retiring to cruise

I've been reading and hoping that you would get to the Cook Islands before we leave for our cruise this coming week. We spent a week on Bora Bora and a week on Moorea back in 1995, and took our first ever cruise on the Paul Gauguin to the Society Islands and the Marquesas last winter. It was a supposed to be a once in a lifetime cruise, but we booked onboard for next week's cruise because we loved it so much. This time we're staying at the Tahiti IC the night before the cruise, and 2 nights after so your info on that was very helpful. After arriving at 6 AM, we'll be there on Friday night and will try take a nap in the afternoon so we don't miss the show. The information on Huahine was also very helpful to us. Last winter we did the day at the beach. The hotel was very nice, and not crowded at all. It turned out that a couple we met at LAX and spent some time with on board were the only other people on that excursion so we had a great time, and the included lunch was delicious. This time we booked the 4x4 to Huahine Iti so we hope to see those beautiful views in your posts.

Please keep this going. I've read the other thread as well, and it has some very detailed info for a first timer, such as menus. But you have the experience that those of us who have been there once or twice before are looking for. We don't want to miss the best of any of these islands. Thank you so much for all your work. It is appreciated.

Any suggestions for ship tours on this cruise? We are going in October.

Tahiti Aromes is on Moorea, well their main facility is. Go there during the stop on Moorea ;)

As far as excursions there are good ones both from the ship and private. I've done both and enjoy both. On some islands it's best to take the ship excursions as there are limitations of available excursions. On Bora Bora and Moorea there are more excursions both ship and private so you might read the boards and glean a bit before making a decision. Also keep in mind the ship excursions are almost always likely to go whereas some private vendors require a minimum amount of people and if that number is not reached they cancel the excursion.

What I will say is the Marquesas is all about the island experience. Moorea and Huahine can go either meaning land or lagoon. On Bora Bora and the atolls it's primarily about the lagoon and on Tahaa it's about Motu Mahana with the primary exception being the drift snorkel. Remember you can do the drift snorkel and then you are taken to the motu so you can enjoy both.

We're getting close to our 60 day mark and am trying to figure out which shore excursions to book. Can you recommend which Marquesas Island tour is a must do? Thanks

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=556

Thanks, don't know why they have to make it so hard to find. No wonder there aren't a lot of replies. Hope your post helps others.

It’s under Roll Call sub-forums ;)

Help, I can't find Roll Call sub forums.

There was a post on "YVR deals" (vancouver) that listed a few canadian credit cards that give you 3% or 4% back on foreign transactions. I applied for the Rogers card that will credit my Rogers Cell phone bill. you can go to yyvdeals, click on articles and June 6th has the info.

Great Blog. I will be taking the PG Marquesas Tuomotus Society Islands in October. Do you think it is necessary to take the PG tours on the islands or are there some we can do on our own, or which ones do we really need to take?

Also, we only have the last day in Papeete, arrive Fri. leave Saturday midnight. I want to buy vanilla beans. Do I have time to go to Tahiti Aromes? Thanks

I will be cruising in August with a stop in Toulon. My daughter thought that a trip to cassis would be great. Can't find any recent info on how to get there. Old posts talk about how difficult it is.

Does anyone have any new info about trains/buses and taxis?

I'm heading on cruise in August. Does anyone have any current info on how to get to Cassis from Toulon?

Thinking about booking on the Niew Amsterdam. Has anyone been in a category HH on this ship? Is there any view at all? How is the noise from below?

Any recommendations of HH cabins? There is one ocean view cabin 1111, anyone know how that is, on Main deck.

Thanks

Geri