rob&deb Posted April 13, 2005 #1 Share Posted April 13, 2005 HI there, My husband and I are in our mid to late 30's and are looking forward to our cruise next March. Who else is going?:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted April 18, 2005 #2 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Just sent an email to my TA to book this for us tomorrow when Princess has the reduced deposits week. We've been researching forever and now that nothing is scheduled after April/2006, we decided to just book it incase this is the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted April 21, 2005 #3 Share Posted April 21, 2005 I'm so excited to find this thread!!!! My husband is taking me on this cruise to celebrate my 40th birthday - I never thought I would be so looking forward to turning 40, but I can't wait!! Laura (& husband Ernie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted April 22, 2005 #4 Share Posted April 22, 2005 We'll be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary while onboard. We must have been toddlers when we got married :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted April 22, 2005 #5 Share Posted April 22, 2005 ihbsurf (Laura and Ernie): I see on another thread the you at staying at Beachcomber in OWB. I reserved 2 nights pre-cruise there in standard Lagoon view using FF points. I am thinking of doing one of the nights OWB. What price range did they quote you, (if you do not mind sharing that info)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted April 23, 2005 #6 Share Posted April 23, 2005 I'll be glad to share: We booked the Motu underwater bungalow directly on their website http://www.tahiti.interconti.com (I'd read that was cheaper, and man was it). We got it for the evening of March 30th, with the breakfast delivered by the outrigger canoe for 37232 XPF. (I think at current exchange rates, that's about $400). I think the price without the breakfast was in the 32,100 XPF range. Note: I did book the non-refundable option, as the other was almost $100 more - but we could not think of any eventuality in which we would not be staying at least one night post cruise. It ended up being only about $100 higher than the lagoon room and really about half the price I was expecting for an OWB. We couldn't afford to do it for a week, but for one night, we decided it was worth a splurge - we probably won't make it back any time soon. Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted April 25, 2005 #7 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Anyone else booked with us this early???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted May 4, 2005 #8 Share Posted May 4, 2005 I'll be glad to share: We booked the Motu underwater bungalow directly on their website http://www.tahiti.interconti.com (I'd read that was cheaper, and man was it). We got it for the evening of March 30th, with the breakfast delivered by the outrigger canoe for 37232 XPF. (I think at current exchange rates, that's about $400). I think the price without the breakfast was in the 32,100 XPF range. ... Laura Laura: This is a great price. I was online looking for something in that $$ range but everything was for much more. Went back online after reading your post and then figured out why. The only OWBs listed are Junior Suites. The non-suites OWBs are not listed for the dates I was searching. I checked a couple of other dates and the non-suite OWBs showed up. Looks like they are all booked on the embarkation and disembarkation days. Maybe Princess has these on hold in a group for possible upgrades. I'll just keep watching to see if any get released. And I will call the toll-free number to see if anything is available. Maybe I'll just book the Suite for now and hope something less expensive opens up. This could be the "once in a lifetime" trip and a "lagoon view" just doesn't cut it :) Thanks for sharing your price info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted May 5, 2005 #9 Share Posted May 5, 2005 Wow, you're right - the one I booked doesn't show up anymore at all. Got lucky I guess - saw a post by LaurieB that the direct website is cheaper. When I first looked, the dates hadn't opened up yet - after checking again, they had and from looking at other sites, I knew it was a bargain. Talked my husband into it the next day and decided to just bite the bullet and take the risk on the non-refundable room, since we couldn't imagine any event where we wouldn't want to spend that night. I've learned the hard way not to wait on other trips. The airfare is getting tricky for us too - we want to fly on FF miles to LAX. At this point, I'm having to guess when the ATN flights we want are going to be based on last March because to get the FF seats we want we had to book the first leg a couple of weeks ago, the return trip tomorrow morning, and the ATN won't open up until May 15 according to princess. We're reserving their air and hoping to find something cheaper on our own. If not, $819 (plus $75 deviation) doesn't look so bad. In the long run, it will pay off, but it's a little dicey right now. I think we're going to do 3 days precruise in Moorea - I'd like to do a more authentic pension, but I'm not sure I can talk Ernie into it - I'm still working on him. If not a pension, probably we'll go with the Moorea Pearl or if I can find a deal, the Sheraton. Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted May 5, 2005 #10 Share Posted May 5, 2005 I also use FF points/miles. I booked Friday night at hotel near LAX using FF assuming will may need to layover there and do LAX to PPT on Saturday. Can always cancel if needed. I have 2 nights FF rewards at Intercontinental in Papeete and want to change the Sunday night to $$OWB. We plan to do our own GRR-LAX using FF but are waiting to see what LAX to PPT we do. It's tough spending $819 + $75 deviation on such a long flight and not earn any miles. I'm trying to figure out how to use NWA miles but it is still too far out today. So I keep checking each week (or night :D ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted May 11, 2005 #11 Share Posted May 11, 2005 MichTraveler - are you only looking in Tahiti? I'm trying to decide on precruise accommodations in Moorea. I really wanted to do a pension, but my nervous husband is not wanting to stay in an unairconditioned fare or bungalow before the cruise, especially after he heard (or read on these boards) about bug bites. He has this vision of us spending 10 days on the cruise miserable from infected bug bites - and I must say they do tend to eat me alive. I'm thinking seriously about booking the Moorea Pearl Garden room for hopefully 3 nights (maybe 2 if I can't get out of Tahiti we we arrive on the 17th). It appears if you book now you can get 2005 rates and they're cancellable up to 7 days before arrival. I can't see much of a down side -- if I can find a great deal at the Sheraton, I can still grab it later. I guess for this trip, Pension Motu Iti is out, but there's always hoping for a next time!!! Who can complain about the Moorea Pearl, it looks really nice and I think was Conde Nast Traveler's 2004 Hotel of the year in FP. Tahiti Nui Travel site shows much cheaper prices and they have gotten favorable write-ups from Jan Prince, so I'm e-mailing them to try to get a deal - I've got my fingers crossed!! Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted May 12, 2005 #12 Share Posted May 12, 2005 I booked 2 nights in Papeete using FF. Then I booked one night OWB Suite (all non-suite OWB booked-up). So I am double-booked for one of the nights. I can cancel FF or $cash reservation once the date gets closer and I have some flight plans and decide which I prefer. I have heard excellent reviews about the Intercontinental in Papette so we're giving it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted May 12, 2005 #13 Share Posted May 12, 2005 My brother-in-law & sister-in-law stayed at the Intercontinental both in Tahiti and Moorea and had wonderful things to say about both. I'm sure you can't go wrong there. We're still booked there one night post cruise - just pre-cruise I'm still trying to decide on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted May 17, 2005 #14 Share Posted May 17, 2005 Getting ready for Alaska, but still dreaming ahead to Tahiti! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted May 20, 2005 #15 Share Posted May 20, 2005 A post by Suzy Cruzy shows that Princess is indeed doing Tahitian Princess past the 4/19/2006. Now I have to decide if I want to stick with 3/20 or try for a May date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted May 21, 2005 #16 Share Posted May 21, 2005 Is the weather more favorable in May?? Or do you just prefer to travel in May? Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted May 22, 2005 #17 Share Posted May 22, 2005 From these boards, it sounds like May could be better weather. Weather is a risk on every cruise and March is at the end of the rainy season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted June 1, 2005 #18 Share Posted June 1, 2005 How was your Alaska Trip? It's on my to do list. Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted June 2, 2005 #19 Share Posted June 2, 2005 How was your Alaska Trip? It's on my to do list. Laura We had an excellent time! My hotel room is still rocking -n- rolling this week. My review is at this link: http://boards1.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=3859925#post3859925 Now I have time to research the E.Carib cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob&deb Posted June 3, 2005 Author #20 Share Posted June 3, 2005 Hi there, I wanted to post again before this got lost forever. Glad to see that there are a few people already booked on the cruise. We too are staying at the Intercontential in Tahiti post cruise for three nights in an OWB. I can't wait!! We have never been and have always wanted to go. Now I have to really start researching the ports of call . Any great books/websites that anyone can recommend? Thanks Deb:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted June 4, 2005 #21 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Jan Prince's Tahiti and French Polynesia Guide was recommended to me and has been great. I couldn't find it here locally, but ordered it from Amazon along with one from somebody Moon. It was ok, but Jan Prince's is bigger and more detailed. tahitiexplorer.com is also one of my favorite websites along with thetahititraveler.com I too am researching ports of call - it takes a lot of time. Greatly looking forward to this cruise!!! Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted June 6, 2005 #22 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Hey MichTraveler, I've been working on my Tahiti trip and looking again at the Intercontinental in Tahiti and Moorea and noticed that the Overwater Bungalows showed up on the Internet for the prices I got -approx 32500 xpf or 37200 with breakfast - if you're still looking. Dates I was looking at are March 18 - 20 - not sure about what dates you were looking for. Down side is they are not cancellable. Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob&deb Posted June 6, 2005 Author #23 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Thanks for the infor Laura it will come in handie! Can't wait!!! Deb;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichTraveler Posted June 8, 2005 #24 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hey MichTraveler, I've been working on my Tahiti trip and looking again at the Intercontinental in Tahiti and Moorea and noticed that the Overwater Bungalows showed up on the Internet for the prices I got -approx 32500 xpf or 37200 with breakfast - if you're still looking. Dates I was looking at are March 18 - 20 - not sure about what dates you were looking for. Down side is they are not cancellable. Laura Someone must have cancelled. Rates are listed for 30 day adv (non-cancelable) and flexible (more money but can cancel). I've been watching this site, so they must have opened up in the past couple of days. Got mine reserved now :D Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhbsurf Posted June 8, 2005 #25 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Mich-Yea!!! I'm glad you got it. Deb - Hope you find those resources helpful, I've spent a lot of time researching and still feel like I've only scratched the surface. But....since I consider that half the fun, it will keep me busy for a while. I'm kinda bummed out, I thought I had figured out how to transfer Delta FF miles to Intercontinental points and stay free precruise at Intercontinental in Tahiti. It appears that the transfer only works from Intercontinental to Delta, NOT Delta to Intercontinental. Looks like they're the only airline that doesn't allow you to transfer miles OUT to other "partners". The regular room prices aren't THAT bad, but I would rather stay free. Also I found a small bed & breakfast on Moorea that I loved and e-mailed them about availability, but haven't heard back yet. I guess if I lived in Paradise, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to check e-mail either, but you'd think if it is their livelyhood, someone would be checking it periodically. I haven't been having great luck lately with the particulars of this trip...I need a change of luck. We're headed to the beach on Saturday, so maybe that will recharge my batteries!! Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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