What Excursion for French P. is

[azlew]

Hello! If you were to pre book one non scuba excursion for the Paul Gauguin 10 day cruise in FP, what excursion would that one have to be?

[MacawLover]

A lagoon tour including BBQ on Bora Bora

 

BRB-1602 or similar is a good choice.

 

But I must ask, your spending a fair amount of money for this trip, why only one water excursion? On a 10 night cruise on the PG 3 or 4 would be typical

[azlew]

MacawLover.

 

We want to make sure we have purchased (before the cruise) the excursion(s) that everyone feels is/are a great experience and we feel will be the best fit(s) for us. We have enough on board credit to purchase 2 or three more when we get onboard. But I have read on the internet that the excursions fill up fast . We don't want to be shut out from being able to experience the best. We were told that we obviously can't use the onboard credit for excursions before we hit the excursion desk when we get on the ship and that will be too late for the more popular excursions.

 

On another note we are retired non athletic beginner snorkelers and want to do it but we also want a safe experience in hopefully fairly calm water. We had a bad experience at Isla Contoy a few years ago and hoping to not repeat it again.

 

Thanks for telling us about your favorite!

Edited August 24, 2015 by azlew

[MacawLover]

I taken almost every lagoon cruise in FP, the one I mentioned is very good and typically fills up, nuff said

Edited August 24, 2015 by MacawLover

[NC&KY]

Michael Poole's dolphin-watching trip in Moorea. Absolute best excursion we did. We're leaving for our second PG trip tomorrow, and the only excursion we are repeating is that one.

[Emdee]

I would do the blue lagoon in Fakarava.

 

Regarding OBC....the PG doesn't charge you for excursions until you are onboard so you should book whatever excursions you are interested in doing.

[azlew]

Michael Poole's dolphin-watching trip in Moorea. Absolute best excursion we did. We're leaving for our second PG trip tomorrow, and the only excursion we are repeating is that one.

 

That sounds great! Thanks NC&KY. Arizona Wildcat fans wish you KY Wildcats a great trip!

[azlew]

I would do the blue lagoon in Fakarava.

 

Regarding OBC....the PG doesn't charge you for excursions until you are onboard so you should book whatever excursions you are interested in doing.

 

Thanks Emdee. Our travel agent said I couldn't use their OBC they gave us for prebooking excursions. I will have to check with PG direct I guess.

Is the Blue Lagoon a PG excursion?

[Emdee]

Thanks Emdee. Our travel agent said I couldn't use their OBC they gave us for prebooking excursions. I will have to check with PG direct I guess.

Is the Blue Lagoon a PG excursion?

 

I always book excursions in advance and PG uses OBC to pay for them after I have boarded. All you are doing is reserving a spot. Your agent should call and do this for you. Or you can call PG directly.

 

PG and Crystal both allow you to do this. Most other lines you pay in advance and then adjust on board if you need to.

 

The blue lagoon could be done with the PG though IMO Ato's excursion is a better value as its all day.

[RZ3]

Definitely pre-book what you want to do. As mentioned, you are not charged until you are onboard. The lagoon excursion with lunch on Bora Bora fills up and we were fortunate enough on our trip to have a second boat added on the second day when the first day conflicted with the manta ray dive.

[FlightMedic555]

I have a slightly different suggestion. The excursions on Rangiora and Fakarava are very limited. Unless a group of you looks into private excursions, of which there are few on these two islands, you will have to do a PG excursion. I would look for the aquarium snorkel in Rangiora and that does fill up.

 

For other locations you can generally get an excursion with less people, for a longer period of time, and less $$ if you book it privately. I would higly recommend Pure Snorkeling on Bora Bora.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I agree that checking your roll-call would be a good thing, and to possibly participate in some private excursions that fellow pax may be organizing.

 

And I admit that I haven't done the Blue Lagoon on Fakarava, so depending on private options, that might be the top of the list.

 

But, the two Society Islands excursions that I would choose would be Dr. Poole's Whale Watching on Moorea, and the Stingray Ballet on Bora Bora, which involves standing in chest-deep water participating in feeding stingrays and small sharks, and later on some fairly gentle snorkelling with no current involved.

 

I would also make sure to take advantage of the day at Motu Mahana to practice snorkeling, especially if it takes place early in the cruise.

[azlew]

We really appreciate everyone's input! Seeing what is popular is really helping us in starting our discussion on what our hopes and expectations are for this trip to FP.

 

Emdee: on PG's website they aren't listing the blue lagoon excursion in Fakarava. Is Ato's a private non PG excursion? If so do you have the url for them? (thanks!)

 

RZ3 : Thanks for the mention of the lagoon excursion with lunch on Bora Bora. I see there is also a shorter one with no lunch. How is the snorkeling? Is it calm waters ?

 

FlightMedic555: Sounds like the aquarium in Rangiori is for very experienced people? It sounds like a good one also. Thanks.

 

Wendy The Wanderer :Dr. Poole's Whale Watching on Moorea we are not finding on the PG website is that a private company tour? The Stingray Ballet on Bora Bora is one we have been considering. Is there much current on the waste deep water and just how athletic do you have to be :-) ? = Thanks for your suggestions.

[MacawLover]

When you asked about booking 'one' tour I thought you meant you would only be doing one excursion. However, it appears you are going to tasks several, you just want to make sure you have one pre-booked that might get filled up.

 

Keep in mind your going to FP, no trip to FP would be complete without a Polynesian BBQ on a motu, sitting in the water …..

 

That said there are several places to do just that, Bora Bora being one of them. However, there are several vendors in Bora Bora so it's a bit easier to find a tour that grabs you, though the one I mentioned many times does fill up.

 

In your case I would book a tour in the atolls as mentioned by others as the tours are much more limited. Either island in the atolls you visit have a few good ones, the aquarium on Rangi is very nice, close by and fairly easy but the fish and beauty are all there. The one Emdee mentioned is another favorite.

 

Remember you are a bit further off the beaten trek in the atolls so if your only going to pre-book one tour, pick one in the atolls.

 

But take advantage of doing a lagoon tour with traditional Polynesian BBQ somewhere in the Society islands, Bora Bora is a great place to do just that.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Poole is usually done through the ship, but if you're there for only one day, it's possible he's not available. He does book private as well.

[FlightMedic555]

PG has a drift snorkel in Rangiora that ends at the aquarium. This,is an advanced snorkel due to the current during the drift portion of the snorkel. They also offer a snorkel at the aquarium which does not include drift and it is not an advanced excursion. Both generally go via zodiac and it can be a little rough depending upon the waves.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

PG has a drift snorkel in Rangiora that ends at the aquarium. This,is an advanced snorkel due to the current during the drift portion of the snorkel. They also offer a snorkel at the aquarium which does not include drift and it is not an advanced excursion. Both generally go via zodiac and it can be a little rough depending upon the waves.

 

The "Aquarium" is great. We ended our motu picnic there. I didn't go into the water because I wasn't feeling particularly strong then and there were too many swimmers in deep water. I presume a zodiac might actually land on the little motu (not sure) instead of just staying out in deep water. If I'd had a flotation device I would have gone in for sure, and let me tell you, even from the boat the fish were absolutely fantastic.

[Emdee]

We really appreciate everyone's input! Seeing what is popular is really helping us in starting our discussion on what our hopes and expectations are for this trip to FP.

 

Emdee: on PG's website they aren't listing the blue lagoon excursion in Fakarava. Is Ato's a private non PG excursion? If so do you have the url for them? (thanks!)

 

RZ3 : Thanks for the mention of the lagoon excursion with lunch on Bora Bora. I see there is also a shorter one with no lunch. How is the snorkeling? Is it calm waters ?

 

FlightMedic555: Sounds like the aquarium in Rangiori is for very experienced people? It sounds like a good one also. Thanks.

 

Wendy The Wanderer :Dr. Poole's Whale Watching on Moorea we are not finding on the PG website is that a private company tour? The Stingray Ballet on Bora Bora is one we have been considering. Is there much current on the waste deep water and just how athletic do you have to be :-) ? = Thanks for your suggestions.

 

fakaravaexplorer@hotmail.com

 

Pg usually has the excursion as well.

Edited August 25, 2015 by Emdee

[Cruisedreamer1]

It seems that when we took his tour while on the reunion cruise he advised us that his tour had been "dropped" due to the fact that the company was"moving in another direction" -his words. It may need to be booked as an independent tour. It is well worth taking his educational tour about dolphins and whales.

[RZ3]

The tour on Bora Bora is with Patrick's outfit. You can see more info about it at http://www.maohinui.net/en/.

 

Ours had three stops, then lunch at the motu, which was very good, but not a lot of portion size due to the large group.

 

1st stop outside the reef to snorkel with shark in ~40 feet of water. Easy swim and you can hold onto the outrigger if you don't want to go out on your own.

 

Second stop is with stingrays and sharks in waist to chest deep water. No current.

 

Third stop near the Sofitel was in a beautiful coral area with lots of fish, but a decent current. It's around 15 feet deep. Our boat captain had to rescue someone from another boat who couldn't get back to theirs by throwing them a vest. You can also hold onto the life ring they keep in the water so that you don't float too far away. You don;t need to be an Olympic star, but you need to be a reasonably good swimmer.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

It seems that when we took his tour while on the reunion cruise he advised us that his tour had been "dropped" due to the fact that the company was"moving in another direction" -his words. It may need to be booked as an independent tour. It is well worth taking his educational tour about dolphins and whales.

 

Wow, I don't remember him saying that Carol, but perhaps we were on with the other group. Certainly worth pursuing privately if you can be part of a group from the ship, or perhaps he even collects groups himself. Especially if you are into wildlife, although the Moorea scenery is also stunning from the water.

[Emdee]

I thought he said that his lecture had been pulled and replaced by Mark Eddowes talk on Tetiaroa.

[pgcruises]

Michael Poole's dolphin-watching trip in Moorea. Absolute best excursion we did. We're leaving for our second PG trip tomorrow, and the only excursion we are repeating is that one.

 

Ia Orana!

Paul Gauguin Cruises offers the Dolphin-Watching Expedition (Moorea) (MOO-1798). Duration: 3.5 hours

 

Join American marine biologist Dr. Michael Poole, a dolphin and whale specialist in French Polynesia since 1987, or his assistant for this combination eco-tour and research expedition focusing on wild, free-ranging dolphins.

 

Depart the pier aboard a covered boat for the scenic ride to Moorea’s reef. Spinner dolphins, rough-tooth dolphins, and pilot whales can be seen around Moorea, with spinner dolphins regularly swimming inside the lagoon. Most often you will see schools of acrobatic spinner dolphins, while listening to informative commentary about their remarkable life and society at sea. Dolphins are found on 95% of the tours, but the engaging narrative and sheer magnificence of Moorea’s coastline will ensure a rewarding time in any event. Guests visiting between July and early November may also have an opportunity to view humpback whales performing their annual mating and calving rituals. While viewing Moorea’s dramatic beauty from the sea, you will also learn about French Polynesia’s geology.

 

Following your tour and time permitting, you may have an opportunity to go swimming or snorkeling directly from the boat before returning to the pier.

 

For more details, please visit Paul Gauguin Cruises' website.

 

Kind Regards,

Paul Gauguin Cruises

[Cruisedreamer1]

Thanks for the correction. I sincerely the PG has found a way to keep his lecture too since it is a great learning moment.

 

This is a wonderful tour since you will not only see and learn about dolphins & whales but learn about how an expat lives in FP while supporting a great research cause.

 

This is the type of tour that one could repeat multiple times since every time one goes out one will experience something different. The day we went out we got to swim among the whales (who were very deep but one could see them in the water as one snorkeled). On the same cruise, Wendy the Wanderer the next day could not snorkel due to rough waves but got to see the dolphins which we didn't.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

We've done this trip 3 times, the last was not with the ship, and it was whale watching mostly, but that's season-specific. Only managed to get into the water to snorkel once on this trip.