Early Embarkation and Covid 19 Test

[azdrydock]

If PG is using a strict interpretation of the 72hr rule as opposed to the 3 day rule for the PCR test  we will probably run out of time around 11AM. Plan is to drop off luggage and "embark" as early as possible, leave the ship and then return in the evening. Is this possible?

 

Also noticed there is no longer any mention of PG on the Ponant website other than an old news release, Ponant is not mentioned on the PG site. Has the relationship dissolved?

Edited December 19, 2021 by azdrydock

[azdrydock]

.....

Edited December 19, 2021 by azdrydock

[stephenandrew]

On 12/18/2021 at 10:44 PM, azdrydock said:

If PG is using a strict interpretation of the 72hr rule as opposed to the 3 day rule for the PCR test  we will probably run out of time around 11AM. Plan is to drop off luggage and "embark" as early as possible, leave the ship and then return in the evening. Is this possible?

 

Also noticed there is no longer any mention of PG on the Ponant website other than an old news release, Ponant is not mentioned on the PG site. Has the relationship dissolved?

 

Re the second question:

 

https://us.ponant.com/paul-gauguin

[SWFLAOK]

In the past, Paul Gauguin has never allowed early embarkation. It's always been 3PM and you wait in the parking lot with your luggage if you arrive before then. I would be surprised if they allowed you to go through the boarding process at 11AM. It can't hurt to call PG (not Ponant) and ask, and if they say you can, ask for an email confirmation.

[azdrydock]

11 hours ago, stephenandrew said:

 

Re the second question:

 

https://us.ponant.com/paul-gauguin

I don't think you can get to this from within the Ponant site. You can only get there directly or via external link. You can't get any active information on PG from links within this section. Could be a place holder to link to the new PG site or just there so you don't get a page not found error from existing external links.

Edited December 22, 2021 by azdrydock

[azdrydock]

6 hours ago, SWFLAOK said:

In the past, Paul Gauguin has never allowed early embarkation. It's always been 3PM and you wait in the parking lot with your luggage if you arrive before then. I would be surprised if they allowed you to go through the boarding process at 11AM. It can't hurt to call PG (not Ponant) and ask, and if they say you can, ask for an email confirmation.

Did contact them and a very terse answer was no early boarding, no leeway on 72hrs and get a new PCR test in Tahiti 

Do you know if there are any short term luggage facilities near by?

[SWFLAOK]

15 hours ago, azdrydock said:

Did contact them and a very terse answer was no early boarding, no leeway on 72hrs and get a new PCR test in Tahiti 

Do you know if there are any short term luggage facilities near by?

No luggage storage at the port that we found on our 3 previous cruises in 2017 to 2019. On our first cruise in early 2017, we used PG for included air from LAX (which is now a thing of the past with Ponant). PG booked us on a flight from LAX that was scheduled to arrive in Papeete after 11:30PM. I was afraid they would leave without us since embarkation was at 3PM and the ship was scheduled to sail at midnight. Our cruise TA checked with PG, and there were over 70 people heading for our cruise on our flight. Obviously, they waited for us until 1AM when we arrived at the dock.

We missed the first evening of our cruise because we were given this late flight, and couldn't even unpack when we reached our cabin since the seas were rough on our way out of the harbor and we were exhausted. We changed our strategy on the next 2 cruises. We booked 2 nights precruise at the IC Tahiti. That gave us a much better assigned flight that arrived early morning, along with transportation that arrived just in time for 3 PM embarkation. Since the Paul Gauguin is no longer owned by the Intercontinental Hotel Group, those deals are no longer available either.

[azdrydock]

1 hour ago, SWFLAOK said:

No luggage storage at the port that we found on our 3 previous cruises in 2017 to 2019. On our first cruise in early 2017, we used PG for included air from LAX (which is now a thing of the past with Ponant). PG booked us on a flight from LAX that was scheduled to arrive in Papeete after 11:30PM. I was afraid they would leave without us since embarkation was at 3PM and the ship was scheduled to sail at midnight. Our cruise TA checked with PG, and there were over 70 people heading for our cruise on our flight. Obviously, they waited for us until 1AM when we arrived at the dock.

We missed the first evening of our cruise because we were given this late flight, and couldn't even unpack when we reached our cabin since the seas were rough on our way out of the harbor and we were exhausted. We changed our strategy on the next 2 cruises. We booked 2 nights precruise at the IC Tahiti. That gave us a much better assigned fligt that arrived early morning, along with transportation that arrived just in time for 3 PM embarkation. Since the Paul Gauguin is no longer owned by the Intercontinental Hotel Group, those deals are no longer available either.

We will be arriving around 6:30AM the day before and leave at 8:30AM the day after the cruise. We contacted PG via our TA to see what they could do with accommodations and they recommended not doing anything through them.  Will probably stay at the IC and fill in the check in and check out issues when we arrive.