FUN-travel: Tahiti & French Polynesia
January 4, 2010 by Susan Clarke
Day 1 – Wednesday, January 6, 2010 – Tahiti & French Polynesia – 10 days – First Paul Gauguin cruise ******
- Good News – depart San Diego 4:45 pm to Irvine for fabulous meal with son Mike (pre birthday celebration for Chris) Love that carpool lane – No traffic!
- Good News – spend night at LAX Hacienda Hotel, 14 days free parking included
- Good News – free airfare included with cruise – flight departs 1:00 pm
- Bad News – new security measures since December 25th attempted bombing on Detroit bound aircraft creates massive lines to x-ray checked luggage
- Good News – upgrades to business class available
- Bad News – costs $800 per person one way – can’t justify it (you can’t wear an upgrade! so will get nice piece of jewelry instead)
- More Bad News – no economy plus – 8 hour flight in coach
- Good News – arrive Papeete, Tahiti on time, transfer to ship, incredible service and dinner, set sail 11:00 pm
Typical Motu
FF (FUN Facts) – m/s Paul Gauguin offers highest standard of luxury cruising in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and South Pacific – was sold by Reagent to Pacific Beachcomber Company – this is “history in the making” as we set sail on the maiden voyage
Day 2 – Thursday, January 7, 2010 – Arrive Huahine, Society Islands -8:00 am – Depart 5:00 pm – Sunrise 5:37 am – Sunset 6:42 pm
Ancient Temple in Raiatea
- Good News – sleep great, nice sheets & feather pillows
- Good News – nice & warm
Bloody Mary's Bora Bora
- Good News – free shuttle into town
- Bad News – not much to see
- Bad News – cloudy with torrential downpours all day
Not so FF (FUN Facts) – January is rainy season – May, June, July the best – temperature the same all year long – more humid in rainy season
Day 3 – Friday, January 8, 2010 – Chris’s Birthday – Arrive Raiatea, Society Islands – 8:00 am – Depart 5:00 pm – Sunrise 5:42 am – Sunset 6:43 pm
- Good News – see sun
- Bad News – only briefly!
- Good News – get off ship and walk around town
- Good News – share cab with fellow passengers for tour of island
- More Good News – rain stops – see ancient temple ruins – majestic view of ocean & Huahine
- More Good News – have Chris’s surprise birthday party with 10 new friends we met on the ship
FF – Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands and was the religious center of ancient Polynesia
Fish Feeding Frenzy
Day 4 – Saturday, January 9, 2010 – Arrive Rangiroa, Tuamotu Archipelago – 12:00 Noon – Overnight – Sunrise 5:34 am – Sunset 6:25 pm
- Bad News – more torrential downpours – drift snorkel tour canceled
- Good News – take tender to shore
- Bad News – not much to see
- Good News – rain stops – see first ever full, complete rainbow!
Rainbow in Rangaroa
Day 5 – Sunday, January 10, 2010 –Depart Rangiroa, Tuamotu Archipelago – 12:00 Noon – Sunrise 5:31 am – Sunset 6:31 pm
- Good News – cloudy but no rain
- Good News – take snorkel tour at “the Aquarium” – small island surrounded by reefs
- Good News – see the most incredible fish & coral – the sheer volume of fish and different kinds never seen before make it the “best ever”
- Good News – great FUN with fellow passengers at the Pool Deck Bar
- Bad News – set sail amid more torrential downpours with thunder & lightning
FF – Rangiroa is 200 miles NE of Papeete – consists of a series of islands around a lagoon- largest atoll in Polynesia and second largest in world – most lagoons in the Society Islands often murky due to volcanic runoff – water here clean & fresh – Tuamotu Archipelago consists of 78 islands roughly half the size of Western Europe and largest chain of atolls in the world
Day 6 – Monday, January 11, 2010 – Arrive Bora Bora, Society Islands – 8:00am –Overnight – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
Bora Bora Bungalows
- Good News – see sun
- Bad News – hot & 100% humidity
- Good News – fellow passengers share boat for snorkeling & tour
- Good News – feed t he stingrays, see sharks & tons of fish!
- Good News – Jimmy Buffet is at Bloody Mary’s
- Bad News – we foolishly didn’t go there for dinner
Stingrays
FF – Bora Bora is the eroded cone of an extinct and extensive volcano
Day 7 – Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – Bora Bora, Society Islands –Depart 10:00 pm – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
- Good News – no rain
- Good News – fellow passengers share open air jeep for tour of island
- Good News – Paul Gauguin has private beach on Bora Bora Motu
- Good News – more snorkeling
Day 8 – Wednesday, January 13, 2010 – Taha’a, Society Islands –Arrive 8:00 am – Depart 10:00 pm – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
Picture Perfect Palms
- Good News – more sun
- Good News – go to Motu Mahana our own private island
- Good News – white sand beach, sumptuous grill buffet and floating bar await
- Good News – more great snorkeling, purple coral
- Good News – go water skiing
- Bad News – get up but can’t stay up so must try again
FUN at the Floating Bar
FF – Taha’a is located in same barrier reef as Raiatea
Day 9 – Thursday, January 14, 2010 – Moorea, Society Islands –Arrive 8:00 am – Overnight – Sunrise 5:39 am – Sunset 6:39 pm
- Bad News – downpour first thing
- Good News – sun attempts to peak through – clouds consist of varying shades of grey mixed with stark white cotton candy ones
- Good News – free ride to shopping village across island
- Good News – buy one of a kind black pearl bracelet (my trade off for sitting in coach- remember you can’t wear an upgrade!)
FF– Moorea consists of jagged peaks, lush greenery, deep blue ocean –crystal clear lagoons create varying shades of turquoise, pale green and aqua colored water depending on depth (same on Bora Bora)
Bora Bora Boat
Day 10 – Friday, January 15, 2010 – Moorea, Society Islands – Depart 10:00 pm – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
- Bad News – more rain!
- Good News – it stops – we take walk to town
- Bad News – there is no town
- Good News – lavish party and food spread for final sail to Tahiti
- Good News – invited to special six course dinner by Pacific Beachcomber (new owners of Paul Gauguin)
Tahitian Dancers on Taha'a
Day 11– Saturday, January 16, 2010 – Arrive Papeete – Sunrise 6:24 am – Sunset 5:50 pm
- Good News – no rain
- Good News – there is a town
- Bad News – very expensive
- Good News – don’t have to depart ship until 12:30
- Good News – three hour tour included
- Good News – have a day room at the Sheraton
- Bad News – have to leave at 7:40 pm for a midnight flight
- Bad News – get to airport to stand in line for an hour
- Good News – plane takes off on time and we have sleeping pills
Papeete Ancient Temple
Day 12 – Sunday, January 17, 2010 – Arrive LAX 10:00 am
- Good News – we land on time
- Bad News – takes two hours to clear customs
- Good News – stop for Starbucks before we head home
- Good News – no traffic
- More Good News – we LOVE coming home!
Coconut Concoction
Cost of Paul Gauguin Cruise $$$$$
Cost of Ship Cabin – 2 for the price of 1
Cost of all food, beverages & tips – included
Cost of Airfare – Free
Cost of sandwich & 2 cokes last day at hotel – $32.00Doing your homework so you go at the best time of year – Priceless!
Synopsis: We had an expectation of Tahiti and the islands that did not get met. We were a bit underwhelmed. Tahiti is great if you like “remote” and filling your time with water sports. I think Bora Bora was our favorite because the sun shined there and it did have a bit of a “town area.” It is a very long flight and everything was very expensive. We like the Hawaiian Islands. They’re a lot closer and cheaper!
Day 1 – Wednesday, January 6, 2010 – Tahiti & French Polynesia – 10 days – First Paul Gauguin cruise ******
Good News – depart San Diego 4:45 pm to Irvine for fabulous meal with son Mike (pre birthday celebration for Chris) Love that carpool lane – No traffic!
Good News – spend night at LAX Hacienda Hotel, 14 days free parking included
Good News – free airfare included with cruise – flight departs 1:00 pm
Bad News – new security measures since December 25th attempted bombing on Detroit bound aircraft creates massive lines to x-ray checked luggage
Good News – upgrades to business class available
Bad News – costs $800 per person one way – can’t justify it (you can’t wear an upgrade! so will get nice piece of jewelry instead)
More Bad News – no economy plus – 8 hour flight in coach
Good News – arrive Papeete, Tahiti on time, transfer to ship, incredible service and dinner, set sail 11:00 pm
FF (FUN Facts) – m/s Paul Gauguin offers highest standard of luxury cruising in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and South Pacific – was sold by Reagent to Pacific Beachcomber Company – this is “history in the making” as we set sail on the maiden voyage
Day 2 – Thursday, January 7, 2010 – Arrive Huahine, Society Islands -8:00 am – Depart 5:00 pm – Sunrise 5:37 am – Sunset 6:42 pm
Good News – sleep great, nice sheets & feather pillows
Good News – nice & warm
Good News – free shuttle into town
Bad News – not much to see
Bad News – cloudy with torrential downpours all day
Not so FF (FUN Facts) – January is rainy season – May, June, July the best – temperature the same all year long – more humid in rainy season
Day 3 – Friday, January 8, 2010 – Chris’s Birthday – Arrive Raiatea, Society Islands – 8:00 am – Depart 5:00 pm – Sunrise 5:42 am – Sunset 6:43 pm
Good News – see sun
Bad News – only briefly!
Good News – get off ship and walk around town
Good News – share cab with fellow passengers for tour of island
More Good News – rain stops – see ancient temple ruins – majestic view of ocean & Huahine
More Good News – have Chris’s surprise birthday party with 10 new friends we met on the ship
FF – Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands and was the religious center of ancient Polynesia
Day 4 – Saturday, January 9, 2010 – Arrive Rangiroa, Tuamotu Archipelago – 12:00 Noon – Overnight – Sunrise 5:34 am – Sunset 6:25 pm
Bad News – more torrential downpours – drift snorkel tour is cancelled
Good News – take tender to shore
Bad News – not much to see
Good News – rain stops – see first ever full, complete rainbow!
Day 5 – Sunday, January 10, 2010 –Depart Rangiroa, Tuamotu Archipelago – 12:00 Noon – Sunrise 5:31 am – Sunset 6:31 pm
Good News – cloudy but no rain
Good News – take snorkel tour at “the Aquarium” – small island surrounded by reefs
Good News – see the most incredible fish & coral – the sheer volume of fish and different kinds never seen before make it the “best ever”
Good News – great FUN with fellow passengers at the Pool Deck Bar
Bad News – set sail amid more torrential downpours with thunder & lightning
FF – Rangiroa is 200 miles NE of Papeete – consists of a series of islands around a lagoon- largest atoll in Polynesia and second largest in world – most lagoons in the Society Islands often murky due to volcanic runoff – water here clean & fresh – Tuamotu Archipelago consists of 78 islands roughly half the size of Western Europe and largest chain of atolls in the world
Day 6 – Monday, January 11, 2010 – Arrive Bora Bora, Society Islands – 8:00am –Overnight – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
Good News – see sun
Bad News – hot & 100% humidity
Good News – fellow passengers share boat for snorkeling & tour
Good News – feed t he stingrays, see sharks & tons of fish!
Good News – Jimmy Buffet is at Bloody Mary’s
Bad News – we foolishly didn’t go there for dinner
FF – Bora Bora is the eroded cone of an extinct and extensive volcano
Day 7 – Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – Bora Bora, Society Islands –Depart 10:00 pm – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
Good News – no rain
Good News – fellow passengers share open air jeep for tour of island
Good News – Paul Gauguin has private beach on Bora Bora Motu
Good News – more snorkeling
Day 8 – Wednesday, January 13, 2010 – Taha’a, Society Islands –Arrive 8:00 am – Depart 10:00 pm – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
Good News – more sun
Good News – go to Motu Mahana our own private island
Good News – white sand beach, sumptuous grill buffet and floating bar await
Good News – more great snorkeling, purple coral
Good News – go water skiing
Bad News – get up but can’t stay up so must try again
FF – Taha’a is located in same barrier reef as Raiatea
Day 9 – Thursday, January 14, 2010 – Moorea, Society Islands –Arrive 8:00 am – Overnight – Sunrise 5:39 am – Sunset 6:39 pm
Bad News – downpour first thing
Good News – sun attempts to peak through – clouds consist of varying shades of grey mixed with stark white cotton candy ones
Good News – free ride to shopping village across island
Good News – buy one of a kind black pearl bracelet (my trade off for sitting in coach- remember you can’t wear an upgrade!)
FF- Moorea consists of jagged peaks, lush greenery, deep blue ocean –crystal clear lagoons create varying shades of turquoise, pale green and aqua colored water depending on depth (same on Bora Bora)
Day 10 – Friday, January 15, 2010 – Moorea, Society Islands – Depart 10:00 pm – Sunrise 5:46 am – Sunset 6:45 pm
Bad News – more rain!
Good News – it stops – we take walk to town
Bad News – there is no town
Good News – invited to special six course dinner by Pacific Beachcomber (new owners of Paul Gauguin)
Day 11– Saturday, January 16, 2010 – Arrive Papeete – Sunrise 6:24 am – Sunset 5:50 pm
Good News – no rain
Good News – there is a town
Bad News – very expensive
Good News – don’t have to depart ship until 12:30
Good News – three hour tour included
Good News – have a day room at the Sheraton
Bad News – have to leave at 7:40 pm for a midnight flight
Bad News – get to airport to stand in line for an hour
Good News – plane takes off on time and we have sleeping pills
Day 12 – Sunday, January 17, 2010 – Arrive LAX 10:00 am
Good News – we land on time
Bad News – takes two hours to clear customs
Good News – stop for Starbucks before we head home
Good News – no traffic
More Good News – we LOVE coming home!
Cost of Paul Gauguin Cruise $$$$$
Cost of Ship Cabin – 2 for the price of 1
Cost of Airfare – Free
Cost of sandwich & 2 cokes at the hotel – $32.00
Knowing the best time of year to go – Priceless!
Synopsis: We had an expectation of Tahiti and the islands that did not get met. We were a bit underwhelmed. Tahiti is great if you like remote and doing water sports. I think Bora Bora was our favorite because the sun shined there and it did have a bit of a “town area.” It is a very long flight and everything was very expensive. We like the Hawaiian Islands They’re a lot closer and cheaper!