We're considering the following tours. Any thoughts on these?

Raiatea
Snorkle and Black Pearl Farm

Rangiroa
Snorkeling Rangiroa's Aquarium

Bora Bora
Stingray Ballet and Snorkel Safari
Lagoonarium-Open Air Aquarium Snorkeling

Moorea
Lagoon Discovery with Snorkel
Dolphin Watching Expedition
Capture Moorea Photo Adventure

Also, is there internet access in the cabin?

I can mostly recommend the lagoon discovery with snorkel on Moorea. The one part I didn't like was that they start you out by going to a hotel lagoon to see a captive dolphin "perform" with swimmers. If you don't like the idea of captive dolphins you might want to give this a miss. But the rest is great. First is a swim with stingrays and sharks (the harmless brown kind), then off to a good snorkel spot, with plenty of time set aside for it.

No, there's no internet access in the cabins. And the internet room access is painfully slow.

Thanks. It did look good. I think by the end of the cruise I'm going to need to dry out as it seems we're in the water almost every day.

Wow, lots of snorkelling! Bora Bora's my favourite still, they used to call it stingray feeding, but I think they banned it. We did the lagoon and snorkelling on Moorea as well last time, and there was no stop at a hotel, but maybe that's changed. Make sure to get on land one way or another, the view from the Belvedere lookout are really unforgettable. I know ChatKat enjoyed the Photo tour.

Raiatea
Snorkle and Black Pearl Farm (NO!!!! boring...only bad tour)

Rangiroa
Snorkeling Rangiroa's Aquarium

Bora Bora
Stingray Ballet and Snorkel Safari (wasn't offered, but sounds nice)
Lagoonarium-Open Air Aquarium Snorkeling (Very nice)

Moorea
Lagoon Discovery with Snorkel (Lots of fun)
Dolphin Watching Expedition
Capture Moorea Photo Adventure


If they offer the jet skis...these were wonderful tours...both in Moorea and Bora Bora. The parasailing over Bora Bora was great too.

I infer that you are not into sailing very much. We really enjoyed the Sunset sail in Moorea (though I think it may be a different ship now). We also did one in Bora Bora, but I don't see it listed anymore. We enjoyed the photo adventure in Moorea, though it was February and very hot. Also a couple of people had problems with heights when the jeep went up to a couple of the vistas.

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Eugene

Just one comment on the Lagoonarium on Bora Bora. I haven't been, and I know people love it, but be aware that these are captive animals. I was told by the marine biologist who escorted us on the Coral Restoration trip, that the stress on the animals is quite high, with a high mortality rate. There's no coral, just creatures.

Thanks Andi, Wendy and Eugene. We're planning on the ship's sunset sail in Bora Bora or we're going to charter a sunset sail with some of the others going on the trip. It is listed on the place where you go to sign up for tours.

We didn't experience a poor shore excursion during our 14 days on the PG. But let me recommend the Photo Safari. Our guide took the concept "photo ops" quite seriously and made a number of stops that were quite spectacular. You are driven in a relatively small vehicle--eight passengers max sitting four in a row on each side on benches facing in. The ride, at times, is on very rough one lane dirt roads. You really get bumped around but it's fun and the only way to get to the best photo sites. AND GET THERE YOU DO. We booked this trip in advance and it's good we did because it is always sold out and waitlisted. The number of vehicles that can be accommodated on the rough dirt roads is quite limited. If you're a photo buff, by all means book it and book it as soon as you can.

Patrick

Have any of you seasoned Tahiti cruisers taken private charters? We would love a snorkel trip or sunset sail in Raitea, Bora Bora, or Moorea, or, Rangiroa. I have been looking on line and have emailed a couple of private boats, but not heard back yet. The prices quoted are much less than the ship tours, and with a family of 4 cost is a real consideration.

Wendy and I did the Dolphin Watching Expedition at Moorea twice. The guide is a marine biologist who is passionate about his subject and equally passionate about not disturbing or taming the animals, but just watching from afar.

The first time we did it we saw lots of dolphins, but the second time we didn't see any. However, even the second time was a lovely chance to see Moorea from the sadly dolphin-less water as we searched.

We are hoping to return to FP next year, and I would sign up for this tour again. Lovely with or without dolphins, but better with. Plus the bonus that you are supporting the ecology program to preserve these wonderful animals and their habitat.

-- David

Thank you everyone for all your advice. Gil and I went ahead and booked the following tours taking into account your comments:

Raiatea
Classic Sailing Tour

Rangiroa
Snorkeling Rangiroa's Aquarium

Bora Bora
Stingray Ballet and Snorkel Safari
Sunset Blue Lagoon Escapade
Coral Preservation & Snorkeling Program

Moorea
Lagoon Discovery with Snorkel
Dolphin Watching Expedition
Capture Moorea Photo Adventure

Cool! David loved the classic sail on Raiatea, by the way. Hope you enjoy the coral preservation tour--there's lots to be learned, and you get to see the Bora Bora pearl. Lots of fish.