For those who have been on the PG to Tahiti, if you had it to do over would you:

* Cruise 7 days and do a 3 day pre-cruise
* Do two 7 day cruises back to back
* Do the Marquesas Islands (approx.2 week duration)

It just seems so far to travel for just the one week cruise.
Thanks!

Hi Marcie--

Just posted on the '05 thread.
If we going to do FP, would prefer the Marquesas because of its longer duration.

Best regards to you and Tom.

Bill

If I could do it again.
1. Prefer the Marquesas cuz it somewhere different. BUT wish it included airfare.
2. Probably would do a back to back when airfare is included.
Our group decided to take extra time in LAX after the cruise and before our domestic flight home. That worked well for us.

Now that I know the price of Marquesas Islands and there is no free air...I'm afraid that won't be an option.
Also, thanks to Andi bringing up something that should have been obvious to me.... I'm concerned that it may be difficult to do the back to back. I'd be all attached to the friends I meet on the first week and the 2nd week might be a bit of a let down.

Maybe a pre or post cruise is our best option.

I can't afford the Marquesas...air or vacation time...so my choice is definitely PG with 3-day pre cruise
Sheri

I, too, would go 3 day precruise and 7 day cruise-cruise (with Tom Cruise?)

We went to the Marquesas last Feb. Our opinion was that it was a chance to see the Islands, but I am afraid we were not all that impressed with them. Don’t get me wrong, seeing a Island jutting out of the clear blue ocean is quite a site, but there is not that much to see or do on these out of the way places. If I were to do the PG again, which I hope to, I would pick the back-to-back trip. Going to and coming back from the Marquesas takes a day each way. It is just so hard to be pampered and cared for on those two LONG sea days!!! LOL!!! With my wife being the “mother of all shoppers” she was much happier with the BIG Islands. Just my opinion.
Thanks
Bob
(Sorry, this is a repeat answer from the old CC)

Question:
Snorkling and other water related excursions are not as good at the outer islands because they do not having a reef?? Correct?

Jim B;
That was our observation. I really didn’t see anybody doing any above water stuff. The ship did run some dives, we didn’t dive due to a ear problem, what I heard, the dives were good.
Bob

I agree w/Marcie, Sheri, and Suzanne. Free air will determine when we go. I like the idea of a back to back or a pre-stay. So, we will go with the flow. Sounds like the flow will be a few days pre???? So, you experts, suggestions on where to stay pre? John hates packing and unpacking, so maybe something close to the ship or do we need to stay on a different island?

Kimmi:

We are thinking of b2b with no precruise. Free air would be quite nice. We are sort of limited on time of year so we may have to pass on the "group" cruise, though.

marc

We're leaning towards a pre-cruise at the Intercontinental Beachcomber on Moorea. (hopefully in an over-the-water bungalow).
This sounds like BIG BUCKS $$$ but so does a back2back??
1st choice is still late April (with free air of course) 2nd choice is May but not over Mother's Day if possible which is May 9 '05. We're flexible... Definitely need the free air!

Marcie, how does one find the pricing for the pre-cruise to Moorea? I don't get as many mailings anymore from RSSC like I used to. Maybe they know I am already hooked. Or they have found me accessing their website and figure I can already find out.

Olivia, I've been looking at the '04 RSSC Tahiti brochure and doing some research on my own. A couple of good sites for FR are:
http://www.tahiti-explorer.com/

and http://www.thetahititraveler.com/

The Tahiti-explorer has an active message board (just what we need huh??)

Olivia go to any Tahiti page on my web and their is a link there for all the pre and post packages and pricing. It is for 2004 of course nothing for 2005 yet. In fact here is the link.

http://www.brownandkeenetravel.com/tahiti_pre_&_post_packages.htm

The Tahiti Beachcomber is quite a bit cheaper than Moorea...Yes, Moorea is much more beautiful than Tahiti, BUT, if you are not planning on leaving the hotel much, my vote would be for the Tahiti Beachcomber..the pool there is my favorite in the whole world...one of those infinity pools. The restaurants are good, although expensive, but what isn't in French Polynesia? You are on the same island where the ship docks, and the market in Papeete is a must do! I have stayed at both hotels in overwater bungalows, and quite frankly liked the ones in Tahiti more...Bora Bora would be a wonderful place to stay if you have the extra money and you don't mind a plane ride after your long flight from LAX...Moorea just requires a ferry ride. There is my 2 cents worth!

We did a 3 night pre-cruise at the Moorea Beachcomber in an overwater bungalow and absolutely loved it. I think Moorea was my favorite of all the islands and it was so wonderful to be able to explore it at our leisure. It was a very different experience from the ship but a complimentary one. While it was expensive, it was significantly less expensive than a back to back cruise. I do agree, it is a very long way to travel for just 7 days, I felt the 3 day pre-cruise made it worthwhile.

I don't know how the pricing really works. However, I think free air back to back Cat F is cheaper than adding three day pre-cruise. Then you get four days in Moorea AND four days Bora Bora.

I know they don't give the $1000 for b2b anymore. Still, don't you get the 5% plus the free air equivalent plus the transfers equivalent?

Ngaire has the price at $4082 vs $2431 before onboard booking discounts. That is around $1600 vs $455 to $2125 before you pay for any meals and activities for the precruise.

Any takers for the B2B?

marc

Unfortunately Marc, I think Tom and I would be very disappointed not having a balcony on PG (category C or higher)...OK I admit, I'm coming across as spoiled. It's just that this will most likely be a once in a lifetime and I want to do it right. Have most of you cruised on PG with or without a balcony?

I have cruised both on the PG...it IS a lot more for a balcony...but I think if you have a S/O AND you can afford it, get the balcony...I think I might be very lonely as a single standing out on my balcony in the most romantic place in the world! :( But ALL the rooms are nice...you really can't go wrong.

I wouldn't cruise without a balcony. It is my #1 must have, partly because I am a smoker, and partly because I would get cabin fever without it. I just love being able to walk out there and see more than straight across. I even spent a lot of time there on the Chilean Fjords cruise and it was cold! I would say that I spent less time in the cabin on the PG than any other cruise, because there was so much to do and so many gatherings up on deck, but I still loved my balcony.

Amen Olivia....a gal from my own heart!

When Andi insisted that we get a balcony years ago on one of our first cruises, I argued that it was a waste of money.
Well, I lost that argument.

But, I now insist on a balcony on every cruise!

It does spoil you!

Doug

Would I do my category F again....yeah I would. We spent so much time out of the room.

I did love my balcony for pictures in the Chilean Fjords and it does make the room feel much larger.....but I remember when booking for the March 03 PG that the balcony would cost about 50% more (all in with port for 2 - was $5000 for F and about $7500 for C). I used some of the savings to cover a 4 night stay at the Le Meridien in an OWB and the rest I applied to VOF, then cancelled, then went on MCF (I am rambling!).

On our 02/15/03 PG cruise our group decided to book the F cabins.
1. Price. Any more and two of the couples would not have been able to go and we did not want to have some of us upgrading over others.
2. In talking it was decided that we probably would not be in our cabins that much since the cruise is a high itinery cruise and we would be seeing each other a lot.
No regrets from any of us. It worked out fantastic.

I agree that a balcony is a must...in fact my husband's favorite part of the cruise was sitting on the balcony listening to music...he actually set up a stero system in our cabin...he brought small speakers and has a jukebox harddrive with hours and hours of music on it...

That actually is one of the reasons that I am looking for a cruise with alot of sea days...though he does not appear to want to do a transatlantic this year which would be my choice...I really wanted to do the Barcelona - FLL trip that others are booked on.

I cannot believe that is the price difference!!!!That really gives me second thoughts about a balcony, which I'm not sure I can go without :(
I too, have become spoiled. I just love sitting out there and taking in the scenery. It's my relaxation time between the end of the day and before the night shenigans begin <img border="0" alt="[Drinking]" title="" src="graemlins/062802drink_prv.gif" />
But, that price is insane.......
Glad to hear some of you were just fine with the standard cabin. We may have to go that route.

Kim, don't forget you'll get the onboard booking discount, past RSSC passenger etc. The price of our C cabin in '04 (with balcony & free air) was $3,501. per person. (IF YOU SAY IT REAL FAST IT DOESN'T SOUND QUITE SO BAD). :D
This did not include insurance or a pre-cruise package. This is the cruise we cancelled for DDD.

Marcie, that actually doesn't sound that bad, well, that may be b/c I haven't looked at any pricing yet!! I suppose that is the answer, don't look at the pricing for the standard cabins!! Just book in ignorance :D :D
I think we will do that with a precruise, rather than a b2b. Whatever the majority rules.....we will be right there with everyone. Although I may get on your nerves if we have 2 weeks of togetherness :D :eek: :eek:

Kimmi,

I have pictures of the F category room in my review under the review section. It's 200 square feet, same as the "F" but w/o balcony of 3 square feet (maybe 36).

I just tried the link Kimmi and it is not working. I sent an email to share the pics. Let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks, Todd. I just got the email.
Decisions, decisions....... I really need to win the lottery. Somewhere along the way I made a serious vocational error :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Marcie, Was this for a back to back or just 7 nights?

The 7 night cruise. I never priced the F category, this was for the C category.