TheDarkestBlue

If you use this list of excursions to determine what you want to do, then call them https://www.pgcruises.com/shore-excursions Shore excursions are available to pre-book approximately 60 days prior to sailing; diving tours must be booked on board. Guests and their travel advisors can pre-book their excursions by calling our Reservations Department at 1 (800) 848-6172

Hi! 🙂 Here's a menu from the main dining room last summer, we thought the food was excellent. Service was great, we always were seated right away, they get to know your preferences and were very friendly

There were beach towels as we exited the boat that we grabbed on the way out, and there was a bin for the dirty ones to drop off on the way back, so you didn't need to bring them to your room.

It wasn't a comforter, I looked at it.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-truth-about-dry-brushing-and-what-it-does-for-you

Uber, taxi or Lyft, they all drop at the same place, where baggage handlers tag the suitcases and off they go. Cabins are ready when you board. Last month, I requested a topper the first night, they put it on the next morning and it made a difference.

It took 3 days but finally caught up just in the nick of time, lol 🙂 Sorry you didn't win at Family Feud, it must have been fun to play. Looks like you guys had an amazing time, appreciate you taking us along, and all this posting - it's a lot of work! 😀 Thanks for sharing your vacation with us 😊 Will you do another thread for the Virgin Voyages trip coming up? How do you compare the food and bev between the 2 lines?

Last month, it was both my first time on Virgin and that I had the cabin to myself 🙂 it was fantastic, and hope to do more of it in the future, but those prices are disappointing. I was on a cruise with Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia last June, mostly all inclusive, but a long haul from anywhere. I thought these prices were very good https://www.pgcruises.com/promotions/solo-travelers-save

Got 2 unopened bottles from Extra Virgin 🙂

Was this the one where each team gets a bucket, and for each right answer the happenings member dumps some seashells in, and whatever team has filled it up the most at the end, wins?

Hi Pappy! We did a mix of ship and private excursions. I had a lot of onboard credit, were able to book the ship's Taha'a drift snorkel, and on Huahine, the motu lunch. The drift snorkel was something out of this world, if you can swing it I would totally do that. Read this entire thread and see how we made out: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2941116-drift-snorkeling-tahaa-should-i-do-it/ The Motu lunch was fun and started out with some decent snorkeling, lunch and cultural lessons, gave us some dance moves, then the hostess tapped me to lead the entire group of women in an impromptu dance of the moves we had just learned 😳 Talk about getting put on the spot, LOL, took that in stride and had hoped that my family might have captured it, but no, there's a video out there of me dancing in somebody else's phone 🤐 On Moorea we did tours with ATV and jet ski https://www.mooreaactivitiescenter.com/# and on Bora Bora we did a snorkeling tour with Bora Bora H2O https://boraborah2o.com/bora-bora-snorkeling-tours.html Both were well done and I recommend them both

Since we (having not sailed then) can't compare the good old days on Paul Gauguin to right now, I think it's a moot point to use the past experience to dissuade people who are not aware of it. No cruise line is giving the same experience that they did in the past. Sorry for the hijack OP! Pappy I will see you at the excursion thread

Hi Pappy 🙂 We are similar in that I am a destination-based traveler, not going for the ship, but for the adventure it's going to take me on. And of course to be comfortable. We were on the ship last June, had excellent weather with only one afternoon into evening of rain and thunderstorm. We have friends who did Wind Star in November, it rained most of the time and they did not come back feeling the same way about their experience. I do a lot of research and wanted a ship that had its home base in French Polynesia, preferred the Paul Gauguin over Windstar for many reasons, not the least being with PG the whole vibe seemed genuine to me, and that totally came across onboard. Here's my foray into the ether https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2938520-daily-activity-schedules/

Well @pappy1022, maybe I don't get out much compared to all of you folks, my favorite line being Oceania, but this was the best cruise that I've ever been on, food was fantastic, wine excellent, service outstanding. Genuine warmth from the crew. Spectacular scenery. The only thing I could have asked for was a larger room, but that's on me, LOL. Hope you give them another shot 🙂 I 🩷 BTK but he does travel groups that he takes along to FrenchPolynesia, so he does have some interests here.

Link to the video please? 🙂

On our Riviera Maya cruise in December, Scarlet Night was changed right before we sailed, from last sea day (night before Bimini) to the first day in port, Cozumel. It was to accommodate the Holiday Extravaganza show which was then put in that time slot. You never know what may affect the schedule.

Forgot about that! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it, one of the best arcade driving game ever👍🏻

In early December on Scarlet Lady it was $30 for one card, $45 for two, it went at a normal pace with funny bits in between, lots of explanations for how it works, and the jackpots were surprisingly good $$$$.

100 people? Maybe Sailor Services on board can help find an empty venue for a group that size? They should want to help promote a group that came together on the sailing. I've been on other lines meet and greets where they provide cookies and refreshments to the group. I've never heard of Virgin doing something like that, perhaps might consider it? I agree 6:30 too close to dinner.

I don't drink much and found myself having a hard time spending down my bar tab. On the last night, bought an expensive bottle of champagne and shared it with other folks at the bar. I didn't want to leave money on the table Had a great time, for all the reasons Walter outlines though I don't miss hearing from the captain, LOL. Thanks Walter for the tip on the corn at pink agave, it was excellent 🙂

Just wanted to add that on my early December sailing, the medium rare New York strip I had at Extra Virgin was the best I'd ever had, thick and juicy, cut like butter 🙂

Got mine on the December 3rd cruise as well here's a picture, note the forearm tattoos on the left one

This is the thing last I've read, but it is from April 2022, two ships canceled, but I have heard of nothing new on the horizon. I loved the ship, though I know she's older. I think some fancy new Ponant boat will price me out https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Ponant-plans-build-Tahiti-ship

Welcome and ask away 🙂