Live from the pg

Boarding was as effortless as ever. We wheeled our bags over and rested in the Grand Salon with light refreshments. Lots of hugs and welcome back from staff.

Elmo is on holiday, Michael Reyes waiter is now elsewhere. Arnold has left and so has Kelly. Melliton and Lakshman have risen up in the Regent ranks. Of course plenty of familiar faces- Efren looking as young as ever, Randy who played hide and seek with us at La Palette and Jan Michel. Cesar is at L'etoile along with Miki. Miki of course is the quintessential european gentleman now a dying breed.

I met the ne F&B Manager who used to be achef on board for a short while and the very pleasant Hotel Director Nelson Trindade who will be moving to the Tere Moana ( god help him!). Nelson offered a bridge tour etc for my group of newbies which is wonderful!

Our cabin was really nice and hopefully hasnt spoiled me for other trips on Deck 4. A bottle of Roederer awaited and also two bottled of regular liquor. Also a beautiful arrangement and a small box of Godiva. Since I am allergic to some flowers I passed the arrangement on to someone in my group of four couples.

The PG being the PG all arrangements were perfect other than our repeaters benefits all other OBCs etc were in the cabin. I could just feel that this cruise was going to be perfect unless of course the cyclone made a wrong turn at the Cooks and came our way.

Dinner was lovely affair with our roll call group. The service and food was excellent .

Tiki, I did ask that they add the Creme Brulee as a speciality available everyday. This is a signature dish of the ship so whyw ould they take it off menu. The Hotel Director said it would be printed on the menu from today. I havent had the courage to shout at them for serving us the wrong butter but maybe we can special request it for the repeaters cruise!!

DH had the beef and as someone already posted the quality has gone down considerably since our last trip about 18 months ago. The fish though was excellent both yesterday and today so that is a plus.

The ship docked at Maroe? not Fare and we took Le Truck to Fare - free shuttle provided by the ship. I didnt like the Maitai beach so we returned fairly soon. As we waited for the bus Dh asked one of the local Mamas where he could buy me a breadfruit. She immediately asked her grandson to cycle home and get me a couple from her tree. So my special treat at lunch was breadfruit fries... yum.

Ivan had already made arrangements for me to have some in Bora Bora but a breadfruit in hand.....

Dinner tonight will be with Michael Shapiro.... sure it will be fun as he is always so entertaining. I know that Donna will be with us not sure of others from our group.

Donna, Liz and Kim are off on Marc's tour. Perfect weather today.

Miriam

Tell Michael that TikiinTahiti says hi (Jerry & Zelle). Glad he had dinner with the elderly lady during the Holiday cruise, made her feel special and she needed that.

A nice way of 'selling' the butter issue would be to buy a half pound at the store, give it to your server and tell him to make sure you have it on your table at every meal ............ they will get the hint.

Glad about the Creame Brulee :D

Hi Miriam -

I am sure your dinner with Michael was great fun. Tell him when next you see him that we expect him to arrange his schedule so that he is our CD on 6/26!;)

Sorry to hear about a couple of our favorites being gone, but glad that others are still around. Say to Ivan for us!

We are all living vicariously through you this week! Making me very excited about this summer!

Cheers!

Steve

Emdee,

great to have the updates, thanks for taking the time to post.

looking forward to being back in FP again - planning on this summer if we can make it.

oh yes, and creme brulee!

Tess

I love these live from threads - keep it coming Emdee!

I love this! I'm so jealous... please keep updating as I'm re living it though this thread!!

Our group bookings with same TA were all invited to dinner with Michael Shapiro. As usual he is full of fun, stories, wit and always the perfect host. He made sure that everyone on our table was brought into the conversation. About the creme brûlée he told me that only my menu had it listed everyday and that he warned them staff about me! I don't know why as I seldom say Miao unless provoked....

The staff are divided in how they address me led by Ivan some call me mama Miriam. To the other half it's mrs Colin!

Same great service and plenty of smiles.

BB Motu was lovely but sun and rain in turn. We went there both days.

Today looks like more rain.

Made a donation in the Casino which needs further updating. Why do they have 70s reject machines.

Food in la veranda was good. Beef per DH was good so could be some cuts of meet only.

Shop now says Robert wan and hinerava fashions.

To me there are two great elements to this product FP and the staff.

There is an undercurrent of unhappiness among some staff. Last time we were here thy were all very happy. Thre appears to be reservations this time. Colleagues have moved up in regent/silversea as well.

Pg cruises should do everything to retain their staff who are what makes the ship special. They really need to be appreciated.

Feedback from our guests is goodI take the time to quiz people who are new. One of our group found the travel on coerce rude ...not sandi who is super

I haven't met the captain but the staff d o like him a lot.

It's great o be back.....

Miriam

for the 14 day cruise so I am hanging on your every word. All advice and recommendations will be appreciated. Our cabin will be on deck 7, at the stern, in the middle. We arrive Friday night and will stay at the IC.

On other cruises we have always been able to board an hour or two before the official boarding time, though we may not have access to our cabin. Is this the case with PG as well or do they really not board anyone until 3 pm? We are anxious to book our dive excursions before they fill up and want to get there asap. We were considering taking a taxi to the pier instead of waiting for the PG transportation, if we could board before 3 pm.

Thanks and have fun!

Patti

Thanks for the report!

Boarding was as effortless as ever. Elmo is on holiday, .

Have a wonderful cruise. But, I know it is a bummer Elmo is not there. :)

Texed,

Ray is in charge.

You are coming on the repeaters I hope.

for the 14 day cruise so I am hanging on your every word. All advice and recommendations will be appreciated. Our cabin will be on deck 7, at the stern, in the middle. We arrive Friday night and will stay at the IC.

 

On other cruises we have always been able to board an hour or two before the official boarding time, though we may not have access to our cabin. Is this the case with PG as well or do they really not board anyone until 3 pm? We are anxious to book our dive excursions before they fill up and want to get there asap. We were considering taking a taxi to the pier instead of waiting for the PG transportation, if we could board before 3 pm.

 

Thanks and have fun!

Patti

We have taken a cab before. They will board you about 10 to three but not earlier. If you cab it you will miss the rush of buses.

I am sure you will enjoy the trip.

The pg is going strong and is a spectacular experience.

Miriam

Saw the dolphins going into Rangiroa. They escorted the ship in either side.

Tomorrow the blue lagoon. Hope the weather holds. We had a great day today.

Miriam

I can't wait to hear about the blue lagoon...I can close my eyes and be back there in a heartbeat. Have an amazing time!!!!!

Miriam -

Just got an email from the TA about 2014. Maybe I should retire before next year? Of course, then I couldn't afford the cruise!:(

Texed,

You are coming on the repeaters I hope.

No, we can't go at that time. Jacquie's school is in session.

Aloha EmDee.... I too wish Elmo was on for you, as last summer he spoiled me at every sighting...had my favorite beverage in my hand within 2 minutes at most!

Mary and I are so happy for you to be where you are right now....

We so wish we were along side you ...heading for the Blue Lagoon! Have a great journey and look forward to more postings.

Chuck and Mary

Words cannot express the beauty of the place. The weather was perfect. Since my official photographer (DD) was not with me I will have to rely on some people in our groups pictures to show you the beauty.

Ato picked us up and we were off to a coral garden where the snorkelers snorkeled for a while. My own group of 12 was also accompanied by another boat of lurkers who had read all our postings. Sad they didnt come on the board as its always nice to have a larger group on the board.

It was Ato,s birthday so before starting out we all sang to him...

The lagoon was maginificent and breathtaking. It was better than the last time and felt surreal almost like a place that exists only in one's imagination. One of our group did a yoga headstand onthe edge of the sand and the picture could grace any travel magazine or health magazine.

From there we went to the swimming pool the lagoon within the lagoon where I enjoyed wallowing in the water.

Ato's operations is much improved - he now has plastic stools, fish kebobs of two kinds as well as a host of other foods. He still grilled the whole fish on the BBQ and made the coconut bread. He also had a number of condiments and sauces including a delish sweet and sour one.

Lunch was followed by feeding the sharks and some more wallowing in the bath water.

ON our return he took the boat outside the lagoon turning it so that the centre of the water was flat like glass. A non swimmer like myself could look at the crystal clear depths and enjoy the huge red fish , sharks and other species. Of course our CC group jumped right in and snorkelled. Hope Loungelizard posts her underwater pics as her DH had some heavy duty equipment.

Just a spectacular day.

PG as wonderful as ever. Staff ever willing to please and food pretty good. There is no question that service on board is 8stars. It is the pG's strongest point like I said .... that and the beauty of FP.

Words cannot express the beauty of the place. The weather was perfect. Since my official photographer (DD) was not with me I will have to rely on some people in our groups pictures to show you the beauty.

 

Ato picked us up and we were off to a coral garden where the snorkelers snorkeled for a while. My own group of 12 was also accompanied by another boat of lurkers who had read all our postings. Sad they didnt come on the board as its always nice to have a larger group on the board.

 

It was Ato,s birthday so before starting out we all sang to him...

 

The lagoon was maginificent and breathtaking. It was better than the last time and felt surreal almost like a place that exists only in one's imagination. One of our group did a yoga headstand onthe edge of the sand and the picture could grace any travel magazine or health magazine.

 

From there we went to the swimming pool the lagoon within the lagoon where I enjoyed wallowing in the water.

 

Ato's operations is much improved - he now has plastic stools, fish kebobs of two kinds as well as a host of other foods. He still grilled the whole fish on the BBQ and made the coconut bread. He also had a number of condiments and sauces including a delish sweet and sour one.

 

Lunch was followed by feeding the sharks and some more wallowing in the bath water.

ON our return he took the boat outside the lagoon turning it so that the centre of the water was flat like glass. A non swimmer like myself could look at the crystal clear depths and enjoy the huge red fish , sharks and other species. Of course our CC group jumped right in and snorkelled. Hope Loungelizard posts her underwater pics as her DH had some heavy duty equipment.

 

Just a spectacular day.

 

PG as wonderful as ever. Staff ever willing to please and food pretty good. There is no question that service on board is 8stars. It is the pG's strongest point like I said .... that and the beauty of FP.

Hi Miriam: Great to see that you are having a great time, and i agree that the PG staff and service is some of the best of the best.

Mike

So glad you had such a great day. Ato's tour is heaven on earth.

Hi Kim,

Good to see you here, . I missed this excursion, but will be sure to take it next time we go. (should be this year!!) I'll just re-read your excellent review and imagine myself in the lagoon........:D

Tess

Hey Tess and Clairesmom ... how you all doing....Mary and I are still plugging away at work.....and doing the Hawaii cruise this summer....

Sounds like EmDee is doing great.... I know she loves that blue lagoon thing with Ato, as we did it with her 2 summers ago, and yes, it is one of the top 5 things best things I have ever done. When you consider just where you are on the face of this earth when you go there.

Aloha,

Chuck and Mary