Tahiti Stay on Ship or Day use Hotel

[Mauizach]

:confused: I understand the Pacific Princess debarks starting at 6:00 AM in Tahiti. But if your plane does not leave until 10:00 PM and you have a Princess Transfer to the airport what or where is the best place to go and when would you want to leave the ship? I am sure my TA could help but would prefer someone who has been there so to speak. Thanks for any advice...

[WeBeGone]

I'm assuming you mean the Tahitian Princess? We booked a half day tour with Patrick. Got back around noon. Ate lunch, went shopping, ate dinner in the buffet, and left for the airport at 7pm for our 11:00pm flight. Easy-you check your carry on up at Sterlings and claim them by 7. You have full use of the ship all day but have to be out of your cabin by 9.

[Mauizach]

Thanks was not sure where they would hold the bags or if they would...But we are on the Pacific Princess coming down from Hawaii. By the looks of everything it my be one of the last. Princess seems to be pulling back in Tahiti, not sure why or what is the cause. Again thanks for the help...

[TexasMom2]

Just got off the TP on Monday and during a conversation with Tom, Casino Manager, he explained that TP was leaving because of government fees. Several tour operators told us they would be hurt badly when TP leaves. Hopefully the government will come to their senses once they realize the revenue lost.

[margord]

Staying on the ship and enjoying the "free" meals should be no problem. It is a nice thing they do in Tahiti for those passengers flying home that evening.

[Toto2Kansas]

We have only ran into one real problem with staying on the ship the last day on both our departures from Papeete. Since you have to vacate your cabin in the AM for the new passengers arriving, it is a long day of tours and just hanging out. The biggest problem was with the heat, grabbing a shower before heading to our flights. We had been told that we could use the spa showers to freshen up and change, but upon checking, they told us NO way NO how. One guy got so angry, he went to the spa and told them if he wasn't allowed to take a shower before he left the ship, he was heading down to the pool showers and stripping off there and taking care of it. HE was allowed to use the spa showers just because he threw a fit, the rest of us were not.

So, if it is hot and sticky, and you plan to stay onboard, remember this warning. LOL Flights normally don't leave until almost midnight, and you don't head to the airport until after 7:00 PM, so it can be a long hot afternoon of sitting around the pool.

[Mauizach]

Thanks Toto2Kansas

We are from Phoenix so hopefully the heat should not be a problem. But my poor wife is not used to the wet heat like down there. Thanks for the tips, I wonder if Pacific Princess Spa is still with that contractor or does Princess control it now? I know some of the Princess ship are now under Princess control in the spa. Thanks goodness for that, sometimes I thought I was at a Timeshare Sell or a Car Sell in the spa. My wife said to say Hi she went to KState...but her mom went to KU...what a mess that was! I can not wait until this cruise I really want to try the smaller ship out for a change.

[Toto2Kansas]

GO K-STATE! Tell her she is on OUR side. ;) I am sure you will love the cruise, even with the few drawbacks it has, I LOVE TAHITI!

[guardhouse]

We were in Tahiti last spring. Wife is disabled. We went to the airport on our own, ahead of the group. We did spend the day back and forth in Papeete before we left, ate all meals onboard and were able to pay for drinks as we went. It was great. Nice naps in the deck chairs. IMHO, no need for a day room. Use the $$ for drinks and sightseeing.

 

Have a GREAT time!

[chasetf]

Just got off the TP on Monday and during a conversation with Tom, Casino Manager, he explained that TP was leaving because of government fees. Several tour operators told us they would be hurt badly when TP leaves. Hopefully the government will come to their senses once they realize the revenue lost.

What a shame to hear that. It is what we speculated, as it did not make any other sense as to why they would leave.

I am sure not only those that have Princess connections for tours, but those that did "pick up" tours on the dock would be hurt. We met some tour boat owners that would follow the ship around the "closer" islands, and be at the next island the next day at the new port.

[anniversarycruiser40]

We just arrived home from the Tahitian Princess 7/10. We stayed on the ship the last day in Pateete and had reserved their private spa deck at the start of the cruise. The cost is $15pp. It has a deck, large hot tub and a shower room. We saw maye six other people there the last day. We had to be out of our cabin by 10 am. We ate breakfeast, took a nap in the Cabernet lounge (no one else was there), watched a movie, ate lunch and spent the rest of the time on the spa deck. We were tired and it made for a nice relaxing day before getting back to the reality of life. You will love Tahiti.

[Aussie Gal]

:confused: I understand the Pacific Princess debarks starting at 6:00 AM in Tahiti. But if your plane does not leave until 10:00 PM and you have a Princess Transfer to the airport what or where is the best place to go and when would you want to leave the ship? I am sure my TA could help but would prefer someone who has been there so to speak. Thanks for any advice...

 

 

As you will be on the Pacific Princess I would not assume that you will be allowed to stay on board all day like on the Tahitian Princess.

 

I would get your T.A. to find out from Princess if you will be allowed to stay on the ship as everyone may have to disembark like in a normal port. Is the ship returning to Hawaii or is it going someplace else?

 

I have been on the T.P. twice and it is a great idea that they let people who are on the late flights stay on board all day. Personally, I would rather take a Day Room at one of the big hotels and relax around their pool and be able to take a shower when I want as it is very hot and humid.

 

We were there in June this year and I thought it wouldn't be so hot as when we were there in March, 2004. I was mistaken, it is still very warm and I would hate to travel home after being out and about all day without being able to take a shower. We did the Tahiti to Hawaii cruise and it was great.

 

Jennie

[gizmodog]

anniversarycruiser40

have you written a review of your trip yet? I would love to read it, we are booked 2008 for Tahiti and I am eating up any and all information I can find.

 

Thanks so much

[cruiselvrs]

We reserved a room at the Intercontinetal. The resort is beautiful. We spent the entire day relaxing by the pool. The front desk called a cab for us when we were ready to go to the airport. The airport is about 5 minutes away.

[mstyrs]

:eek: :eek: :eek: OH NO!!! WHAT DID I READ THIS RIGHT!WE WERE PLANNING TO DO THE TAHITI TO HAWAII CRUISE IN NOV. NEXT YEAR PLEASE TELL ME THERE WILL BE DOING THIS:confused:

[Toto2Kansas]

:eek: :eek: :eek: OH NO!!! WHAT DID I READ THIS RIGHT!WE WERE PLANNING TO DO THE TAHITI TO HAWAII CRUISE IN NOV. NEXT YEAR PLEASE TELL ME THERE WILL BE DOING THIS:confused:

 

Check the Princess website, it seems there are only two sailings next year, 2008. One is in May, Papeete to Honolulu and the other September in the reverse, but that is all that is showing up.

[terrierjohn]

We have only ran into one real problem with staying on the ship the last day ............, .......grabbing a shower before heading to our flights. We had been told that we could use the spa showers to freshen up and change, but upon checking, they told us NO way NO how...... .

On the TP on June 29th after Hawaii-Tahiti cruise there was no problem using the spa showers, if you were prepared to queue.

[Mauizach]

That is why we booked this Nov., heard a rumor from our TA they are having all kinds of issues with the goverment there. No real facts on our part just really wanted to do this cruise early in case it goes by by. My wifes Dad loved Tahiti, he stayed at Mother Stuart's. I am going to try and see if anyone heard of her place and what happened to it. :D I am already to go, November is really taking a long time to get here...

[Toto2Kansas]

On the TP on June 29th after Hawaii-Tahiti cruise there was no problem using the spa showers, if you were prepared to queue.

 

All I can figure is there were lots of complaints and now they are allowing it. Our cruise was back in 2005, so about 18 months or more ago, and back then, they said a definite NO. Glad to hear it is now allowed without question..............!

[mstyrs]

WOW!! AND WE WERE GOING THIS OCTOBER MY DH ASK ME BERMUDA OR TAHITTI & HAWAII. I HAD NO IDEA 'OH' WELL EARLY NEXT YEAR HOPE WE ARE NOT TO LATE.:D THANKS FOR THE UPDATE IAM ON IT!!!:rolleyes:

[anniversarycruiser40]

;)

anniversarycruiser40

have you written a review of your trip yet? I would love to read it, we are booked 2008 for Tahiti and I am eating up any and all information I can find.

 

Thanks so much

 

 

Yes, am planning a review soon...will try to post it in this thread and also in French Polynesia thread. It has been hectic since back ,catching up (we have a business), hope to have it up in the next week.;)

[terrierjohn]

Check the Princess website, it seems there are only two sailings next year, 2008. One is in May, Papeete to Honolulu and the other September in the reverse, but that is all that is showing up.

Currently the Princess site is not showing anything for the TP after the 28th Sept sailing to Papeete until the 19th Dec Papeete to Ft Lauderdale sailing. But presumably it will be doing some sort of Tahitian cruises during this period.

[Aussie Gal]

Whilst we were on the T.P. in June on our Tahiti to Hawaii cruise, we were told that the T.P. is going into dry dock for changes around September/October this year.

 

They are leaving Tahiti because their 5 year contract is up with the Tahitian Government and they are finding that visas for the crew are becoming too difficult especially for those from the Philippines. If a crew member becomes ill, then it takes months for a new crew member to get a visa. We found the ship was understaffed, especially in the dining room. Very different from our first cruise on the T.P. back in 2004.

 

Jennie