(this is a new topic from a new member,
derived from the "A, B cabin differences?" thread)

Some advice from a 4-time PGer who's done B, C, D and E cabins:

Assuming you're willing to forsake the butler,
If what you want is a balcony, and you should,
the C cabins, despite their loveseat instead of couch, are still my favorite.
(ok, if you gave me a free upgrade to OS or GS, I'd take it :)
Also, the B's veranda, although significantly larger, being somewhat inboard, overlooks the roof of the C's immediately below. You cannot see the sea rolling past the ship's hull looking straight down as you can on C's deck 7. If this matters to you...

C cabin tips:
If you don't mind rear-facing; C cabins 763-767 are part of the January 06 drydock addition
(replacing the smoker-lamented Connoisseur Club) and have decidedly newer, fresher furnishings than the "legacy" C's: LCD TVs, DVDs, really nice tiled bathrooms (full shower, no tubs), LED reading lights, etc.. while keeping the tasteful dark-wood surfaces.

However, inexplicably, they do not have the traditional Tiki-god statue in them, a great place to park your cap and sunglasses.
Perhaps this is where RSSC/Regent ran out of upgrade money.

Cabin 767, the straight-on center rear facing one and noticeably wider than the other four, should be your first pick of these.

I assume Regent will in time refresh all the legacy cabins getting rid of the 9" VHS TVs
(and the front desk's aging collection of VHS movies :) as well as the other improvements.
Keep the Tikis, Regent!

Enjoy the PG!
-- PG Junkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

Hi PGJunkie - welcome and thanks for your post! I agree with you 100%. We peeked into those rear cabins during debarkation and 767 looks fantastic. Better furnishings as you mentioned and more spacious. Haven't heard of any vibration problems. We would book that one in a heartbeat. The two cabins on the ends were more cramped and I think perhaps smaller than the regular C's.

Funny about the tiki! We also used it to store our hats :) It's the perfect place. Our sunglasses and room keys were kept at the base of the tiki.

Were you on the 12/2/06 Marquesas sailing? My husband Grant and I were - we look pretty much like the little picture of us under my name. It was a wonderful trip!

Dena

Hi DenaH!
As a matter of fact,
Yes, I was on the 12/2/06 Marquesas.
Perhaps we met.

I was with my Mom this time,
who had wanted to do that itinerary.
Turns out a couple of others on board were sailing with their Moms. We wound up spending quite a bit of time evenings in La Palette (sans Moms)...

Did you like your cabin?
We were in one of the stbd aft C's,
near the new ones...

Still on the topic of cabins,
I'd love to hear from anyone who's stayed in 7002 (OS), 7003 (B) or 7004 (A) which were also Jan 06 drydock additions. I did not have a chance to crash these for a look, but assume they also have the newer furnishings.

PG Trivia (another PG Tip next post):
7002, 7003 and 7004, just behind the bridge on deck 7, were carved out of what used to be "officer's country" in the PG's pre-2006, Capt. Bossard, "French-era" (inception until Spring 2005).
Now, in the PG's "Croatian era" (2005-present) Capt. Zupan's digs are presumably somewhat more modest, all in the name of revenue of course...

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

PGJunkie - did you by any chance hang around with Lee Anne and her mom? If so, I might have an idea of who you are (if you are male?), though I don't believe we actually met. We'd met Lee Anne before (actually through this board) and she told us she'd met others traveling with moms. Sounds like the same group!

We were in 717 this time - 715 last time - we like them both.

So when are you going back? We'll be back some day, that's for sure...

Dena

Hi Ken & Dena!

Yep, that would the "male" part of our group of three. We referred to ourselves as the "martyr club" ostensibly for sacrificing ourselves to bring our moms on this cruise. Some sacrifice, huh? ;)

Sorry I've been so absent -- my freelance writing business has heated up so I've been spending most of my time tap-tap-tapping away on this computer for paying work, rather than fun. But I had a FABULOUS time on the cruise - Dena I read your review, great review and I agree!

The best part was the diving. I went on a total of 8 dives, and it was some of the most amazing moments of my life.

Speaking of which, I'm about to head out for a dive at a local beach so I only have a minute, but I'll come back later and type up more thoughts of my PG experience. In the meantime, I have one word for y'all...

MOTU!!!!

Bingo!
Hi Dena & LeeAnne.
It was my first time in the Marquesas, and they exceeded my expectations.
I felt that the trip back from them to Bora did accentuate the fact that the PG was originally purpose-designed for the 7-day itinerary, not for long @ sea itineraries.
Of course, if you're going to be stuck at sea on a boat, life could be worse than on the PG.

PG Tip, for the benefit of those actually looking for info in the topic:

If sailing on the PG with a traveling companion with whom it may be inappropriate to share a large bed, make very sure that you have booked a cabin with two twins. These are the ones with a black dot on every printed deck plan. The PG was purpose-designed for couples :) , twin bed rooms are the minority, and the queen bed rooms *do not* convert to twins, as on most ships.

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

PGJunkie, one of our LCT members, Sue ("flyerdreamer"), and her two gorgeous children stayed in 7003 in June 2006 (we were on the same cruise)...here is the thread and some pictures:

http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003479;p=1

We are seriously thinking of booking another PG cruise - in fact, we have already emailed Susan about it. We can't do anything in 2007, as our vacation time is already spoken for, but a New Year's 2007/2008 looks promising!

Kristin, too bad you can't join us for PEARLS in early Dec.

Arlene, I know it. We REALLY want to do PEARLS - what a great group of people and a great deal. How I wish we had more vacation time!!!

LeeAnne! Tell me about the diving, please! We plan to dive this time, and I have been wondering which ones to go on. I was looking at Bora Bora, Moorea, and Rangiroa but any information would be a giant help. Anyone else with an opinion, please chime in. Also, Jack seems to think we need to bring our own masks and suits, but I would rather fill our luggage with other stuff, like shoes or swimsuits. :) How does the equipment on the PG rate?

Hi Shawna! The diving was amazing...beyond amazing, really. Every time I'd return from a dive, I'd be freaking out over all the astonishing things I'd just seen! People took to calling me "Hammerhead" because I saw an enormous hammerhead shark on my first dive, and couldn't stop talking about it. I was all stoked because Estelle, the Cousteau Society lecturer, gave a lecture on sharks in the region that morning and mentioned she'd never been lucky enough to see a hammerhead herself...and then I went out that day and saw one! ;)

While every dive was amazing, Rangiroa was my favorite. That's because I did the Tiputa Pass, which is a drift dive. We went in outside the reef and hung out there for about 25 min. checking out all the critters -- it was there that I saw the hammerhead, along with sea turtles, eels, reef sharks, schools of baracudas and all manner of brightly colored tropical fish. Then we turned the corner into the pass and...WHOOSH! Off we went like a shot, pushed along at lightning speed by the current flowing into the lagoon. There's not a whole lot to see in the pass other than some fish who are also caught in the current, swooping along just like you. But it was so much FUN -- I just put my arms out in front of me and whooshed along like Superman. The current then dropped us in a shallow area near where the glass-bottom boat tours were hanging out.

Bora Bora and Moorea were great too -- lemon sharks, grey-tipped reef sharks, lion fish -- I should go back and look at my pics to remember all that I saw.

Anyway, as for the gear -- I brought my own mask and snorkel, which I'm glad I did because theirs were okay but nuthin great -- and I prefer my own. I WISH I'd brought my own fins, because theirs were pretty bad -- the shoe kind, not straps, and they gave me blisters. The BC's are your basic rental jacket style, and they were perfectly fine. I did wish I'd brought a computer because their equipment came only with a depth guage. Don't bother bringing a wetsuit -- you only need a shorty, and they have plenty of them in all sizes.

The dive crew was the best part of the cruise for me (well, almost best!). They are fun, very friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated to you having the BEST time! They had the utmost patience with the diving newbies, and left the rest of us pretty much alone to do our thing (while keeping a watchful eye).

(Some of you who've known me for a while on this board might be surprised to hear me refer to myself as among "the rest of us," but when I told y'all I wanted to learn to dive, I meant it! I've plunged into it with both feet -- I got certified in August, then went on to get my Advanced Open Water certification, joined a dive club and I go out diving usually at least a couple times a week, and I now have 55 dives under my belt!)

I'll no doubt be back on the PG,
probably in early 2008.
There's a reason for this screenname.

PG is habit-forming.

Plus, post-cruise, there's PG-withdrawal-syndrome,
where you're wondering where's Efrem the bartender?
where'd the food go? Where's the service at home?
and, since Leeanne brought her up,
Where's Estelle, the Cousteau Society lecturer?

Gotta get yet another fix. Number five.

Fortunately, Regent's behaving just like the corner pusher stuffing my mailbox with endless Paul Gauguin brochures, personalized Cousteau invitations, President's letters, etc, etc, etc...

OK, here's another PG Tip:

If your goal is to delay your disembarkation for as long as possible (perhaps for a reason as mundane as your hotel room not being ready 'till 2:00), keep in mind that on disembarkation day in Papeete, L'Etoile (the main dining room) offers, to all the sad guests, a full hot buffet breakfast between 7:00 and 9:00. Nice.

Then,

*Only if you booked the standard air-sea package*
You get a farewell bloody mary party on deck from 10:00-11:00, and a brunch at L'Etoile from 11:00-13:00, at which time the bus takes you to the hotel, or first the 2 1/2 hour standard Tahiti tour if you want. (more on the tour in the next PG-trivia item)

*If you did not book the standard air-sea package*
(you're "cruise-only")
You are invited to get the heck off the boat no later than 10:00. No chance of a reprieve. I tried.
In hindsight, Regent does allude to this treatment in the fine print in the PG-specific brochure.

So, having done both the air/sea as well as cruise-only,
If this is your first time on PG, never mind Papeete, and if the total cost is not too much worse than booking Air Tahiti Nui and a hotel room yourself, I recommend the Air Sea package.

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

Ken, nice to "virtually" meet you. I hope you continue to hang around here - PG questions are often asked and you definitely have the expertise and experience to be a wealth of information!

Dena

LeeAnne, thanks so much for the info - from the official description, it doesn't sound like the pass dive is all that exciting, but your description sounds much more interesting. I want to see sea life but would also like to be swept along by the current. That sounds like great fun!

On a side note, does anyone know about cell coverage in FP? Being contractors, we can bill if we stay in contact, and Jack is threatening to bring along satellite connectivity (snore). Do tri-band cell phones have connectivity in FP or do we need to get an FP chip for our phone? Anyone??

Re FP CellPhone Coverage for Shawna:

All the inhabited islands in FP have at least some GSM coverage (near the main town). the Society Islands all have 100% end-to-end, GSM coverage.
In fact, for islands that are close to each other (eg Moorea/Tahiti and Raiatea/Tahaa/Bora)
coverage bleeds from one island to the next.

For the Tuamotus / Marquesas,
for example, Rangiroa (a huge deserted atoll, after all) does have coverage around Tiputa/Avatoru where the PG anchors, near the Tiputa inlet.

Which meams that multi-band (most of them, these days) T-Mobile phones that have international roaming (free to turn on, but not to use ($2.99/min) :) will ring through and work fine, albeit with a noticeable "satellite delay". My bill ran up quite a bit. I love to take just one work call per trip, from Motu Mahana, in the water, with a Lemon Drop Martini in hand.
"No, I can't do lunch in NYC today, and don't care about your insignificant problem! Na Nah!"

Sorry, got carried away...

Cingular GSM phones may or may not have some sort of roaming agreement with Vini. Sorry, don't know.
Check the Cingular web site.

Normal Verizon Wireless phones are not GSM and will not work at all. Period. I hate VZN.

An alternative is to get a cheap unlocked GSM phone and local operator (Vini) prepaid SIM card for it, one company that does this specifically for FP (as well as most other countries) and one-stop-conveniently is www.telestial.com. The advantage is that incoming calls are free and unlimited to you, but the caller must call your temporary local FP cell number, an international toll call (011-689-xxxxxxxxx) for them. So you call them quick and have them call you right back.

The local FP cell operator is www.vini.pf.
There's coverage maps for every beautiful square inch of FP.

A satellite phone is unnecessary overkill,
unless you're going to the Marquesas/Fiji etc.
*and* the two days at sea have you itching...
If so, you may want to rethink your cruise choice.

I actually saw some dork struggling with one on the last cruise while I was chatting away...

So there. This should be enough to get you hooked up. If that's what you really want. In paradise.

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

Uh oh, it's time for another PG-Trivia Item:

Ever wonder why every PG itinerary which features Rangiroa (in the Tuamotu Archipelago) stays there overnight?

Didn't notice, eh?
(go ahead, pull out the brochure, I'll wait...)

OK.

After all Rangiroa is a huge, mostly deserted atoll, with only two "villages" (and that's generous) on either side of the Tiputa inlet.
Oh, and a small airstrip.
Makes Vaitape in Bora look like Los Angeles.
(ok, thankfully not really)
As a touristy cruise stop, Rangiroa hardly rates,
unless you ask Leeanne, because she just said the diving's great. In fact, the one non-aquatic excursion (the vineyard) will have you pining for some Gallo Bros. You've been warned.

So I asked Capt. Zupan.

Answer: The PG can only transit the Tiputa inlet at slack tide. Other times, as Leeanne can surely attest first hand, the inflow or outflow current makes it impractical. And this despite the fact that at these latitudes, tides as we know them are hardly noticeable. It's just that the atoll, being so huge, encloses so much water that's gotta flush...

I still recommend stopping at Rangiroa because it's really interesting to see people living at elevations of 2ft above sea level. Without any obvious source of fresh water. See it while its still there. As Greenland & the Arctic melt away, Rangiroa will be as much a memory as the touristy Alaskan glaciers...

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

Ken, I think I saw you take that call...while sitting in the water at Motu Mahana...drinking that lemon drop. In fact, I'm pretty positive I actually heard you say "Nah nah na nah naaaah!"

Speaking of lemon drops -- that was one of my personal Post-PG-Depression-Syndrome symptoms: intense cravings for lemon drop martinis. They made the BEST ones at La Palette. What WAS that bartender's name? Anyway, I'm still suffering. Anybody got any ideas for a cure?

Shawna, do the drift dive! It's true that there's not much to see in the pass itself, but you'll see LOTS of stuff before you go into it...and once you're in the pass, you'll be having so much fun flying with the current that you won't care what you see.

I clicked on Flyerdream's thread today...and had my senses immediately assaulted with a picture of THE POOL at the Intercontinental. Mom and I actually spent three nights there -- two pre-cruise, one post -- and I think I spent most of the time in that specific pool, by those specific rocks. I know this because those rocks are right smack dab next to the swim-up bar.

A comment on the Intercontinental -- at the pool it was easy to spot the women there who were French, vs. those from other nations, like the US, where topless sunbathing is not the norm. A number of women did it, but the non-French women definitely stood out in terms of, um, how well (or not) they blended. I considered trying it myself, but I chose not to when I realized how close we were to the airport, and I was afraid that two brilliant-white beacons glaring in the sun might actually divert air traffic.

....mmmmm....missing paradise....

Thanks for the phone info. Jack has checked maps, and we are comvered, although personally, I vote for no phone calls. Hopefully nothing will blow up while we are gone.

Hmmmm... lemon drop martinis, that sounds tasty!

I must say, being new to this board,
I'm impressed with B&K Travel:

A previous PG-Tip I posted regarding how to stay on the PG past 10:00am on debarkation day was in fact already present on the B&K website, here:

http://www.bkrssc.com/PG_Debarkation.htm

I had not seen it when I posted.
This is certainly the only PG-selling travel agent I've ever encountered who's ever mentioned, never mind known, this.

Giving credit where due.

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

Ken mentioned the vineyard on Rangiroa...I'm curious about others' experiences with that excursion. While I was off checking out hammerhead sharks and shooting the pass, my Mom did the vineyard excursion. She did not enjoy it. First, they were taken there by a small boat which had nowhere to actually land, and people had to hop over a rail and/or step in the water, and some of the women had to be hauled out of the boat onto land by the young men there...I didn't see this, but the way she described it was that they had to hoist some of the women over the rails and through the surf! (Again, I don't know how accurate that description is, but some of the women I spoke to afterwards said they were quite embarrassed about the way in which they had to be heaved up.) Then, she said the vineyards themselves were just some small, sandy patches of struggling plants...and all that they did was wander through them, in the heat, with no water or anything to drink...until they got to the small building where they make the wine, which they got to taste (and she said it was horrible).

Now, one might ask what one would expect of vineyards on an atoll in the middle of the South Pacific...I guess it's not going to be Napa! But still, everyone I spoke to didn't like the excursion. Has anyone here done it? Any feedback? How long have they been doing this excursion?

Oh, and Ken, you're not telling these anything they don't already know -- that B&K is the bomb, and knows virtually every detail there is to know about Regent! :D

PGJunkie, that's why we admire our fearless leader so much, she has been on every ship more times than you can shake a stick at and she has investigated every square inch of the ships!

PGJunkie,
Thanks for the tips about B and C cabins. The couch vs loveseat is a biggie for me. It means the difference in getting some decent sleep or not sleeping much for 11 days. Besides, 767 is already booked with my brother and s-i-l. I think all the back cabins are booked for the 10/13 cruise.
Keep passing along the tips. They'll really help!!

Only 22 more days to keep this trip a secret from my husband...until his birthday!

Hi Crew Tea -

My husband & I have 767 for the 10/13 cruise. This will be his first cruise & my 5th cruise, but I've never cruised this line.

My brother mentioned that we may not like the back cabins since there is not much of a breeze. Any truth to that?

PG-Tip, or perhaps rather, PG-Annoyance:

Suppose you're "cruise-only" or independent,
or for whatever reason, you'd like to grab a cab
at the Papeete pier to go to a hotel or anywhere else. Sounds reasonable, no?

Apparently, cabs, which are plentiful if not particularly cheap on Papeete ($17-20 to go anywhere it seems. Tipping not customary), cannot gain entry to the pier to pick you up at the gangway *unless they have been summoned by the ship*.

Naturally, the "concierge" desk (the desk formerly formerly known as shore excusion) on the PG is happy to call a cab for you, with a little advance notice.
The annoyance is that the Concierge will charge you the same $15 "communications fee" they charge those, say, who would like to arrange an onshore Polynesian festival banquet for 25 on Hiva Oa.

This, implicitly, to recoup the obscene charge for presumed satellite calling on your behalf.

Keep in mind that while at any port, especially Papeete, and often at sea (see my cell coverage post) they simply whip out their cellphone.
(You'll notice the concierge on duty chatting on hers a lot)

While I understand that Regent should be entitled to recoup unusual costs incurred for unusual indulgences,
Charging $15 for each routine taxi request
(of which there must be at least 6-12 on debarkation morning) smacks of profiteering by some Regent beancounter who got a gold star for that revenue enhancing idea.

Ok. Rant off. I still like the PG.

So, what to do?

The gate at the foot of the pier only allows empty taxis that have been officially ($15!) summoned or those with card-carrying passengers to pass and is a couple of hundred feet from the gangway.

The nearest taxi stand is just across Boulevard Pomare (the main seaside drag) from the gate which is perpendicular to the pier. Figure a 5-7 minute walk total from the ship.

Granted, not great if you're lugging 14 days worth of luggage,
but if you just want to get off the ship, say, on the final "overnight" evening to take in the town,
an alternative...

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

Thanks for that info. We were thinking about hitting a local club the last night and will definitely not make the mistake of getting a cab through the concierge. We don't fear a little walking. It's the stumbling back that would be a drag! Good to know they can drive up to the pier on the return.

I have another question for you, PGJunkie - the travel book I have on FP says not to go to what they call dance clubs unless you already know how to dance. They refer to clubs with bands that play Tahitian fox trots and tangos, etc. Are these ballroom dance clubs? That would make more sense,`as I can't see why the locals would care whether or not you could dance to top 40 music.

Wow, that sounds like such a typical Grand Circle ploy to recoup costs. I hate hearing stories like that--I love the Paul Gauguin too, but that's pretty off-putting, for sure.

Just a thought about getting your bags to the cab....if you walk "out" to grab a cab...why not have them drive you back "in" to pick up luggage and then you're off. The driver won't charge you $15 extra (at least I hope NOT!)

Very sensible suggestion, Margo. You could also have the name of a local cab and phone yourself. I think someone posted the name of a very reliable cab, I can't remember where, whether here or on CC, but if you took a cab to the ship, I'm sure you could arrange for a pickup.

We were fortunate to have cell phone service in FP (using SIM card). The travel desk gave us some numbers to call for taxis and we called them ourselves using our cell phone - no problem.

Dena

ShawnaB: I'm sorry, I simply don't have any experience with FP "dance" clubs...

ITravelNow: So long as you have your room key and ID, walking out the pier, across the street, picking up a cab and taking it back into the pier up to the PG to pick up your luggage, and perhaps even your significant other, ought to work. The driver wont charge you $1

Reposting, got cut off:
-----------------------
ShawnaB: I'm sorry, I simply don't have any actual experience with the Papeete dance scene, as it were.
From the feel of Papeete, as from in fact being French myself, I would question whether a ballroom dancing venue as we know it would be common. A good question for the "concierge" :)


Wandra/DenaH: Should work if you call from the ship on your own cellphone to a cab company,
whose number you took the time to research. Just make sure when you call they understand you want the pickup shipside past the security gate.
If they are one of the cab co's that own the "ezpass"-like gate-opening tag, it should work. Can't hurt to try...

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

OK. Time for a PG Excursion Review you haven't read anywhere else. I think...

On 7 December 2006, the PG, anchored off Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, offered an off-program,
"unlisted" excursion, totally complimentary (yes, free!, $0!) via a flyer in the nightly stateroom paper blizzard.

It was titled "Zodiac Adventure" and consisted of Dominique and the dive crew launching the four Zodiacs, and taking 6 people at a time in each Zodiac for a complete tour of the bay of Taiohae, where the PG anchors. You and your 5 adventurers will see, really up close and personal, the entire shoreline including interesting flora and fauna, as well as the sentinel islets at the mouth of the bay. Not to mention your favorite aquatic sports staffmember driving the boat offering spiffy commentary. You will get splashed. You will have fun.
(45 mins)
(excursion description mine :)

They ran a morning and an afternoon run, for a total capacity of 4 x 6 x 2 or about 50 adventurers. Signup was just like any other excursion, goto the desk in person and simply ask and get a white excursion ticket. It "sold" out within a couple of hours, and everyone, including myself, who went on it had a blast.

Now I have no idea if they do this regularly whenever in Nuku Hiva. I suspect not, as it depends to some extent on wind/sea conditions in the bay. The next possible opp'ty would have been the 1/17/07 President's Cruise.

--PGJunkie
(3 x 7-night Society (2000, 2002, 2005))
(1 x 11-night Marquesas (Dec 2006))

Hi Maggie,
We on the same cruise.
Sorry to be so long to answer. I have friends that love the back cabins. I'm sure you'll have a great time.
If your husband complains, don't worry...
I'll just push him overboard...
I'll just be getting even for when he used to push me in the lake....
Your husband is my brother!!!