Why is it so hard ?

[Minoushka]

I have been to Spain many times ..visited all without tours ...no need ...Cordoba is a walking town .so is Grenada Sevilla take the local bus and go no need for tours go to Cathedral start there

[ceba]

I made reservations with a company in Rangiroa that was referred to me by another company that was booked up. (Does that make sense?) We are leaving in December so I've not actually used them yet. They are eleutherarangiroa@gmail.com. My contacts name is Yannick. He's been fairly quick with his emails to me. Some quicker than others ;). We are doing the aquarium snorkel and drift snorkeling. I wish I had a solid referral to give you, but I dont. I figure if all else fails we'll wander the area and get a cold beer! Good luck!!

[walkerspt]

About two years ago we enjoyed a great day at the Lagoonarium in Moorea. We reserved a car which we picked up at the dock and drove to the Lagoonarium, about 35 minutes. You buy your tickets when you get there and they come and get you by boat to take you out to the motu. It's not a fancy place but there was great snorkelling and lots of rays around. They also did a shark feeding. They gave you a small private area for the day to put your stuff and they had some food you could purchase. I don't remember what we paid but it was very reasonable compared to the ship's excursions, especially since another couple shared the car. We were also able to drive around the island, after we had finished at the Lagoonarium. Unfortunately I no longer have contact information for either the Lagoonarium or the car reservation and I remember I had to hunt for it on the Internet. However, it was certainly a worthwhile day.

[Minoushka]

I heard the family who ran it closed due to some kind of problem ...apparently it is now abandoned ...sounded good

[walkerspt]

Are you sure? I just read two excellent reviews for the Lagoonarium in Trip Advisor dated October and November 2014. There were rumours that it was closed when we went too. It might be worth double checking.

[Silver Sweethearts]

I totally get the manana mentality however I barely have 2months to get my act together

I did get 2responses so far for Nuka Hiva and Bora bora

Can we do things on our own ..I do speak French which should help

Can we hire taxis

Can we go to beaches ?nearby

All i want is to bask in the waters and snorkel to my little hearts content ...is that feasable or a tad difficult

 

How about Moorea,Raite or Rangiroa ....any people near ship offering visits or transportation to nice places to snorkel ...bus?

Im open to suggestions

 

Michele

 

Ask the regulars on the Cruise Critic Paul Gauguin message board. They have "been there, done that" more than once and know the area well.

[Minoushka]

Undfortunately was toldd it was ac no no to enquire on Paul gauguin if i was going with Oceania ....whatever ....:(

[6rugrats]

Undfortunately was toldd it was ac no no to enquire on Paul gauguin if i was going with Oceania ....whatever ....:(

 

Ignore that poster. She thinks she "owns" that board and PG. I just read her posts because they are so ludicrous. It was perfectly fine for you to post there.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Undfortunately was toldd it was ac no no to enquire on Paul gauguin if i was going with Oceania ....whatever ....:(

 

Sorry about that Michele, my fault. Perhaps try the Pacific Islands board.

 

I do know that there was fierce competition on the island of Moorea while I was staying there for a pre-cruise in September--they were even touting at the airport prior to the flight from Papeete. Someone over at the PG board mentioned Albert's--that would be a good start on that island. I only have their transport email address, but it's a start: <info@albert-transport.net>. They do rent cars for periods like four hours or single days--that's certainly an option on Moorea, although they do run other tours like ATV and 4x4 tours.

Edited November 16, 2014 by Wendy The Wanderer

[Travelcat2]

Because the islands you will be visiting are small, is it possible that Oceania has many of the tour operator "booked" for the time the ship will be in port? This may not be the case when the PG is in port since she is quite a bit smaller. We have been Tahiti several times -- only once on a ship (the PG) and booked ship tours. BTW, French Polynesia is not the only area where it is difficult to book excursions -- passengers on our upcoming Caribbean cruise are having the same difficulty there. Sometimes you have to "bite the bullet" and book Oceania tours.

Edited November 16, 2014 by Travelcat2

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Because the islands you will be visiting are small, is it possible that Oceania has many of the tour operator "booked" for the time the ship will be in port? This may not be the case when the PG is in port since she is quite a bit smaller. ...

 

This may be true on some of the islands. But on Nuku Hiva, apparently, O is not doing any tours--you're on your own. And one group on the roll-call seems to have hired the only viable guide, who has gone out and found as many drivers as possible. We did a 4x4 tour there, and it was great, but I think many of these pax, including friends of mine who are on this cruise, are going to be out of luck on this island.

[Minoushka]

I got in with the one tour operator ...I wrote to her in French

[mrssbi]

We did Tahiti on O a few years ago. Our cruise was in April and in November I had problems getting independent tours.

 

Moorea....We got a day pass at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa. Price included facilities and lunch. Took cab from "pier". Hotel could have not been nicer and more welcoming. Nice respite after long flight

Raiatea.....tour with Bruno Fabre

Bora Bora....Patrick was full but we did a great snorkeling tour with Reef Discovery. Was raining hard but tour went on. In afternoon took letruck to famous restaurant. Booked jeep tour on pier for next morning but raining too hard to even get off tender

Rangiora.....Reef Islands tour

Nuka Hiva tour of 4 valleys with Claude...Nuka Hiva was great and tour wonderful.

 

 

If you haven't contacted any of these guides I can provide further information However they are the popular ones. Hope you find something

[Minoushka]

I think we too will spend the day in Moorea at the Hilton ...are reservations needed?

In all places but Rangiroa we have contacts ,..I wrote to Yannick ...waiting for reply

Pretty much done but thanks

 

Idea for second

Bora bora day is nice

Please forward

 

Mmemichele13ataoldotcom

[TERRIER1]

We did French Polynesia on the Marina over a year ago. The cruise was great but if I had to do it over I would go on the PG or the Aranui 5 when she is built. The Marina is just too big for these islands. Here is who we used but they were booked a year in advance.

 

Moorea....we shared a cab and went down to the beach next to the Les Tipaniers Resort. It's free and there is a restaurant as well. Very nice beach.

Raiatea.....tour with Bruno Fabre

Bora Bora....Patrick motu picnic. Was raining hard but tour went anyway. It stopped raining later in the day.

Rangiora.....Pa'aate Trurs with Leon Revault

Nuka Hiva tour of valleys with Claude and then dinner at Jocelyn's with tour

Edited November 18, 2014 by TERRIER1

[mrssbi]

Sorry it took me so long to answer. Sounds like your tours are coming together. For the Hilton I did go on line and made arrangements ahead of time. Right through their web site. We enjoyed it very much. Enjoy your cruise and hope jeep tour in Bora Bora works out the second day.