The wisdom of cruising Tahiti in February

[reddogranch]

I am thinking of cruising during the first week of February and am having second thoughts about the "rainy season". Is there anyone out there who has cruised Tahiti in late January or early February who might be able to share their weather experiences? Thanks

[laurieb]

we've gone twice in early January and are going January 29 coming up. we have ahd wonderful weather and have no doubts about our upcoming cruise. you will always get some rain, it is the tropics. it will be hot, and absolutely wonderful!!

[meherio]

Ia orana

if the price is right ...

You will be in FP!

 

meherio

[Spikesgirl]

It might rain - it is the tropics, but it doesn't rain all day, every day during the rainy season. We had on/off rain for the first two days - this was following a typhoon - and great weather the rest of the time. Please don't pass on a cruise simply because it's during the rainy season. As Meherio points out - you're in FP, no matter the weather.

 

Also the rain is warm, the air is warm, locals just shrug their shoulders and go on with life. We loved the one rain shower we got caught it - it was one of our best...or at least funniest memories of our last cruise there.

 

Charlie

[reddogranch]

Thanks for everyone's input. In the final analysis, I could not ignore the data. Historically, there is just too great a chance for rain in late January and February. Cancelled the cruise and air this morning.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

That's too bad, but I understand. We went in April once, and although it did not rain much, it was *very* hot and humid. We're going next December, but heading up to the Marquesas--that's their dry season, apparently.

[Aussie Gal]

We went in March, 2004 and we only had one morning of rain. It was hot and it was humid, but that is summertime in Tahiti and to be expected.

 

We went in June this year and again it was hot and humid which I didn't expect as it is the cooler time of the year for Tahiti.

 

You can never predict the weather and we always take the good with the bad, usually we have been extremely lucky. In fact, in 14 years of overseas travel mainly to Europe and the U.S., we worked out it has only rained for 3 times.

 

Jennie

[makai 7]

We went in February and it poured in Papeete and Moorea. We arrived 2 days early and ended up swimming in "cold" rain at the intercontinental because we wanted to at least get into the infinity edge pool.

 

Our "full day" island tour ended up being shortened to a 1/2 day because the river they drive across was a massive torrent and too dangerous to cross.

It lightened up occasionally.

 

In Moorea it poured on us during the snorkeling trip - rained so hard it hurt.

Once we got to the marquesas the weather was better, but it was still raining on and off (and extremely humid) when we returned to Papeete.

 

If you don't want to risk the rain, it is better not to go during rainy season.

 

Beth

[Seal]

The infinity pool is always COLD in Papette

 

Stayed there in August and May will be there again next March--we usually stay a couple of days after the cruise

 

We stay longer in Bora Bora pre-cruise--love the OWB at the IC

 

Sometimes it rains--seems in the middle of the night and early morning--still it's a great place to be in the rain

 

Nancy

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Nancy, I presume you mean the ICB pool? There are other pools in Papeete!

[makai 7]

We really didn't mind the pool being cold; that was OK as long as the air was warm.

What was cold was the rain pelting on us, and the wind blowing :)

 

Also, February appears to be a time when the hotels do all their construction and maintenance.

The pool bars were closed. The "exclusive" restaurant at the IC was closed.

There was lots of hammering, etc.

None of this bothered us, but it might be a put-off to some people.

 

We still loved the area, but would have loved it more in the 'high' season.