mediapro

Did anyone bother to photo bar or restaurant menus?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

All good advice, but we have now been on seven Gauguin cruises and never have we had a problem on the Hawaiian flight. Because we are Hawaii residents, PG knows that passengers are on that flight. Never had to call and never used a TA for the PG, but safe negates sorry, so take the advice and trip insurance if it covers air delays.

Thank You Emdee. I am a first time poster on here.

 

To continue with the trends of first...this is my first time on PG as well as my first cruise.

 

I prefer Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Not planning to drink alot but would be nice to have in the evenings and at dinner or after.

 

Liquor wise I drink Makers Mark, Woodford Reserve, Bombay Sapphire/ Hendrix, Grey Goose or Kettle One.

You will find all of your preferred liquors all included. If you like small vine appellation Cabernet from Napa, I believe that Far Niente was there. You will pay for the upgrade, but I find PG pretty reasonable considering the price for the upgrade is the price. No tip, no tax.

Of course the bar staff ...I won't single anyone out as we love them ALL. But please feel free to add your favourites.

 

The wonderful security person ReX. Always greeting us with a big smile and words of welcome.

The absolutely drop dead gorgeous Amandine...chief Purser?

 

Hotel Director Jacques whom I think we have always had in recent years. Had Freddy in Regent days.

 

The chefs who make me my bread fruit fries...cannot wait for those yummy fries.

 

We had Room stewardess April once and she was amazing.

 

 

 

 

Butler Abner who religiously brought us our coffee at 6 am even on the day we wanted to sleep in....poor guy was so sorry for doing this!

 

Ok I shall leave some for the rest of you.....

When I saw the gleaming double boiler, true espresso machine behind the bar, I lamented to "Markey Mark" that I had to settle for the truly bad auto espresso machine in La Veranda. He apologized and said they usually had to warm up the machine when the bar opened. The next morning and every morning of the cruise, he would arise at six am to start up the machine just so I could have my real espresso.

Such is the spirit of the entire crew, but Mark holds a special place.

The one I will miss the most is Gauguinne Aeata. My wife and I officially adopted her as I Hanai daughter and every cruise thereafter she sought us out first to give us a welcome lei and warm hugs. We will miss her as she is now a guide on Tetiaroa at the Brando.

No the Brando was most definitely a drive by. We were dropped off on RAT island (hundreds and hundreds of rats running around) and forced to walk to Bird Island which was a very long trek. The other boat that was there was ferrying people over.

With all due respect to Emdee - DO NOT USE the operator we used. She didn't know so that's ok. If we had used the slower boat it would have been much better. Hindsight is great for sure. I am very happy I went.

 

 

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I checked directly with Poe and "Bruce" replied confirming that Poe is the charter company for the Tetiaroa 10 hour cruise. Back to your observation about rat island. It seems from reading Tirip Advisor reviews that someone operates a "fast cat" or smaller catamaran and Poe has the Maxi Cat, I assume a larger vessel.

Were you on Poe and the larger boat? They seem to operate two sizes of vessels. Was the other boat a Poe boat as well? Did anyone ask why there was not a tender or other method for ferrying directly to Bird Island?

We did a "drive by" and got a good close up view. That's all you can get.

 

 

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We are thinking about doing this on the October 22 Cooks/Society cruise. My understanding was that it was more than a "drive by". While they don't visit the Brando, did you go ashore on the bird island or any other atoll?

We will be staying on Moorea from 11/2 -11/5 after the 10/22 Cooks voyage. Is anyone interested in a shared charter to Tetiaroa from Moorea?

I'll do the booking.

This is a new one on me. 10 hours long, includes lunch. The boat is what they call a Maxi-catamaran. $250.

 

Anybody done it?

Is this the same island that houses the Brando? I thought that access was restricted to the airplane that services the guests.

Do you know if the PG consortium provides passengers a way to visit the Brando?

I have contacted Black Pearl Charters because they only take a max four people on their boats. The following describes the offer:

We specialize in private lagoon tours, ie island hopping, guided snorkeling tours, BBQ lunch on One Foot etc. We only offer private as it allows us to show you more. We take a max of 4 pers on our lagoon tours. Cost 2 people $550NZD and 4 people $650.

We do offer spearfishing charters but once again it’s a private charter as others may not want to join in if it’s a shared fishing charter.

Options.

Full day - lagoon tour for the two of you. $ 550NZD

Full day - lagoon and spearfishing $ 650NZD Snorkel and visit a couple of islands before a BBQ lunch on One Foot Island. After lunch head out for some spearfishing.

Prices based on two pers, everything is supplied.

If anyone on this cruise is interested in being the second couple, please respond.

Don't always agree with you Dan, but spot on with these comments:)

I too found your take on Tahiti, Hawaii and Fiji interesting, but IMHO a bit too broad. As with every port, there are exceptions to generalizations.

Hawaii. If you live on Oahu, other than perhaps Lai'e or North Shore, my only question would be why? Better roads and just as much traffic in LA. If you want true Hawaii, skip Maui (LA light), spend a few days on south shore or north shore Kauai, then relax and feel what's left of Hawaii on the Big Island.

Tahiti. Again, it depends on your choices. If by Tahiti you meant French Polynesia, there are many islands where everything is as it should be. Even on Tahiti island, Papeete has a certain charm beneath the trash on the streets. Le Gran Marche, food trucks on Saturday at the pier, the Gauguin Museum, and beautiful Tahiti Iti are all worth it.

Fiji. My eyes popped. My gastronomy soured. I was spellbound by a few days on Tokoriki island paddle boarding, snorkeling, fishing and eating Chef Kim's truly amazing food. The dollar buys you about two bucks worth of Fiji currency, so it's super reasonable, and the people are as lovely as the Polynesians.

Back to the Tuamotus vs. Cook's discussion. I'm going to be moving our current booking (a special one, but it's not to be), and I'm thinking about the Cook's, since we haven't done this.

 

Any comments on October versus January? In terms of heat, storms, etc.?

Hi Wendy.

I, too am on the October 22 - 11/5 Cooks cruise. Did you book for 2016 or 2017? If this year, I started a roll call for the cruise that's only 60 + days away. Let's meet when on board if you are taking this one.

We have booked the May 26, 2018 11 day cruise and We have a question of the UTMOST importance...

Does PG have karaoke??? Please tell me they do!

No karaoke on any of my five times on this vessel, but try this. The guy in the piano bar is usually amenable to a sing-along. Sometimes on the pool deck, I've seen drunks (er. "patrons") belting out their best Sinatra to the Beach Boys.

It's a small, friendly ship. If you can sing, do it!!

Thanks for the help. This is a big deal kind of trip for us, one we have been saving for a long time. And we will be celebrating turning 40! Not sure we will ever make it back to these islands again so it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing.

 

Normally on other cruise lines we get a balcony because we love spending time out there and being away from the crowds. But this is where we lack knowledge on how the vibe and flow is on the PG. is it more like a community having this few people on board? Do people spend a lot of time in the common areas and socializing? If so, we enjoy that aspect of cruising, but still enjoy the peace and quiet of our balcony as well.

 

 

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You should listen to both posters. You will LOVE PG not because of the cabin, but the experience on deck and beyond. Having said that I would offer one caveat. We enjoy the ability to turn off the AC and enjoy the fresh air from the open balcony door. That's the only reason I would choose a balcony

Didn't care for the Dutch chef in 2013 but liked him in 2014. I think chefs need a while to acclimatize themselves with what is available in FP.

 

The Chef is Stefan Berndt. Shall review him in January when I go next.

Isn't that funny Emdee. It was 2013 when we did probably his inaugural cruise. To me his style was mostly Northern European and a bit more German than Dutch, but glad to here your opinion since you kno PG.

Now about hat bubbly....?

For anyone who has sailed recently, do you remember the name/nationality of the head chef? Our last sailing on the PG was the only disappointing experience we have had. The chef was either German or Dutch.

Also, PG replace an excellent Bourgogne sparkling with a Spanish. If you drink bubbly, do you recall the Appellation?

couple of questions, new to cruise critic as a poster... followed the board in 2004 when we cruised Princess in tahiti... lots a great tips so thought now that we want to go back I'd post a few questions.

1) anyone use a travel to book their windstar cruise?

2) rooms? thinking of booking on deck 2 aft... but that is near the sports platform... thinking lots of traffic and lots of heat... thoughts? ( not that we'll be in our room, but sometimes i like to take a late afternoon nap;))

3) we had a balcony on Princess... just portholes on Windstar.... really like the balcony and butler service on Princess... should I look at PG or Oceania? The all inlcusive price, cruise airfare, room pre & post on Windstar seems like a great deal.

Any and all comments from those who have been to tahiti on any of these cruises is appreciated.

We have traveled to and through French Polynesia six times now. Five times on the PG and once on the Oceania Marina. We also have recently returned from a Costa Rican cruise on one of the refurbished Seaborne boats, the Star Breeze.

The main pros of the PG experience:

All inclusive everything. No envelopes. No tipping. Food/drink at any time you wish.

The crew are all long-time, loyal, warm and genuine in their desire to serve. Most are Filipino and an important part of their culture is built around respecting guests.

The food and wine are exceptional. They do not skimp because they are all-inclusive and because of their long-time presence, they source local fruits, vegetables, fish and meat.

Balconies are large for a small ship and enjoyable in the humidity and heat of FP.

They immerse you in local culture at each port, usually bringing on local artists and entertainers on board.

Not many cons to mention, but:

Entertainment can be erratic and the small stage = small shows, but the real show is outside!

The seven day Society Island cruise is the best immersion for a first-timer, but spring for a ten-day to get a real picture of the diverse FP.

A TIP:

If you have frequent flyer miles burning a hole, consider NOT taking Air Tahiti. It is truly a bucket. If flying from LA, there are other options. As for pre-post lodging, there are many options on Moorea, and the ferry ride takes about 45 minutes. Tahiti is dirty and busy by comparison.

Oceania pros:

FOOD!!! Never have I experienced truly 3-star Michelin quality cuisine, but on board this ship, it's four specialty restaurants are included in the fare, and that fare is worth the price simply for the gastronomic excesses. By the end of the cruise, we were saying, "Not lobster again!"

Style. The ship is in pristine condition. The marble baths have a separate tub and shower and ample size.

Crew. Mixed results. The rather startling contrast between the level of service of Oceania and PG left me at times longing to be back on the Gauguin. The crew were either European, often with apparent disdain for passengers or Indian and Filipino, with the same level of appreciation for the passengers as on the PG.

Cons.

For me it was learning that the ~1,000 passenger load resulted in more of a big ship rather than intimate 300-600 passenger experience we've become to appreciate. Less passenger interaction and a feeling of being squeezed at times.

Crew. described above.

Sales pitches. Everywhere. From booking the next cruise to booze packages, there was an abundance of mercantilism. No bother to me as I just ignored them, but be aware.

Windstar pros and cons.

I have not sailed on one of the sailing vessels, but had a very unfortunate experience with Windstar in Costa Rica. My complaints about communication, service, condition of the ship and disorganization are in an earlier trip report. Admittedly, this was after a grounding of the sister ship Star Pride and amidst a changing of the guard at the corporate level, but I cannot recommend Windstar based on my experience.

Having said that, there are many Windstar loyalists who are repeat guests, so perhaps the sailing vessels offer a difference.

Hello again! You had asked in another thread about using a TA.

If you decide on French Polynesia, first consider the cruise line. No, I am not a shill for the Paul Gauguin, but having recently sampled the WS experience in Costa Rica on a seven day, there is no comparison, especially in French Potnesia. The PG has a lock on the cultural and ground experience in the region. They also control the Intercontinental properties, so your ground/cruise experience can be seamless.

As for cruise length, especially in FP, take the ten day if pocketbook permits. The Tuamotus are like no other islands you will ever experience. The change from the Society Archipelago is dramatic, and the diving is some of the best in the world.

Personally, I would plan my own ground portion of the trip and shore excursions, but the PG does have some of the best excursions I have taken from a cruise line's offering, but you will also pay more.

Hope this and the other post helps.

Thanks, BarryCat. Extending it on both ends is part of the plan.

We have done the loop between Honolulu and Tahiti five times, all on the Paul Gauguin. Though Hawaiian Air flies only once a week to Fa'a'a Airport (Saturday with a Sunday midnight turnaround), depending on your sail dates, I would recommend wholeheartedly HA over Air Tahiti Nui. Their's is the definition of a cattle car flight.

As for a TA, I highly recommend one if you are planning a Windstar voyage. We recently returned from a seven day Costa Rica cruise and the lack of communication from WS was a constant problem. Had I not had a TA to intervene, planning would have been much more difficult with this cruise line.

As you may know Star Pride ran aground off the Panama coast earlier this year, the CEO of the line recently stepped down and a gaggle of new suits have assumed the reins. This would not be the time to test out their hopefully improved communication skills.

If this is your first French Polynesian cruise, I cannot say enough about the Paul Gauguin. Having sailed her five times, there is no comparison between the ships and especially the two organizations. The PG is all-inclusive - no tips, no slips to sign, all beverages any time. Though the price points are higher initially, once you get your final WS Bill, you will have narrowed that gap considerably.

As for post cruise, consider the IC Moorea instead of staying on Tahiti island if you have the time. It's a thirty minute ferry ride from Moorea, and the vibe is wonderful, compared to the more populated Tahiti.

I appreciate your reply pgcruises! It's reassuring to know it will be business as usual aboard PG right before drydock. I'm impressed that you're planning to sail empty on the buffer days between Bali and Singapore, thereby minimizing or eliminating any potential impact on guests. We look forward to sailing with you again.

We jumped on board in Cairns in 2014 en route to Lautoka. That was after dry dock in Singapore and the ship was as spiffy as always. The itinerary took us to places that few have visited. The little island of Samurai had not seen a cruise ship in 10-15 years. The ship delivered about $10K in school supplies from a benefactor so you can imagine the excitement. We were greeted at the small dock by the entire village dressed in their ceremonial garb.

I would recommend to anyone interested in Micronesia, Vanuatu and Fiji to take advantage of this special cruise.

I have rented cars from both Albert's and AVIS but only for one day. Three days will get expensive. Regarding hotels. When IHG has an 80,000 point sign up for their credit card you and your spouse should both get one. IC properties on Tahiti and MOOREA generally run 40.000 points per night (30,000 plus $70 also). It's $49 per year and first year is usually waved. You also get one free night a year anywhere in the world. We have used this on Bora Bora in a $1000 per night hotel, Rome, etc. You also be one platinum elite and get late check out which is a huge perk in French Polynesia.

If it helps, we have done two post-cruise stays at the IC Moorea. Both times, we booked on "secret rate" through hotwire.com. Both were at about $175/night. You can't see the hotel until you book, but all of the Moorea resorts are nice, and by looking at the shaded map area, you can tell which group of resorts are offered at the secret rate.

The above poster is right about the code shares. We cruised out of PPT last year and flew r/t Lax-PPT on Air Tahiti Nui. I have flown lots of long hauls on many different airlines over the years and can say with out a doubt Air Tahiti Nui is the WORST long haul flight/crew I have ever suffered through. I am always hesitant to say "never" but I will never fly ATN again. Try to make Hawaiian work for you even though it will involve expensive accommodations for a few days. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.:D

This poster had the best advice of anyone (Hawaiian Air). The problem is that WS departure doesn't jibe with the Hawaiian Air departure. Hawaiian flies out of HNL at 4:30 PM SATURDAY arriving about 10:30 PM then turns around for a midnight return flight. If you are already booked on WS, then you either stay a week in either Hawaii or French Polynesia before and an overnight post cruise.

If you have not locked in your WS cruise, I would suggest you look into the Paul Gauguin. The price point seems to be higher, but the PG is all-inclusive (no tips, all drinks free, no specialty restaurant up charges and all port charges included in the sail price). The bargain that WS seems to offer is usually 50% to 100% more than the sail price once tips, beverages and gratuities are added.

We have been on this ship five times all the way to Australia and back through New Guinea, Micronesia and Fiji, but she is built for the Polynesia waters. The staff are superb. They will magically know your names and dining and drink preferences no later than two days in. The food is top notch. They have been in these waters for years, and the cultural experience has no parallel.

The ship departs on Saturday. They hold departure for those Hawaiian guests, and you have time on the return Saturday to take in the downtown Marche, rent a car to tour the island, or just rent a day room at the Tahiti IC.

We are now planning our sixth Windstar cruise. On all of our past cruises we have made our cruise arrangements directly through the Windstar representatives by phone. When not using the company excursions we have made our own arrangements with help from various internet sites. All of these arrangements, both flights, cruise, and land have worked out well and we have been comfortable doing this on our own in addition to other non cruise vacations.

My sense is that a number of people rely on travel agents for all of this. Besides the obvious benefit of less hassle, is there a cost or other benefit in using a travel agent? I appreciate any comments.

I, too, usually booked directly with the cruise lines until I tried a TA for an Oceania cruise. Understand that the cruise price will be no different than that you purchase through the line since TA's commissions come out of the line, not you.

In the case of the Oceania cruise, my first on this line, the agent advised me six months in advance to get ready for new add-ons, upgrade offers, etc. at about 60 days and in. Like clockwork, I get a call from the TA about new offers, new perks and an upgrade. In the end, I got bumped up from an ocean view to a concierge balcony for $100 pp. Since the upgrade included a complementary bottle of $50 champagne and free laundry service at the concierge level, it struck me as a free upgrade several levels.

So, I would agree with other posters. It depends. But larger agencies, who are big suppliers for various cruise lines, have the experience of knowing in advance the tendencies and how to take advantage of the offers as your cruise nears its sail date. In my case, my TA claimed that when Oceania shuts down for the evening, they shift incoming calls to their agency. That's how close is their relationship.

Thats odd, I don't recall listing/tendering issues with the Pride or Legend when they were with Seabourn. I doubt the fact that Seabourn used the launches for tenders rather than Zodiacs made the difference either.

I believe I have a decent explanation for the extreme listing. I assume that following the Star Pride grounding the Captain was exercising over extreme caution. Every port was at anchor and always more than two miles off shore. With the anchor cast so deep (50-60 fathoms according to the bridge crew) that left plenty of chain for momentum to build in even modest seas. Also explained the lack of swim platform.

Installation of thrusters would have solved that problem, but these boats are 1989 vintage and showing it.

When I asked the bridge crew, they ignored my question except for one junior officer, who snickered behind his hand over mouth.

BY THE WAY. The tender deal was no small issue. We had 70 and 80 year old people on board that tender in blistering tropical heat for 45 minutes waiting for the captain to attempt manuvers to steady her. No water offered until about thirty minutes into the episode. One lady shouted as the bottles were tossed to the tender, "Forget the water. Throw us margaritas!"

Back on board. No apologies. No explanation. No attempts at customer service.

IMHO. Front office would not commit wholesale slaughter to the lead team if they didn't see the recent spate of complaints since the Seaborne ships were launched.

Finally doing it! August 5th...anyone know how good/bad the Intercontinental is in PPT? We have 2 nights before our AF flight back to LAX. Just wondering if anyone has spent time there or in PPT itself and might have some recommendations etc. Thanks!

Aloha laurelguy. If it's not too late, I have a suggestion for your post cruise land portion. Skip the IC Tahiti and book the IC Moorea. The thirty minute ferry ride back to Papeete is a breeze and frequent, though you will need to cab it or bus ride from the ferry dock on Moorea to the hotel.

The IC Tahiti is nice, and the Friday evening show at the lagoon is usually spectacular, but the laid-back luxurious ambiance on Moorea contrasts so much with the IC Tahiti, on our five trips to French Polynesia we have chosen this property as "home" and a great way to wind down and prepare for the trip back to our home in our islands.

Have never seen a cabin where bed could not be entered from both sides. We are "upscale" travelers and have been on WS multiple times as well as the "upscale" lines. Give me WS over all the others. Have any of you spent time on CC seeing all of the negative reviews and snarky remarks from posters on every single cruise line? There are a lot of mean nasty people out there who are unhappy no matter what. Why someone who has obviously never been on WS would post rumors of the negatives that he has never experienced is a mystery to me.

We have been treated as appreciated customers from day one. Can there be improvement in communications and their website? Absolutely. But really, is there a company or person that couldn't use a little improvement?

 

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We signed on for a January Star Breeze Costa Rica cruise with a bit of trepidation following the Star Pride grounding, but ready to compare a comparable size, star rating and length cruise to our previous all-inclusive experiences on the Paul Gauguin.

So, please view these comments as ones intended to be constructive and based on direct experience with what each line promotes as "luxury". This is not intended to either bore anyone or overly criticize the cruise line, but having been on both lines, I thought that those who are considering WS, especially in light of the top staff "abandoning ship", might appreciate a thorough review.

I have enjoyed five cruises on the Paul Gauguin and wanted a fair comparison between PG and the recently refitted former Seaborne ships. I understood the key difference between the two - PG as totally all inclusive and the Windstar Star Breeze as lodging, meals and non-alcoholic included - yet eager to compare the differences in service, food, entertainment, enrichment, excursions and overall ambiance.

We chose the January 23 Costa Rica cruise as a fair seven day comparison cruise.

The refitting of the ship's interior was exquisite. All soft goods were fresh and new. The cabins were especially well outfitted with ample size, a walk-in closet and great bathrooms. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the ship herself. A 1989 vintage, she shows clear signs of age and her operation sports dated mechanics (more on that later). She is in bad need of a complete haul out. Deck caulking was peeling. Some deck boards were actually rising up. Rust abounded with coats of new paint in some areas not hiding the deferred maintenance well.

We could have ignored this lack of attention had it not been for the real problem experienced.

Communication

An old Sicilian proverb concludes with the observation: A fish rots from the head down. Though staff tried mightily to overcome the corners cut by upper management, the faults of lack of guest communication, actual dangerous attempts at tender boarding and return, and an aged set of mechanics made this cruise more akin to a thrill ride than a relaxing experience.

Though every cruise has its high winds and rough seas, the Star Breeze has no ability to deal with normal swells at anchor due to a lack of adequate thrusters to combat swells and current. At anchor with only one bow hook and the Captain's choice to anchor in 140-170 foot waters, we experienced considerable listing in even moderate swells. On one especially adventurous tender re-boarding, the boarding ramp rose more than four feet up and down as the rubber zodiacs fitfully tried to approach the ship. Our tender motored for more than forty five minutes while the bridge crew tried maneuvers to settle the listing. After thirty minutes in subtropical heat and blistering sun, I had new appreciation for the plight of Syrian refugees!

Throughout the cruise, there was no explanation for the extreme listing at anchor, no announcements about the next day's itinerary, and no warning about re-positioning or changes to excursions. Excursion processing was abysmal as upper management chose their manager to also serve as cruise director.

I do not fault the crew below chief officer level for this lack of communication. The Indonesian and Filipino staff exceeded expectations coping with a very disorganized Senior staff. I would even grant the benefit of the doubt to all staff as I believe the real problem stems from upper management who obviously have not been on board since re-fit.

While this review does have serious negative concerns, Chef Budhi, hospitality and deck service staff were top notch and attentive. They simply suffered through the lack of orientation to this new ship and proper training.

Food was consistently good, but certainly not comparable to either the Paul Gauguin and miles below food preparation on Oceania. In the waters of the best fishing grounds in Central America, all fish were frozen, none fresh. Wine, though fairly priced, was only mediocre.

Most have already commented on the lack of entertainment, but the two musical duos were outstanding in their effort to overcome a bad sound system with no sound engineer to keep the shows seamless. Microphones experienced constant problems, and some speakers on deck were actually blown.

Throughout the cruise, the swim platform was never lowered, even on days with modest seas. It was only the final day's beach party that passengers even saw the water toys and snorkel gear was never issued for the same reason.

The stark contrast between the Paul Gauguin and the Star Breeze left us with more regret than meeting expectations.

I know that there are loyal Windstar devotees, and it pains me to write a review more negative than positive, but I cannot recommend that anyone sail on the "new" old Seaborne ships until they receive a thorough haul out and improve on consistency and passenger communication. I don't expect that to happen until upper management is replaced by cruise experts who deliver that proper investment and training.