Le Soleal has left Papeete

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

She left PPT at 7:25 am this morning and is currently halfway between Moorea and Tetiaroa and now on a heading of 17 degrees which would point toward Rangiroa. . Much of the client based crew members from the PG are on-board. Will be interesting to hear some feedback over the coming weeks. 

Edited October 10, 2020 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

She is now on a 90 degree course which would suggest Fakarava. 

[Iguanabrain]

Training cruise to nowhere? We're supposed to be on the Oct. 19th sailing provided we pass our Covid exams and if it actually sails. Ponant assures our TA that it will sail.

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

She did a u-turn?

 

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Was a daytime shakedown run  .... was back in PPT at 5:30 local time. 

 Iguanabrain  ... unless something new arises the October 19th cruise should be a go with close to 100 on-board 😉

 

[Iguanabrain]

I guess we'll be there regardless. Got our negative Covid PCR results within the 72 hour window and entry approval from the French Polynesia authorities, so now we just have to catch the flight.

 

We were supposed to be on the Oct. 3 Paul Gauguin sailing with some time on land afterward, but I flipped a week vacation and got a better cabin on Soleal with some pre-cruise time on land.

 

Any idea why Boreal is sailing for Papeete?

[robertmartha]

Bigkahuna - would love to hear about your sailing - either during or after if you are able to post!

[cruising cockroach]

Interent is free and unlimited on Ponant since early last year so he should be able to post.

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Le Boreal left Korsakov on September 30th and due in PPT on Monday morning  ... I'll leave it at that 😉 

[RichSD]

In Papeete now.  Like IgunaBrain, we’re hoping to depart on Le Soleal on Monday, October 19th. Any idea as to what’s happening?

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

21 hours ago, RichSD said:

In Papeete now.  Like IgunaBrain, we’re hoping to depart on Le Soleal on Monday, October 19th. Any idea as to what’s happening?

 

Le Boreal should make PPT by 6:30 pm local time today.  

 

Guess we'll all know tomorrow  ... not going to openly speculate. Appears Ponant has made a real commitment to cruising in French Polynesia waters. This will mean there are 3 Ponant/PG ships in French Polynesian waters. 

[Iguanabrain]

We've been in FP several days now. Within the last 24 hours we got word through our TA first that the cruise would probably be cancelled (because of the situation in metropolitan France!) then that it's a go. Looking forward to our third Covid test of the past week or so...

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, Iguanabrain said:

We've been in FP several days now. Within the last 24 hours we got word through our TA first that the cruise would probably be cancelled (because of the situation in metropolitan France!) then that it's a go. Looking forward to our third Covid test of the past week or so...

 

 

Do you have any sinus tissue left?

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Le Soleal is heading for Mataiva, 50 miles west of Rangiroa.  Wish I was on-board, something new to see, only 280 people live on this tiny atoll.

[Iguanabrain]

Apparently it was touch and go whether it would go at all, but Le Soleal did depart as scheduled on the 19th for its planned itinerary. There are about 47 passengers and 55 crew on board. No spa or salon services because no spa/salon crew and somewhat limited bar and food service, but everything is going well otherwise. Here's the ship in Raiatea yesterday anchored near Le Boreal: