Seaboune/Paul Gaugain

[Capri73]

I posted this before but it was removed do not know why.I am just telling the truth about the difference between the 2 ships.

PG is not a 5*ship not even 4.If you are use to mega ships then you might consider this top notch.

If you are a SB lover this is not your ship.Be for warned.You will not be happy.

I hope this does not get deleted again.I will go into details if I am allowed.

[Silver Sweethearts]

IF you want people to pay attention to what you have to say and give you any credibility, channel your energy into a detailed review.

[Tikiintahiti]

So sad someone is running around forums to bad mouth a solid cruise line. After 18 trips to the South Pacific cruising is a great way to go. The PG is a good option. Glad that Seabourn is going to operate in the same waters, competition is always good for the consumer and makes the good cruise lines even better.

[K2DangerGirl]

It wasn't removed, I just looked at it. Nobody responded, so it dropped down the list.

[Capri73]

I saw that my mistake.I am thrilled that another cruiseline will be in the South Pacific.Competition is what PG needs.When you have a monopoly you do not have to try anymore.This was the general feeling of repeaters on PG.I do not have anything to compare.Service as I said before was tops.The crew are fantastic.The Islands were beautiful.Neither can be faulted.The ship itself needs a facelift.Very worn fabrics ,rugs,etc.Again this does not make a bad ship.The issues were the food which was sub par.I am not a fancy eater so we never ate in the French Restaurant.Fish was overcooked almost every night.Wine was a selection of 3 whites.One Pinot,Chardonnay,and SB.All probably cost about $6.00.Come on PG for what you charge you can do better.Advice from the Tour Director on board was incorrect more times than correct.Shade was a major issue on board.If you wanted a lounge chair there were only 6.Shade on top in a very small area but so windy could not be used.I think what tip the scale for us was the hotels that they used.We were at the IC in an OWB paid fr the upgrade.It was musty,holes in the screens and had severe water damage.The Radisson was a total disgrace.It was filthy,dark,and totally in need of major renovations. A sick cat hung around our second floor deck.PG should never put their people in this hotel.I am sure they are getting a great deal but not nice.They know the conditions of the hotels they are using.I even got this confirmed from the Hotel Manager on board the PG.When asked if the R was better than the IC he had a pained look on his face and said"take the tour "I know SB would never put their people in these hotels.I just want them to know this is not a 5* cruise.SB wines were not the greatest but 100 times better than PG.Food is far superior on SB.Criticism is certainly welcome but I have gotten such negative reaction on the PG board you would think I was taking about a relative. We all have our opinions.This was a very expensive trip with all upgrades.In our opinion was not worth the money.I thought the boards were to help people make intelligent decisions on how to spend their money this is all I was trying to do. If you are happy on a mega ship I am sure this was heaven to you.If you are use to small luxury cruising this is not for you.Again I am getting critism about being uphappy that the Marina was not opened.We like using a Marina if you don't fine.All they brought to the Motu was 4 paddle boards.That is it.

Again beautiful Islands ,great staff but not a luxury ship.

[Tikiintahiti]

Your out of touch

 

The #1 rated hotel/resort on Tahiti is the IC Tahiti. Not saying you were not displeased just that ratings in French Polynesia represent a different level than in North America.

 

Go look up the highest rated resort in Tahiti on lets say .......... Tripadvisor ...... it's the IC Tahiti

 

BTW, the PG went through a facelift February of 2012 and is do again over the next year if I'm correct. It isn't that they don't do it just that facelifts aren't possible in FP, they go to Australia or Asia but it does get done.

 

Many cruise lines have come and gone in FP but the PG is the one that has been the best thus they are still around. Your vantage point is flawed as you have nothing else to compare with that is in French Polynesia.

 

The Seabourn coming into FP is good for everyone. I'm happy as there seems to be bigger ships coming in which isn't good as the small islands don't have great infrastructure to handle the masses. Seabourn will give another smaller ship experience which will be good to the consumer, I'm sure PG & Seabourn will be going head to head, each will push the other .......... all good stuff for us.

 

One last thing ......... so you complain about the wind top side ....... that's PG's fault? :rolleyes:

[wripro]

The highest rating for anything on Trip Advisor does not mean it's the best. It means that the most people who wrote reviews like it best and that could be for reasons of price and value as well as or opposed to quality.

[Tikiintahiti]

I thought I communicated that in a round about way.

 

"The #1 rated hotel/resort on Tahiti is the IC Tahiti. Not saying you were not displeased just that ratings in French Polynesia represent a different level than in North America."

 

Ask any TA what the best hotel on Tahiti is ......... my money is on the IC. Yes there are better hotels around the world with the same rating but got FP .......... Tahiti .............. it's the IC. I've stayed at Radisson, IC, Sofitel, Fare Suisse ........... for a resort IC is on top. Le Meridian is something else to consider, never stayed there but others have said it was nice. The IC by far has the best show and the view of Moorea is stunning. Enough said

[Silver Sweethearts]

So sad someone is running around forums to bad mouth a solid cruise line. After 18 trips to the South Pacific cruising is a great way to go. The PG is a good option. Glad that Seabourn is going to operate in the same waters, competition is always good for the consumer and makes the good cruise lines even better.

 

- We must have missed something here. We did not know Seabourn is going to go to French Polynesia. Please give us the details.

[K2DangerGirl]

We did not know Seabourn is going to go to French Polynesia. Please give us the details.

I don't believe SB is going to FP. Wind Star has agreed to acquire the smaller SB ships, which means they will have the capacity to put a ship in FP again. Capri is just excited that a line other than Paul Gauguin will be there.

 

Also, there's been a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth about the terrible included wines and reductions in Seabourn's quality and service since HAL management took over. I wonder if expectations need to be managed a bit.

 

Disclaimer: I haven't traveled Seabourn but I had a lovely vacation on the Paul Gauguin.

[Tikiintahiti]

Oops ............. It's not Seabourn

 

Silversea has a few cruises scheduled for 2014

 

But I heard another small ship was going to enter the FP market full time in 2014, can't think of which one right now

 

"Wind Star has agreed to acquire the smaller SB ships"

 

That's what is was, thank you

[akumal-mom]

I had a blast on PG, but you are right it is not a 5*. If you looked in the guest info book in your stateroom there was a price list telling you how much it would cost if you took a wash cloth to bedspread, 5* don't assume you are going to rob them, they may tell you how much the robe cost so you don't assume it is a gift, but not what everything in the room cost if missing.

I did my homework on where to stay before getting there and I decided to stay on Moorea at the Hilton over the water and it was well worth it.

[wripro]

IC may be the best in Papeete but who goes all that way to stay there unless it's to spend one night pre or post cruise? You go to Bora Bora where there are truly 5 star hotels.