Well not really! Happy to say my husband will be along too, since we will be celebrating our 37th on the June 4th cruise. Less than three months now! I am assuming we are the only ones going on this sailing since most of you will be on the PIP. Any suggestions for an acronym? Maybe LIP! for "Love in Paradise"(hope so)Our stateroom is 707, Is it true we can have appetizers served to our cabin? Also, the preorder for bar setup. Where is that form? Does that come in closer to departure date? White Russians after dinner sound pretty good!! On the balcony! We are staying two night pre at the Beachcomber. Has anyone brought wine in from the U.S? Would be nice to have a glass while watching the sunset from our porch.
Imagine prices in Tahiti are crazy.

Don't worry Jeanine, it's easy to make friends on board, especially since you can choose to dine at a table with others--that is often a hoot--dinner becomes a drawn-out affair at a table for eight, but quite an evening's entertainment. The excursions are a good way to meet people too.

I have tried pre-selecting the bar set-up, and it has never worked for me. Try it, it might. You can do this on-line, or you can FAX the request. But when you arrive, the forms are in the stateroom, and it generally only takes a few hours to get your requested tipple.

Bringing a bottle of wine sounds like a great idea, for the pre-cruise. Haven't bothered, my husband likes the Hinano beer in any case, and I'll just slurp a pina colada or two--hang the expense!

Jeanne,

Your pre-cruise and cruise sound wonderful. Wish you were going with us on PIP, but you will still have an absolutely FANTASTIC time with just the two of you - and the entire ship!! If PG is anything like our cruise on the Navigator, Wendy is right - you'll make friends in no time. Everyone who sails on RSSC seems to be so friendly. And with the small passenger capacity, you'll be seeing the same people over and over.

We're going to be in 706, on the port side. I envy you being on the starboard side. It's supposed to be the best for views. I hear being in our location, (707 & 706 area) we have an advantage of not being under the pool when they clean it off each morning. We'll avoid those morning "showers" on our balcony.

By the way, I like "LIP"!!!!

Jeanine,

Alas, you are not alone. My husband and I will also be on the June 4 cruise, and two doors down from you in 703. We are first time cruisers, but sailing on the Paul Gauguin has always been a dream of mine. So I used the excuse of our 25th anniversary to get my husband to agree to a cruise (we usually do land based vacations). I saw on another post that you and your husband had done the chartered sailing in the BVI. That is my husbands dream vacation, so we would love to talk with you about that experience.

PIPsters please post on the board as soon as you get back, I’m anxious to hear about some of the new excursions being offered.

Lisa

Jeanine, I'm sorry I missed your introduction post. Sometimes I forget to check those posts. Our first "cruise" was on a 37' chartered sailboat in the USVI. We had our own captain and were supposed to go with another couple (who we did not know) but they bailed at the last minute and we had the captain and the boat all to ourselves. As you had said, luxury it was NOT. But heaven it WAS!!! This was way back in 1987 but I still have very fond and vivid memories of our adventure. We were so glad we went on our first carribean vacation on this chartered sailboat instead of the mass market cruise ship method. Of course, that was before the PG and RSSC :)

Lisa, feel free to ask me questions as well as Jeanine about our chartered sailing. And being a PIPster I'll be happy to pass on whatever info I can for your 6/4 cruise!!! Glad to hear that you'll have another LCT member to share your experience with. You and Jeanine and husbands will have a blast!! Did you post an introduction, Lisa? Please forgive me if you did and I missed it. If not, go ahead and tell us your story. We love hearing about everyone!!

Hello Lisa, look forward to meeting you and your husband. Lets have a drink together or dinner. Scuba diving is something that had appealed to me, tried it in a pool and felt very free and safe, just never had the guts to do it in open water. My husband has no desire, we do love to snorkle though. When are you arriving in papeete? We will be coming in on June 2nd, staying at Intercontinental. I will try to remember to bring some pics of our week sailing around BVI. Cyndi, did you stop at (now the name of the little island escapes me, a restaurant and bar, sand floor. Danced, drank rum punch, had steak)that place is terrific. We were on a catamaran called LionHeart. What a memory, though our favorite island is Anguilla. Been there twice, no cruise ships, very peaceful. Stayed at a wonderful small resort called Malliouhana. Wow!! That was heaven. Next time at a condo on the beach, Now that the stars have discovered it, might not be the same!! Last there six years ago.
Jeanine

Cyndi,
Is there a separate area on this board to post introductions? I’ve been following all the PIPsters messages, and it sounds like your going to have a great time. Wish we could join you, but with one child still in school we had to wait for a time we could send him to Grandma’s. The funcats around Bora Bora sound great. I am concerned though about the maximum weight limit for each boat. According to the new excursions brochure they have a max of 375 lbs per craft. Unless I get my DH to lose some middle age spread, looks like we will just have to experience it vicariously through others.

Jeanine,
We are arriving in Papeete June 3 and staying overnight at the Sheraton (couldn’t pass up free night using points). I didn’t start diving until my forties, but fell in love with it instantly. It’s like floating in space, or on a drift dive, flying. My husband is also certified, but does not dive. His claustrophobia gets the better of him. We both love to snorkel though and will be doing so every chance we get on the trip.

Welcome Lisa!

This is the thread where everybody has been posting their introduction:
http://www.luxurycruisetalk.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=000001;p=11#000522

Masaki

Jeanine, We did not stop at a restaurant/bar with a sand floor - but it sure sounds like it would have been so much fun!! We were in the U.S. Virgin Islands and basically were only around St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. We chartered the sail boat with Annapolis School of Sailing out of St. Croix. We were able to learn as much or as little about sailing - our choice. Our captain would anchor the boat and Tom & I went snorkeling while he fixed us lunch. Quite the life!!

Lisa, I'm late responding to your questions so I'm glad Masaki jumped in to help you out with introduction thread. When you go to the main page of the board it is up in the top section called "Introductions". But Masaki's link takes you right there. We'd love to hear from you there!!!