Hello, we're currently enjoying the view from the internet cafe on the PG in Moorea looking at land from our anchorage in Opunohu Bay. Some really quick random updates, a long trip report to follow after our return next week (five days in Bora Bora post-cruise).

- At the Seven Seas Society party earlier this week, Captain Toni stated (if I heard him right) that the ENTIRE staff and crew WILL be staying on with the new ownership come January.
- The service, food, staff, entertainment, etc. are even BETTER than what we experienced 5 years ago - which was a baseline of excellence.
- I wish that I could say the same aboput Air Tahiti Nui and the Intercontinental Tahiti (pre-cruise) - they've both slipped, details in the upcoming trip report.
- Dominique is still the best Dive Master on the planet. We've done six dives on the ship, and today at Shark Gallery we were escorted for most of the dive by five HUGE Lemon sharks (between 8-12 feet long), and also saw some lion fish fully out in the open. Yesterday at the same dive site (Shark Gallery, our second dive yesterday after Ledges) there were dozens and dozens of Black Tip Reef Sharks, but today is was Lemon City!
- Siglo Rocks! These guys may be doing a cruise ship gig where they have to play many styles, but they don't fool us, these guys (especially Rhandy) are ROCKERS, and have taken a few opportunities to show it - awesome!
- Had rain the first three days of the cruise - didn;t stop us from diving in Raiatea and snorkeling at Motu Mahana - the weather has been perfect since arriving in Bora Bora.

That's all for now, but all is not only well on the PG, it is fabulous!

Cheers,
Ken

Woo hoo Ken!!!!! So great to hear from you and that your cruise is AWESOME!!! Thanks for reporting in. PLEASE tell Dominique that Kim and Alice send most best regards!! I am so happy to hear that the crew is staying on. If you can, please tell Michael the waiter that Alice and I wish the best for him and Daisy.

And, as for you, we are so happy that you have been having such great dives. And yes, Siglo ROCKS!

You know, I really think that Mushroom Patch is a very nice dive.

Our Drysuit Snorkeling in Alaska was pretty fun. A lot of huge seastars of many colors, a kelp "grove", a school of small fish, a huge moon jelly, and I saw a sharky thing. We didn't bother with underwater photography since it was our only opportunity. But, you know, we had a good time. It was nice getting the under the waterline view!

Looking forward to your next report!

GREAT news that everyone is staying on...they are the best. As far as Siglo...oh my gosh, they need no words. (What are they doing on a cruise ship???)

Ken, please seek out Laksman, the most handsome man from Sri Lanka - all the Gauguines were sweet on him our last visit. He is a true gentleman and amazing crew member. (That is, if some other Regent ship hasn't already stolen him!)

Above all, ENJOY and keep the seamail coming!!!

Ken, this is great news. The new owners would be crazy to get rid of that great staff and try a new concept on this ship, which as you already know, is just the best for FP!

Nothing any of us can do about the airlines....or the weather for that matter!

So glad you are having a great time! And thanks for posting.

Hello, It's just after midnight at dock in Papeete, and Eva and I just closed down La Pallette with Rhandy from Siglo spinning some rock tunes for us (he's the DJ tonight) since we were the only ones in the place (!). The bags have all been packed and already taken from outside the stateroom, so it's off to Bora Bora on a puddle jumper first thing in the morning. Dominique's dive photos from the week were shown on the big screen at the diver's party before dinner tonight, and he's as good an underwater photographer as he is a dive master. And we like Mushroom Patch (Miri Miri) too - there were lots of black tip reef sharks there this time, but also lots of crown of thorns sea stars chomping the reef. That dive is still run by the Hemisphere Sub dive shop from Raiatea (who are great), but Dominique came along also. We'll pass along regards to anyone that we can catch before leaving!

Cheers,
Ken

Thanks for the update, Ken! Have a great time in Bora Bora!!!

Ken

Thanks for the encouraging update on PG - We're headed that way next month. Our log book shows that Shark Gallery (in '05) was one of the "fishiest" dives ever with specific mention of the Lemons and a very friendly turtle.

We will look forward to your travails with ATN and whether they are "one time" or systemic problems.

Welcome home.

Ted

Just getting ready to leave the ship - have not seen or heard of Laksman from the crew, and yes, there were friendly turtles (several) on all of the Moorea dives - evidently there's a particularly friendly turtle often found in the dive sites off of Opunohu bay known as Janine that was also here when we dove five years ago, but we did not see Janine then or now - but saw several of her friends!

We saw Janine in June 2008. Glad her friends were around to great you!

I've posted some initial photos from our trip here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2034026&id=1509053052&l=bd7087867d

Cheers,
Ken

Ken, great pelagic shots and shots of FP..brings back very fond FP/PG diving and PG cruising memories. thanks for posting.

Terrific shots...! Interested in your trip report and assessment of IC Tahiti as well as Air Tahiti Nui. Thanks for posting the photos..WOW!

Am on my balcony looking at Moorea....not a cloud in the sky.

Laksman IS a sweetie!! He always has such a shy, sweet smile!

Food has been fabulous...service as good or better than last time....

GREAT trip!

Agree totally with the posting about the IC. The room was great, but the food at both restaurants was WAY, WAY overpriced, and not very good at all. IMO.

Sheri

Sheri, so glad your trip is fun. Good to hear from you. Let us hear more!!! Maybe some pix !?!?

Hi Sheri! Soak up some sun for me and keep having fun!

Sheri, so glad you made it! Good that your laptop worked out (working on the balcony!). Hope your stepdad also had a great trip.

Here's some quick Shark video footage from our 9/12/09 sailing on the PG:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y40HjlleYiE

The first 5 dives in the video were all done with the PG staff (the first one actually run in Raiatea by Hemisphere Sub), and the last two dives were done post-cruise with TopDive/Bathy's in Bora Bora.

Cheers,
Ken

Very nicely done, Ken! Great to watch. Thanks for posting it!

Cook Vid Ken thank you, and the music rocks too...

WOW!

:eek:

OK, for you non-divers, here's a quick video clip of a school of a zillion Blue-Green Chromis that I found while snorkeling at Regent's Motu Mahana off of Tahaa. Anyone that snorkels at Motu Mahana can experience this - it's in only about 4 feet of water! I shot this footage on September 14, 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nta2KVbIxc

Cheers,
Ken