Visitor publish, credit score Nick Kontis for story and pictures
When vacationers conjure photos of French Polynesia, not surprisingly, the primary island to return to thoughts isn’t Tahiti however the supermodel island of Bora Bora, with its luxurious resorts just like the 4 Seasons Bora Bora, full with costly, over-the-water bungalows and unblemished panoramic views of omnipresent Mount Otemanu.
I used to be excited to affix a seven-night crusing via the Society Islands with Selection Cruises, a Greek small-ship cruise line, aboard their 164-foot (50-meter) Panorama II
However there’s extra to this storied archipelago than Tahiti and Bora Bora. After brief visits to those well-known locations, I used to be excited to affix a seven-night crusing via the Society Islands with Selection Cruises, a Greek small-ship cruise line. Aboard the 164-foot (50-meter) Panorama II, my spouse and I had the chance to go to a number of off-the-beaten-path islands. With its 25 ocean-view cabins serving 49 company and 16 crew, the twin-masted non-public yacht supplied an immersive cultural voyage greater than a seaside vacation.
Selection’s Society Islands sailings embody seven- and 10-night cruises, each departing and returning to the capital of Papeete. We opted for the shorter cruise to Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Taha’a and Raiatea. The longer voyage ventures additional to the hardly ever visited Tuamotu archipelago, stopping at Makatea, Rangiroa, and Tikehau.
We had been greeted in Papeete by Panorama Captain Andreas Sifnotis, a Greek seafarer who has spent his life crusing to the world’s far ends. The gregarious captain shortly jogged my memory of my title: St. Nicholas protects all sailors and ships, and with Saint Nicholas Day, December sixth, quickly approaching, I ought to really feel secure. Quickly, I met extra Greek crew members and Indonesian housekeeping and kitchen workers. All are pleasant, asking me the place I’m from whereas reminding me I’m in for an unforgettable tour.
Sephora, the cruise director, is a local of Raiatea, which we’ll quickly go to. The charming hospitality chief would function our leisure information and head of family to 36 company. Certainly, the ship is one massive pleased household, and the crew’s ardour and vitality are infectious.
The voyage begins at 3 p.m. when passengers board the Panorama II and are given a flower lei and a tropical cocktail. After a welcome dinner of shredded veal shank with a mustard sauce of grilled salmon, we sail one hour from Tahiti, often called the “massive sister island,” to Moorea, the legendary Bali Hai island of James Michener’s “South Pacific.”
See Selection Cruises ships and sailings right here Selection Cruises
Islands Visited
Moorea
Most expedition cruises function with a set plan. Following breakfast, there’s a morning expedition, lunch aboard the ship, and a day tour choice. However a vital facet of expedition cruising is to reach with an open thoughts or a minimum of a willingness to “be versatile.” On account of climate situations or wildlife sightings, the ship can simply change course. Every voyage is exclusive.
Moorea is essentially the most inspiring backdrop in French Polynesia for a lot of locals and guests. The island is thought for its turquoise lagoons, white sand seashores, and eight colossal jagged peaks.
This system for Moorea begins at 8:15 when tenders journey to shore for the dolphin tour. We’re joined by American marine biologist Dr. Michael Poole, who has lived in Moorea conducting analysis tasks since 1987. Poole lends his experience to explaining the geology of French Polynesia and the habits of whales and dolphins. The spotlight happens when pods of acrobatic spinner dolphins are displayed, twirling mid-air as if launched from cannons from the ocean, spinning vertically and horizontally like ballerinas. A day drive across the island in a 4×4 open-air safari car was adopted after darkish by a 12-hour in a single day journey to the island of Huahine.
Huahine
The Backyard Island of Huahine is a tropical paradise island typically neglected on island-hopping journeys. We arrive on a Sunday when–Sephora informs us–most retailers will shut at midday. We spend the morning on a guided 4×4 tour of historic sacred websites. It’s a cultural immersion in Polynesian geology, botany, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, economic system, historical past, and traditions. A day boat journey to a motu (islet) for a conventional cooking class is adopted by a snorkeling journey. Within the night, native musicians boarded the ship and carried out Tahitian songs.
Bora Bora
Like Santorini in Greece, Bora Bora is French Polynesia’s most visited island. The volcanic island is ready in a radiant lagoon. Delve deeper into the seductive Shangri-la, and also you’ll discover a strong marine life teeming with tropical fish. Selection company spend the morning visiting 4 completely different snorkeling spots, petting stingrays, and watching eels slither by. The ship docks in the primary city of Viatape, the place retailers, bars, and cafes are simply steps away. Later, within the night, the Selection hospitality group slices up an enormous tuna for a sashimi appetizer.
Taha’a
Considered one of Tahiti’s best-kept secrets and techniques, the tranquil island of Taha’a produces 80 p.c of the fragrant vanilla in French Polynesia. Additionally it is acclaimed for its beautiful pearl manufacturing. We spend the morning on the Motu Pearl Farm, the place consultants from the family-run enterprise clarify the cultivation of Tahitian pearls, adopted by a visit to the Ferme Bio Natural Vanilla Farm. Later within the day, we snorkel, letting the present information us as we drift previous colourful coral and colleges of brightly hued fish on the island’s famend coral backyard.
Raiatea
Selection anchors at our fifth Society Island, historic Raiatea on {a partially} wet day. Generally known as the “Sacred Island” and the second largest of the Society group, Raiatea was the second capital of French Polynesia and the house of Sephora, our passionate cruise director. She reminds us that Raiatea’s Taputapuatea marae is the holiest place of worship for all Polynesians.
The day’s actions embody a visit down the Faaroa River, the one navigable stream in French Polynesia, on a motorized outrigger canoe, adopted by a guided tour of the open-air Taputapuatea shrine—the one UNESCO World Heritage Website in French Polynesia. The motor yacht stays docked for the day on the island capital of Uturoa, the place my spouse retailers for jewellery and I purchase just a few Polynesian shirts.
On Board
Every suite is designed with two single beds or one double. I discovered rooms simply manageable, however some company discovered cabins and bogs restrictive. Three wonderful meals are served day by day within the upper-deck restaurant. A day by day pleased hour is held within the cozy communal leisure front room from 5 to 7 p.m., adopted by dinner. Snorkel gear is lent to passengers.
I ask Sephora about working with Selection and her ardour for her homeland.
“Travelling with Selection on small ships permits me to determine a real reference to the guests, sharing the genuine Polynesian expertise with them,” she says. “The world gives so many breathtaking landscapes, however one thing stays distinctive to this nation: the generosity and the nice and cozy and welcoming smile of our individuals. Their joyfulness is like no different; their pure expertise for music, dancing, and humanities; their information of the ocean and surroundings—and eventually, their potential to understand the smallest issues in life.”
“I feel I’d name myself an expertise director greater than a cruise director. We’re promoting greater than only a floating resort with leisure. It’s a complete life expertise if you’re able to open your coronary heart to this.”
Lengthy, pebbly, white-sand seashores, flanked by crystal-clear waters with colleges of multi-colored fish, are the norm on this traversing of some of Tahiti’s favourite islands. As irresistibly and equally attuned to shut encounters with cultures, individuals, and marine animals, Selection Cruises’ immersive crusing of Tahiti is an unmatched expertise.
Getting there
Air Tahiti Nui, Delta, French Bee, and United fly nonstop to Papeete’s Faa’a Airport (PPT) from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Air New Zealand and Qantas fly from Auckland and Sydney, respectively; Air Tahiti Nui operates a nonstop flight to Tokyo.
See Selection Cruises ships and sailings right here
Selection Cruises
M/S Galileo
M/Y Callisto
M/Y Concord G
M/Y Concord V
M/Y Pegasos
S/C Panorama
S/C Panorama II
Browse All Cruise Ships and Cruise Strains
Ed. Notes: CruiseCompete and its member journey advisors present many curated cruise and land offers, gives and facilities on over 50 cruise traces with over 500 cruise ships crusing all around the globe.
Sea Tales 2023 Household Cruise Journey Planner (flippingbook.com)
Shore Excursions – Ports, Day & Weekend Journeys
See Trip Compete | Vacation Packages | Low cost and Cut price Costs
