The excursions for BAIL world cruise are out. Will begin to look at options so the first one I'm looking at is Bora Bora. (I c/p these from rssc.com but eliminated the scuba certified options). Some of these may be similar to what's offered in Moorea too. I'd love opinions on the following options:
Thanks!!

Shore Excursions

Land and Sea Safari (Snorkeling)
Duration: 3½ Hours. Canoe, Four Wheel Drive, Moderate Walking, Refreshments, Snorkeling.

Bora Bora Island Tour by Le Truck
Duration: 3 Hours. Local Style Transport, Moderate Walking, Refreshments.

Bora Bora Off Road Adventure
Duration: 3½ Hours. Four Wheel Drive, Moderate Walking, Refreshments.

Glass Bottom Boat
Duration: 1½ Hours. Boat Ride.

Aquascope
Duration: 1 Hour. Boat Ride.

Lagoon Sail by Catamaran
Duration: 3½ Hours. Boat Ride, Refreshments, Swimming.

Circle Island by Waverunner
Duration: 2½ Hours. Local Style Transport, Moderate Walking, Swimming.

Lagoonarium Experience (Snorkeling)
Duration: 3½ Hours. Canoe, Refreshments, Snorkeling.

Helicopter Flightseeing
Duration: 1 Hour. Coach Transport, Helicopter.

Shark and Ray Feeding (Snorkeling)
Duration: 3 Hours. Canoe, Moderate Walking, Snorkeling, Swimming.

Sunset Cruise
Duration: 2½ Hours. Boat Ride, Refreshments.
Aqua Safari
Duration: 2 Hours. Boat Ride, Snorkeling.

Discover the Motus by "FunnyCat"
Duration: 3½ Hours. Boat Ride, Refreshments, Snorkeling.

Marcie, I have done both the Bora Bora Off Road Adventure and the Circle Island by Waverunner and have loved them both. If you can do two excurions (I am not sure how long your are there) those would be the two I would do! The jet ski adventure is pretty cool, they took us to a deserted island. We hiked to the opposite side where the waves were crashing on shore. The seashells there were fantastic! Everybody was bent over for 1/2 hour picking up shells :)

The Jeep adventure is also alot of fun. You go off road through the jungle and up and down steep dirt roads. You end up at locations where you have the most beautiful views!

Marcie, those are the ones I did, too, and loved them both! Keep in mind though, that the off road adventure is very bumpy, but the views are incredible from the hilltops they take you to. Bring insect repellent! Bugs were bad on that little hike on the Jet Ski thing.

Marcie:

I cannot recommend the waverunner highly enough.
We did a B2B and did the excursion both weeks!

Doug

We did the Lagoonarium and had a great time. However, it was the second time either of us had snorkeled and we were both very new to snorkeling - for us it was perfect. The fish (and several sharks) are enclosed in pens that you snorkel in. I probably wouldn't recommend it to an experienced snorkeler as you make it through the pens and see everything fairly quickly.

Marcie:

Another vote here for the Waverunner - it is so much fun and a different way to see the island. You should probably have time to do one tour in the morning and another in the afternoon!

We loved the Waverunner. The water is so beautiful and it is fun skimming through it.

I also highly recommend the waverunner - it is a blast. I also enjoyed the Le Truck island tour. You will be able to see all of the island and ours stopped at a local home away from town who actually made pareos on the island themselves. They cost only $10. Le Truck is an open air truck with bench seats. Many of the pareos you see at the market in Papeete and the little towns on the island are imported and not made locally. So we got a great souvenir. But the water/lagoon surrounding Bora Bora is absolutely gorgeous and is not to be missed!

Absolutely another vote for waverunner...I'd never done a jet ski before, but I was disappointed that we couldn't squeeze in another trip around the island.

We did the helicopter tour (highly recommended) and the shark and ray feeding. The latter we did on both times we went to Bora Bora, two years apart. Both times, it was equally incredible. I think this is one of the best things we did in terms of excursions. The helicopter tour is well done and you really get a chance to see and appreciate the colors of the water from the air.

I have done Lagoonarium and waverunner and both were great. All the tours were well received on the PG.

However, that being said, I LOVED the waverunner around Bora Bora. It was beautiful, fun and a truly relaxing and lovely experience.

On Moorea, there is a See and Sea and a Waverunner there as well. Both are great. I think the See and Sea is more spectacular because of the wonderful snorkeling..it is something to be seen..This is a combo land safari and snorkling boat trip.

The wave runner trip is also nice, but doesn't compare to the one around Bora Bora.

We got to try a lot of the trips because we did a back to back. The parasailing over Moorea and Bora Bora is a great experience too. If you can fit it in, it is worth it. Don't miss your moto days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found the Pearl farm trips just so so.

We have done the 4x4 tour, which is great, and the shark and ray feeding, which was also lots of fun, with some really interesting snorkelling.

But I must say, after listening to Dr. Poole talk about the taming of sea creatures like this, I felt slightly guilty, and am not sure I would do it again.

Most of the rays, for example, were without stingers, and I could not help but pause to wonder how they got that way.

We also did the Le Truck (but in an air-conditioned minibus), and that was also nice, with opportunities to buy pareos, and lots of photo-ops.

Thank you all so much! Now, only 108 more days to plan! Any suggestions for Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands),Papeete, Rarotonga(Cook Islands),or Bay of Islands, New Zealand?

As you can tell...this is ALL new to us! (with your good suggestions, I'll be good for Bora Bora and Moorea)

Weve done the shark and ray feeding twice on the PG, and liked it, needless to say. When we were there, we found this to be about the best snorkeling we'd seen in the world.Wave runners are highly rated there, but if you chose not to do them for some reason, the shark and ray feeding is great.

Also, the PG has a nice motu on Bora Bora. It's included and all inclusive, except for food. Don't know if it will be offered on your cruise, but there is good snorkeling there, too.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

What if we did the shark feeding snorkeling in Bora Bora and the wave runners in Moorea? (the shark feeding in Moorea is for Scuba divers only)?? I'm afraid that the off road jeep rides may not work for us because of Tom's bad back.

Here are the Papeete options (don't look too thrilling do they?) Maybe we should just hang out there and not do any excursion??

Full Day Circle Island Tour
Duration: 7 Hours. Coach Transport, Meal Included, Moderate Walking.

Tahiti - Off the Beaten Path
Duration: 4 Hours. Difficult Walking, Four Wheel Drive.

Tahiti Lagoon Discovery (Snorkeling)
Duration: 3 Hours. Boat Ride, Moderate Walking, Refreshments, Snorkeling.

Tahiti's Natural Treasures
Duration: 4½ Hours. Coach Transport, Moderate Walking.

Tahiti's Culture
Duration: 3 Hours. Coach Transport, Moderate Walking

Marcie,
I've been to Bora Bora several times , and all but one time we did the wave-runners.....I think Bora Bora and Moorea have the most beautiful water in the world. <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" />
I would highly recommened doing the wave runners, but I think I would stick with the ships tour. We have never done the "on our own"

Marcie, I haven't done the waverunner on Moorea but I have always heard the experience is much better on Bora Bora. On Moorea, we rented a scooter and drove to the Belvedere Lookout on top of the mountain. There is a little ice cream shack that makes fresh vanilla bean ice cream and the view is to die for!

"On this spot you will have a great panorama view of Opunohu Bay on the left and Cook's Bay on the right, separated by Mount Rotui in the middle."

I did the wave runners on Moorea and frankly, they were just okay. Bora Bora is really the place to do this as the water is over the top. However, they had an age limit for 15 years and over even as a rider and our daughter was only 14. Moorea was more "accommodative" to this request than Bora Bora.

I would try and do 1) the shark and ray feeding (barring other comments on "taming", but I didn't like Dr. Poole at all when we went on his excursion as he is very, very opinionated about everything and quite a turn-off), 2) the wave runners in Bora Bora and still have time to totally veg out on the Motu as Richard indicated your second day. That day was almost as perfect as the private motu day for us on both trips. We floated for 5 hours on some cheap 99 cent life rafts (major envy of everyone else on board) we brought, going back and forth to have our coconuts refilled with what ever libation you desired. We were so relaxed and in the "zone" that our vacation really became a reality on that day. Not to miss!

On the island of Tahiti, I understand the Off the Beaten Path can be very hot and more difficult than the 4X4 tours on Bora Bora and Moorea. The Full Circle Tour can also get very hot, and depending on weather conditions (mainly rain) you may not make it all the way around. That being said, it is a shame though not to see any of the island other than Papeete because it really is beautiful. I never been but the Natural Treasures excursion may be a good compromise.

I'm surprised the shark feeding on Moorea is for scuba divers only, I have been on it a couple of times and it wasn't the case. Personally I think Bora Bora is better for the waverunners because the lagoon is better than Moorea (IMHO).

Maybe it would help to if you all knew our time schedule:

Wed. Jan 12 Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands 9am-5pm
(editing to add that we have a comp excursion
on Nuku Hiva so don't need any ideas there)
Thursday at sea
Fri Papeete, Tahiti 9am-11pm
Sat. Moorea 9am-6pm
Sun. Bora Bora 8am-5pm

Waverunner on Bora Bora is the best and not to be missed. We did it twice. You get to feed the rays on the waverunner on Moorea, but the snorkling on Sea and Sea with the gigantic Moray eels in great on Moorea. You and Tom would love it!!

Not much culture on the culture tour in Papeete. Stay away from the bus tour. Water isn't as blue for snorkling. The off the beaten path one could be nice..there is a rain forest which was lovely.

I AGREE with the waverunner, and that it was better in Bora Bora...Moorea is a more beautiful island, but Bora Bora has one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world...a spectacular experience..and the off-road adventure is a blast....Ngaire was the first to recommend that one to me...she wasn't wrong....feeding the sharks was fun too...but if you only get to pick 2, those would be by far my favorites!

Oh, and I just read Karens remarks re the Belvedere lookout...it IS beautiful, but I would do it on my own the next time...we got let out with a dozen other buses, and you couldn't get a picture of the beautiful views without getting 20 other people in the shot...too crowded...but DO try the vanilla ice cream...ahhhh...my mouth is watering! :D

The shark feeding is *not* a scuba dive.
The Dive Masters do not do feedings.
There is a shark dive (which is not to be missed by any diver), but no feeding. I approve of this, btw.

I have to assume that the shark feeding is hooked up with the ray feeding trip.
Sheri? Can you help me out here? I do not remember that you were a diver, so perhaps you can clear up the shark feeding thingie.

Doug... who, somehow, thought that it was very cool to be some 30-40 feet below the surface of the ocean while watching over twenty sharks circle above him.

Marcie,

We just got home last night from 19 days in French Polynesia. My typing is suffering from jet lag! We did the Land & Sea Safari and it included just enough hill climbing to satisfy my needs along with some great snorkeling - particularly at the end when the crew tossed pineapple rinds overboard for the fish. Our tour was only offered in the afternoon and so we saw no eels as they had been fed in the am and were not interested in being lured out of their hiding places in the pm.

We also did the Shark & Ray Feeding. It was one of my favorite activities. You get to stand in the water with the rays swimming all around you and you may hand feed them fish (carefully) with the guide's direction. You can pet the rays and they will rub against you. The sharks will swim near you but stay just out of reach. One young honeymooning couple got a big surprise when two black tip reef sharks swam up to just about two feet away from their faces before turning away. My husband and I were standing in the water at the time and I said to Bill "Chris is in for a big surprise". The next thing we heard was "Holy S#*!" When he and Ava stood up he started telling us about this big shark that swam right up to "this close" and about five of us were laughing and said we knew all about it. That's when he learned that we could hear his exclamation through his snorkel.

Rob (Robbo1) and Mary did the Off Road Adventure in four-wheel drive vehicle. Mary said it was more than any amusement park ride she has ever been on. They were hanging on for dear life and had a "star sighting" in another 4 wheeler - Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith, riding 007 style: riding while standing up with arms up in the air! We had learned that Pierce and Keeley had arrived on Bora Bora the day before the PG arrived.

As Richard mentioned, if the private motu is available on your Bora Bora itinerary it is paradise on a clear day. Our first week we did not get there because we had the Land & Sea activity on day 1 and showers on day 2 (so we just tendered ashore and bought pearls!). On week 2 we did the shark & ray feeding on day 1 and were on the first tender over to the motu on day 2 with our snorkeling gear and box lunches (request the day before) and had a wonderful relaxing time. The snorkeling was great, there were plenty of palm trees for shade if desired, a free bar and tender service every 30 minutes in case you needed anything you left back on the ship.

I know everyone who enjoys waverunners rate that activity highly. Unfortunately on August 24 they had a problem on Bora Bora with water in the gas. They did not know this until all the waverunners kept breaking down. One teenager had to change waverunners more than a dozen times! The entire group kept getting stranded out on the water while one vehicle after another would stop running and the company would have to send out replacements. They ended up staying out on the water for more than a hour longer than scheduled. One waverunner tipped completely over. But no one was hurt and everyone's money was completely refunded. The next week the waverunners were fine.

I forgot to mention in the previous post that we rented a car our last day at Moorea. We drove all around the island and stopped at the Belvedere around noon. There are no tour buses there at that time as they tend to go up twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon. We were able to park facing the view of both bays as did one other car. That was the one time we encountered any daytime rain that lasted more than 30 minutes. So our photographs are not great. We ate our box lunches in the car (with 3 windows rolled down about 1" for ventilation and my front window most of the way down with our large PG umbrella fastened by the shoulder strap of my seatbelt)! After about 30 minutes the rain was down to a fine drizzle and we got out for about 10 minutes and took pictures. On our way back to Cook's Bay we stopped at the distillary and enjoyed many samples of all their local liquors. I had to keep telling the girl pouring the samples "just a teeny tiny amount"!

For any of you doing a pre-cruise to Moorea, I highly recommend the off-road excursion that can be booked through InterIsland Safari Co. I don't think they do cruise ships. "Belvedere" apparently means the "highest point" of the island, and the place where the cruise ship excursions go (like KathyZ was on) is not truly the "belvedere). We stopped there, and then went off-road to climb a very steep and bumpy road, and then a hike uphill to get to the true high point of the island. It was beautiful! We looked over both bays, and back the other way, gorgeous green forests. This outfit has the exclusive use of the road leading to it.

Forgot to mention, or ask before. Marcie, since you are on the WC, and not PG, and only have one day in Moorea and Bora Bora, I wonder whether you even have a "motu" day?

BTW, over 200 people have already signed up for the entire World Cruise. The PG onboard cruise rep. could no longer sign up people for segments. Their internet connection to FL is not the greatest.

jhp, we did the off-road on Moorea as well, booked through the PG, when we were there in 2003. And yes, the "high point" was definitely that great view from the top of that pinnacle, overlooking the bay. Although if you are prone to motion sickness, take some drugs first. And take some insect repellent.

The trip also took us to the agricultural research station, which I enjoyed, and the marae, and we had a great pareo tying demonstration at the Belvedere. I remember our guide, who was very entertaining, one of those big burly Polynesians, very outgoing and funny.

KathyZ, glad you had such a great time! According to the letter we received from Mark Conroy, there are more than 300 doing the full World Cruise! Olivia, you're right...we do not have the motu day as the PG does. I guess there are private companies that do this though.

I'm afraid we'll have to pass on the off road jeeps. Tom has had a bad back for many years and I just can't risk the bouncing, taking the chance of it going out on him...For sure one one of the islands I want to do the waverunner (probably Bora Bora). The shark feeding sounds fun too!

I just love hearing about all these fun experiences you all have had in FP!

jhp, I've tried using "Google" to find InterIsland Safari Co. on the internet with no luck. Do you have any further information that you can share about them? Did you book their tour through one of the hotels on Moorea? Do I have the name exactly correct?