and had a wonderful time, so I'd recommend adding on days after your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted January 22, 2020 #5 Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Verokaren said: I need some help from any experienced past Oceana cruisers to Papeete! I was told we would be able to do an early disembarkation to catch the 8:00 AM flight out, but yesterday heard from Oceana that the ship does not arrive until 5:00 AM, and we may not get off until 9:00 AM. This is completely counter to what I had been told before. Should I rebook all of my flights back?? No....Get off in Moorea the afternoon before, spend the night and grab the 0600 ferry which gets in at 0640.. and runs like a clock....Baggage come off in seconds and beats you. It is then a 15 min cab ride to the airport There are plenty of cabs. Plenty of time to get to the gate 0800? aIR fRANCE leaves at 0830 last I checked.... what carrier? Edited January 22, 2020 by Hawaiidan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted January 22, 2020 #6 Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) Last February, our ship the Marina got back into port around 6:00. I don’t know why over and over and over people keep trying to cut their flights out so closely! If I had a flight out of Papeete at 8:00 a.m. on disembarkment day I would definitely get it changed! FWIW, Papeete’s airport is not an example of efficiency. We encountered long slow moving lines both getting checked in and going through security. when Oceania ran chartered flights for their cruisers, the planes never left before 11:00 ish. Edited January 22, 2020 by pinotlover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verokaren Posted January 22, 2020 Author #7 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Thank you all for your input so far. We actually have scheduled several days PRIOR to the cruise to come in early and enjoy Moorea and Papeete. I did book the close call flight out due to work obligations. I don't think we'll be in Moorea the day before. We are in Raiatea the day before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted January 22, 2020 #8 Share Posted January 22, 2020 57 minutes ago, Verokaren said: Thank you all for your input so far. We actually have scheduled several days PRIOR to the cruise to come in early and enjoy Moorea and Papeete. I did book the close call flight out due to work obligations. I don't think we'll be in Moorea the day before. We are in Raiatea the day before. And, if you keep that flight out at that "way too early" time, work will be the least of your concerns. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verokaren Posted January 22, 2020 Author #9 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Ha! Duly noted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanandJim Posted January 22, 2020 #10 Share Posted January 22, 2020 26 minutes ago, Verokaren said: Ha! Duly noted. Not kicking you while you are down, Verokaren, but it is worth noting in this situation that despite the advantages and cost savings which the Pundits here never tire of extolling, there are often pitfalls to booking private air. I hope that changing that flight does not cost you.........bit it may- 😨 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted January 22, 2020 #11 Share Posted January 22, 2020 1 hour ago, StanandJim said: Not kicking you while you are down, Verokaren, but it is worth noting in this situation that despite the advantages and cost savings which the Pundits here never tire of extolling, there are often pitfalls to booking private air. I hope that changing that flight does not cost you.........bit it may- 😨 Tahiti is a special breed....with only a few carriers in the market. Most carriers will charge you around $200pp depending on your status So 2 tickets is going to hit you for $400 to change or cancel like if you decided to go with O's air Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoHoHo Posted January 22, 2020 #12 Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) Verokaren, I do sympathize. Glad you are keeping a sense of humour and seem calm over this. As Flatbush Flyer points out, missing the flight has consequences that could well affect that reason for trying to make this flight in the first place. And from the well experienced good advice on making / missing it. Hawaiidan, who I think has flown in and out of here so very, many times and knows the airlines, said the change fee could be $200 pp. So I was thinking for *me* switching to O's air as StandandJim allude to and paying a cancel fee might be better than missing the flight. And maybe be late for that work commitment. But, can you knowledgeable folks tell me, say they stayed with the current plan and it looked like they would not be able to disembark in time (I cant imagine the anxious hours waiting for the gangway to open) to catch the flight, what would you do? Perhaps phone the airline and tell them you are not going to make it so they do not list you as a no show and lose the tickets value entirely? And then hope they can get you on a next flight out. As there are not so many flights I suspect it could be hard to get on the "next one" and so could be even a longer delay to make that work commitment. Edited January 22, 2020 by YoHoHo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verokaren Posted January 22, 2020 Author #13 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Hmm. . . .not too many options to change, at this point, and not sure if I can switch to the "O" flight for just one way back. I was advised by Oceania that they recommend not booking any flight PRIOR to 9:00am, and ours is 8:20am. I may just roll the dice with those 40 minutes. . . . thoughts much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted January 22, 2020 #14 Share Posted January 22, 2020 56 minutes ago, Verokaren said: Hmm. . . .not too many options to change, at this point, and not sure if I can switch to the "O" flight for just one way back. I was advised by Oceania that they recommend not booking any flight PRIOR to 9:00am, and ours is 8:20am. I may just roll the dice with those 40 minutes. . . . thoughts much appreciated! Yes...Oceania will do a 0ne way back . I have done that. Financially, you might consider cancelling the whole ticket as it will also only be $ 200 and just let Oceania do all the leg work Unless you got the ticket with miles, cancel the whole thing would be the best stress free option.. At this point, going with a variation to arrive eariler is going to increase the cost to almost $800 for 2. I have flown Air France in 2017 it was the only day time departure. I took Oceania's flight from LAX to PPT departing at 1530 and It arrived at 2045 ( scheduled for 2150) and took a cab to the ship I was on the ship 40 min after we landed.. while all the people who booked the overpriced O transfer were still waiting to get on buses........ As I said flights to the US from Tahiti is a captive market... You have United, Hawaiian Air France , Tahiti Nui and a super discount airline...Bumbel Bee American, Delta Quantas, Air NZ are all code shared with the above . Only Tahiti Nui flies daily the rest only 1 to 4 days of the week like every other day Only Air France, to my knowledge, has a day time flight ot LAX With the exception of the Moorea ferry, Polynesia all runs at 33 -1/3 speed. No one is interested in moving fast..... Think this through.... You will miss the flight as you have booked. Sorry but there are only so many options in this part of the world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted January 22, 2020 #15 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Airlines normally charge 1. A change fee plus (2) Any difference in ticket prices. We don’t know what you originally paid for your tickets compared to the current price. Therefore, we don’t know what your charges for changes will be. Call the airlines and discuss the issue. Get real numbers from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted January 22, 2020 #16 Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, pinotlover said: Airlines normally charge 1. A change fee plus (2) Any difference in ticket prices. We don’t know what you originally paid for your tickets compared to the current price. Therefore, we don’t know what your charges for changes will be. Call the airlines and discuss the issue. Get real numbers from them. I agree....but with AirFrance if you miss the flight.. the next flight out is normally 2 days later. as they fly every other day. Only Tahiti Nui does daily and at night Edited January 22, 2020 by Hawaiidan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted January 22, 2020 #17 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Dan; She needs to talk with AF to know what her actual costs and options are! Another point is, she hasn’t told us how close to sailing/ flying she is! That may affect outcomes!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted January 22, 2020 #18 Share Posted January 22, 2020 OP: Religious person? Pray for a monster air schedule change and ask to have your ticket assigned to a different airline. (may not work in this limited equipment location, but good to know for the future). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verokaren Posted January 23, 2020 Author #19 Share Posted January 23, 2020 I did actually talk at length with Delta today, as I am booked on that Air France flight at 8:20am. I am booked for business class, and did purchase insurance for this trip (which I rarely do). HOWEVER, as HawaiiDan mentioned, Delta will not cooperate and rebook on Tahiti Nui, and the next flight out will be two days later on Friday. I am rather distraught over this, as I was assured from the person that I booked with at Oceania as well as some people here on the boards that the ship would be in early enough to clear customs and make that 8:20 flight. I will call Oceania and see if I can perhaps jump on one of their flights, as was suggested here. Other than that, I am tempted to just have our bags packed and ready to go at 6:00am the day of arrival back into Papeete. Keep any thoughts or ideas coming, and again, thank you, thank you!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted January 23, 2020 #20 Share Posted January 23, 2020 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Verokaren said: I did actually talk at length with Delta today, as I am booked on that Air France flight at 8:20am. I am booked for business class, and did purchase insurance for this trip (which I rarely do). HOWEVER, as HawaiiDan mentioned, Delta will not cooperate and rebook on Tahiti Nui, and the next flight out will be two days later on Friday. I am rather distraught over this, as I was assured from the person that I booked with at Oceania as well as some people here on the boards that the ship would be in early enough to clear customs and make that 8:20 flight. I will call Oceania and see if I can perhaps jump on one of their flights, as was suggested here. Other than that, I am tempted to just have our bags packed and ready to go at 6:00am the day of arrival back into Papeete. Keep any thoughts or ideas coming, and again, thank you, thank you!! If all goes well, you'll be fine - although you'll have to get lucky. You should be able to get off the ship by 6 AM. Checking into business class will help as well. May want to arrange for a private transfer to the airport for for 5:45 and carry your stuff off by yourself. Good luck. PS try to check in online 24 hours before - it may help. Edited January 23, 2020 by Paulchili 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted January 23, 2020 #21 Share Posted January 23, 2020 8 minutes ago, Verokaren said: I did actually talk at length with Delta today, as I am booked on that Air France flight at 8:20am. I am booked for business class, and did purchase insurance for this trip (which I rarely do). HOWEVER, as HawaiiDan mentioned, Delta will not cooperate and rebook on Tahiti Nui, and the next flight out will be two days later on Friday. I am rather distraught over this, as I was assured from the person that I booked with at Oceania as well as some people here on the boards that the ship would be in early enough to clear customs and make that 8:20 flight. I will call Oceania and see if I can perhaps jump on one of their flights, as was suggested here. Other than that, I am tempted to just have our bags packed and ready to go at 6:00am the day of arrival back into Papeete. Keep any thoughts or ideas coming, and again, thank you, thank you!! I am betting that, whatever may be the nature of your professional endeavors, if you are a valued worker, your scheduled responsibilities could be rearranged with enough advanced notice. Worth a discussion with whoever? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verokaren Posted January 23, 2020 Author #22 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Thank you, Paulchili! Do you know how/where I would arrange for a private transport from the dock to the airport in Tahiti? I wonder if there are taxis around at that hour there? And, Flatbush flyer, I am a self-employed business owner, so I do have a flexible schedule, but can't be on vacation and abandon my clients forever, sadly :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted January 23, 2020 #23 Share Posted January 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, Paulchili said: If all goes well, you'll be fine - although you'll have to get lucky. You should be able to get off the ship by 6 AM. Checking into business class will help as well. May want to arrange for a private transfer to the airport for for 5:45 and carry your stuff off by yourself. Good luck. PS try to check in online 24 hours before - it may help. Scheduled for 6 AM, arriving at 6 AM and debarking at 6 AM are often very different things. Depending on the itinerary (don't know where the cruise starts or order of ports), there might be a thin silver lining in that French Polynesia Border Patrol may Board and clear folks days before the ship reaches the islands. That would shave some time off getting to the airport. But, I still think that making that current AM flight faces too many "what ifs." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted January 23, 2020 #24 Share Posted January 23, 2020 7 minutes ago, Verokaren said: Thank you, Paulchili! Do you know how/where I would arrange for a private transport from the dock to the airport in Tahiti? I wonder if there are taxis around at that hour there? And, Flatbush flyer, I am a self-employed business owner, so I do have a flexible schedule, but can't be on vacation and abandon my clients forever, sadly 🙂 Private transfer? Have the hotel you're staying st pre-cruise recommend/reserve one. Taxis? Half a shipload of folks will be jockeying for far too few unreserved taxis. Self-employed? With plenty of advanced notice, your clients will understand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulchili Posted January 23, 2020 #25 Share Posted January 23, 2020 (edited) 25 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said: Scheduled for 6 AM, arriving at 6 AM and debarking at 6 AM are often very different things. I believe the original post states a 5 AM arrival. In that case a 6 AM disembarkation is certainly possible under normal circumstances. Edited January 23, 2020 by Paulchili 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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