rkmw Posted May 8, 2012 #51 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Thanks for your input. At present I'm booked on a coral drift snorkling excursion so was wondering if it was easy and obviously less expensive to pick up a similar tour dockside. So far all my other tours are private but if there wasn't going to be much available once off the ship I wanted to ensure I had a snorkling trip booked. Bev, Anna had something arranged in Raiatea so she'll get back to you bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 8, 2012 Author #52 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Hi Bev, Just off the Tahaa Island Resort ( NW coast) are the famous coral gardens and it's by far the best coral formation experince in French Polynesia. This is what I did in Raiatea. It's a 30 min boat ride out there and our guide took us on two drifts (about 300m each). You glide down canyons and see lots of carla and fish. Our last drift was more challenging, but exciting. Fins are OK and helps you in the drift current. There is abou 1ft-3ft between you and the coral, but here's not sharp bits. I actually used some of the smoother formations to help me manoeuver. Our guide had snorkel and fins onboard. The Princess price was $140 which is overpriced, but I wanted to be sure of getting to this spot. Some of the ashore guide will take to an inferior and closer site for $40. The guide we had was a very nice Frenchman (contracted by Princess) but his boat had West Coast Charters (or tours?) signwriting. Maybe a google would help. Bruno Fabre goes to Tahaa gardens and a few other places around Tahaa, otherwise be off the ship as early as possible and seek out a local guide but insist on the drift snorkel at Tahaa. Hi Bob, I'm sue we will cross paths again onboard. Enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 8, 2012 Author #53 Share Posted May 8, 2012 I just lost the entire post on Bora Bora , so you'll have to wait for that awesome blog until tomorrow.... Some days the internet speed is worse than ever.:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bescotti Posted May 9, 2012 #54 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Hi Anna Many thanks for the info on the coral drift snorkelling. At this stage I might stick with the HAL excursion because I'm not high enough up the food chain (yet) to get early tendering at Raiatea so there will possibly be hundreds of others ashore ahead of me. The HAL excursion is US$129 so I'm happy to pay that to be guaranteed the coral drift snorkelling at the best location. I found West Coast Charters online but I know from past experience the operators the cruise lines use are generally entirely contracted to them for the day the ship is in port. My cruise is in Bora Bora for 2 days and I'm doing different excursions with Patrick on both days so I look forward to reading of your experience there also. Bev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkmw Posted May 9, 2012 #55 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Hi Anna Many thanks for the info on the coral drift snorkelling. At this stage I might stick with the HAL excursion because I'm not high enough up the food chain (yet) to get early tendering at Raiatea so there will possibly be hundreds of others ashore ahead of me. The HAL excursion is US$129 so I'm happy to pay that to be guaranteed the coral drift snorkelling at the best location. I found West Coast Charters online but I know from past experience the operators the cruise lines use are generally entirely contracted to them for the day the ship is in port. My cruise is in Bora Bora for 2 days and I'm doing different excursions with Patrick on both days so I look forward to reading of your experience there also. Bev Bev Raiatea is not a tender port...you dock there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bescotti Posted May 9, 2012 #56 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Thanks Bob, for some reason I thought it was a tender port so this will make it a lot easier all round if it docks. Bev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 9, 2012 Author #57 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Hi Anna Many thanks for the info on the coral drift snorkelling. At this stage I might stick with the HAL excursion because I'm not high enough up the food chain (yet) to get early tendering at Raiatea so there will possibly be hundreds of others ashore ahead of me. The HAL excursion is US$129 so I'm happy to pay that to be guaranteed the coral drift snorkelling at the best location. I found West Coast Charters online but I know from past experience the operators the cruise lines use are generally entirely contracted to them for the day the ship is in port. My cruise is in Bora Bora for 2 days and I'm doing different excursions with Patrick on both days so I look forward to reading of your experience there also. Bev Hi Bev, There's no tendering at Raiatea by the way. To travel so far and not experience the Tahaa Gardens Coral drift would be disappointing, so I'd stick with the Hal tour. I can guatantee that Patrick's Bora Bora tour will be the best day of your cruise..at least the shorex side of it. Go with a group of friends/shipmates/roll call members, as you'll have more fun (just my thoughts). Patrick has the edge on all other circle lagoon operators as the men have great fun-loving personalities and are warm, sincere, informative and give the tour the ambiance it truly deserves.The tour also come with it's unique traditional packaging...decorated boats, traditional dress, cooking and local food (except for the French champagne). The website photos doesn't do the tour justice and yes, we did all of those things...ray feeding, snorkelling, swimming and feasting on a wide variety of hangi and BBQ foods. I'm giving this tour a 20/10 rating. I hope you enjoy it as much as our roll call group did. We filled 2 outriggers but I know there are 3 outriggers, each hold 12. The "bed" at the front on the outrigger is fabulous. Anyone who misses this excursion hasn't expeienced Bora Bora.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 9, 2012 Author #58 Share Posted May 9, 2012 I guess most of you know that the Dawn is being spruced up in Brisbane at the end of this cruise. Some of the passengers are looking to extend the cruise by 2 days. The word is that the Dawn will be going to Japan next year and so will the Sun, but I have no idea what ships will replace her. We ordered 2 seats on the bus to the airport ($29 each) and there is a Captain's Circle cocktail party tonight. No more Vista Lounge handshake, rather an Atrium affair.:rolleyes: Tomorrow we are in Pago Pago, so I'll share the good oil with you from there. We have a private tour for 6 booked with Betty. It's 6am and still dark, so me thinks our clocks will be going back from tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaznjo Posted May 9, 2012 #59 Share Posted May 9, 2012 I guess most of you know that the Dawn is being spruced up in Brisbane at the end of this cruise. Some of the passengers are looking to extend the cruise by 2 days. The word is that the Dawn will be going to Japan next year and so will the Sun, but I have no idea what ships will replace her. . gosh I hope not... she is suppose to take us to europe next year !!! :eek::mad::eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted May 9, 2012 #60 Share Posted May 9, 2012 gosh I hope not... she is suppose to take us to europe next year !!! :eek::mad::eek: The Sun will be going to Japan ..Heres the article from Princess http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na1225 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bescotti Posted May 9, 2012 #61 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Hi Anna I really appreciate you getting back to me about Raiatea and Patrick's tour. We've arranged two CC tours with Patrick, one the 3/4 day lagoon trip and the other an island jeep trip and lunch. Really looking forward to it! Bev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaznjo Posted May 9, 2012 #62 Share Posted May 9, 2012 The Sun will be going to Japan ..Heres the article from Princess http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na1225 oh I know the sun is going... they cancelled the next years 75 pacific circle.... it is the rumour that the dawn is going too that is worrying me :confused: I have already started my planning LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted May 10, 2012 #63 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Pago Pago today... (pronounced Pango Pango) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 11, 2012 Author #64 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Perhaps it's just 2nd hand information about the Dawn, so don't quote me. Dawn still has some work here after the refit. I know that 40 upholsterers from the USA will be boarding in Sydney. Pago Pago (Am. Samoa) was disappointing. I'd slot it between Tonga and W.Samoa. We had an aircon luxury landcruiser for the 6 of us but not a whole lot to see. Markets at the ship were well stocked but somewhat pricey. $20 tours in the open air buses were popular and there were lots of taxi trivers at the port gate. It was very hot and muggy, so walking was not so confortable. Just 2 more ports and we're home.:D I've just about whipped through our internet allowance too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mummyrose Posted May 12, 2012 #65 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Thanks for the updates on Bora Bora.....sounds like we chose the right tour!!! Also on Pago Pago.....Havent got anything planned here.....Was the $20 US money.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted May 12, 2012 #66 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 12, 2012 Author #67 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Thanks for the updates on Bora Bora.....sounds like we chose the right tour!!!Also on Pago Pago.....Havent got anything planned here.....Was the $20 US money.. Yes, that's USD 20 in Pago Pago, mummyrose. Suva today...ship is refuelling, and I can't see any other reason for stopping here. No doubt it's lots better out of the city. Those craft stalls just over the bridge reminded us of the set up in Salvador, Brazil...kind of creepy. It's drizzly and overcast, but getting cooler. Quite a lot of pax stayed onboard.....maybe 60% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mummyrose Posted May 13, 2012 #68 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Thanks for the info...will right it up on our rollcall... hard to beleive we have 101 sleeps to go....hmm would love to go go back to Suva....just ran out of soap ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 14, 2012 Author #69 Share Posted May 14, 2012 My last post as I've done justice to the "free" 1000 minutes offered. Will be home in a few days (Noumea today) if there are any other queries. Bye for now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Kruzer Posted May 14, 2012 #70 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Thanks for your posts Anna. Great to hear live reports from on board. Heres the bridge cam for Noumea. See you are sharing the port with Pacific Pearl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kinkacruiser Posted May 18, 2012 Author #71 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Back home now and happy to answer any queries . One of the bar stewards said that the Dawn Princess was going to Italy after the makeover?? Sun Princess is off to Japan?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bescotti Posted May 19, 2012 #72 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Welcome home Anna, and thanks for taking the time to field our questions while you were away. Your answers have been very helpful to me for my cruise. Bev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandielle Posted May 19, 2012 #73 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Welcome home, Anna. What a lovely cruise! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.