Returning to Tahiti
- Rangiroaness
- Jul 20, 2017
- 3 min read
It has been a long time between drinks (icy-cold cocktails with little umbrellas) but I am finally returning to Tahiti in about 6 weeks' time!
Thanks to the terrible customer service from Oceania Cruises (who 18 months ago cancelled two back-to-back cruises without warning, and then made no effort to re-book me on an alternate trip), I cancelled the entire trip and re-booked with Paul Gauguin Cruises through my awesome cruise guy - Gari Senderoff from Tour Doctors.
Although it didn't feel like it at the time, Oceania probably did me a favour because their two cruises were scheduled during the wet season, which can be uncomfortably hot. This trip will take me back to French Polynesia when the weather is mild and the humpback whales are in town, so I am desperately hoping I get the chance to swim with these magnificent cetaceans once again.
Here is my itinerary at a glance...
Day 1 - arrive and settle into the Intercontinental Tahiti for a sunset swim and a tropical cocktail
Day 2 - afternoon whale watching with TopDive Tahiti, followed by dinner at Le Lotus Restaurant
Day 3 - a 5.45am start for an all day tour to Tetiaroa (Marlon Brando's Island) with Poe Charters
Day 4 - an early swim at the lagoonarium at IC Tahiti before boarding the Paul Gauguin in the afternoon for a luxury 10-night cruise to the Society Islands and Tuamotus.
I upgraded my cabin to a category C balcony, because if there is one place on earth where you should splurge on a balcony cabin, it's Tahiti. There is beauty everywhere you look.
One thing I am ridiculously excited about is the full sized bath tub. For me, a hot bath in my own cabin is about as good as it gets!
Day 5 - Marc's Motu Picnic in Huahine. A photographers dream...
Day 6 - Day 1 in Bora Bora includes a manta ray snorkel (Pure Snorkelling) and a Sunset Sail
Day 7 - catching up with Patrick and the team at Maohi Nui for a Lagoon Cruise and Feast
(see the YouTube video above)
Day 8 - back to beautiful Rangiroa - one of my favourite places in FP - but only for 5 hours so I will be swimming the Aquarium on a ship tour
Day 9 - my first visit to Fakarava - which is also in the Tuamotus so should be similar to Rangiroa. I'll be joining Ato for the Blue Lagoon & Snorkel
Day 10 - our only sea day, and a chance to catch my breath and visit the day spa!
Day 11 - starting the day with a drift snorkel at Taha'a, before joining the fun at PG's Motu Mahana
Day 12 - a BBQ & snorkel on the motu in Moorea, and a Sunset Sail to finish the day
Day 13 - Whale watching with Dr Michael Poole. A repeat of the 2015 performance please!
Days 14 - 21 will be spent at the stunning Intercontinental Moorea so I will have plenty of time to relax and explore this beautiful island. There are plenty of things to do on Moorea, including snorkeling, ATVs, hiking , wave runners, and whale watching, just to name just a few.
Day 22 - Fly home and start planning my next Polynesian adventure!!
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