80/80 Girl

If you take a recipe the bartenders will make up your drinks of choice.

Thanks Emdee! Just got back from our cruise. For the first time I heard Captain and Diet called, skinny pirate. I love the name! Had a great time!!

I asked for a different white such as a Riesling which was Chateau St. Michelle. Always happy to oblige.

They bring about 4 kayaks to the motu and they seem to be available very, very frequently. Most people seem to use them for only about 30 minutes - 1 hour.

Thanks! That is good to know as it doesn't seem like many kayaks. We'll be mindful and not hog them. :D Or we'll just stand around the floating bar all day.

More liquor choices menu. I will post later the cocktail portion of the menu.

When people ask me my favorite drink I tell them, "I like to sail with the Captain." Happy to see my favorite on the menu :) Thanks for posting!

I have read a lot about reef shoes and/or water shoes being necessary for this cruise. I have water shoes that have a closed toe and I have a pair of water shoes that are more like a sandal and they have a strap around my ankle and across my toes.

Can I get by with the sandal type shoe or do I really need the closed toe shoe?

IMHO, if you are going to be around coral, I would wear the closed toe shoe. One cannot control those around them or the current. Better to be safe than sorry.

Can’t believe it is almost here….and of course I have a fewlast minute questions - any feedback welcome

1) Sunscreen– spray vs. lotion

Does it matter? Spray can be annoying in close quarters and make boat deck slippery. Not sure if tour operators shun the sprays. I have plenty of both living in the Valley of the Sun.

2) Boat Tenders (times)

We have a private tour when we arrive on Moorea. Being told to meet them at 8:30am at the pier. Is this a feasible time considering we arrive 8:00am and others are trying to tender as well?

3) Bora Bora (night)

We’d like to go to Bloody Mary’s for a drink. Is this possible at night or late afternoon? When does the ship stop the tenders? From a previous thread said taxi $5/pp OW…still sound about right?

4) Our tour schedule…well so much for not booking much! In case, we wanted to relax a little bit more and not be so tour heavy looking at possibly not going on these 2 tours – 1) Shark and Stingray encounter and 2) drift snorkel on Tahaa. I think definitely the first one but not sure about the second one since everyone says it is amazing.

Here is our current tour schedule:

Papeete – pre-cruise – East/westcoast tour with Tracey Unique Tahiti

Huahine – Marc’s combo tour(snorkel, 4&4)

Bora Bora 1 – Shark and Stingray encounter

Bora Bora 2 – Lagoon excursion with Maohi Nui

Rangiroa – Aquarium snorkel

Fakarava – Ato’s Lagoon tour

Tahaa – drift snorkel

Moorea 1 – Whale encounter – MooreaOcean Adventures (since at end of whaleseason may be shark, stingray, dolphins)

Moorea 2 – ATV guided tour

5) Wine selection – do they have any Rieslings? If not can we bring 2 bottles on board (probably won’t just want to know if it is an option)? Otherwise, I will most likely stick to mixed drinks.

Although the information both of you provided (Flightmedic555 and Sita) made us more comfortable to choose diving, we have decided to snorkel and play it safe.

Thank you both for your insight. I really appreciate your responses.

Very cool. Snorkeling in the Tuamotus is also spectacular. On the PG motu in Taha'a the snorkeling is not great but the motu is out of this world. Full day with lounge chairs, barbecue, drinks, crystal clear water, tons of sea cucumbers to navigate around, etc. I usually would not do any excursion that day as I prefer to get the first tender to the motu and hang out all day. This past July our "special" reunion cruise had 2 separate days on the motu. This was the first time we did an excursion on Taha'a and while it was pretty good we did not get back to the motu until almost 1:00 pm. For a new cruiser I would not want to lose that time on the motu.

Thanks for that info. Many have said do not miss the drift snorkel on Taha'a because it is incredible. However, now with your input I think hubby would be happy with a no excursion day and just relax.

I am really looking forward to kayaking and getting drinks from the floating bar. :D I think that bartendar is going to be my favorite guy. Will I have to fight for a kayak (hence maybe getting there early) or are there plenty of kayaks to use?

We've been on the PG 5 times and usually dive. The best diving will be in the Tuamotus but you really need to have decent experience as these are usually fast drift dives. Since you have not been diving for 10 years I would not recommend diving on those two islands. On both Moorea and Bora Bora the diving is easy. I prefer Moorea as you usually will see sharks and turtles during your dive.

 

If you have the time and $$ to refresh prior to your cruise then I would suggest one dive in Moorea. I would not loose a day by refreshing on the ship.

 

The snorkeling in most areas is spectacular. On Bora Bora consider booking privately with Pure Snorkeling by Reef Discovery.

Thank you so much for the response! Exactly what I needed especially about the fast drift and also losing a day.

I was concerned about losing the day for refreshing and of course now have run out of time to refresh locally.

I am definitely leaning towards just snorkeling and will look into Pure Snorkeling.

Fun side note: last time we refreshed our diving for a cruise, we were stationed in Key West and used the pool at the Army's special forces underwater operations school. That tall building is 50-foot free ascent dive tower and can also simulate getting in/out of sub.. Before we were stationed there I never knew Army did anything in the water.

We are going on the 10 day on 10/18. We have not dove in 10 years. We cannot decide if we should dive or not.

Of course we would take the refresher course and stick with the beginning dives.

Both are bit skittish since it has been 10 years and for me I sometimes can have issues clearing my ears. But willing to overcome those feelings since this is a trip of a lifetime.

On the other hand the water seems so clear that by doing the beginning dives is the experience going to be any different than snorkeling? If not then maybe we should just stick to snorkeling.

We are indifferent and would like any feedback to help our decision making. ;) Especially since I am booking our tours so late. :D

Thanks everyone!

The bar is open ..... Taken on Motu Mahana :cool:

 

So I am thinking he is going to be my favorite person in about 2 weeks. Can I kayak, get a drink, and kayak back for refills?

Thanks once again Tahitianbigkahuna for your responses.

I will look into the Go Pro camera.

Good info about dinner attire.

Been a busy week so my Tahiti research and questions have been in a holding pattern. :)

Feel free to ask as many questions as you wish, be more than happy to answer any and all.

What is considered premium liquor by PG standards?

For laundry services, PG says to request prior to cruise but do they offer specials when onboard?

Regarding dining, my husband is a Hawaiian shirt/shorts/flip flops kinda guy. Not excited when I told him he has to wear dockers for dinner in a tropical climate. Can we order room service if we don't want to dress up?

Haven't started to look but since you are into photography any suggestions for point and shoot underwater cameras?

By the way, called today for pricing on the other October cruises for Cat F. All sold out until December sailings. :( I started to panic BUT we have a hold on 10day sailing Cat E which included 2 night IC hotel stay pre-cruise (incl a few meals) plus post cruise day room and shipboard credit. Getting excited and trying to get my parents to join us!

Thanks for all your help!

Lynn

Thank you so much TahitianBigKahuna for all of this information and attachments. VERY helpful. I have printed out the responses AND the attachments.

Your photos are beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing the link. I will have to start an Instagram account just to follow you. :)

Another question for a first timer. I am not sure our budget can allow an over water bungalow stay if we do a 10-11 day cruise. Would it be better to do a 7 day with a 2 night bungalow stay or do a 10-11 day cruise and see more islands? I am thinking the latter but wanted your opinion. Thanks!

Feel free to ask as many questions as you wish, be more than happy to answer any and all.

Okay now we are getting excited about Tahiti...now looking at the 10 and 11 day cruises. Would you choose one over the other for your first time? And why?

10 day including Tuamotus so Rangiroa and Fakarava islands or the 11 day which includes the Cook Islands of Aitutaki and Rarotonga

As you know PG offers the extended stays but would you really choose an over water bungalow in Tahiti compared to Bora Bora? Probably not going to extend our stay if we do the 10 or 11 day but want to ask just in case.

Do many passengers use the gym? I am pretty active and accustomed to running around the deck on the bigger ships. I am assuming with the smaller ship I wouldn't be able to do so and have to utilize the gym.

Have you cruised in the month of October before? Since it is on the fringe of rainy season was wondering if I need to re-think my months (previously it was November for my birthday/our anniversary until I saw it was rainy season).

Are there certain tours/excursions you think are must-dos? If so which ones.

Thanks again for your help!

Thanks Greg! Very helpful, thank you.

I might ask you and TahitianBigKahuna a few more questions.

I have asked for a quote for 11 day cruise but now will ask about B2B too.

Sidenote- I see you also live in AZ and are a naval academy grad. Husband is retired E8

(26 yrs). He prefers this type of cruise over his rack and boat food! LOL

Thank you so much TahitianBigKahuna for your comments. Very much appreciated. Helps with the decision making.

We are looking at PG for Tahiti in October 2017. Am interested in your comment about not booking balcony or suite...how are the port hole and/or picture window rooms?

We also lived in Key West, Pensacola Beach, and Hawaii (husband) with several vacations in Caribbean and Hawaii. What makes Tahiti special or so different to spend $10-12K on a 7 day trip?

Wondering if Australia/NZ or Panama Canal would be better option - history, sightseeing, things to do. Besides FP culture, would like something more than just beaches and snorkeling.

Thanks for your thoughts!