Just curious if any of those on PIP had also cruised the PG, say in '02 or so, and could post and make any applicable comparissons between their very recent PG cruise and their PG cruise of a few years back. In other words, how does the PG of today compare with the PG of a few years back?

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Richard,

Yes, Wendy and David are on a back to back after having sailed twice before on the PG. Sherri too was a third timer.

The question about quality and change were constantly brought up. It's still a magical trip. The food is okay not as good but still quite palatable. The music and service are still there. Kathy Z is going in a few weeks. Wendy will be back next week and Sheri will surely pop in.

Richard I don't think you have anything to worry about. I was on PG in Sept 2002 and of course on PIP. Other than the food issues I mentioned in another post (it was far from inedible, I simply prefer the restaraunts on the Mariner and Navigator) I did not see **anything** that was substantially changed. Maintenance was fine (gee I saw some missing caulk in my bathroom though :) ), the crew was happy and of course French Polynesia is still fantastic and hardly changed. Siglo is the best band on the seas and many of the crew are the same folks from the past 5 years. Mark Eddowes is still one of the most fascinating lecturers I have heard. We had the pleasure of dining with the Staff Captain (there since 2000) and the Doctor and asked many questions about the talk of recent changes. Their comments, echoed by many here, is that changes happen. Not all are bad, not all are good but the overall experience was still very good and Radisson consistent. The GCT "travel desk" is a non issue.
One thing to remember about the PG experience is that is meant to be shared with other people. It is a VERY social cruise (and not just on PIP). It is not the kind of cruise where people keep to themselves, looking for the most minute details and sitting on their balcony going through their bottles. One needs to get out on deck with friends and enjoy it. I promise you WILL find problems if you look, maybe not even by looking too hard but I choose to ignore them, concentrate on what I enjoy and remember where I am.

Michael - couldn't agree with your philosophy more!

Masaki

This all sounds reassuring. Food? Very subjective. I can recall on our two Navigator cruises I thought the food was better on one than the other. But our traveling companions on both thought the opposite!

Also, on another thread here, there are stories about some on PIP getting wine, some not --- some getting candy and some not ---- some getting both --- some getting neither. On our '03 PG back to back, there were no liquor order forms in the room! (Horrors!) As we knew "the drill" we asked and we received ---- and advised all others to do the same. All was OK in the end. Our experience after cruising all the ships now in the RSSC fleet is that the PG never quite ran like the "well oiled machine" like, say, the Mariner did. But, if one knows what is supposed to be provided and asks for it when it is not, it IS provided. Maybe it is something of the more laid-back Polynesian culture seeping over. But clearly these things, about which we know, have not deterred us from cruising the PG. We have 3 weeks on her now, and will add 4 and 5 this September.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Just some quick observations....service is still as good (fantastic) as ever. The maintenance of the ship seems fine. I agree with the statement that the band Sigilo is the best I have ever heard on a ship. They were incredible. BUT, the food quality has slipped. I had some really good meals, and I had some below par meals.

If I had the money and time to go back on her before she leaves Radisson, would I hesitate??? NO! Absolutely not. I'd go back in a heartbeat. The wonderful staff and service more than makes up for the meal quality.

Richard, I wouldn't worry. It is a wonderful experience!

Sheri

Thanks, Sheri!

We are past our "penalty period" anyway on our 9/17 cruise, but your words are encouraging. I'm more willing to "cut a little slack" in the area of food reviews than in other areas for a couple of reasons. First, it is a subjective matter. I thought the food on our Navigator/Alaska cruise was much better than on the Navigator/Bermuda cruise we both were on. However, wife Carol thought just the opposite! Second, any ship can have a bad few days (or week) and then correct the problem. I've seen this before.

Were the Les Gauguines still there, and still as entertaining as before?

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Richard,
On that last question...yes...and you might want to ask Ngaire's brother, Brian. He found them to be VERY entertaining, and was even called up on stage with them during their show at the end of the cruise!!
:ch: :D :eek:

ChatKat - I thought that I read a few days ago that Karen was not to change your avitar under any circumstances. What happened? Is our sweet Karen susceptible to bribes, were you blackmailed or did you just decide that you wanted more people to see your fun side?

Editing to say that I just read the caption under your avitar and now realize that Mailman dared you to use it. Now I guess the question is how long until you change it back to something with less tongue. You could fit right into our family when it comes to sassing the photographer.

Kathy, Sweet Karen is susceptible to bribes, btw!

Just playing. We'll see how long I can laugh when I look at that. Could be there for years.

In general, I agree with Sheri. The staff, in particular, is still outstanding as ever. From that point of view, the PG is incredibly special.

Being on for two weeks, we got a bit more intimately acquainted with some of the staff, and there are stresses that can show from time-to-time. The GCT situation is very real to them, and it certainly has them worried I think. Hard to get them to express opinions of course, but the anxiety is definitely there.

The food was wonderful for the most part. The quality has slipped a bit since we were there in 2003, and certainly since 2000. The buffet dinner disaster that Pat has detailed was a glitch that had to do with the "cheese people" as we called them (David called them the Chuckie Cheezers!)

But I'm not easily upset, as some of the Pipsters will confirm, I was so happy to be in FP again, this time for 2 weeks, that I felt incredibly blessed. Richard, go again while you have the chance, that's what I say.

Looking forward to trying the dining experience on Voyager some day, since everybody raves about it. Right now, after two weeks on the PG, I have some weight to lose before I cruise again!

Wendy:

As I've mentioned, we are booked on the 9/17/05 14 night PG cruise that includes the Cook Islands. We are hoping that the length of this cruise will be a deterent to any large "groups". We consider this possibly our "good-bye Polynesia" trip and cruise. We aren't really thrilled by land accomodations there (nor the price thereof), and the PG will "soon" be gone. How soon is a matter for debate and conjecture, but "sometime in '06" probably catches it. Windstar IS gone. The TP is leaving sometime in '06. So soon French Polynesia may be "cruiseless" -- except as part of a much longer cruise --- unless something else comes along.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Good idea, Richard. I can't imagine very many corporations willing to splurge for a 14 night cruise PLUS give all the attendees two weeks off. I'd be very surprised if you get many groups on that one.

Kathy

Hi Richard:

When I get the time I am going to write a very positive cruise review. Thirteen of our fourteen days on PG were marvelous. The crew was the best we've ever sailed with. The meals in Apicius were really first rate. And we managed to eat there four times. I think and hope our experience on 5/28 was an exception for PG. I'm still going to recommend her until I conclude otherwise.

Pat

Pat, I am glad to see you speak up on this. Seems to me the focus has shifted way out of balance because of the one night fiasco, and since you were personally affected, it's nice to hear you bring things into perspective.

Pat: It is great to hear 13 of your 14 days were marvelous. Joanna

Richard, yes, this was to be our "farewell to Polynesia" cruise as well. But we're addicts, so who knows what will happen?

The tourist folks over there are very concerned too about the future of cruise ships in their waters. They depend on us being there. Several people during our stay expressed the opinion that *some* cruise ship would remain in Polynesian waters, no matter what.

I hope so, 'cause I want to go back again some day. I've promised myself that the next time I will take our son with us, or send him on his honeymoon separately.

But we would also do a land trip if we had to. Our experience out on Manihi in 2000 was exceptional, and I would love to see some other islands that are as yet unknown to me. I love Radisson, but I love the islands too.