Tahiti-back-to-back vs. pre and post island hotel

[chamima]

I know this has probably been talked to death but I can't find it on a search.Has anyone done back to back Cook and Marquesas cruises?
We were all set to do pre and post at hotels, but when looking at the hotel cost and the cost of meals, decided we would be so aggravated every time we sat down to eat, that it might be more worthwhile to just be on the ship. (We are both vegetarians) We want to have a relaxing, luxurious vacation so it's not really the price of the hotels but the aggravation of the meals that we're concerned about. (One of the nice things about cruising is that no matter what the cost, it's all up front)
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance

[GloriaF]

I was looking at the itineraries recently, and only a couple of ports are repeated in both. I think that when we finally go to Tahiti, doing B2B would be the way to go. It is just too far and too expensive to only spend a few days there! We do not have plans for Tahiti for awhile, though.

Lucky you!! Let us know what you decide and how it was.

Gloria

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001
Grand Princess, Western,April 2002
Regal to Hawaii, April 5-20, 2004

[BJS]

Have not done b2b but did 2 days precruise in Tahiti.

Go for the b2b especially if you are concerned about the "aggravation of the meals". Food is very expensive and not always the greatest on the islands. For us we would choose seeing the other islands rather than staying extra time on one or two islands. Having said that we also prefer cruising over land based vacations.

Future cruises:
5/04 HAL-Amsterdam-Alaska
9/04 Star Princess-Med.x2 Venice to Barcelona/ Barcelona to Rome
11/04 Dawn Princess-Southern Caribbean
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess-Mexican Riviera
July 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Aug. 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess- Southern Caribbean x2
03 Grand Princess-W.Caribbean
03 Sun Princess -Mexico
03-Tahitian Princess-Tahiti/ Cook Islands
03 Royal Princess-x2 British Isles & Norwegian Fjords/ Iceland
03 Island Princess-Panama Canal
01 HAL Ryndam x 2-S. America San Diego to Valpariso/ & around Cape Horn to Rio
00 Sky Princess-China/Orient
79 Sitmar's Fairwind- Caribbean/Panama Canal

[chamima]

bump

[candydane]

Another option would be to cruise from Hawaii & then do a Tahiti cruise (or Tahiti first then cruise to Hawaii). That would cut part of the long air flights.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=dc143c&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0700 &nbsp;to <u>Diamond Princess</u> - Alaska - June 2004

<u>Grand Princess</u> - W. Caribbean - March 2003
<u>Stella Solaris</u> - Mediterranean - May 1981

[Jacqueline]

I would not worry at all about repeating ports. There is plenty to do.

Jacqueline
Constellation 3/20/04
HAL Westerdam 7/30/04
Tahitian Princess August 2003
Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003
Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002
Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001
Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001
Grand Princess Med 2000

[janine543]

I agree that a couple of days on land in the French Polynesian islands costs just as much as the whole 10 night cruise. However.....

We stayed one pre-cruise night at the Le Meridien in Tahiti and found it so relaxing to get adjusted to the time zones.

On the back end of our cruise we did 2 nights at the Moorea Sheraton in a over water bungalow. My husband and I would both have to say it was the most romantic thing we've ever done. We love to cruise and also love land trips. But the concept of being over water with the see through coffee table, etc. was as my daughter would say "over the top". Plus the restuarants in Moorea were just as good as we could get in the finest places in NYC. They for sure can satisfy your veg. diet.

The cruise is great but the last two days were truly something magical.

Hope I didn't confuse you more!

Janine
Zenith 1999 (Bermuda)
Dawn Princess 2000
Carnival Triumph 2001
Grand Princess 2002
Star Princess 2002 (Alaska)
Millennium Jan., 2003
Tahitian Princess May 23, 2003 (South Pacific)
Next: Caribbean Princess July 17, 2004
Then: Star Princess Sept. 1, 2004 (Grand Mediterranean)
And Then: Celebrity Summit Dec. 27th, 2004

[wystiria]

we are doing a B2B in October! CAN't Wait. we came to the same decision when it comes down to price B2B is the way to go, and then you have twice as much time in FP.

I will make sure to write comprehensive review when I get back after a month in FP http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Wystiria~
Tahitian Princess 10/14/04-10/24/04 Back to Back!
Legend 1/03
Holiday 1/02
Destiny 1/01

[chamima]

I really appreciate everyone's replies but I think I'm still not sure. Each argument sounds convincing. We also like cruising over land based vacations (got hooked on our honeymoon 34 yrs. ago) but 3 weeks is a long time to be gone and the over the water bungalow sounds great. Then again we'd love to be the ones not getting off the ship after the first leg of the cruise.
Again, thanks for the help.

[heyjude27]

The Tahitian Princess is definitely the most reasonably priced cruise for FP but have you thought about doing a btob with a different cruise line for the second cruise -- maybe outrageous as in the Aranui. Just a thought. J

[crabbychessie]

Seems to me that btb is along time on a ship, but to each his own! The TP is a very nice ship-just the right size. We did opt for three days at the Moorea Sheraton post-cruise. We walked to the ferry ("lugging our luggage" must have been a hoot for others to see!) after we got off the ship. Moorea only a 45 min. ferry ride from Tahiti-and if you have never stayed in an over-the water bungalow, TREAT YOURSELVES!! It is an experience you will never forget even though almost as expensive as the cruise.We would do it that way again in a heartbeat! And above all, dont miss Marc's Motu picnic and snorkel trip on Huahine.
Regards, Sue and Phil from MD

[chamima]

We're still agonizing. Has anyone done pre AND post island stays through either Air Tahiti Nui or Costco?
We're going in March 05 and packages aren't available yet for us to even look at.

[chamima]

We just received the Tahiti Holiday planner magazine in the mail. A pre and post stay on the islands is looking VERY attractive.
My husband and I are both vegetarians but eat fish (not shellfish). Will we be at least able to eat some of these very expensive meals?
Thanks in advance.
Karen

[karen_cpa]

Where would you do a pre and post-cruise stay? Given the choice, I would do a B2B, as there is not much to do on the actual island of Tahiti. Even some of the busier islands might get a little boring after a few days! Plus the cost of food is unbelievably expensive! At least with the ship there is always something to do, and if a port is repeated you can always enjoy an empty ship to yourselves http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Voyager of the Seas - 05/04
Tahitian Princess - 10/03 (Our Honeymoon)
Carnival Paradise - 08/02

Plus . . . An Open Booking with Princess!!

[chamima]

Karen,
After reading these boards for a while I thought about doing 2 nights pre cruise in Moorea and 3 nights post in Tahaa. Those 5 will probably cost almost the same as another cruise but it might be a totally different experience.
Still can't decide.

[jmike]

Hi, I just returned a few days ago from the May 7th Cook island cruise. After 10 days on the ship, I was ready to get off. The ship is nice, the food average but the ship is very small. If you are use to sailing the mega ships, this ship is hard to adjust to. The casino in very small, very little in pool activities during sea days and tendering at every port except one gets old after awhile. You tour all day, get back in time to change for first seating dinner and after dinner you are so tired you go to bed early. Up the next day at sunrise to get ashore by 8:00 for the next tour.

I did two days post at the Sheraton Moorea in an OTW room and it was a fantastic two days. The snorkling right off your balcony is wonderful. You can swim or snorkle for awhile, then lay on your lounge chair and sip a cold drink and then repeate the process all day long. We never left the room except for meals. Room service is great and the menu is extensive. Very good grilled fish. Yes, the food is expensive but after 10 days of cruise food it was good to cut back to two meals a day. Also the serving sizes are large and we usually split a sandwich and fries. More than enough for two.

Mike

[chamima]

Mike,
Thank you. You addressed some things I was concerned about. Now I just have to wait until Air Tahiti Nui starts advertising packages for March.