Suzanne,

We don't eat big breakfast usually and a small lunch. We plan on eating breakfast late and not really eating lunch in Papeete. The included breakfast will be more cost effective than lunch will be.

Just checked out the website that Karen mentioned in another thread, that tells you which cruise ships are in which ports. It tells me that the Tahitian Princess is in the same place as the PG on these dates for Pip 2:

Moorea: 6/2/2005
Bora Bora: 5/31/2005 and 6/1/2005
Papeete: 6/4/2005

But nowhere nearby for Pip 1. This tells me that the ports will be more crowded on those dates, and that rental cars might be harder to find. So the Bora Bora motu will look pretty attractive that second week.

Fortunately the TP cruise starts *really* on June 3rd, so my worries about the airport being crowded have been allayed.

The upside is that the TP has a webcam, so maybe you can stalk us Pipsters #2!

Wendy, I was worried last year when I saw the same kind of port schedule overlap on our second week as you will have. It really didn't amount to any problem for us. They're actually in different bays and we even rented our car on Moorea on a day that the Tahitian Princess was also in port. We did talk to the Avis guy our first day and book it for the second day because we wondered if a car would be available. The trinket vendors almost all moved over to the docks the Princess tendered to on our second day on both Bora Bora and Moorea. And, yes, we did go to the Bora Bora motu on day 2, week 2. It was the most relaxed and romantic day of our trip.

Yes, we ran across a really big Princess last time we were in BB. It was coming through across the Pacific from New Zealand. That certainly caused a little pocket of inflation in Bora Bora. And the ship sure dwarfed us!

I think it's great news that for PIP #1 we won't be sharing the ports with another ship!! I know, I'm being selfish :D

Wendy, I hope for PIP #2 that it doesn't interfere with any of your plans. Your idea about saving the motu on Bora Bora for the second week sounds like a good plan for that day. And the fact that it won't affect your departure from the airport is good news!! I've heard it is really hot in the airport and with added crowds that would be much worse.

Regarding the outrigger canoe delivery to the OWBs for breakfast at the Intercontinental in Tahiti, that is a seperate and additional charge and is NOT related to the breakfast buffet that is included with the breakfast plan. We did it our first morning, and it was excellent. We never did make it to the actual buffet until our last day, despite it being included in our package (out diving early on the other mornings). The final day brunch buffet was excellent however, and I believe that the cost would have been about $50 per person if it were not included.

Cheers,
Ken

Interesting because I am sure I get one day of my stay where the canoe breakfast is included. I booked with American Express - maybe it's their amenity for staying there.

Kathy, That could well be the case. We booked direct with Radisson, and it was just the normal buffet that was included, but I did not mind paying extra for the canoe delivery, especially since we got a better rate on the OWB through Radisson than was available from any other source that I tried.

Yes Cyndi, I'm afraid that the airport is the worst part of the trip. But it's the worst part of any trip, isn't it? We will just have to go with the flow, and enjoy. Frankly, we should be glad the airport is so small and inefficient--it means that the islands are not yet swamped with tourists! The land operator, Tahiti Nui Travel, is also kind of bumblingly-inefficient. But it's FP, so I forgive them.

On the subject of hotels, I figured it all out in my head yesterday, and the rate we are getting for our two-day pre-cruise at the Radisson is almost a wash, compared to what we could do ourselves. When you factor in the transfers and airport greeters, the lunch on Saturday, then add on the deviation fees and the fact that we would not get a free overnight in LA if we deviated, it works out just about the same as those special rates now posted.

I do see cheaper rates, at the hotel that I like, the modest 3-star Royal Tahitien, so we could save a couple of hundred dollars by doing that, but frankly I am now dying to see the Radisson, and I do like being taken care of from airport to hotel.

We'll probably visit the Royal Tahitien for lunch on Friday, since it has a very charming patio restaurant, with really great food.

We're rapidly approaching the day when we can book excursions on-line.

Can anyone remind me where on the RSSC website I can see a complete list of excursions, with prices? I have the PDF brochure, and it does not list any of the new excursions (like the kayaking on Raiatea, or the coral recovery). And the link on the cruise itself just lists the excursions, not the prices.

Wendy - I think the prices will appear for your excursions on the date that you are first able to book them online. I know when I go to the website the prices show up on the cruises that are within the next 60 days but not for our date in June.

Aha! Thanks Kathy, just what I need. Just want to get an idea so that we plan.

Wendy, I can't believe it is so close to 3/22, the day we can start booking excursions on-line. I remember when you started this thread - it seemed like such a long ways off!!!

Kathy, thanks filling us in on how it works. I sure hope I can meet you someday. I've read so many past posts of yours about the PG and you have been such a big help in planning for PIP. Wendy too!!! You guys are great!! Luckily, I will get to meet you, Wendy. Looking forward to it.

I'm looking forward to meeting you too, Cyndi.

I'm torn about pre-booking. I think we'll just pick a few things that we know we want to do, and leave the rest until we board. I know we can change our minds, so might book a few on spec. But I'd like to maintain a modicum of spontaneity.

Just thought I'd bump this topic, since the booking day approaches. What does anyone think about the mountain hike that Wes took? It sounds way to strenuous for me, although I do love hiking. The thing to remember is that it's pretty muggy and hot. The waterfall at the end sounds great.

Last time it was April when we went, and it's hotter then than May, but... Even the thought of the "trail of the Ancients" on Moorea was too much for me then. I am in better shape now than I was, however. And my elliptical finally arrives tomorrow, then David has to put it together for me. So if I turn into superwoman by May, maybe.

Ordered a bathing suit yesterday--the second one. I had to return the first 'cause it was too big! :cool: I have my fingers crossed about this second one.

Wendy - too big is very good news!!! Your elliptical is going to be great. You'll be superwoman in no time!!

I think Wes's mountain hike sounds so exciting. But I'm too big a woose to even think of trying. I'll live vicariouly thru him (and maybe you???)

Less than 1 week to book on-line!!! Decisions, decisions :D

Hi, just thought I would bring this thread to the top. I decided to go back to the RSSC website and add an excursion. But all the excursions I actually reserved, and got email confirmation about, have been "zeroed". So, my question is, should I enter them all over again (with the new one), or should I just add the new one?

I would just add the excursion and then confirm with the Excursions desk on embarkcation. I did that when we boarded the Navigator last year and it worked perfectly. One of my excursions requested was sold out, but they added another one

Kathy, so you're saying that your "my cruises" excursions also claimed to be zero? So by choosing one, you're adding a new one, not wiping out all the others you have already chosen?

If that's the case, then I will go ahead.

Thanks!

You can also double book and cover all bases. They are used to seeing that I am sure. I would just take your email confirmations with you to show you booked the excursions in either case.

I got my prescription mask yesterday. Turned out I only needed one lens, which is a -2 diopter. My eyes are kind of opposite each other, so the other eye is actually +.25. The dive shop did not have any positive lenses, but apparently they only come in .5 increments in any case, so nothing would really be gained by that.

Tax season is over - YEAH - so now I'm back on LCT now that I won't be working so much!!!!

Kathy - good idea about taking a copy of the excursion email confirmations - just in case!!!

Wendy - I hope your excursions work out fine. Also, glad you were able to get your "vision" situation worked out for snorkeling. I solved mine when my eye doctor reminded me I have an old pair of contacts (older prescription) and I can just wear those when I snorkel. Then, if I lose one, it will not be a big deal. I tried them out the other day and they still feel fine and the prescription is definely good enough for snorkeling. They are mono vision (one eye for distance, the other for reading) so I'll have all the bases covered.

Cyndi, welcome back! Serious count-down time is beginning now.

I will be working very hard over the next few weeks, I am *so* glad I booked this vacation, I will definitely need it.

Wendy - you are so right about the "serious count-down". I hope you don't work TOO hard. Just keep in mind the RELAXING vacation on your B2B PIP!!!! A delicous tropical drink(s) will be awaiting you!!!

Well, I will bring this thread to the top!

Anybody else booked excursions since we last spoke? Changed any? I decided to stick with what we have until we get on the ship.

Wendy,

Thank you for pointing me over to this thread. You read my mind that many of my questions are related to excursions.

Tonya and I are moderately experienced divers, but we really aren't the live-aboard 5 dive per day type of divers. We are probably just going to dive 2 or 3 days on the cruise. So, that being said, what are the top few dives on the cruise that shouldn't be missed? Should we sign up for them online, or are they usually not sold out?

Thanks,
John aka FFMilesJunkie, aka FFMiles, aka Junkie :)

Hi John and welcome to the board! Have you read Ken's Tahiti review yet? If not, you can find it here.

You can read in detail about Ken's diving experiences in the review.

John, having dove 8 times while on the PG for
two weeks last month, here are my favorite dives:

a. Sharks Gallery (Friday)
b. Tapu (lots of lemon and black tip sharks)
c. Ledges (nice coral formations, lion fish, turtles)

Two dives were with Bora Bora Dive Ctr (ken recommended them from his Sept trip) our second
favorite all all dives was Anau--where we dove
with giant manta rays (actually swam with them for 20-30 yards)

Dominque, Christophe, and Camille are the best dive team in French Poly..they will take good care of you..just book the dives online 30 days out, then verify the dives with the dive team on the Saturday you board.

Have fun!

r/wes

Wes,

Perfect answer; looks like we'll be booking some dives this weekend. Do you take your own equipment? We usually drag our BC's & regs to Kona every year, but not sure about dragging everything down to Tahiti. If we do, will they store everything for us during the cruise?

Thanks again!

John

John, I'll second the suggestions from Colonel Wes. I just watched some of our dive videos from those sites this morning, and they were our favorite three out of the nine dives that we did in FP. We took all of our own gear (since we were also doing other dives pre-cruise and post-cruise) and the PG staff took great care of it for us, and let us keep everything at the marina. The PG's gear seemed to all be ScubaPro, and in excellent condition - they will even give you wet suits. If we were diving just with the PG, I don't know that I would have dragged all of gear along, but I was glad that we had it for the other dives.

Cheers,
Ken

John, ken's recs are spot on..even tho I dove
on the PG and w/outside op's, I just brought a shorty, mask, fins...but the PG's equip is all new and in great shape (they do all the set up)
but do what makes you feel comfortable..have a blast..wish I was going again...r/wes

ps..The PG dive team will store all your equipment
and set it up for you...after the dive they have fresh water rinse bins--just drop your wetsuit, fins, mask in..the next day your equipment is set up ready for another dive in paradise.

Not sure if this question fits here, but here goes: We bought new snorkel mask, but we have our old fins. Should be lug them on PIP? Does the ship have a sufficient amount of fins? What about the hotel? I'd like to snorkel off the deck of the OTW bungalow, do we need fins? Thanks!

I would not bother. The fins on the ship are fine and plentiful. And since you will be bringing reef shoes (you have to do that!), they should be fine for puttering around near the hotel, if there are no fins available there.