When, where and on what ship is your next South Pacific cruise?

[Petoonya]

Mine is an 18 day Papeete- Papeete on Windstar Aug 4, 2022.

Next is 18 day Papeete-LA on Oceania April 14, 2023.

 

Cancelled on cruise Nov 2021 because Windstar for the short term is requiring excursions be WS's only. Not sure how long the mandate will be in effect but not taking chance for next Nov.

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

Summer 2021 - 11 night PPT - PPT, Society/Cooks, Paul Gauguin

Winter 2021 - 11 night PPT-PPT Society/Atolls, Paul Gauguin

Spring 2022 - 11 night PPT-PPT, Society/Cooks, Paul Gauguin

Summer 2022 - 10 night PPT-PPT, Society/Atolls, Paul Gauguin

Fall 2022 - 7 night PPT-PPT, Society Islands, Paul Gauguin

[cayman09]

Sydney to Papeete, 18 days on Regatta in Feb 2023. Our third attempt after two cancelled Regatta cruises, Papeete to SFO. We decided to shake it up and maybe change our luck.

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

9 hours ago, Petoonya said:

Mine is an 18 day Papeete- Papeete on Windstar Aug 4, 2022.

Next is 18 day Papeete-LA on Oceania April 14, 2023.

 

Cancelled on cruise Nov 2021 because Windstar for the short term is requiring excursions be WS's only. Not sure how long the mandate will be in effect but not taking chance for next Nov.

 

August 2022 .... 18 days ... double Society ... nice!

[doug52]

Windstar Star Breeze 11 night Society Islands/Tuamotu islands   October 17,  2021. Plus two nights at the Sofitel Moorea prior and one night after at Manava on Tahiti.

 

While we prefer private excursions,  we will put up with Windstar excursions to just get back to cruising.  Looking forward to comparing Windstar's totally renovated motor cruise ship to the fabulous Paul Gauguin we traveled on a few years ago.

 

 

[Dbld777]

We are booked in March 2022 for the 7 day itinerary on the Star Breeze. First time to FP for us and our Canadian cruising friends. Booked twice before on the Pacific Princess that didn't make it. One cancelled due to Covid in Nov. 2020 and the second booking cancelled due to the sale of Pacific Princess. Thanks to Petoonya, we are now looking forward to sailing Windstar for the first time! Keeping our fingers crossed. We would prefer private excursions as well, however, like Doug52, we will sail and take ship sponsored excursions just to get back on the water and finally see the beautiful FP that you all rave about!

[Heartfelttraveler]

Booked on Windstar Wind Spirit October 2021.

 

I am prepared to follow all necessary rules about testing and mask wearing.

We have booked our airfare and pre and post lodging.

We have booked our excursions (thru Windstar).

We are fully vaccinated.

 

We just got home from a week vacation to Jackson Hole/Teton Village Wyoming.  Our family coped with the mask mandates on the flights and also in public places.  Everyone else was very respectful about following the rules.

 

 

Edited April 17, 2021 by Heartfelttraveler

[Petoonya]

So great to hear everyone's plans. I'm always blabbing on about what excursions I like, so now will be counting on hearing from ya'll about your experiences. Nice to hear that many are resigned and ok with ship's tours. I'll come around too to experience that heavenly water again.

[Petoonya]

Ugh. Looks like Windstar has is probably cancelling Tahiti cruises again- everything until Aug 18 is "call for availability". TBK says no PG until Aug 28. Seemed like we were on the right track.......??

[Petoonya]

I was wrong. So far  Windstar hasn't canceled any Tahiti cruises- heard someone say that they haven't heard anything and he's sailing in July.

[canadianbear]

We are booked for 50 days on Zuiderdam next fall.   Our first time to the South Pacific area.  A big thank you to @Petoonya& @Tahitianbigkahunafor their recommendations on excursions and ideas.  I’ve only booked two so far-“Patrick’s” full day lagoon, snorkel, lunch & also Mermaid private tours.  Still researching! 

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

18 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

We are booked for 50 days on Zuiderdam next fall.   Our first time to the South Pacific area.  A big thank you to @Petoonya& @Tahitianbigkahunafor their recommendations on excursions and ideas.  I’ve only booked two so far-“Patrick’s” full day lagoon, snorkel, lunch & also Mermaid private tours.  Still researching! 

 

Keep in mind when your planning there are more people on the ship than some of the islands your visiting. Meaning ... book excursions early as there will be many cruisers who will not get excursions on some of these islands as they don't have the infrastructure to handle big ships 😉

[canadianbear]

Just now, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

Keep in mind when your planning there are more people on the ship than some of the islands your visiting. Meaning ... book excursions early as there will be many cruisers who will not get excursions on some of these islands as they don't have the infrastructure to handle big ships 😉

I have kept that in mind, thank you!   We have so many islands to visit I’m trying to figure out the best ones to book snorkeling.  

 

 

 

[Petoonya]

@canadianbear

What a fabulous itinerary! Lucky you.

[canadianbear]

9 minutes ago, Petoonya said:

@canadianbear

What a fabulous itinerary! Lucky you.

Thank you-it seems like a wonderful experience to be had.   I’m trying to figure out which are the best islands  to snorkel.  Appreciate your posts and am still reading reviews etc.  

[Petoonya]

@canadianbear

Three recommendations in FP?

Fakarava- spend the day with Ato- fabulous. Great snorkeling and delicious fish lunch. You'd need to find at least 3 more couples to confirm. fakaravaexplorer@hotmail.com

 

Raiatea-  amazing snorkeling around the sister island of Tahaa- the Coral Gardens which is a must- it's like an IMAX of fish. Bruno  and Le Excursion Bleue. https://www.tahaa.net/en/home/ Or

if you like jetskiing this is the place to do it. You'll do everything Bruno does in a day and more. Tons of dolphins.https://www.raiateajet.com/copie-de-qui-sommes-nous

 

Rangiroa- again you won't see more fish than in the Aquarium. Easy snorkeling for tons of fish. And a fun drift snorkel in the Avatoru Pass. You need to have at least some experience snorkeling though, and that part of the trip depends on the tides. https://www.the6passengers.com/en/

 

 

Edited May 4, 2021 by Petoonya

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

I don't see Fakarava on your list of islands ...

 

Agree that the 'Aquarium' on Rangiroa is a must as well as Bruno on Raiatea which takes you to the 'Coral Gardens'.

 

Link to my video of the 'Coral Gardens' 

 

https://vimeo.com/311007932

 

Bora Bora ... several good lagoon vendors  ... Patrick: https://maohinuiborabora.com/aboutus/

 

Rannui - raanuitours@live.fr

 

Pure Snorkeling/Reef Discovery - https://reefdiscovery.com/

Edited May 4, 2021 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[Daniel A]

February 2023 35 days on Zuiderdam:

 

 

◄ Jan 2023	February  2023					Mar 2023 ►
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18   San Diego Depart 1800
19 SEA DAY	20 SEA DAY	21 SEA DAY	22 SEA DAY	23 SEA DAY	24 Hilo, HI Arrive 0800 Depart 1800	25 Honolulu, HI Arrive 0700   OVERNIGHT
26 Honolulu, HI Depart 2300	27   Lahaina Maui, HI Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	28 SEA DAY

 

◄ Feb 2023	March  2023					Apr 2023 ►
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 SEA DAY Cross International Date Line	2 SEA DAY	3   Kiritimati, Christmas Island, Kiribati Arrive 0800 Depart 0700	4 SEA DAY Cross Equator and International Date Line
5   Bora Bora, French Polynesia   Arrive 1400 OVERNIGHT	6   Bora Bora, French Polynesia   Depart 2300	7   Raiatea, Society Islands, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	8   Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 OVERNIGHT	9   Papeete Depart 0500   Moorea Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	10   Maroe Bay, Huahine Iti, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	11   Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700
12 SEA DAY	13   Fakarava, Tuamotu French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	14 SEA DAY	15 SEA DAY	16   Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	17 SEA DAY	18 SEA DAY
19 SEA DAY	20 SEA DAY Cross Equator	21 SEA DAY	22 SEA DAY	23 SEA DAY	24 SEA DAY	25   San Diego Arrive 0700   DISEMBARK
26	27	28	29	30	31

 

 

[57redbird]

2 hours ago, Daniel A said:

February 2023 35 days on Zuiderdam:

 

 

◄ Jan 2023	February  2023					Mar 2023 ►
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18   San Diego Depart 1800
19 SEA DAY	20 SEA DAY	21 SEA DAY	22 SEA DAY	23 SEA DAY	24 Hilo, HI Arrive 0800 Depart 1800	25 Honolulu, HI Arrive 0700   OVERNIGHT
26 Honolulu, HI Depart 2300	27   Lahaina Maui, HI Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	28 SEA DAY

 

◄ Feb 2023	March  2023					Apr 2023 ►
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 SEA DAY Cross International Date Line	2 SEA DAY	3   Kiritimati, Christmas Island, Kiribati Arrive 0800 Depart 0700	4 SEA DAY Cross Equator and International Date Line
5   Bora Bora, French Polynesia   Arrive 1400 OVERNIGHT	6   Bora Bora, French Polynesia   Depart 2300	7   Raiatea, Society Islands, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	8   Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 OVERNIGHT	9   Papeete Depart 0500   Moorea Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	10   Maroe Bay, Huahine Iti, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	11   Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700
12 SEA DAY	13   Fakarava, Tuamotu French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	14 SEA DAY	15 SEA DAY	16   Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia Arrive 0800 Depart 1700	17 SEA DAY	18 SEA DAY
19 SEA DAY	20 SEA DAY Cross Equator	21 SEA DAY	22 SEA DAY	23 SEA DAY	24 SEA DAY	25   San Diego Arrive 0700   DISEMBARK
26	27	28	29	30	31

 

 

We're with you on this one...

[Noodles84]

1 hour ago, 57redbird said:

We're with you on this one...

So are we and even though its so far off, we are still interested in hearing all about it from others. Nicole

[canadianbear]

Does anyone know if there is good snorkeling in Rarotonga?  Thank you.  
 

 

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

8 hours ago, canadianbear said:

Does anyone know if there is good snorkeling in Rarotonga?  Thank you.  
 

 

 

Only good spot is the Marine reserve in front of 'Fruits of Rarotonga'  Captain Tama and his glass bottom boats go there from Muri Beach. You can also rent a car and do the swim out front in front of 'Fruits of Rarotonga'.

 

If you rent a car you can park easily next to the shade cover across the street from Fruits of Rarotonga. If you look closely you can see in the last picture Captain Tamas boats over where the Marine reserve is  ... long swim but if your a good swimmer it's possible.

 

Captain Tamas boats at Muri Beach ... I'm sure there will be a herd of people from the ship on his boats. 

 

You can grab a bite to eat

 

And then eat across the street in the shade

 

Then snorkel in the area of the Marine Reserve

Edited May 5, 2021 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[canadianbear]

@Tahitianbigkahuna

I was thinking of contacting Charlotte Piho who maybe does snorkel excursions in Rarotonga.  Have you or anyone else done a snorkel tour with/through her?  I’d prefer being away from a herd!  

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

9 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

@Tahitianbigkahuna

I was thinking of contacting Charlotte Piho who maybe does snorkel excursions in Rarotonga.  Have you or anyone else done a snorkel tour with/through her?  I’d prefer being away from a herd!  

 

Never heard of her  .... excursion vendors often come and go except the big ones like Tama. But why not rent a car .... cheap, easy to walk to  .... and you have complete freedom. When I go every year I always rent a car for the day when we are there. 

 

Another place to enjoy for swimming is Black Rock ... won't be many from the ship there. Easy to drive to 😉

Edited May 5, 2021 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[canadianbear]

@Tahitianbigkahuna

 

Thank you so much for the ideas and photos.  Appreciate your answers.  Renting a car sounds like a very good idea depending on if I can contact Charlotte to see what her rate is.