HI All,
I just discovered this website while poking around trying to find info. on the PG, which my wife and I are taking on Nov. 30th to celebrate our 45th. I can't tell you how pleased I am to get so much invaluable information (esp. about ordering drinks at dinner!). We have cruised many times before on numerous lines, but this is our first "luxury" and small ship cruise, so we don't really know what to expect, but reading all your posts certainly increases our expectations and anticipation! Is there by chance anyone out there going on this particular cruise? If so, would love to hear from you.

Hi Bill!

By any chance, are you leaving home on November 30 for the PG sailing on December 2? If so, my husband and I will be sailing with you. We did the PG 7-day itinerary last year for our 20th anniversary and we loved it so much we are going back this year. You and your wife will have a fantastic time.

Dena

Hi Dena,

Yes! We are on the 12/2 cruise. We booked through Vantage Travel (our first trip with them )and have two nights onshore before boarding. Thank you for responding; we will look forward to meeting you! I am a retired English teacher and my still-working wife Diana is an independent tax consultant. We are celebrating our 45th and have been reading about the nice recognition party/celebration they have for newlyweds and anniversary celebrants. Did you participate in such an event? I would have posted our picture, but I don't have a clue about how to do that, even though I do now own a digital camera. Perhaps my savvy daughter can help me out! A question: Does the casino have slots or just table games? I read a few older reviews on Cruise Critic that suggested the slots were not used because of local regulations, but more recent reviews that suggest they are up and running. Anyhow, we certainly are looking forward to the trip. Our only trepidation is that we have a one hour window to catch a transfer flight in Dallas to LA (we leave from Philadelphia),and I'm afraid that's not enough, given the notorious problems Philly has with getting out on time. We'll see.
We would love to hear more about your trip, if you have the inclination. Are we going at a good time?

Bill B.

Welcome to LCT Bill! I've been on the PG twice but at different times of the year than your trip. As you have most likely learned their seasons are the reverse of ours so you will be there at the beginning of their summer. Expect fairly hot and humid weather outdoors with a good chance of some rain - but at least it is warm rain and rarely lasts all day.

We have no interest in the casino so my only knowledge is that it is a small one (made even smaller this past January).

Our anniversary is January 2 and we've been on the PG in late August/early September and June but gone to the anniversary party both times. They did it at Bora Bora where the sunsets are beautiful.

It's good that you have the 2 nights booked on land prior to embarkation. If there are any problems with your flight connections you'll (at the worst) still have 1 night in a hotel in Tahiti before the beginning of your cruise.

If you go to the Off Topic section of this bulletin board you will find the first thread titled "How to post a picture refresher course" By Karen S. With a little extra help from Karen even I was able to post some pictures! She will take care of the sizing of the avatar photo for you if you send her a photo to work with.

Kathy,
Thanks for the informative reply. I'll work on the picture process. We've read some really rave comments about the Bora Bora anniversary party and are looking forward to it. Just got off the internet ordering watershoes! (Do we really need them?)

Hi Bill and welcome! If you would like a picture under your name, mail me one that you would like to use and I will install it for you.

Bill: I have not been on PG - but we have bought water shoes at Target for other destinations that are similar - the PG folks will know the answer - Joanna

Yes, the water shoes come in very handy if you do any of the beach or snorkel excursions. Even at beautiful Motu Mahana (the free private motu picnic day at Taha'a) there are sea urchins and the possibility of cone shells in the lagoon and it is important to have your feet protected. FP has very few sandy beaches (the longest stretch of nice sand we experienced was on the Bora Bora motu) so you'll find good use for your watershoes.

Hi Bill, You will LOVE the PG.
We have been twice and will be going again in December ( 29th).
I would suggest watershoes. We have some cheap ones and they do the trick.
If you plan to use the Bora Bora motu or for motu mahanna you can just wear your water shoes off the ship.

Miriam

Hi Bill,

Read all the PG reviews you can find here as they are a wealth of information. We gained many "insider tips" before our first PG trip - things they don't really tell you on the ship - like ordering drinks at the dinner table as you have already learned. Also, you can special order anything you want for dinner - unless they don't have it on the ship, they will make it for you! You just need to order with the maitre d' the night before.

If you haven't already found it, there is a great review by Susan W - one of the few I've seen on the Marquesas itinerary we will be sailing.
Susan W\'s Review of PG Marquesas

When you board the first afternoon, take the time to "take care of business" as you explore the ship - get your snorkeling gear, make restaurant and spa reservations, ask at the reception desk about galley and bridge tours if that interests you - the ship will be less crowded in the afternoon...not that it ever feels crowded, but we were able to get all that done very quickly and get started on our relaxing!

We did not use the casino so I can't help you there. We did not attend the anniversary party but we did see it as we were watching the sunset and some dolphins playing near the ship. Those who attend it always seem to rate it highly. I think you will be glad you have water shoes - the sand is not always as fine as we may be used to in California or Florida, and sometimes it is very hot. As was mentioned previously, there are sometimes sea urchins to step around.

Are we going at a good time? Well, we went about the same time last year. We knew that December is considered the "rainy season" and there was a good chance we would get rain. We were very lucky - the day we arrived in PPT was pretty rainy, but that was it except for an occasional quick (about 15 minute) shower and one downpour that happened at night. The mid-day showers were actually kind of refreshing. It was warm and humid as you would probably expect, but there was often a breeze and the rain did not put a damper on anything.

Feel free to ask more questions as you think of them!

Dena

Dena, EMDEE, KathyZ, joannapv, KarenS-- Thank you all for your insights. This site and its occupants is really wonderful. Everyone jumps right in and makes us feel "right at home" and more eager than ever to get this trip under way- waiting is so hard! Sorry I haven't been on-line for a couple of days- we've been in Atlantic City sharpening our losing skills.
Dena, we certainly will take your advice about getting business out of the way when we get on board. Your list of things to do will help a lot, that's for sure. As for my query about watershoes, I get the idea as soon as you mention sea urchins! I am not familiar with cone shells (poisonous?). I didn't realize though that the composition of the beach was not soft sand- that's what I would expect in paradise! At any rate, our shoes have been mailed from an on-line store and should be here any day now.
I did find Susan W's review and found it really well written and informative, as were some others regarding the islands that followed slightly different itineraries.
KarenS... I don't know you, but you're a gem! If I can get organized enough to take a pic of Diana and myself, get it onto my computer, and get it mailed to you, I would be happy to have you post it for us. I am so used to film photography that I have not devoted enough time to learning how to use my new digital camera, so even downloading pics to my computer is still an adventure!
Well, I've got to go for now, but again, thanks to everyone for the information. If anyone has more gtreat tips, we'd be glad to reaed them. How we wish we were cruising with all of you!