I'm currently booked on the PG for a 7-dayer in Nov. However, I just noticed an 18-day Mariner crossing, Auckland to LA, that visits FP along the way. The price works out to about the same daily rate for either one, but w/ the longer one I wouldn't do a pre- or post-cruise, so I'd be spending about the same $$. Here's the link to the Mariner itinerary:

http://www.rssc.com/voyage/details.jsp?code=MAR061130

So, we're seriously considering switching. Any thoughts, opinions, comments? I don't know much about the Mariner -- I suppose I should go read a bunch of reviews now to learn more about her.

The idea of spending 18 whole days on an RSSC cruise sounds pretty luxurious to me! It would certainly be an easier vacation than my last one, the Med on the Voyager, with so many amazing ports, private excursions, pre- and post-cruise stays -- it was a lot of research and planning, and a very complex trip overall. This one sounds more like it would just be total relaxation and hedonism! As well as giving us the opportunity to experience Tahiti and some of the islands.

But I've heard SO many wonderful things about the PG, I'm reluctant to walk away from that experience.

I would love to hear any comments about how the two experiences might be different.

I sure prefer the Mariner to the PG in terms of ship accomodations; however, it is quite a different cruise. You don't get near as much shore time in FP. I am sure Ardis and Greg, who just disembarked from the Mariner on similar (same?) itinerary can give you some good feedback.

hmmm, that's a tough one. I really prefer the Mariner as a ship. Nicer suites, more dining options. But you'd miss out on the motu day at Tahaa, the atmosphere would be less Polynesian, no Gauguines, no watersports platform. But if all you're really concerned with is relaxing and enjoying the scenery, I'd pick the Mariner. 18 days sounds very good to me!

I would have no problem choosing, I would pick the Mariner hands down! It's a longer cruise, you get to start in New Zealand, the ship is WAY nicer (just my opinion) and you won't have that horrid long flight home! (I would take sea days as my choice of ride home, any day!)

Well it just dawned on me that the Mariner is the sister ship to Voyager -- I had the Mariner confused with the Navigator, which I don't know much about. So it would certainly feel familiar! I've been chatting with my Mom, and we're seriously considering this switch. And Karen, yes I agree about the sea days! Mom was just telling me how on our Med cruise she was starting to get really tired of every day being go-go-go with the ports, and that she would LOVE to have some sea days to relax. Also, the flight is a big consideration -- the flights to Funchal and from Rome were just so horrible for us. To end the cruise right here at home would be fantastic!

Also, we'd be visiting more islands, some of the more obscure ones like Rarotonga and Nuku Hiva, which sounds interesting to me. I am a bit concerned about losing out on the water sports platform, and the fantastic PG diving program I've been reading about, but the reality is that was for me, not my Mom...I have no doubt Mom would be far more comfortable on the Mariner.

The choice is seeming a bit easier, but I still have lots to consider...more opinions are welcome!

Another vote for the Mariner here!

LeeAnne, I am sure not everyone would agree with me but I don't find the PG's design very pleasing at all. My reasons being, you have to upgrade to have a balcony, the pool deck does not have the best design (no shade) and the dining room isn't as pretty as on the Mariner/Voyager.
The sports platform IS nice but Mark only used it once as we were too busy on the islands.

Hi LeeAnne

Since you've the time and money, I'd do a back-to-back on the PG instead of the (1) 18-day Mariner cruise or (2) 7-day cruise on the PG with pre- or post-cruise added on. Especially if you have an interest in scuba diving. But, that's just me! Focus on diving the first week and excursions the 2nd. Or mix it up however it works with the weather, etc. Two motu mahana days and 4 Bora Bora motus days?! Unbelieveably cool!

I love sea days, but six of them? I wouldn't want to leave FP if I had 6 vacation days left just to get to LA and not have to fly from Papeete.

Good luck deciding. Probably pros and cons to all options. You'll have a great time which ever you choose! SusanW, is she back yet?, will have good advice.

Kim

Ooh, good question -- would the Mariner cruise include the motu excursions? (I'm still a little unclear why everyone talks so much about the motus...)

The lovely Miss Lynn and I have done FP on both PG and Mariner. It's Mariner hands down! We did the standard 7 night PG in Cat B(a very expensive cruise IMHO) and did FP on the 26 night Mariner cruise SFO-SFO in Cat C. You don't do Taha'a on Mariner though, so no Motu Mahana and no motu in Bora Bora.

Being a California Native, the Motu days are the best beach day you could EVER have. Better than Hawaii, Better than ZUMA, Cornoa del Mar, or Santa Monica. A full day in PARADISE!

Would your Mom enjoy a week of active island touring and beach/water sports? The PG is mostly that kind of week with some ship time. It's more of a floating hotel than the cruise on the Mariner would be.

But, shipwise, the Mariner is my favorite. 18 days of it, with 6 sea days would be close to ideal to me, and may be even a little too long. Plus, would you really get to visit in NZ and Australia?(I did not look at the full itinerary).

LeeAnne, I don't know if the Mariner includes the motu but consider this, what if it rains the day of the PG motu day as it did for us!!

This looks to me like mango versus breadfruit, or if you prefer North American analogies to Polynesian ones, apples and oranges.

The PG is a wonderful tour of French Polynesia, and the ship is basically a floating hotel.

The Mariner cruise looks fantastic if you like the cruising experience. 10 sea days, 2 days in Papete, plus a few stops in Polynesia and a bit more.

But if you want to spend time in French Polynesia then the PG itinerary seems like a better choice.

We've spent 4 weeks on the PG, most recently last Spring, so clearly have the "Polynesian flu" and expect that in the fullness of time we'll spend another week on that 7-day cruise (ownership/deity uncertainties willing). But, if I had to choose between this Mariner Cruise and another 7-day PG one, I would quote Jack Benny:

"I'm thinking ....."

-- David

Good reason to do the b2b!

Kim, a back to back on the PG just wouldn't be my cup of tea but I would like to do the Marquesas itinerary!

LeeAnne, we are doing LA to Sydney (and beyond) on the Voyager in January. I assume that the Mariner cruise you are looking at would be similar just in reverse order. Actually we considered that cruise for this year but it didn't work for us. I know several others were on it and maybe they'll report in to you. Of course our cruise is part of the WC and that might make a difference. But, the ports and sea days are very similar. We have never been on the PG so I can't compare. Having traveled with my MIL (who is much older than your Mom), I would guess that your mother would probably enjoy the Mariner better. Only a guess from me, though.

Hmmm, this is certainly a dilemma. I don't think you can go wrong with either. I agree with the pros and cons stated by others and leave it to you to decide what you are looking for! If you really want to get the flavor of French Polynesia, I think the PG would be preferable due to the wonderful motu days, the Gaugines/entertainment, and more time in Moorea and Bora Bora. We had two days in each and did not do nearly everything we would have liked to.

I can see the attractions of the Mariner, too - New Zealand, Nuku Hiva, more variety on the ship, relaxing sea days, and wouldn't it be great to step off the ship in LA at the end of the cruise. Good luck with your decision!

Dena

LeeAnne, you didn't mention if you've ever been to NZ before?? If you haven't, I would definitely opt for the Mariner with a couple of days in Auckland and the port stop in Bay of Islands. NZ is amazing! You will still get to see the FP islands this way, even if you do forgo the Motu day. To me it's the best of both worlds. The 6 sea days may or may not appeal to you. I was concerned about having this many sea days when we went to Auckland (reverse itinerary)but it worked out just fine for me. That's something only you can decide. As for ships, there is no comparison.

Yep, this is a tough one. I do need to consider my Mom's preferences as well, and while I might lean towards the PG and the more active vacation, I have to agree with Donna that my Mom would probably enjoy the Mariner more. She's definitely NOT a water-sports type person!

I'm reluctant to miss the motu's, tho -- so many people have written about them as if they are the most idyllic day in paradise. Mom says she'll enjoy whatever cruise we do...we already agreed that she would go on some different excursions than me, just like we did on our Med cruise.

But in terms of actual time on islands, it appears that I would get more time on the Mariner cruise. It visits a total of seven islands, with 8 to 10 hours on each (except for Tahiti, where it stays for 2 days.) I'll have to sit down and actually compare hour-for-hour how much time we spend on islands on each cruise.

I'll copy David and quote Jack Benny again: "I'm thinking..."

(Oh, and what an exciting dilemma this is, tho!)

Marcie, I haven't been to NZ, and that was one of the things that appealed to me about the PG cruise initially -- we were planning on doing at least a week or more of pre-cruise in NZ. If we do the Mariner, due to the length of the cruise it means we won't get nearly much time in NZ, but at least we'd have a couple days.

As for sea days, it appears we actually have a full 10 of them (if I'm reading this right -- crossing the International Date Line has me a bit confused). So in terms what we'd be doing besided the actual islands, it is definitely a mangoes-to-breadfruit comparison -- w/ the PG we'd spend the additional days touring NZ, w/ the Mariner we'd spend the additional days lounging on the ship. Both of which hold tremendous appeal to me!

AAAUUUGGHHH!

I haven't been on Mariner yet. Have spent 23 days on Voyager (sister ship) and 14 on PG. If you want a "luxury" cruise, go Mariner. I beieve the PG used to be a truly luxury cruise. But Radisson has cut so much that the word "luxury" no longer applies to the PG experience. Food quality is, in my opinion, well below luxury (Voyager) standards on the PG. The PG is about to be in dry dock for "upgrades." Some of the advertised upgrades, e.g. replacing carpets and bruised furniture, are, indeed upgrades. But they are also using the dry dock to eliminate an aft lounge in order to replace it with additional cabins--a reduction in the space-to-passenger ratio. The PG has seen cuts and cuts and cuts. The PG, in my opinion, still offers a wonderful cruising experience. But Radisson has CUT most of the luxury out of it.

Patrick

LeeAnne, if an active water-oriented cruise would not suit your mother as well as being on the Mariner, why not do the Mariner with her this time and go on the PG some other time when she won't be with you? It really is apples to oranges.

In my opinion the PG is not nearly as nice a ship as the Mariner, but cruising through French Polynesia on her is a delightful and wonderful experience. I think you'd love it.

The PG is my least favorite of the three Radisson ships we've sailed, yet we are planning our third trip on her because of the itineraries. I love that part of the world and the motu days are really special though I am mindful of Karen's experience of being rained out. But I wouldn't take my mom unless she wanted to be out there in it all.

Yikes, you are all scaring me a bit.........we have tons of days on the PG with this crossing, here is a question, how does the PG compare with the Diamond? We LOVED the voyager, and were worried about the Diamond, and found it to be fine, different but fine. Any thoughts?????
Cindy

Cindy, when I said the PG was my least fav of the Radisson ships, I should have said it's like comparing a million dollars to a million and one dollars. The PG is quite a bit smaller than the other ships so naturally it won't have as much public space, as large a standard cabin, or huge sweeping staircases etc. When we were aboard earlier this month we thought the food was very very good, the service outstanding, and it was a beautiful experience. It's just such a different experience that it's hard to compare it to the other members of the fleet.

We never sailed the Diamond so I can't speak to that.

Cindy, I loved the Diamond :) The atmosphere on the Diamond was the best as was the dining room! Her cabins might not of been as lovely as the newer ships but that was only negative.

Editing to add, I didn't mean to scare you! The PG is a beautiful ship, it's just not my cup of tea! As I have said before, I am in the minority on this issue, I am sure!

Cindy, unlike Karen, I preferred the Paul Gauguin to the Diamond. The Diamond was a beautiful ship, the main dining room was exquisite, but there was no viable alternative dining room, and lunch was a fairly uniformly pedestrian affair, whether on the main dining room or up on deck. I was only on her once, so maybe my experience was unique. Don't get me wrong, I loved that cruise too.

I'll be so anxious to see what happens during the dry dock, of course with no previous trips to compare it to i may not appreciate the change, but i'll let you know what I see and hear!
Cindy

Thanks so much everyone for all of the opinions and suggestions -- this was a huge help! We're pretty sure we're going to switch to the Mariner, but we're investigating a couple other options as well so I haven't taken any actions yet. I do still someday want to do the PG, but I think that's a cruise I should take with my husband, or someone else who is more into the whole water-sports scene. My mom is loving the idea of the 10 sea days -- she is definitely hip to the concept of relaxing in the total luxury that the ship will provide, rather than doing all the running around we did on our last cruise.

I knew I could count on all of your for great feedback!

"I do still someday want to do the PG, but I think that's a cruise I should take with my husband"

Ah, LeeAnn, now you have the right idea.

We loved the PG and the cruise and we did it as a B2B. However, I always said that I wish the Mariner or Voyager would do Polynesia.

We loved having 14 days in FP, but found that a B2B was not perfect...a continuous 10-14 day cruise is more ideal. Very few folks stayed on for week 2 and it was like beginning again instead of building on new relationships. It was a bit sad.

I think you would love the PG, but, personally, I would opt for the Mariner cruise. The PG is just an ok ship compared to the Mariner. It is less a "cruise ship" and more of a floating hotel. We have only positive things to say about the food, excursions and entertainment on the PG, though.

How lucky you are to have this type of problem!!

I've been on the Mariner - to Alaska, and the PG 7 day. The PG is all about French Polynesia - the Mariner sails through FP. That's the real difference. Yes, the Mariner is a nicer ship, with bigger rooms and better food. It doesn't do the motus because it is too big for those lagoons, and missing the motus is missing an experience 'not to be missed'. I'd vote for the pre-cruise trip to New Zealand, which is really a land vacation place, and the full immersion cruise in French Polynesia. That said, you can't make a bad decision!

David