Smbruner

I love all of your tips - keep them coming, please!

Can we order these any time at n/c or only at meal times? Thanks - our first PG cruise is this September so I'm new

Are these drinks included or do we have to pay extra?

We're currently booked for Sept. 15 to "Swim with the Whales" with Moorea Activities Center (outside of PG excursions).

Unfortunately, that is the same day that PG offers the Dr. Poole Dolphin Watching Expedition - I've booked that one as well since I heard it sells out quickly - knowing I can cancel later.

I can switch the Moorea Activities excursion to Sept. 14th so we can do both or should I just pick one and go with it?

Any advice on this would be appreciated.

Thanks so much

Dr. Poole's boat holds perhaps about 15 people, as I remember.

 

In general excursions are on the smaller side, because of the size of boats. Land trips might be a bit bigger i you're on a bus, but these are rare.

Good to know - thank you for your quick reply!

Can anyone tell me about how many people PG has on their excursions?

I'm looking at their Dolphin Watching Experience with Dr. Poole as well as the other snorkel trips they offer.

Thanks so much

Try http://www.mooreaactivitiescenter.com

They have whale watching.

 

I'm booked in July with them. Will post report here or on the Windstar Windspirit roll call.

 

 

dandee2

dandee2 - I'm VERY interested to find out what your experience was like with the whale watching with Moorea Activities Center. Our excursions just opened up and there is one to go see Dolphins with Dr. Poole on the same day we're booked with Moorea AC so I booked the ship excursion and might cancel the one I pre-paid for (since I can get a refund). I can always cancel the PG excursion later.

Thank you!

Since the title mirrors the PG excursion in Bora Bora it was a natural extrapolation for me!

 

Other boats sometimes dont have ladders....One has to jump off the back of Ato's boats!

How do you get back ON Ato's boat? I'm booked on his Lagoon tour and now I'm worried about getting back on the boat. I can jump off.

Thank you!

Definitely get a balcony! Celebrity is very nice (never been on Carnival) We have done Princess along the Mexican coast as a ship destination as I don't like Mexico. When we were in port the ship was OURS! Very relaxing!

Saw the excursion details. It's a long train ride but it looks interesting.

 

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It is a long train ride but we figured we may never get the chance to see Moscow unless we did this - so glad we did.

Now when watching the news or other shows and they show pictures of Moscow we can say "we've been there!"

Has anyone taken this tour using the train between St. Petersburg and Moscow? If you have please answer a couple of questions.

 

What are the seats like? (Bench type, airplane type etc. Do they recline)

 

What are breakfast and dinner like? (Box meals, a separate dining car, examples of food)

 

Can you upgrade to better seats (I am a large person) if so any idea of the cost and if they take credit cards.

 

Are there additional food options and do they take credit cards or do you need rubles?

 

Thanks for any input.

I can't speak for Princess' excursion but we did the train (the "high speed one") from St. Petersburg to Moscow a few years ago and had the regular seats. They are 2 on a row assigned seats and they are nice. They do recline and are very similar to airplane seats. Very roomy. For us, if you wanted to upgrade to the Business Class seats you had to do it prior to boarding the train and there really isn't much need for that.

You will need rubles as they don't take credit cards on the train (at least they didn't with us). They do come around with snacks (sandwiches, chips etc) and drinks including beer. Since my husband didn't like the warm beer he and and friend walked to the bar car and had the best time of his life visiting with Russians who were practicing their English.

One tip - do not (especially women) use the restroom at the Moscow train station - use the one on the train as it is very nice, clean and very large! It's one of the best bathrooms I've ever seen on a train or plane. My friends used the women's room at the Moscow train station while I had a beer with my husband. They said the women's toilet was just a hole. I was glad I waited as the train one was fantastic and newly cleaned!

If you can, eat prior to leaving the ship - you will probably have lunch in Moscow at some restaurant like we did. Then snack on the train way back or eat dinner when you return to the ship. Seeing Moscow was so fascinating we didn't think much about being hungry.

The train trip to Moscow is a long day but so worth it. You'll be glad you did it!

I've done sunset cruises on Moorea a couple of times and they were lovely. Can't comment on BB except that of course the lagoon is amazingly beautiful there.

 

As for snorkellng, I would say go for it. I'm about where you are as far as snorkelling ability, and I would do it, although I never have (and probably won't because we enjoy Motu Mahana too much). When you get your snorkel gear on the ship, ask for a flotation vest. This could be a good precaution against feeling like you're "out of your depth", so to speak. I've done drift snorkels before, and the main risk, I find, is getting too close to shallow coral heads, and of course, the current. But if you're good swimmers, healthy and comfortable in the water, you should be fine.

I had my TA ask PG if they supply flotation vests and they said they do not. I'd like to know if they do as if they don't we will purchase them here and bring with us. Thanks for any help with this.

Anyone know if we have to pay for our excursions when we sign up or is it done at the end of the cruise AND what's PG's cancellation policy on excursions?

Ours will become available soon and I'd like to know what to expect.

Thanks so much

Yes, as 10-7 stated, should not be a problem You have to pay the $175 pp deviation fee plus any differential in actual flight cost, if any for the flight from Madrid. Have read about others doing this so not a new or unusual request.

Thank you very much, I did contact Regent and they said to advise them our wishes and we will have to pay the deviation fee per person and any difference in flight costs which seems reasonable to me.

Thanks again!

Looking to actually get a tour with the potential for snorkeling with whales the first week in September. I've found Pure Snorkeling in BB haven't found anyone in Moorea yet. I'd prefer Moorea just because we have the private motu and a land based excursion already but I would happily go with anyones recommendation for an amazing whale excursion. Don't need dolphins, we have those every day in our canal. Swimming with whales please....

I actually booked with Moorea Activities Center just yesterday for the 2nd day PG is in Moorea (September 15) - they will pick us up at the dock and take us out on their boat to look for the whales and if we want we can get in the water and snorkel with them. I'm sure there is still room http://www.mooreaactivitiescenter.com/home

I'm hoping it will be a great day!

Susan

We're booked to begin in London and end in Barcelona on a cruise but we'd like to take a rain to Madrid and fly home from there about a week after the cruise ends.

Has anyone tried something like this using Regent's air? I'm wondering what their deviation charges might be

Cruise isn't until Sept 2018

Thanks

Thank you!

Has anyone tried the Whale Watching in Moorea with Moorea Activities Center? They say if possible we could snorkel with the whales. Thanks for any input.

We'll be on our first PG cruise this September 2017 and I see they depart the port of Papeete at 11:55 PM.

Could someone please tell me what time we are allowed on board the ship on our Embarkation Day?

Thanks so much.

Seabunny I encourage you strongly not to miss the bora bora motu. Heaven on earth. There is a shack with drinks (nor a full bar but beer, soda, water and punch) plus chips. There will be kayaks, SUP boards and volley ball. Maybe some boule. It is located on same motu as the BB Pearl resort so you may get an idea if the incredible view from their trip advisor pics.

 

We have been on many PG cruises and always try to go on both days, even if only for a short time.

 

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We will be on the PG in Sept and having 2 days in Bora-Bora will there be the beach day at Bora Bora Motu on both of those days or just one of their choosing? Thanks for clearing this up.

Their snorkel equipment is adequate, but not great. They are not dry snorkels (unless they recently changed). Given the amount of use, the condition is what one would expect. We have always taken our own masks and dry snorkels, and use the fins, vest, and carry bag from the ship. If your cruise is taking you to Ta'haha, be sure to do the coral garden drift snorkel excursion...just amazing!

We will bring our snorkels, masks and fins but wondering about a snorkel vest - will PG provide those? How about a carry bag for all of our stuff and towels?

Thanks for any help with this - first PG cruise this September!

We are sailing on the coral in july to alaska. The lotus pool is the only one enclosed and have read it is adult only. Is this even true for an alaskan cruise. I know my kids will want to swim. It's going to be a bit chilly swimming in the open pool let alone getting out and sitting on the chairs or supervising.

You will be pleasantly surprised at how warm it will be in July in Alaska! You probably won't even need warm clothes until you have your sea day by the glaciers.

You and your kids will be able to use the outdoor pool most of the time.

Enjoy - Alaska is a wonderful cruise destination!

No, China is an exception to the rule. In general, on the other river cruises and on the ocean cruises, you are on a different bus each day with a different group of people and different guides. Guests are not broken into groups and there are no escorts permanently assigned to each group.

 

On the ocean cruises, the tour experience in each port is dependent on the visitor services available in each port. Viking contracts with local business in each port so that guides are, for the most part,experienced local guides who are familiar with the locality, etc.

Thank you very much - this makes way more sense!

Take them because they are going where you want to go.

Take them because you want a relaxing day at a mellow pace.

Take them because you can't spend everyday of the cruising racing from place to place to see as many things as possible in the short amount of time you have in port.

Take them because you don't mind touring with a busload of people.

Take them because you get to meet other people on your ship.

 

We do a combination of included tours, optional tours and doing it on our own. It depends on what the included tour is, where we are and what we want to accomplish at that particular port of call. We do not take them just because they are free; if we aren't interested in the program, we will do something that we are interested in.

Can you please tell me if the included tours are similar to the Viking River Cruise tour experience? For instance, do you stay with the same tour guide and group each time the ship docks?

We've only sailed to China on Viking River Cruises and that's how they do it so I'm wondering how it works on the Viking Ocean.

Thank you

We were just on the Beijing - Shanghai tour with Viking and did the pre-extension. We were in the same hotel for the entire Beijing stay.

As for our pre-tours we were grouped with one couple from our hotel - they were in our tour group as well. Then we had 4 others who were with us - from another group and hotel for our 1 day tour of the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. There were only 8 of us who opted to do the pre-extension.

Once you are picked up from the airport by a Viking Guide he will ask you about your plans if you are not touring with him or not and he will take care of everything.

I'm almost positive you will not have to change hotels in Shanghai or worry about checking in to your hotel with the others when they arrive. You'll already be settled into your room and even better, over any jet lag or time changes.

Enjoy - it is a remarkable trip!