Tahiti - include Tuamotu Islands or not

[Breckski]

Any thoughts?  We're comparing a 7-night Tahiti only cruise or a 11-night cruise that includes the Tuamotu Islands.  This is for May 2025.  

 

We've never been to Tahiti before.  As background, we're physically active/fit and keep this mentality when on vacation - want active excursions in the case of a cruise. 

 

We normally would say take the longer trip, but that cruise includes a sea day (we don't love sea days).  Mainly inquiring if the Tuamotu Islands are interesting or would those additional days be boring relatively speaking.  We could always stay a couple extra days in a resort in Papeete if we decide to skip the Tuamotu Islands.

 

Thanks.

[AmateurGO]

We did the 11 day cruise with the Tuamotu islands about 6 years ago.  We also did a couple of days pre-cruise in Tahiti.  If it comes down to a choice between Tuamotu Islands or Tahiti, definitely go for the Tuamotu Islands.  Tahiti was nice, but the Tuamotu islands were special: the water, the coral, sea life and the remoteness of them are memorable.  

If it would help any, I did a rather complete "Trip report" with a lot of photos of that trip and it is available at my personal (non-commercial) web page: http://hammocktree.us/Tahiti17/Tahiti17.htm  Take a look, especially at the Tuamotu Islands part.

[RMMariner]

We brought our bicyles on our Windstar cruise in March. Fakarava and Rangiroa were amazing. Quiet, super friendly people and completely different than the Society Islands. One word of warning - the crossing takes a day and was quite rough. A number of people were seasick. The ship moves a lot more than the bigger ships we have been on.

[AmateurGO]

I guess we were lucky as the seas were reasonably calm on both "crossings", and I don't think anyone got upset.  Yes, the small ships do move quite a bit, even the Star* class ships.  We were on Star Pride around Iceland last Sept. and hit some rough weather.  Let's just say that the Amphora was almost deserted that evening.....

Biking around those islands would be great...  didn't realize you could take bikes on board.  Will have to remember that.

[avalong]

Some of the best snorkeling of my life was in the "aquarium" in Rangiroa.

[FlightMedic555]

We have been to the Tuamotu’s 4 times with Paul Gauguin and it is our favorite itinerary. We are trying Windstar for the first time on May 12, 2025 to the Tuamotu islands 

[oakridger]

On 5/18/2024 at 11:46 AM, FlightMedic555 said:

We have been to the Tuamotu’s 4 times with Paul Gauguin and it is our favorite itinerary. We are trying Windstar for the first time on May 12, 2025 to the Tuamotu islands 

 

See you there!

 

~Nancy

[milepig]

they're different, amazing water, and very quiet.

Edited Monday at 04:49 PM by milepig

[Breckski]

Thanks for the responses.  We booked the May 1st cruise including the Tuamotu Islands.