Tahitian cruise excursions
 

When you disembark in port will there be private tour operators at the docks like in the Caribbean or the Med? We like to read up on what there is to do then wing it when we get off. Will there be enough cabbies/tour operators there or is it necessary to book with the ship? The ports are:
Huahine
Raratonga
Raiatea
Bora Bora
Moorea.
Thank you. Also and tours or sites to see are welcomed. :-)

One of the nice things about French Polynesia is that is not commercial at all except for Papeete. When we were in Raiatea, it was a Sunday and most of the businesses were closed, even though it was the day the cruise ship came. You will not find many vendors on shore at these ports. There was a rental car company at Moorea. At Bora Bora you could rent bikes. But if you want to take a tour, you will essentially have to rely on the cruise ship offerings. You might think of this as an annoyance, but I realy appreciated the non-commercial atmosphere of this area. These islands remain among the most beautiful spots in the world.

Thank you sir. That is very good info. Cheers, Larry :-)

We just rented a car in Moorea and Bora Bora - the cars are right at the dock - I think in Moorea it was a short walk down the road - but we found it was the best. There's really only one road going around the island and not much traffic - it was really fun - enjoy - I'm jealous ! Be sure to stop at the lttle grocery stores - best French Bread we ever had !

Thats another thought. I forgot which of those two we booked a whale watching tour for but a car for the other is another possibility. The bakery thing sounds really good too. It a taste, literally and figuratively, of a difference place and culture. I have heard thta wating out there is really high. As we will be eating on the boat this won't effect us but did you find that to be true? Thank you. Larry :-)

Yes, just about everything in French Polynesia is expensive. Rental cars are a comparative bargain, If you can, find another couple with whom to share a car. It's hard to find gas stations when returning the car, so be on the lookout, and most only take Tahitian money.
As far as cruise tours are concerned, in Raiatea we liked the historical tour, as this is the island that is supposed to be where the Polynesians migrated from. In Bora Bora (which is spectacularly gorgeous), don't miss the tour that goes up to the top of the island for the view down to the lagoon. You also see the old WWII military installations. In Moorea there is a tour that gives you a view from a high spot also, but you can drive to this one if you rent a car. Traffic is very light on these islands. Have not been to Huahine or Raratonga.

Renman: Again, thanks. I think we've already booked a whale watching trip on BB but now that you mention it I would hope this excursion would not preclude us seeing the islands natural beauty. We'll have to rethink this. Decisions, decisions. :-)

jacketwatch
Bora Bora has the most amazing water! One island we rented a car but I don't remember which one, all the others we took the ship's tours. Which is unusual for us as I usually go with independents. But all were wonderful!Snorkeling with sting rays. Picnics on atolls, etc.

CD: Thank you. Now I'll really have to think about renting a car. Might be a good idea. Actually we did see whales in Alaska but not humpbacks which I think you could see in FP. :-)

Pulled out my pictures and found we were in Moorea 2 days, one day we snorkeled on a atoll with sting rays and loved it! the next day we rented a car and drove into the town. Shopped for black pearls and husband bought me a beauty!

Bora Bora, we snorkeled with sting rays and sharks and went to "Bloody Marys" which was a hoot.

You will have such a great time in FP. Except for Tahiti, the other islands are like going back, way back, in time. No schools past the 8th grade, hospitals are like our clinics and except for Tahiti, I don't remember seeing any library's, theatre's, ect.

CD: I didn't realize the islands there were so unspoiled. Now I'm really thinking about forgetting the whale tour and just seeing the place for itself. I'm sure my better half will wnat a black pearl or two as well. :S- We got a really good deal on some when we were in Fiji in 2001. It just so happened that the shop we chose was owned by Indians and that because we were the first customers that day which was the first day of the month it is their idea that such customers must buy something to make good kharma for that month so we made out pretty well that day. Cheers, Larry :-)

Of the islands you're going to I've only been to Moorea, but we did the 4x4 tour and we loved it. In researching before we went (July 2004) we heard that Moorea had the best 4x4 tour so you might want to do it there instead of bora bora or the other islands. Also, if I were you I'd probably book the sailing type tours for Raiatea, Huahine and Raratonga where there's less to do than Bora Bora and Moorea. Just some tips! Enjoy you're time there...it's truly paradise.

Tahiti: Actually we do have a sail trip for Rarotonga and I do like the 4 X 4 idea. However there is one concern I have about that and maybe you or others could answer it for me. That is about the route. Is there alot of driving with winding and twisting roads? My wife had a hard time in Martinique due to this type of driving. She got pretty queezy. So where does the road take you? If its inland I think we will be fine. Thank you for the tip. Larry :-)

jacketwatch
We took a 4X4 tour, but again, I don't remember which island it was on. We loved it but what I remember is, it was rough. we had to hold on for dear life because of incline and ruts, and at one point our driver drove across the top of a dam!! It was not a high dam, but it scared the crap out of me.

jacketwatch - sorry for the delay. Actually, yes, it was VERY bumpy and windy. It was a ton of fun for us, but I remember thinking that for some people it may be too rough. You really had to hang on. It was like four wheeling. It is all inland and it's really pretty looking at all the surrounding peaks. Hope you get this response!

Thank you CD and Tahiti. As lonf as its not slow, winding and twisting like driving a mountain road I think we will be fine. My wife loved the shotover jet ride we took in Fiji. She had a blast. :D. If you have not heard of that follow this link. Its pretty intense. http://www.shotoverjet.co.nz/ Cheers, Larry :-)

I loved the Shotover jet ride in New Zealand---screaming the whole time!!:-)

How did you wife take the Shotover Canyon ride in FIJI???

I also remember those 4X4 rides in FP. You really need to hold on.( Some one with back problems or pregnant should beware!) I also got splashed with mud sitting in the front seat. We went over streams, inside a dormant volcano, stopped to buy vanilla beans, etc. Those were my memories.

Very interesting part of the world!

Cruiser: Sorry, not familiar with the shotover canyon. (Not sure I want to be either. :D) We did the boat one where the driver plays chicken with bridge pylons, etc. :D :D

Take a look at the link you provided to get an idea of the Shotover River Canyon jet ride in New Zealand.

Does the FIJI jet ride go on rivers or the ocean?

------Back to FP--
The water is beautiful there. I did a 7-day cruise on the now bankrupt Renaissance ship---stayed onboard for the next 7 days. It was so quiet in the mornings you could hear roosters crowing on shore!

I think it was Moorea that a local said she recognized me from the week before and wondered if I was working on board the ship!! Very different from the Caribbean!

You will find a few private operators. On Bora Bora I booked an island circle tour in a van after finding not much to do near the pier area. They did a nice job---I didn't have much money invested so it couldn't be that bad.

For the other islands I took the ship's tours. Since I was traveling solo, I wasn't too brave at the beginning. But the natives are very nice and I had a wonderful time!

Pictures do not do the blue waters justice.

Go to the Papeete morning market and buy a beautiful flower arrangement for your cabin. They are around $12-15.00 and will stay nice the whole week. This is allowed until you fly home.

I also purchased my black pearl right there in Papeete (since I had time between my two cruises and I had "scoped" out the stores a week earlier.)

I would love to go back but that flight from the midwest to Tahiti is a long expensive one!

Enjoy yourself!!

Cruiser: I'll check the link but in Fiji the shotover took the river route.
You know I wonder if we will be on the same ship as you were. Princess does use a former Renaissance ship for that cruise, The R4 I think. Its 30K tons and just under 600 ft. long. What you have said about the overall ambiance is typical of what I have heard elsewhere. We will have a day in Papeete before the cruise begins and the nice thing is we can use the boat as a hotel for that. Thanks for the idea about fresh flowers. I'll be sure to get some and I'm sure my better half will find a black pearl or two. Or three. :S-
Like you we are flying from the midwest (ORD). I think we connect in LA. Do you recall how long the flight is assuming you took the same route?
My "handle", JW, is for what I like to collect, i.e. jackets and especially watches. One watch I have has a countdown feature and its set for the day we leave. :-) We can hardly wait. Cheers, Larry :-)