VirtualRain Posted August 30, 2011 #1 Share Posted August 30, 2011 What cruise lines do people recommend for a South Pacific cruise? I would like something that starts and ends in the South Pacific islands... not Australia, New Zealand, or Hawaii. The only one I've found so far is Princess. Any others I should consider? Thanks! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friscorays Posted August 30, 2011 #2 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Paul Gauguin cruises, highly recommended luxury option: https://www.pgcruises.com/ Aranui ("Freighter to Paradise"), adventurous option: http://www.aranui.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sansterre Posted September 2, 2011 #3 Share Posted September 2, 2011 For those of us who prefer cruising to flying, Holland America Line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friscorays Posted September 2, 2011 #4 Share Posted September 2, 2011 ....I would like something that starts and ends in the South Pacific islands... not Australia, New Zealand, or Hawaii.... For those of us who prefer cruising to flying, Holland America Line. Does Holland America have round trip itineraries starting and ending in the South Pacific? If so, I'll have to look into them in the future. If they offer one of those itineraries which takes 5 days just to get there, I'll stick with flying in as my vacation time is finite (I'm not retired yet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donray Posted September 2, 2011 #5 Share Posted September 2, 2011 does holland america have round trip itineraries starting and ending in the south pacific? If so, i'll have to look into them in the future. If they offer one of those itineraries which takes 5 days just to get there, i'll stick with flying in as my vacation time is finite (i'm not retired yet). no! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friscorays Posted September 2, 2011 #6 Share Posted September 2, 2011 no! I guess that takes them off of my (and the original poster's) list of possibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donray Posted September 3, 2011 #7 Share Posted September 3, 2011 What cruise lines do people recommend for a South Pacific cruise? I would like something that starts and ends in the South Pacific islands... not Australia, New Zealand, or Hawaii. The only one I've found so far is Princess. Any others I should consider? Thanks! :) Only two are Princess and Paul Gauguin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Fletcher Posted September 3, 2011 #8 Share Posted September 3, 2011 I'd always recommend expedition cruise ships, equipped with zodiac inflatable landing craft, for a real South Pacific experience. These have around 120 passengers and very little in the way of entertainment and they are way more expensive than the big ships which can only access deepwater places. Sadly, the choice is fairly limited - especially now that the Clipper Odyssey has left Pacific waters - but there is an outfit called Hapag-Lloyd which has a ship called Hanseatic that is doing a genuine South Pacific cruise this year, from Tahiti to Fiji via some very out-of-the-way places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamomo Posted September 3, 2011 #9 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Does Holland America have round trip itineraries starting and ending in the South Pacific? If so, I'll have to look into them in the future. If they offer one of those itineraries which takes 5 days just to get there, I'll stick with flying in as my vacation time is finite (I'm not retired yet). I know nothing about HAL, but Princess has one that does a r/t LA to Hawaii (4 ports)-Samoa (2 ports)-French Polynesia (3 ports in 4 days)-LA .............. 28 wonderful days!! I will be boarding the Sapphire Princess next month for this exciting itinerary. And they are offering it again in 2012. No current info beyond 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friscorays Posted September 3, 2011 #10 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Only two are Princess and Paul Gauguin ....and the Aranui which is somewhat along the lines of an expedition ship llike Fletcher describes: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2011/08/freighter-to-paradise-aranui-iii-french-polynesia/416751/1 http://www.aranui.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvhanalei Posted September 3, 2011 #11 Share Posted September 3, 2011 We were on the Paul Gauguin a few years ago, and it was amazing! We hope someday to do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emdee Posted September 13, 2011 #12 Share Posted September 13, 2011 In my mind there is only ONE choice - Paul Gauguin all the way. A couple of times a year they do have the Papeete to Fiji trip and vice versa. I did it a few years ago and enjoyed it. However my preferred option is the 10 day Tuamotu cruise as you see a whole lot of islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamomo Posted September 15, 2011 #13 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Those of us who have done the cruise with Princess were VERY happy with it, and some of us are fortunate enough to have done it more than once. So, IMO, one considering doing a cruise there should not rule out Princess as an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlightMedic555 Posted September 15, 2011 #14 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Hapag-Lloyd is run by a German company and the language on board is German. They appear to offer a Tahiti to Fiji trip as a one time sailing. Having been on the Paul Gauguin, and scheduled again for this January, I would recommend it highly. High end, small number of passengers, all inclusive with great 7, 11 and 14 night trips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandandsea lovers Posted September 19, 2011 #15 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Without a doubt, PAUL GAUGUIN. Luxury all inclusive cruise, so no hidden costs. You only pay for excursions which I recommend to do privately online. The cruise begins and ends at Papeete and we went on the 10 day cruise to all different islands. Truly beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jegk1 Posted September 22, 2011 #16 Share Posted September 22, 2011 We have done the Aranui back in '03 on their newest ship, Aranui 111, and it was a wonderful, adventurous and exciting cruise! Also, Oceania's Regatta is sailing an 18 day cruise on January 17-Feb. 5, 2012. Oceania's Marina (new shiop this year) is doing an 18 day cruise, Feb. 7-26, 2013 from Papeete to Auckland! We just booked, and other than the ports of embarking and disembarking, there are wonderful island ports...in my opinion! The ports do vary slightly in each of these cruises! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Carlos lady Posted September 22, 2011 #17 Share Posted September 22, 2011 We are looking forward to an 11 day cruise of Tahiti to Tahiti on Oceania Regatta this Jan. Had to start on standby, as first year Oceania doing the area and we are among their loyal customers that wanted to do SP with them. They just opened up 2013 and are using one of their bigger ships then-- 1260 or so vs. 650 on Regatta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Water World Posted September 24, 2011 #18 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Oceania has two 11 night sailings Papeete/Papeete in January2013 on the Marina. She returns for the same 11 night sailing on April 7,2013. We booked this cruise yesterday. Great value!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friscorays Posted September 27, 2011 #19 Share Posted September 27, 2011 We have done the Aranui back in '03 on their newest ship, Aranui 111, and it was a wonderful, adventurous and exciting cruise!.... Not too many people on Cruise Critic seem to have done this. I'd love to hear any other thoughts on the Aranui that you might be willing to share. By the way, are you sure that your cruise was in 2003 and not 2002?;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Fletcher Posted September 27, 2011 #20 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Not too many people on Cruise Critic seem to have done this. I'd love to hear any other thoughts on the Aranui that you might be willing to share. Friscorays, there is quite a lot on the Aranui on Cruise Critic. Look for Special Interest on the Forums home page, then Freighter Travel and you will find several pages on the Aranui. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jegk1 Posted September 29, 2011 #21 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Feel free to contact us at jegk1@comcast.net and we will be happy to share any info and answer any questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trend Posted October 13, 2011 #22 Share Posted October 13, 2011 This is their area no one can compete we did this 10 years ago for our 30th anniversay and are doing the Fiji one next year for our 40th and my 60th birthday. You can not compare their style ship with the others. They are going in for refurbishment in Jan. and it will be a fresh look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexandra cruiser Posted November 15, 2011 #23 Share Posted November 15, 2011 Oceania has two 11 night sailings Papeete/Papeete in January2013 on the Marina. She returns for the same 11 night sailing on April 7,2013. We booked this cruise yesterday. Great value!!!!!! look at Marina too,,,good to get lots of options,, Anyone know this,,,is water generally rough or smooth in this area??I m VERY sensitive to seasickness,,but hoping not known for ROUGH seas???;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropiclady Posted November 16, 2011 #24 Share Posted November 16, 2011 The French Polynesia is an itinerary that I have always wanted to do even though I had never cruised before until earlier this year. We cruised on Oceania's Marina and just loved it! We checked out both PG and Princess but in the end we booked for Jan 2013 on Oceania Marina. So make sure you look at Oceania as an option, it truly is a wonderful ship. Happy Travels, Tropiclady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexandra cruiser Posted November 16, 2011 #25 Share Posted November 16, 2011 The French Polynesia is an itinerary that I have always wanted to do even though I had never cruised before until earlier this year. We cruised on Oceania's Marina and just loved it! We checked out both PG and Princess but in the end we booked for Jan 2013 on Oceania Marina. So make sure you look at Oceania as an option, it truly is a wonderful ship. Happy Travels, Tropiclady Plus,,on internet found great deals,,love Oceania having been to S.America on one,,but never knew they went to FP ...put question re this on their CC posts,,but no one has answered re the Marina,,maybe too new of ship and cruise...Now ,,just have to convince the DH...have a great cruise and will TRY to join you,,hahaha...Looked at Paul Gauguin cruises,,and so far Marina seems less expensive and longer...;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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