Tahiti: precruise - 2 nites - what to do?

[coconutpig]

We're sailing TP on 8/15, but due to work schedules, we can only manage to schedule in 2 nights pre-cruise.

We can't decide what strategy would work best & are looking for advice from others.

We're coming from the US east coast- is it best to acclimate to the new time zone slowly by spending night #1 in L.A. (and night #2 in a moderate price Tahiti hotel) or should we just get over there quickly and spend the two nights at the Beachcomber/Sheraton/Radisson?

We're leaning towards spending the 2 nights on Tahiti but we also don't want it to be a waste of money if we're too dazed to appreciate it!

Also - if we did option 2, we'd book the two nights ourselves rather than going thru Princess - any thoughts as to why this could be a bad idea? it's a lot less expensive. We'd still go for Princess air/deviation!

thanks!!

[Jacqueline]

YOu seem to have figured this out really well so far. It comes down to your own stamina.
My husband did it straight thru- he took the red eye from NY and met me at the air tahiti nui counter. I came in the day before and spent the night with the kids and my dad at an airport hotel. My DH has a lot of stamina and the rest of us dont. Not a right or wrong sort of thing.
We went did an air deviation on ATN and stayed one night pre-cruise at the Beachcomber.
I am guessing that you have looked at flight schedules to see how they would align - having enough time between flights yet not so much that you are spending excessive time at the LAX is the other consideration.
Its a great trip.

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

[dcsam]

I you do the two nights in Tahiti, you may want to consider staying at the Moorea Sheraton. BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Caroline

[laurieb]

I would go straight through. Maybe you can sleep on the flight. There are some great pensions on Moorea that we are looking at staying in when we go. Tahiti tourisme along with a couple of other sites have good info on all the resorts and pensions. I think you are wise to make your own arrangements. Anyone know why Princess' pre and post stays are so expensive?

Laurie
Zenith 02/01
Century 01/02
Century 02/02
Tahitian Princess 01/03
Century 01/04
Tahitian Princess 01/05

[wolfegizmo]

We were on the Tahitian Princess first cruise - Definitely stay two nights in Tahiti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stayed two nights at the Intercontinental Beachcomer - Great place to stay -
You will love it there!!

[Deluzy]

Hey There Wolfegizmo,

We will be staying at Beachcomber pre-cruise as well. Do you have a review posted on the boards that I could read? I am trying to gather as much info on it as possible for my hubby.

Thanks!

P.S. My vote would be to stay the 2 nights in Tahiti. I would much rather be napping on a beach in Tahiti than on the plane from LA the second day. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Our Maiden Voyage: Tahitian Princess 8/25/04

[derf5585]

What do people DO on Tahiti
from
[url="http://www.papeete.com/todo.html"]http://www.papeete.com/todo.html[/url]

doing a 4 night pre cruise
from
[url="http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/cgibin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000127;p=0"]http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/cgibin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000127;p=0[/url]

USS Chilton APA-38 1966-1968
USS Guam LPH-9 1968-1970
Pacific Princess Oct 21 2001 Bermuda
Golden Princess Dec 7 2002 "Eastern Caribbean"
Coral Princess Dec 9 2003 "Panama Canal"

Carnival Miracle 17 Oct 2004

NOT UPDATED again 25 Feb [url="http://www.geocities.com/fsbsdel"]www.geocities.com/fsbsdel[/url]

[SFGiantsgal]

We just got back. Pre cruise - we spent four nights at the Le Meridien in Tahiti...south of the airport about 15 minutes. We booked it ourselves on-line with a hotel discount service. It is a beautiful propery and we just loved the quiet there compared to the Sheraton - which is very very busy. So it depends on what you're looking for. We had an over water bungalow facing Moorea and it was truly magical. Good luck and I think you'll be happy you spent the time in Tahiti rather than LA!!

Also - the snorkeling at L.M. is awesome!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Heidi

Sun Princess Panama Canal [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=8b0000&cdt=2005;4;18;21;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Sun Princess 1983 Caribbean
Island Princess 1984 Mexico
Pacific Princess 1985 Mexico
Azure Seas 1986, 1989 Mexico
Fairsky 1986 Caribbean
Sky Princess 1987 Caribbean
Tropicale 1987 Mexico
Song of America 1987 Caribb.
Southward 1988 Mexico
Song of America 1988 Caribb.
Crystal Harmony 1990 Panama
Galaxy 1999 - Alaska
Galaxy 2000 - Caribbean
Mercury 2001 - Caribbean
Norwegian Sky 2001 Hawaii
Millennium 2002 Caribbean
Norwegian Sun 2002 Caribbean
Tahitian Princess 2/22/03
Tahitian Princess 3/18/04

[Aussie Gal]

I agree with Heidi. Fly directly to Tahiti and then stay at the beautiful Le Meridien. We stayed there three nights pre cruise and then had a day room from 1pm to 3am post cruise - we were able to go to bed for a few hours - as our flight left at 5.45am.

It is a beautiful property away from the hustle of Papeete. I booked directly with Le Meridien on the intenet and had a weekend package that included breakfast.

Jennie.

The next cruise is always the best!

3RD OCTOBER, 2004 PRINSENDAM
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;3;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0200[/img]

[Almost Boricua]

Did anyone do any tours on the pre-cruise that they would suggest? Or, is it best to spend the time relaxing?

[Deluzy]

Thanks for the links, DERF5585!

~Suzy

"Our" Maiden Voyage: Tahitian Princess Aug. 25
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;08;25;12;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000[/img]

[kb9mu]

I'm a believer of the "go straight through" plan. Although jet lag stinks, going west means that your body clock will be up early on your first morning, so getting up at 8 AM will feel like you slept late. Conversely, if you've taken the overnight flights to Europe from the states, that first day is a rough one.

The jet lag coming home (to US) from Tahiti will be the tougher one!

KB9MU

[kb9mu]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Almost Boricua:
Did anyone do any tours on the pre-cruise that they would suggest? Or, is it best to spend the time relaxing?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

We rented a car and drove to a number of sites around Tahiti and it was great. We also had time to go snorkeling as well.

Next time I go, I'll go to Moorea, as some have suggested. It's not that I regret a single moment of our time touring Tahiti, but now that we've done that, Moorea will be the way to go for us next time.

Also, you will feel right at home in a lot of Tahiti. It is very similar to La Isla del encanto in appearance, weather and flora.

KB9MU

[Aussie Gal]

We did a 4x4 tour on our first day at Le Meridien. Looking back I wish we had of spent the day there and just enjoyed the wonderful surroundings, the pool and the beach.

If you want to see Tahiti, you can do a tour on the second day that you are on the ship - the day after you board - as there is plenty of time before sailing. That is what I wished we had done now.


Jennie.

The next cruise is always the best!

3RD OCTOBER, 2004 PRINSENDAM
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;3;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0200[/img]

[coconutpig]

Thanks everyone!

As it turns out, we came up with an even better plan...we are going to fly LATE Thurs pm to L.A.; spend the night in a Priceline Airport Hotel, and catch the next day 1pm ATN flight in, and still have 2 nights (Fri, Sat) on Tahiti. That way we still "get" to go to work on Thurs (as if we'll get anything done!), but also get the 2 nights beforehand.

Here's more info from our TA: If you take the pre-cruise cruise package with Princess, you don't pay air deviation fees to do what I described above. However, if you book the hotel yourself, you do need to pay. It is around $100 per person for the air deviation, so all in all still less expensive to pay deviation and book your own hotel than do the princess 2-day precruise.

Thanks for all your suggestions but --- Now the next problem is -- where to stay!?!?!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img] we hadn't even considered the Meridian before!