Northern Swan

I suspect everyone has very good reasons for asking questions posted on the discussion forums. In our case, our query had nothing to do with what to wear but is related to timing of activities or excursions and narrowing down which nights we prefer to dine in a specialty restaurant vs the main dining room. I appreciate the useful info that’s been posted here and thank everyone for sharing their insights.

Hello… I did search the forum and the Seabourn site before posting this question, and while I found lots of great info about dress codes and the number of formal nights per cruise, I haven’t been able to get any estimate of when the formal nights will be.  We are going on a 14-day Alaska cruise in June 2024 on the Odyssey.  If anyone has done this itinerary, it would be great to hear from you as to which evenings we might expect the formal nights to be scheduled on.

Many thanks!

We are receiving excellent service in our family cabana on Deck 11 on Nieuw Amsterdam and have had no issues with other guests being loud. Food and beverage service is excellent, and each day at 2 pm they serve sparkling wine with a small plate of chocolate covered strawberries and frozen grapes.  The servers provide menus for breakfast and lunch (from the Lido and the burger bar) and they will also bring you drinks from the bar or coffee bar, according to whichever drink package you have purchased.  The cabanas are open from 9am to 5 pm, and they do remove all of the cushions from the loungers and wicker chairs every day at closing. There really is no place to sit comfortably in the off hours.  I am very pleased with the service provided and would book a cabana again without hesitation.

If you are thinking about booking the thermal suite on the Nieuw Amsterdam you should do so online before you start your cruise.  The cost for the thermal suite pass for our cruise was $149 per person pre-cruise but booking on board the cost increases to $50 per person per day.  Likewise for all spa treatments and drink packages - everything is significantly less expensive when booked pre-cruise.

I know this has been debated many times, but currently the HAL FAQ page states the packages are limited to 15 alcoholic drinks daily:

The Signature and Elite packages have a daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages, which includes all alcoholic beverages with a menu price of $15 or less (Elite Beverage Package), or $11 or less (Signature Beverage Package). The Quench Beverage Package includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and bottled waters 500ml and under.  The packages exclude purchases made in the Mini Bar, Honor Bar, Chocolate Seduction, In-Room Dining, beverages purchased on Half Moon Cay and any self-service draft beer.

Not sure if there has been a recent change, but the FAQ on the HAL site states the following (emphasis is mine):

The Signature and Elite packages have a daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages, which includes all alcoholic beverages with a menu price of $15 or less (Elite Beverage Package), or $11 or less (Signature Beverage Package).  The Quench Beverage Package includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and bottled waters 500ml and under.

#1cruisecoach, I brought magnets with me but did not need to use them so I cannot say whether the walls would accommodate them.  I found there to be ample storage space without the magnets.

Whether you choose to use a travel agent (TA) or book on your own is a personal choice.  I can tell you that having a knowledgeable travel agent who specializes in cruises and who lives nearby is something I place a high value on.  I like knowing that my TA has vacationed on the ship I’m thinking of booking and can give me advice and tips relevant to my destination based on personal experience.  I also like knowing that I can drive 5 minutes to the travel agency to pick up papers, ask questions, or grab a few extra luggage tags as needed.
 

As well, I cannot imagine the countless hours I would have spent trying to rearrange my trip after COVID hit, both in 2020 and in 2021.  Instead, I left the arrangements to my travel agent who rebooked our cruise, found us a new resort for our pre-cruise stay (because the original hotel had closed its doors permanently), and got us seats on the flights that worked best for us.  
 

Yes, we still do our fair share of research and asking questions, but having a TA gives us assurance that no detail is overlooked and we will have a single point of contact if we need assistance with anything.

1 minute ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

Good info, thank you.  I’d rather go with AF if at all possible.  I watched the videos on ATN’s business class on You Tube and they cram 2 extra seats per row in Bus.!  The food wasn’t impressive either.  

I had no issue with the food but that is a subjective thing that will vary from person to person.  As for cramming seats in, other carriers I’ve flown with (Air Canada, KLM, Lufthansa, others) have the same configuration in Business Class, i.e. 2-2-2 and that was fine.  However, the position of the middle partition in between the two seats gives you less room in the seat, and the seats themselves feel like they have no cushion. Regardless of which airline you choose, the flight will be worth it once you arrive in French Polynesia!

@DrivesLikeMario We sailed with Paul Gauguin but booked our air and land separately.  We flew business class with Air Tahiti Nui but in my opinion the value received was not great, plus the seats were not very comfortable.

@DrivesLikeMario We just returned from French Polynesia.  We spent about 6 hours in a day room at Le Tahiti by Pearl Resorts.  We had a two-level room with a full bath and a half. The view was spectacular and we heard the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore.  The room was clean but dated; it was good for a few hours’ stay.  This hotel is about a half hour drive from the airport, and there is nothing within walking distance in the way of shopping, which wasn’t important to us but may be to some people.

Snorkeling gear was available on our March 5 cruise.

Some places offer fast PCR test results.  In my home city, there are labs we can go to that provide PCR results within an hour - you might want to investigate whether this is an option in your home city.

Stpie… each airline has their own testing requirements (based on the country you are flying to) and the ship has its own testing requirements.  In our case, we had to provide a negative antigen test in order to board the Air Tahiti Nui flight to Papeete and we had to take another antigen test on arrival at the Papeete airport.  We also had to show a negative PCR test in order to board the Paul Gauguin ship, and to board the flight in Papeete we needed a negative antigen test.  If we had not had a pre-cruise stay, we would have been able to take a PCR test prior to boarding the flight to Papeete and we could have used that to board the PG as well.

Requirements change constantly, so keep checking the Tahiti Tourisme web site for updates.

Since I’ve seen a few questions related to “what to pack” and laundry on board the Paul Gauguin, I thought I would start a new topic rather than post multiple replies.

We were on the PG from March 5-16, 2022, with a 4-day pre-cruise stay at the Hilton Moorea. I pre-packed in order to give myself time to think about what I had packed, then I took some stuff out and re-packed, and did that about 3 more times.  I don’t normally fret about packing for a vacation, but I wanted to bring my own snorkel gear and this was also my first visit to French Polynesia, so I started the process early.  Please heed my suggestion and pack WAY less than you think you will need.

I planned to be in the water a lot, so I brought two bikini tops, 4 bottoms, and 2 tankini tops.  I wore both bikini tops and two bottoms and the rest sat in the closet.  I brought both short sleeve and long sleeve rash guards, and wished I had brought two long sleeve and no short sleeve.  I brought 3 skorts and wore one, and wished I had brought a pull on skirt because that’s easier to slip on over a wet bathing suit than a skort is.  I brought something like 7 shirts and wore my favourite 2 or 3 all the time.  I brought black pants and tights to wear for dinner but wore them only once because I preferred the comfort of a flowy dress or gauzy-type pants because they were cool.  I never wore a sweater or slippers or any of the 3 scarves I brought, and my wide brimmed hat stayed in my suitcase because it would have blown off my head because it doesn’t have a strap. I lived in my water shoes and a pair of cute flat sandals, wore one pair of chunky heels most nights for dinner, seldom put on my flip flops, and did not wear my Allbirds flats at all.  I did wear my Sketchers light weight running shoes on a couple of tours and was glad I had them. 
 

Other changes I would make next time: bring one tube of sunscreen with me and if I need more buy it there; the prices are comparable to home and it will save having to pack - and possibly bring home - 5 bottles of sunscreen.  I brought way too many chargers and adapters for electronic devices, did not need to bring a Bose speaker or travel towels or 4 packages of disinfectant wipes.  I probably did not need to bring my own snorkel gear as it was available both at our land resort and on the PG, but with Covid I felt more comfortable having my own stuff.  Oh, and speaking of Covid, I did not need to bring a bag of 25 N95 masks!

If you are on the PG you can have your laundry done anytime for a fee, unless you are a returning guest then you get 5 pieces of laundry per day at no cost.  You can also wash a few things yourself and hang them to dry (do bring clothespins with you).  PG no longer offers a laundry package for purchase.

Do yourself a favour and pack really light … your travel weary body will thank you when you get home and don’t have to take 2 days to unpack all the stuff you didn’t use.  And don’t forget to consider whether you will have to carry or roll your luggage and carry on bag(s) from one flight to another or onto a bus to take you from one terminal to another.  Less is best.  🙂 

Babydoc2, I recommend your wife buy a UV rash guard long sleeve shirt.  I also need to be careful in the sun, and this shirt was a lifesaver for me especially while snorkelling. I wish I had brought more than one of these shirts… one day I forgot to hang up my wet long sleeve one so for the next day I had to use a short sleeve rash guard and I quickly realized how much better the long sleeve one worked for me.  As for colour, mine is charcoal grey and I had no issues with being too hot.

 For excursions, we did not do this but I’ve heard many great things about hiking up Magic Mountain on Moorea.  If you check out YouTube there are some really great videos from people who have done this hike.

On Bora Bora, we booked a private tour on a covered pontoon boat with a guide from La Plage Tours.  He took us snorkelling, we drank champagne in the clear blue-green ocean, and we had lunch in a over water hut on a private island.  We got to see all of Bora Bora from the water, and we had a very relaxing and spectacular day.

Since we were out and about so much, we also did not take advantage of the marina on the Paul Gauguin but I would definitely do so if we go back. You can kayak and stand-up paddle board without having to leave the ship.

I agree with previous comments to do active things in the morning.  We did an ATV tour in the afternoon and everything we touched was hot including the ATV seat. 
 

Particularly since you like to avoid the crowds, I highly recommend spending some time before or after your cruise at a resort on land.  We stayed in over water bungalows at the Hilton Moorea for 4 days before our cruise, and we could snorkel, kayak, or stand up paddle board any time we wanted.  The garden suites looked lovely as well, and all suites offered a great deal of privacy.

Regarding crowds, I can honestly say I never saw any during the entire time we were on vacation. Since the PG ship is small, I suspect crowds are never really an issue on excursions.

I hope this info helps.

We just finished a PG cruise on Wednesday and did a number of excursions.  Even though I was nervous about this, don’t miss the opportunity to swim with sharks and rays - it really is an experience you will never forget!  
 

In my opinion, the Belvedere lookout on Moorea was a bit of a disappointment … yes, the view is spectacular but there are many many tourists trying to get the same pictures as you and the tour operators need to get you in and out to keep the traffic moving.

PG offers a few ATV tours and we did one on Moorea.  It’s a great way to see some farmland and back country, but know that you will have limited opportunity for taking photos or learning about anything you are seeing.  Also, when the tour description says the tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues, heed the warning.  The beginning and ending of our tour was on paved roads,  but the majority of the time was spent on rough back roads.  
 

If you want some adventure on the water and to see some spectacular scenery and blue-green water, be sure to take a tour to the Blue Lagoon with Ato on Fakarava.  This is not a luxurious slow paced pontoon boat ride, but you will see the unspoiled non-commercial side of French Polynesia and water so beautiful it is indescribable.

We also did a private excursion on Bora Bora where we rented a pontoon boat with a guide for the day.  He took us snorkelling and we had champagne while standing in the ocean and then lunch in an over-water hut on a private island.   This was one of the most relaxing tours we did! The company we booked with is LaPlage Bora Bora.

One tour I wish we would have done is the cultural one offered by PG on Taha’a. We realized after the fact that this is the best place to learn about - and purchase - vanilla. 
 

We also did a private tour that included a stop at a pearl farm which was quite interesting.  Even if you are not into pearls, it’s good to learn about the process for developing the cultured pearls.

One thing to keep in mind when deciding between ship excursions and private ones is that if there is a change in itinerary you won’t have to figure out how to get in touch with the private tour operator while you are at sea.  Internet access is spotty at best, and I was very happy we had not booked a private excursion when we realized a minor itinerary change was made part way through the cruise.

I would say don’t stress about which excursions to take as anything you book will be amazing!

Babydoc2, is there anything specific you would like to know? I could write an essay on all the things we did and saw, so it would be helpful to be able to zero in on those things you are looking for info on.

We are on the PG now. We just arrived in Papeete after a 10 day cruise and will be disembarking tomorrow. Since this is our first trip to French Polynesia I have nothing to compare, but I can say the service has been phenomenal, the food amazing, and the scenery spectacular.  The crew have gone above and beyond and I am so impressed with everyone.

We did both private and ship excursions and all were great. 
 

I am happy to answer any questions but please know that Internet service is very spotty and it may be a couple of days before I can respond.

We would not hesitate to cruise the Paul Gauguin at this time.

We will be staying on Moorea 3 nights before our cruise, and we have booked appointments for PCR tests on Moorea at https://covidtestingtahiti.simplybook.me/v2/#.  Results are sent by email within 24 hours, and the cost is 12,078 XPF per person.  Hope that helps!

Here is the statement and URL:

https://tahititourisme.ca/en-ca/covid-19/

Clarification from  the High Commission of French Polynesia on the full vaccination status required to travel to The Islands of Tahiti

Important: For all fully vaccinated travelers over 18 years old, the vaccination status remains complete beyond 9 months only if the traveler has received an additional dose (booster). (Decree n°2021-699)

In other words, when a traveler has completed a full vaccination (1 dose Janssen or 2 doses Pfizer / Moderna / Astrazeneca ), he/she will have to receive a booster before traveling to French Polynesia between 4 and 9 months latest after his/her last dose.

The PG web site states to go to the Tahiti Tourisme site for information on vaccinations in children under 18.

Our travel group of 6 has decided to go on our PG cruise that has been postponed twice (in 2020 and 2021).  We all have standard travel insurance and also have the option of purchasing a “top up” policy to cover quarantine expenses related to Covid.  We are travelling from Canada and thus have to meet the entry requirements of both the U.S. and French Polynesia, as well as those of PG, for a minimum of 6 tests.  Yes, there is risk associated with that, but we have decided to do our best to stay healthy and hopefully we will have no testing issues anywhere. 
 

We have taken a similar approach to dbld777 regarding our pre-cruise stay and are opting out of excursions during that time.  We figure we are going to FP for the first time, and we will be staying in over water bungalows for the first time, so let’s maximize the time we spend in the bungalows and keep the excursions for our cruise in order to minimize the likelihood of testing positive before the cruise starts.  We are also putting together a contingent quarantine plan in case we test positive while in FP.

Of course, everyone has their own comfort level with this and you need to do what is best for you.  If you are not able to get the level of insurance that will give you peace of mind then you might want to rethink going at this time.  Do what makes sense for you so you can relax and enjoy your trip be it now or 6 months from now. 🙂

Has anyone recently cruised the French Polynesian islands? We had planned a cruise in March 2020 on Paul Gauguin that was rescheduled to 2021 and is now scheduled to depart in March 2022.  
 

I am wondering if there are any Canadian cruisers who have been to French Polynesia (FP) recently and can comment on the ease (or challenges) of getting there and back. Since we will have a layover in the U.S. each way, we have to meet the entry regulations of both the U.S and FP which (as of today) means each person has to take 3-5 Covid tests over the duration of the trip.  The number varies depending on the timing of the tests and those requirements could change between now and March.  

Thoughts/comments from folks who have travelled to FP from Canada - or are planning to - are appreciated.

I totally agree with isnowman.  I realize everyone has their preference for booking on their own or with a travel agent, but we have always had a great experience with a travel agent.  There have been a few times where weather has made it impossible to leave our destination as planned, and while others around us were on their phones trying to find flights we simply connected with our travel agent and she took care of everything.  Each person has to use the services they are most comfortable with, but for us letting a professional manage our air and hotel details makes sense and helps us to have a less stressful vacation.  Our most recent experience is with a cruise we were supposed to take in 2020 and our TA has managed our rebooking in 2021 and 2022.  Given a choice, I will opt for using the services of a travel agent over doing the work myself,