Posted from the Dec 10 2011 Cook Island cruise

I want to start this post with the following disclaimer: this post is basically a chronicle of my own experiences on the Dec 10, 2011 PG cruise to the Cook Islands. I am on my first cruise to FP, but have cruised a few times before. I did post my experience and some of the comments of my fellow cruisers on the live from the PG thread and had some mean spirited replies from people who did not agree and who basically said that my opinion as a first timer to FP was not valid. So, I start with this disclaimer...

First, let me say that this trip so far has been exceptional in every way. I have met some very nice and interesting people at every portion of this trip so far.

My daughter and I flew inn to Papeete on the 8th and stayed for a couple of nights at the Fare Suisse, a small pension run by Beni. It was a very clean and comfortable place to stay and a short walk to town, in a beautiful setting. We had a little time to relax before the cruise and it was nice.

On the morning of the cruise, Beni took us to the pier and we were able to leave our luggage with the ship and walk around town. There is a pub/restaurant there that brews their own beer and we sampled a flight of their different brews. Some were quite good. They even sell beer ice cream but we were dissuaded from ordering it by out waiter who told us that it is made from really old beer... Time passed quickly and it was soon time to board. Such an efficient and smooth boarding process! We we greeted with champaign and escorted to the grand salon and within a few minutes we were in our stateroom.

We are in a porthole cabin, 322. It has been fine for us, lots of light and great views, and I hardly ever see anyone out on their balconies, so I wouldn't worry about upgrading to the balcony cabins if $ is an issue.

The food has been superb in each of the restaurants. I really couldn't pick a favorite- it is all so delicious! It has not been difficult at all to get reservations in either Le Veranda or the Grille, especially if you are willing to share a table with other people. And I would totally encourage that because we have met some really fun people from all over by doing that.

Sail away was not marred in the least by the light, warm rain that we had that lasted for a short time. The first day we were at Huahine, and we did the safari tour with the ship which I can highly recommend. I had posted before that the people I spoke with that had snorkeled were not very impressed. No one I spoke with had gone with an independent tour from Marc, so I am sure that those frequent cruisers who loved snorkeling on Huahine with Marc had the fabulous experiences that they have described. I'm just telling you that on this cruise the people I spoke with that snorkeled were not that impressed. The safari experience was great. Our guide was from Nice, and he had done his military service in Tahiti and then never left. He was very interesting and took us all over the place, even to places none of the other groups went. The island is breathtaking, and we had great fun.

The next day was a day at sea, and we spent the day relaxing by the pool, eating, talking with new friends, eating...you get the idea! There have been absolutely no problems getting a deck chair anytime I've been to the pool. The sun is so hot that there is a fair amount of turnover and there have been no chair hog issues on this cruise.

The next day we were supposed to go to Aitutaki, but the captain changed the order due to sea conditions and we went to Rarotonga first. Have you ever been somewhere for the first time and just know that you could really stay there and be happy? Rarotonga was that place for me. Beautiful land, beautiful water, beautiful people... I am a nurse and was interested to do the ship's excursion with Pa, the local healer who did a walk with us to explain some of the medicinal uses of the plants on the island. H has physicians from all over the world who come and study with him. It was great. I learned that the juice from some hot peppers will stop mosquito bites from itching, and that if you pick a noni fruit and smear the juice on you it will prevent them from biting at all. And it only stinks until it dries...

Yesterday we went to Aitutaki and we did a snorkeling tour with Teking. Fabulous! The scenery is so incredible that no one who has never been here will believe it exists. You know all those backgrounds and screensavers? They had to be shot here! Anyway, there were 48 people from the ship that had booked with him - not a ship tour. In this case we were grateful that we were a large number because we missed the last tender to the ship! They came and got us and we weren't in trouble, so it ended up being a great adventure. They took us in 5 boats so it was no more than 10 people in each boat. We saw beautiful purple coral, purple starfish, and many beautiful fish. They served us a barbecue lunch with tuna and fruit and it was delicious! We stopped for snorkeling at three different places and it just got better and better.

Today is a day at sea enroute to Bora Bora, and I am spending it by the pool, eating, and having a spa treatment. What a wonderful day!

Just some miscellaneous...

The flight here was long, but not unbearable. The spa offers private steam room treatments for 30 minutes each for free, so even if you don't buy any spa services (but they are incredible!) you can book some steam room treatments. Your fellow passengers are from everywhere and are interesting people. Talk to them! They are a wealth of information and entertainment!!! Remember that this is vacation and be flexible. Every moment is a gift and I am appreciating it fully!

Sorry this is so long, but Internet is quite spotty here, and you get booted off more than you stay on, so it took me four days to download Pages so I could write offline and then post.

Hi JMAS,

I was one of those 'mean spirited' people who shot you down in your other post.... or so you think. It was your statement that 'land tours are the way to go' in Huahine and the snorkelling was not good. Since you have not really seen what the island has to offer I baulked at your categorical statement and said that you lacked perspective. Once you have visited again and done Marc or Armando's tour you will love it more ( IMO) He also combines both land and water in an all day tour.

I adore Aitutaki - havent taken Teking's tour but enjoyed the ships tour there. It was the site of Survivor and if you want to relive the memories you can watch the show.

Glad you are enjoying PG and the FP. Likely you will get the FP flu and go back to enjoy Marc's Huahine excursion!!

Enjoy the rest of your cruise. Make sure you take the safari in Bora Bora and also visit the PG Motu there.

Jmas

Did you book the Teking tour before or after you set sail?

I thought we'd like to do that one, but how do you book when the ship changes the itinerary at the last minute?

We are on the March 3 sailing and I'm glad to here how much you are enjoying it. It will be our first time also.

We cruised about 18 months ago and on my review I agree that the ships snorkel tour in Huhaine was sub par. Not for the snorkeling per se, but due to having only one stop and a rather short tour. We could not reserve privately as our hours at this stop did not coincide with Marc's tour.

We also did the tour with Teking and loved it, so much that we will repeat it again this February. I am a little concerned to hear that he now has 5 boats. One draw of his trip was that it was rather small, two boats the last time. I hope it will be great.

which teking tour do you recommend? We will be in Aitutaki 8-6 in May.

Thanks so much for posting your review. We are doing this cruise at the end of June. It will be our first trip to FP and I'm so excited! If you have any tips or suggestions after your first trip I'd love to hear them.

So glad you had a great time!

Deb

Jmas

Did you book the Teking tour before or after you set sail?

I thought we'd like to do that one, but how do you book when the ship changes the itinerary at the last minute?

On the Nov. 2011 trip to the Marquesas, it was not a problem at all with re-scheduling our individually booked tours when the ship's itinerary changed. Our cruise changed itinerary at least twice, but we simply emailed the vendors we had booked with, and in most instances, they were already aware of the change.

..... No one I spoke with had gone with an independent tour from Marc, so I am sure that those frequent cruisers who loved snorkeling on Huahine with Marc had the fabulous experiences that they have described. I'm just telling you that on this cruise the people I spoke with that snorkeled were not that impressed....

 

Yesterday we went to Aitutaki and we did a snorkeling tour with Teking. Fabulous!....In this case we were grateful that we were a large number because we missed the last tender to the ship!.....

Marc's tour was great and the snorkeling was quite good. We will do his tour again the next time we are in Huahine.

We actually did not miss the last tender in Aitutaki. Teking knew that the last tender was at 5:00 pm. We left One Foot Island precisely at 4:20 pm as Teking instructed everyone and were back at the tender pier around 4:40 to 4:45 pm. Everyone was in time to make the last tender at 5pm. It is routine for the staff to check cabin numbers for those boarding the last tender so the ship can make sure that they are not leaving anyone behind.

which teking tour do you recommend? We will be in Aitutaki 8-6 in May.

The all day tour starting at 10 am will be your only option unless you arrange a private tour.

http://www.teking.co.ck/teking-lagoon-tours-aitutaki-cook-islands/

Have done Marc's tour twice, both times the highlight of my trip. I am very much looking forward to Teking's in a month's time. Have a great Xmas everyone!