PG embarkation

[scb]

I tried searching for the answer, wasn't able come up with exactly the info I would like--can you board early on the PG? We always try to board around 1-1:30 on other Regent cruises. I seem to remember reading that since departing passengers stay on later on the PG now, arriving passengers are discouraged from boarding much before the 3:00 listed time. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me?

Thanks much. :D

[paulmichael]

I tried searching for the answer, wasn't able come up with exactly the info I would like--can you board early on the PG? We always try to board around 1-1:30 on other Regent cruises. I seem to remember reading that since departing passengers stay on later on the PG now, arriving passengers are discouraged from boarding much before the 3:00 listed time. Can anyone confirm or deny this for me?

Thanks much. :D


We have been on the PG 12 times, going again 1/7/09. Boarding time is never the same, sometimes we can get on as early as 1, most of the time it's 2ish.

have a great cruise

Mike

[Wendy The Wanderer]

The stated time of 3 p.m. is the time when they want passengers to embark. You can slip on earlier sometimes, as the previous poster has said, but they discourage it, unlike the rest of the fleet.

[scb]

Thanks so much, that's what I thought!

[Shipandshore]

The last people to disembark are the ones going directly to the Radisson and bypassing the city tour. They do not get off until around 2ish. We were told by a copassenger that it was not so great being on the ship at that time since the bars were closed,no toilet tissue in the rest rooms, the staterooms not available and the ship really not ready for passengers until 3ish.Please let us know what you find out about early boarding. We have boarded at 3 and found our rooms available and everything ready to go for us. It really gave us a head start on the cruise since we could walkaround and acquint ourselves with the ship,get a book from the library(the best Tahiti books go quickly).

[gangof 5]

Hello, back a week and still remembering the good times. We got on the boat at 2:30 and that was really the earliest they would let us. We were able to check our luggage at the boat around 1pm walk around visit Le Marche and have some lunch in one of the nearby restaurants. After we did check in our luggage arrived soon and were settled and unpacked by 4. I believe this may be different from some of the other ships but we did see passengers still leaving at 1 when we checked our luggage.

[scb]

Thank you again all! We did our first PG cruise (actually first ever cruise) in 1999 and have wanted to go back ever since. Can't wait to get back onboard, though we'll wait until 2:30 or so. ;)

[vaitape]

We've boarded as early as 2 but were held in the Gran Salon until 3 pm when processing began (photo id, passport surrendering, and then escorted to our cabin). While in the Gran Salon, we were given champagne, water or juice, and tea sandwiches while we waited.
We've left our bags dockside as early as 1 pm and then went to lunch at our favorite restuarant which is within walking distance of the pier.
It's nice to drop off your bags and visit the marche as folks have mentioned. Helpful to keep in mind that some shops in Papeete town close between 12:30ish to 2:30ish for their lunch break.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

scb, congrats on making it back to paradise! Our first ever cruise was on the PG in 2000!

Vaitape, if the ships close at 12:30, do you know if you can drop your bags off at the pier earlier than that? Oh, and can you remind me what the name of your favourite restaurant is?

Are you still onboard for the December cruise? There's a roll-call for it.

[vaitape]

Wendy: Our favorite resto is Lou Pescadou, near the cathedral on Rue Anne-Marie Jovouhey. Anoitoher way to find it is to locate passage Cardella right behind the Centre Vaima and follow that til you come out on Rue A-M-J. Lou's will be on the right (there's a pharmacy on the left). We've been going there since 1985 and never been disappointed. Mario the owner is in France now but his son is running it with the same wait staff and same menu. The food is good quality Italian at a reasonable price and the pizzas from the woodburning oven are wonderful. Shorts are just fine in this very casual bistro. Fan, open windows, no a/c.

We've also found a good place for Chinese dishes at Snack Memene at 27 rue Colette....next to the Pearl Market....again, super casual locals place where you can have huge plates of food, ice cold Hinanos, and watch the locals play lotto. Poisson cru is 5 star. Open air but with ceiling fans, no a/c.

We found an incredible roulotte this summer too but don't want to hijack this thread so will stop here!!! Email me if you want more.....do you still have my address?

[vaitape]

oops, got carried away with restos....
can't answer your question as we've not arrived at the dock earlier than 1 pm. We've left our bags without any problems though.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Vaitape, yes I do have your address. I'll drop you a line with my new one.

[vaitape]

got it!!! and sent one to you.......Mauruuru....see you soon!

[fireflytx]

We got on the ship around 2pm last Sept.. from the time we were greeted at the gates, went to the Grand Salon and checked in, received champagne, and escorted to our room by our butler, our luggage was already waiting for us. The entire process took about 25 minutes. We are READY to do this again someday !