Tahitian Princess - Marquesas/Rangiroa ???

[cflutist]

We were thinking of booking this itinerary in 2007 instead of the Cook Islands one we did back in 2004.

 

Can anyone tell us what Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, and Rangiroa are like? Are they worth visiting?

[captbill]

You might be interested in seeing my review from our Feb/04 Marquesas itinerary on the Tahitian Princess.

Go to: http://casad.net/?c1o1f

 

In a nutshell, Hiva Oa & Nuku Hiva were both a little too tame for my tastes, though many folks loved the peace & quiet combined with natural beauty of these islands. Rangiroa had some fantastic snorkeling, and this is coming from a guy who knows his snorkeling!

 

[starsjohn]

I have done both itenearies some two times and will repeat this October. Nuka Hiva has a great drive across the ridges and valleys which are quite remote and tropical. I engage in the scuba diving to see the very large Hammer Head sharks and enjoy the cave diving.

 

Hiva Oa has a grea tribal dance and crafts fair that is unique in all the South Pacific. The wood carvings from the region are some of the highest quality of woods and detail I have seen in all my travels of many of these exotic local.

 

Rangoria is a scuba divers paradise and a motu of unusual beauty for all travelers.

 

The Cool Islands offers cheap shoping, clean and beautiful beaches. You get extra time in Raiatea and Bora Bora on this iteneray.

 

Give me both anytime.,

 

John

[cflutist]

Bill and John, thanks for the info.

 

Sounds like something to look into, however, just read on another thread that maybe the TP may not be sailing 10 day cruises after April 2006?

[starsjohn]

Hmmm, I have one brochure here that shows the Tahitian Princess up till April 2007 still on the 10 trips but adding more 12 day runs from Papette to HI during the Summer months.

[starsjohn]

Slight correction needed. The Princess Captain's Circle Quarterly for Fall 2005 (just received) shows the itineraries thru December 2006.

 

John

[cflutist]

Sorry, typo on my part. I meant April 2007. 4/16/07 is the last cruise listed on the Princess website. Can't find it right now, but I thought I saw some discussion about whether or not Princess would continue cruises in Polynesia after that date.

[laurieb]

they only schedule several months in advance. there was discussion that the ship would not be sailing fp past 4/06 - it is now scheduled out to 4/07. we are doing the cook island itinerary for the third time in 1/07. we like to snorkel, and even though I would love to snorkel in Rangiroa, there is no snorkeling in the Marquesas, so the cooks itin is best for us.