The-Inside-Cabin

Eurodam and Oosterdam added Eurodam MP3Oosterdam MP3

Here are all the available art tours Holland America used to offer IPODs preloaded with audio art tours on the various ships. They are no longer produced. I was able to capture the following art tours in both the Apple Audio Book format as well as the MP3 format. Enjoy! HERE is the link Amsterdam MP3 Massdam MP3 Noordam MP3 Prinsendam MP3 Rotterdam MP3 Ryndam MP3 Statendam MP3 Veendam MP3 Volendam MP3 Westerdam MP3 Zaandam MP3 Zuiderdam MP3

It has worked on some sailings for me and not for others. More of a function of ships location than the ship. If VPN is really important, I would make other plans. I wouldn't go on a cruise if not having internet would be a huge deal for work. There isn't anyway to predict and no one will be able to guarantee success.

They are no longer offered. I downloaded the ones that used to be offered and you can download them HERE. They don't have them for the pinnacle class ships.

This was updated 17 June 22 - Based on my reading, you don't even need your first booster, let alone your second to sail with HAL. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html#vaccine

There is more detail on the website - www.theinsidecabin.com Includes a copy of all the where and whens and menus for each day - name of entertainer etc....

Here is a link to my World Cruise FAQ. Focused on HAL cruises, but much is applicable to any world cruise.

Nuku Hiva – (Post #22) By The Inside Cabin on Jun 05, 2022 04:16 pm Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2022 South Pacific Cruise The final port of our 35-day South Pacific Cruise was Nuku Hiva Cruise Map Itinerary, Menus, When & Where and Featured Entertainer Cruise Reference The final port of our 35-day South Pacific Cruise was Nuku Hiva. This small South Pacific Island was host to the fourth episode of Survivor “Survivor: Marquesas”. Visiting the site where they filmed Survivor is not an option on any readily available excursion. Cruise lines will usually offer the following excursion: Taipivai Valley: Scenic Drive for $140 Taipivai Valley was originally made famous by the American writer and sailor, Herman Melville (1819-1891), who deserted his ship and hid in this valley. Captured by the indigenous natives, he lived there for three weeks — a period during which he observed their way of life. This experience enabled him to write the novel called Typee. This landmark was more recently made famous by being the base camp for the Survivor television show filmed here in 2001. An on-road panoramic drive will lead you through lush vegetation among valleys and great viewpoints. The coastline of this part of the island is breathtaking and ensures you some time for rewarding pictures. You will pass small villages and plenty of churches. Visit the sacred Te A’itua temple and enjoy a refreshment. You’ll continue to Hooumi black sand beach before returning to the pier. Handicrafts are usually available for purchase at Te A’itua or at the beach; bring small denominations of cash, as credit cards are not accepted. You can contact Jocelyne Henua EnanaTours at jocelyne@mail.pf and inquire about arranging something similar for a prearranged group. Here is a good blog with additional information about visiting Nuku Hiva. Here is a video with the highlights of our day on Nuku Hiva We anchored about 7:30 am and the tenders were ready to go a little after 8 am. Our plan was to go ashore around noon and visit the large sculpture on Fort Collet, which is on a small rise south of the tender pier and an easy walk, albeit a little uphill. Snail Rolls were offered on the open decks during our arrival to Nuku Hiva The tender ride is short, and the harbor is protected so the ride is usually smooth. Once off the tender, you can expect to be greeted by local citizens dressed in floral attire and enjoy live music from a local band. Nuku Hiva Tender Landing areaNuku Hiva main tourist area A local band meets all the arriving tenders Directly behind the tender dock are a couple of shops selling T-shirts and other souvenirs. As you leave the dock you will find a couple of cafés selling drinks and a limited selection of food. A clean and modern restroom is along the right side of the road leading to the small town. If you head left along the harbor, you will find a few restaurants, including a Pizza place about ½ mile away. A little off the main road you will find the Notre Dame Cathedral. You will find the He’e Tai Restaurant and museum at the end of the main road. The museum is located behind the restaurant. Look for a sign as the museum is not well marked. Up the road leaving the tender dock, you pass the new toilets. Off to your right is the main town, with a few public buildings and a school. The uphill path to Fort Collet is about 50 yards off to your right once you are on the main road and is about 125 yards to get to the Sculpture at the top. These toilets are new and very modern (2022) Fort Collet was established in 1842, turned over to Catholic missionaries in 1859 and finally to local authorities in 2013. The Tiki Tuhiva sculpture was constructed in 2017, and at 40 feet tall, is the highest contemporary sculpture in the Pacific. The view from here is spectacular and worth your time to make the hike. The Zuiderdam at anchor off Nuku Hiva as seen from Fort Collet Tim and Pete enjoying some beers at the local cafe Before we headed back toward the tender dock, we stopped by the café to visit with some friends for about an hour while enjoying some cold beer and soft drinks. There is a market selling fresh produce next to the cafe Back on the ship we stopped by the Sea View Pool for our final Sail Away party. The Ocean Bar dance band entertained the crowd as we sailed off toward San Diego. Here is a short video with some Sail Away Highlights Maruc Winter, aka The Sandman, put on an amazing show on the World Stage.Pete with “The Sandman” The post Nuku Hiva – (Post #22)appeared first on The Inside Cabin - Exploring the world from the inside cabin.

Here is an update with more detail and a video about our Pinnacle Gala Experience on a Vista Class Ship. I understand that the experience on Pinnacle Class ships may be slightly different. Please share your experience so others can judge for themselves before they plunk down $142 pp. It was worth it to us, but as always, YMMV. Pinnacle Gala (Post #21) By The Inside Cabin on May 26, 2022 11:00 pm Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2022 South Pacific Cruise We had a wonderful time at the Pinnacle Gala – a special dining event that is offered on cruises longer than 10 days. Cruise Map Itinerary, Menus, When & Where and Featured Entertainer Cruise Reference The Pinnacle Gala features a 6-course menu, with wine pairings, designed by Chef Kristen Kish (winner of Season 10 Top Chef). We booked this dinner before we left San Diego and it was held the March 25th, the same day we were in Hapatoni, Tahuata. We had a wonderful time and you can read about the details below. Here is a video with more details: You can download the menu HERE. Here is a list of the courses: FRIED STEAM BUN WITH CAVIAR (salmon tartar, apple, fennel) TEMPURA SQUASH SALAD (hazelnut, pomegranate vinaigrette, petite greens) HALIBUT WITH LOBSTER (pancetta, ham hock broth, radish, peas) CUCUMBER GRANITÉ (poached tomato, basil) BEEF TENDERLOIN (creamy barley, black truffle, root vegetable) ORANGE CREAMSICLE FLOAT (w/chocolate shortbread) Wine: NINO FRANCO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE BRUT (Veneto, Italy) LABOURE-ROI CHABLIS 1ER CRU (Burgundy, France) BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON KNIGHTS VALLEY (Sonoma County, California) While the word “Gala” appears in the title, this will not normally be held on a Gala night. However, the invitation you receive makes it clear that Gala attire is expected. There were 21 couples for our dinner. Five of the men wore tuxedos with the rest in suits or sports jackets with ties. The Pinnacle Gala was advertised before the cruise started and you could reserve a table in advance. As with everything you buy pre-cruise, you pay immediately. You could wait and book this dinner once the cruise starts to avoid an advance payment, but then you would risk finding it sold out. As is the case with all special event dinners, e.g. The Cellar Master, etc., there isn’t any Mariner discount. The price is $120 per person with an automatic 18% gratuity included making the total $142. The prepurchase price is listed as $142 and it’s not clear that this includes the gratuity, but it does. This is the listing for the Pinnacle Gala on the HAL website The HAL website states that the event starts at 5:30, but the invitation asked us to meet at the Ocean Bar (Vista-class ships) at 6 PM. On Pinnacle-class ships, we heard that you meet in the BB King Lounge for pre-dinner cocktails and dancing. Outside the Ocean bar was a large poster advertising the event which led to a red carpet going into the port side of the Ocean Bar (the side with the dance floor). We were welcomed by the ship’s staff, who had the attendance list on a clipboard along with our security photos so they could easily address us without having to ask our names. Inside the Ocean Bar, we joined another couple and enjoyed a Ritz Cocktail along with some appetizers while enjoying live piano music and some pleasant conversation. 42 Guests assembled in the Ocean Bar for pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers. We enjoyed Ritz Cocktails in the Ocean Bar – (Cointreau, Fresh lemon juice, Maraschino Liquer, Cognac, and Champagne) A variety of appetizers were available. After 30 minutes they announced it was time to head to the Pinnacle Grill. Each couple was escorted down the stairs or elevator to their preassigned table. A few couples asked if they could be seated at the same table as the people they just met in the Ocean Bar. This was not possible as every table was already assigned. Couples dining alone were not seated with other passengers. If you want to be seated with a group, be sure to arrange this in advance as it probably won’t be possible once the dinner starts. There weren’t any officers or anyone other than paying guests in attendance. The evening started with Danan, The Pinnacle Grill Manager, welcoming us to the Pinnacle Gala and wishing us a pleasant evening. Our 1st course, Fried Steam Buns with Caviar, was served with an Italian Sparkling wine, Nino Franco Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut. The Fried Steam Buns were crispy, served in a large bowl, and topped with caviar. They were very good. Fried Steam Buns with Caviar Tempura squash salad was our 2ndcourse. We enjoy tempura-coated vegetables and these were light and crispy with a nice presentation. Tempura Squash Salad Our first main, and 3rd, course – Halibut with lobster was moist and flaky. Outstanding. This course was paired with a nice Burgundy Chablis. Halibut With Lobster Cucumber Granité was our palate-cleansing 4th course. It was served with a spicy poached tomato. Cucumber Granité The second main, and 5th course, was Beef Tenderloin served with root vegetables, truffles, and barley. The beef was prepared medium, light pink interior, which we prefer, but we weren’t asked in advance if that was our preference. This course was paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon from California. Beef Tenderloin and Root Vegetables Our 6th and final course was dessert – an orange creamsicle float served with a homemade marshmallow and a chocolate shortbread swirl. The creamsicle float was orange sorbet served with club soda. Orange Creamsicle Float After dessert, we enjoyed a Cappuccino and hot tea. Danan closed the evening by thanking us for coming and announced that the ship’s photographers were standing by to take a complimentary photograph as we departed. From arriving in the Ocean Bar to when we left the Pinnacle Grill, the entire evening took about 3 hours. There wasn’t any presentation or announcement during the dinner. There were only the brief opening and closing remarks. This is the complementary photo taken after dinner We enjoyed our evening and thought that the price, while expensive, delivered an excellent meal and wonderful service. On our next cruise, we plan to attend the Pinnacle Gala if offered. The post Pinnacle Gala (Post #21)appeared first on The Inside Cabin - Exploring the world from the inside cabin.

Warm water, blue skies, and colorful sea life combined for an amazing excursion on Fakarava Cruise Map Itinerary, Menus, When & Where and Featured Entertainer Cruise Reference Fakarava is a rectangular atoll about 35 miles long by 15 miles wide. The narrow strip of land surrounding the lagoon ranges from about 500 ft to ¼ mile across. There are two navigable entrances, one at each end of the rectangle. Fakarava is the second largest atoll in French Polynesia, right behind Rangiora. Satellite View of Fakarava showing our snorkeling locations The Zuiderdam entered the lagoon through the north entrance and anchored ¾ of a mile from shore. Our final snorkeling excursion for this cruise was scheduled for Fakarava with Fakarava Excursions. We booked the morning ½ day tour which was the only one available at the time. Subsequently, they opened some afternoon tours, but we decided to stay with the morning tour (8:30 AM departure) even though that meant another early start for us. Here is the tour description from their website: Departure: 8.30 a.m. – Return: 12.30 p.m. / Boat trip: 40 min to go/60 min return First, we will sail all along the north channel “GARUAE”. Then we will join TEAHATEA, one of the best places of Fakarava. It is a lagoon inside the lagoon, like a clear, warm and natural swimming pool with white sand beach around. It’s time to use your camera! During the return, we will have a break for advanced snorkeling on coral rocks inside the lagoon. Fresh water, fruits juice, chilled coconut water with a straw, coconut cake, cookies included. You will also learn how to husk, open, grate and extract coco milk, and to prepare traditional raw fish. Then, you are free to doze, sunbath, swim or play the role of Robinson… You don’t need to pay in advance. The price is $75 or 7500 CFP. It’s a better deal to pay in CFP if you can get your money changed in advance. The Cruise director announced that we were cleared to go ashore at 7:30 AM and we were out the door in a few minutes to head to the BB King lounge where Tender tickets are distributed for four and five-star mariners. The lounge was empty and there was no wait for anyone who wanted to go to shore this early. Fakarava does not have a lot of popular excursions, like Easter Island, so the demand for tender tickets is low. The tender ride was about 10 minutes. The Tender Landing area on Fakarava Once ashore, there were only a few boats moored along the dock and it was easy to spot the one for our tour as it was displaying a sign labeled Fakarava Excursions. We were a little early, so we had time to wander through the nearby market that sold everything from groceries to hand tools. Our Tour BoatThis group was playing local music when we arrived We boarded our boat and left the dock at 8:30 AM heading west and speeding past the Zuiderdam in a few minutes. We weren’t sure exactly where we would be going but I was able to track our progress using Maps.me (Available in the Apple or Google Store) and could only speculate as to our ultimate destination. After 30 minutes we stopped near a small island and drifted for a few minutes while our guide explained that commercial fishing is restricted here along with an explanation of the various birds in the area. The most interesting information was that the birds built their nests on the ground because there were no predators on this island. We stopped near this small island for a few minutes on the way to the Blue Lagoon A few minutes later we arrived at our mooring in the Green Lagoon, located in the northwest corner of the atoll’s interior. We would wade about 50 yards ashore in the calf-deep water to the Blue Lagoonwhich is a notch in the larger atoll between two of the larger, narrow landmasses. Heading to the Blue Lagoon with our bag of snorkeling gearThe Blue Lagoon While we headed over to the Blue Lagoon to start snorkeling, our captain, and his crew of one set up a portable table with some snacks and beverages we would enjoy later. Our tour group enjoyed some snacks during a break from our snorkeling These were the snacks we enjoyed during our break Varying from a few feet to over 10 feet deep, the turquoise water was warm and filled with colorful fish. There was very little current and swimming along the surface was easy. I enjoyed watching a school of Chromis fish dart in and out of their coral home as I would get closer and move away. These fish woud seek cover inside the coral as I approachedTypical fish found in the Blue Lagoon After about 30 minutes in the water, we headed ashore and enjoyed some cookies, fresh fruit, and juice before heading back to the water for more snorkeling. We only saw one reef shark, but there were plenty of other species of tropical fish. We were here about 1 hour and 45 minutes before wading back out to the boat. It was now 11 AM. Heading east, we sped across the water at high speed for 30 minutes until we arrived at our deep-water snorkeling spot. The water here was from 5 to 30 feet deep. The current was noticeable and having fins is recommended to help you swim against the current to avoid drifting into shallow coral, tread water easier, and maneuver. Most of the fish were a little further away and everything was more spread out. There were a few reef sharks, not as many as we saw on Raiatea, but a couple. We were here about 45 minutes before we climbed back into the boat and sped off back to town, arriving in 15 minutes (12:30 PM local time). Here are some of the fish we saw in the deeper water snorkeling areaWe saw a few Black Tip Reef Sharks in the deep water snorkeling area The payment was not required in advance, so everyone paid our captain at the dock before we said our goodbyes and went ashore. Our tour Captain and Crew There isn’t very much to do here other than go on snorkeling tours. There is a small tourist information center with restrooms and slow Wi-Fi. The password was printed on a piece of paper on a bulletin board next to the door. Next to the tourist information building is a small building with a half dozen tables filled with local crafts. Tourist Information Center. The Wi-Fi was slow and the password was posted outside the door There was a vendor renting bicycles and selling T-shirts near the Tender waiting area. Pedal Bikes and E-Bikes were available for rent T Shirts for sale near the tender landing The Artisan Market is behind the tender landingInside the Artisan Market 100 yards further north was a small café selling pastries, snacks, and soft drinks. There are a couple of restaurants down the road heading south along with a church. Here is a nice video from “Cruise Ship Karen” that shows more of the island than we visited during our brief time ashore. After about 1 hour we headed back to the ship where we learned we were required to complete another muster drill that was as simple as the first time – go to your station, scan your card and watch the safety video in your cabin. (Note: this is required every thirty days)

Bora Bora – Fish, Food, and Fire: Patrick’s Tour (Post #16) By The Inside Cabin on Apr 11, 2022 11:51 pm Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2022 South Pacific Cruise Patrick Will our experience with the Maohi Nui excursion (aka Patrick’s Tour) on Bora Bora match the hype? Cruise Map Itinerary, Menus, When & Where and Featured Entertainer Cruise Reference BORA BORA – FISH, FIRE, and FOOD: PATRICK’s TOUR Ever since we first cruised to the South Pacific, we have heard of the Maohi Nui Excursion better known simply as “Patrick’s Tour”. As soon as you join a Cruise Critic roll call with Bora Bora on the itinerary, someone will probably have already taken charge of coordinating participation on Patrick’s tour. The tour usually sells out instantly and if you are not one of the early bookers, then the waitlist is your only chance. The tour usually operates with four boats each holding 12 people. One of the four outriggers on Patrick’s tour By the time we booked this cruise, Patrick’s tour was long sold out and people were discussing their boat assignments and the details of the excursion. We don’t normally book snorkeling tours, but since this cruise was predominantly in the South Pacific we took the plunge, went to a local San Diego dive shop, and picked up everything we would need to enjoy snorkeling: Mask, Fins, and Snorkel. We also got some dive boots, but when you wear fins, you don’t really need the dive boots. And before the cruise had started, we had cleared the wait-list. A few days ago on Taha’a (Raiatea) we jumped into the water for the first time and had a wonderful time on Bruno’s tour. Nevertheless, we were looking forward to “Patricks Tour” as everyone we spoke with LOVED this tour and some said that Patrick’s Tour was simply the best cruise ship tour EVER. That’s a high bar. A PERFECT SUNRISE FOR A PERFECT DAY Sunrise over Bora Bora Bora Bora is a tender port, and the Tour starts early, around 8:00 AM. Normally this requires getting up early to queue up for the first tender tickets. This was our second day in Bora Bora so there wouldn’t be the usual rush for tender tickets on the second morning of an overnight visit. Fortunately, our tour coordinator was able to arrange for our group of about 50 people to assemble in the Lincoln Center and then go ashore on a single tender. You can’t always expect HAL to help get private tour groups consolidated onto a single tender, but they did in this case, and we appreciated it very much. Once ashore, we all met near the water directly across the Bora Bora Visitors Center sidewalk. Colorful Catamarans, with yellow hulls and red trim, raced across the harbor and moored alongside the dock. PATRICK Heifara “Patrick” Tairua jumped onto the dock, and we all gathered around. Smiling and gesturing, Patrick flashed a wide smile and welcomed us to Bora Bora and his tour. We quickly separated into our prearranged groups, and everyone found their Catamaran as they all moored at different spots. We were in boat #4 with Driver, Terri, and his son, Pano. Terri, and his son, Pano. Here is a map that shows the 6 stops along with the time at each stop. Here is the breakdown of how we spent our time (times are approximate): TOUR MAP NOTE: Total Time in boat transiting to the various stops: 3 Hours Maximum time in the water at three snorkel stops: 1 ½ Hour Maximum time in the water for two other water stops: 1 Hour Time on the Motu: 1 ¾ Hour Map of each stop with the approximate time STOP 1: BLACKTIP REEF SHARKS, BUTTERFLYFISH, AND MANTA RAYS A few minutes before 8 AM Terri aimed our boat west and our outboard motor pushed us thru the water toward our first spot. Patrick advised us earlier that due to sea conditions outside the reef, we would be staying closer to shore and would not see the larger Lemon Sharks. Twenty-five minutes later Terri slowed our boat and started to circle, looking down into the water for sea creatures. We meandered in the same area for about 15 minutes until Terri spotted some Manta Rays, slowed, and tossed out the anchor. The water in this area was around 4-10feet deep, very warm, and had a noticeable current. I recommend wearing fins as they will help you move around and tread water. Blacktip Reef Sharks, Threadfin Butterfly Fish, and Manta Rays surrounded the snorkelers but ignored our presence. Later I noticed that Terri was tossing some baitfish into the water which encouraged the fish to swarm around our boat. Blacktip Reef Sharks and Threadfin Butterfly Fish Terri attracted a Manta Ray and invited us to get near and run our hands along its back. It was very firm, yet soft. Terri feeding a Manta Ray on the surfaceWe had a close encounter with a Manta Ray There wasn’t a fixed time for us to stay in the water, but everyone seemed ready to get back in the boat after 30 minutes. STOP 2: THE FISH ARE MY FRIENDS Terri drove our boat in a counterclockwise direction around the island for about 45 minutes. When we were established on a steady course, he would sing a song while playing his ukulele. Unlike our first stop, where we circled for a while looking for sea life, for our second stop we headed directly to a predetermined location where we moored to an anchored buoy. As we were preparing to go into the water, Terri passed out small chunks of French bread. At first, I thought it may have been a midmorning snack, but then realized that we would feed this bread to the fish. We were given bread to feed the fish I stuck one piece of bread in my pocket while holding the other and climbed down the ladder into the water. The water was between 5-15 feet deep and crystal clear – you could easily see the bottom. The fish knew it was time to eat and we were swarmed with Threadfin Butterfly Fish and Blackspot Sergeant fish. I was immediately the fish’s best friend – at least until I ran out of bread and then they were off looking for new friends nearby. These Blackspot Sergeant fish were my new friends – at least until the bread ran out. After the fish moved on but were still in the area, I had more time to examine the seabed. Someone had spelled out “I LOVE BORA BORA” in stone on the bottom – neat! We were back in the boat after 25 minutes and moved on to our next stop about 10 minutes away. Spelled out in stone on the bottom of the lagoon at stop 2 STOP 3: MANTA RAYS IN DEEPWATER Unlike our first two spots, the water for our third stop was much deeper, over 20 feet in spots. There weren’t any fish close to the surface, but I did spot a formation of Manta Rays moving quickly along the bottom. I gave chase for a few minutes. Another snorkeler was able to get a little closer as seen in this photograph. These Manta Rays were scooting along the bottom of the deeper part of the Lagoon NOTE: All of the underwater pictures were taken using a GoPro Hero 7 Black shooting video at 2K – I was able to grab some frames for still images later. With such deep water and so few fish, we were all back in the boat after about 15 minutes. STOP 4: THERAPEUTIC SAND BATH? Our 4th stop was in waist-deep water with a silky sand bottom. We were told that this location was not one of their regular stops but since we had to cancel going outside the reef, they substituted this stop instead. Judy and Pete enjoy the shallow water at stop 4 There weren’t any fish here, but we did get out and stand in the water and use the fine sand as a poor man’s therapeutic sand bath. Terri handed out beer and soft drinks that we enjoyed while standing in the warm, crystal-clear water under a perfect Sun. Very fine sand in the shallow water. Some people rubbed it on their skin Twenty-five minutes later we were back in the boats and motored off to Patrick’s private MOTU for his special lunch and entertainment. STOP 5: FOOD We could walk off our boats onto the MOTU without getting our feet wet. Patrick’s team had been here for hours getting ready and their activity picked up once we arrived. Beer, wine, and soft drinks were available under a shelter. People who had been here before were starting to chatter – “He’s going to open the oven!” Patrick called out that it was time to open the oven and everyone should gather around the covered pit, better known as a Tahitian Oven. After some explanation of what happened earlier in the day, Patrick removed the large banana leaves covering the oven and exposed the suckling pig, chicken, plantain bananas, and more. Patrick’s team gathered up the hot food and set up the buffet on long tables nearby. Patrick starts to open the Tahitian OvenThe food that was roasting all day in the Tahitian Oven is exposed Lunch was served and we all grabbed large woven ‘plates’ with a banana leaf on top and started to move thru the buffet line. “Eat with your hands” Patrick shouted with a smile and we all stopped looking for silverware. The buffet plates were made from Banana leaves Plenty of picnic tables surrounded the covered beverage area and we all enjoyed the fresh cooked Polynesian delicacies. Wine, beer, and other beverages were available at no extra charge. Patricks Tour buffet served on the MOTU Plenty of food was available if you wanted to refill your plate – but most people were satisfied with the large helpings served during their first trip thru the line. Grilled chicken, fish, and sides going on the banana leaf plate STOP 5: FIRE It was time for the highlight of the Motu experience – The Fire Dance. Patrick appeared bare-chested, with his hair pulled back taut, carrying a baton with wicks at each end that were soaked in a flammable fluid. Patrick ignited the ends of the baton and started to twirl and dance, with a little fire-eating along the way. As the flames began to dwindle, a helper from the audience helped him position the baton on his feet while he was lying on his back. He extinguished the baton in the sand as he concluded the show with the audience’s enthusiastic applause. Patrick amazed the guests with his fire dancePatrick eating fire on the MOTU Time for a little more wine before we headed back to the boats for our final stop. STOP 6: WINE AND WATER Our final stop was another shallow water wine tasting event. The water was too shallow for snorkeling and there weren’t any fish in the area. Patrick enjoyed pouring sparkling wine and telling stories of Bora Bora to a rapt audience. All 4 boats were close enough so everyone could mingle in a central area. Warm water, gentle breezes, nice wine, and great company were the perfect conclusion for our last water stop. No snorkeling but plenty of wine at our final water stop Thirty minutes later, Patrick’s four boats glided back into the harbor where we started, and our Maohi Nui Experience was sadly over. CONCLUSION? The Maohi Nui (Patrick’s Tour) was wonderful and exceeded our expectations. Even if you don’t snorkel, you will have a wonderful time riding in the lagoon and enjoying the shallow water stops. The food and the MOTU along with the Fire Dance were a bonus. Patrick’s Tour? A perfect blend of food and fun – Don’t miss it!

French Polynesia Exchange Rates on Raiatea (March 2022) Price to buy 500 CFP Official Bank rate: $4.462 Raiatea ATM Machine: $4.71 Local Tour Operators: $5.00 Holland America Guest Services: $5.04 (They will buy back your CFP at $5.12) Local Grocery (Champion): $5.88