Let’s face it: The islands of French Polynesia are unique to start with and but visiting this a part of the South Pacific by way of a yacht-sized ship transports you even additional into tradition, hospitality and pure wonders. Offering experiences the place greetings are real and adventures are provided graciously to small teams of honored company is a trademark of small ship cruises wherever — and notably particular in French Polynesia.
“In a region with so many intimate islands, our 36 years of operating ships in French Polynesia also means we know its people, its customs and its treasures,” says Janet Bava, Windstar’s chief industrial officer. “Whether your interests lie in watersports, dance and music, delicious sea-influenced cuisine, exploring its rugged natural beauty or trying your hand at local artistic endeavors, immersion in French Polynesia will transform you.”
And right here’s a shock: As far faraway from the actual world as you’ll really feel whenever you arrive, French Polynesia’s Tahiti, the place the islands’ most important worldwide airport is positioned, is just not as lengthy a visit as you may count on. Nonstop flights, clocking in at across the eight-hour mark, can be found from gateways comparable to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Which French Polynesia itinerary is asking your identify?
There are 4 major itineraries to select from, starting from seven- to 21-night sailings. The choices embody adventures to go well with everybody, from these new to the area to these returning desirous to go farther and keep longer. Year-round cruising means you may go to the islands in your schedule, made even simpler with Windstar’s Air + Hotel + Cruise packages or with an Overwater Bungalow Cruise Tour.
Best For First Time Visit: Seven-Day Society Islands
The Dreams of Tahiti itineraries are an effective way to get your toes moist — fairly actually. These characteristic uninterrupted exploration within the Society Islands, with overnights in Bora Bora and visits to Raiatea, thought of to be the cradle of the ancestors of the Māori individuals.
Why?
Weeklong cruises are the simple technique to pattern any new-to-you vacation spot. Windstar’s seven-night itineraries in Tahiti skip the ocean days, opting as an alternative to get you onshore on daily basis experiencing all that the Society Islands have to supply with 5 stops: Moorea, Raiatea, in a single day in Bora Bora, Motu Mahaea, and Huahine.
It’s the right cruise for scuba divers and snorkelers, in addition to for these in search of an immersive cultural expertise.
Here are simply a few of the highlights of Dreams of Tahiti:
A Destination Discovery Event on a motu (small island or islet) is a giant spotlight. Expect to get slightly sand between your toes whereas being amazed by fireplace dancing and eating on genuine Polynesian meals.
And don’t neglect Windstar’s signature onboard Deck Barbecue that includes native cuisines and reside music. All sailings embody visitor lectures and Polynesian ambassadors on board all through the cruise. The ship’s marina off the strict of the yacht is open throughout an incredible 4 days of the cruise, plus the crew takes all of the water toys ashore for a seashore picnic on the non-public island Motu for much more splashy enjoyable.
Can’t-miss excursions embody manta ray snorkeling in Bora Bora, a safari expedition in Huahine, e-biking in Moorea, and a “Harvest Your Own Pearl” expertise in Raiatea.
We ask fellow vacationers: What are your favourite discoveries in French Polynesia up till now?
Windstar President Chris Prelog’s love of French Polynesia is not any secret. Here’s his perception: “Everyone likes Bora Bora, which is the princess of French Polynesia. And yet I’m always looking for the underdog. I like Huahine because it offers forests, beaches, culture, people, there’s a lot of specialness, which is partly due to its being a little bit more off the radar. That makes it more tranquil and peaceful. On Huahine, there’s always the possibility for discovery, from jet-skiing to a mountainous ATV (all-terrain vehicle). It’s so much more than a beachy island.”
Expand your crusing for these bucket checklist adventures:
These are the form of itineraries that transcend the fundamentals. Eye-popping choices embody 13- or 15-night cruises that embody Tahiti and in addition take you to Fiji and the Cook Islands. Or contemplate wonderful Star Collector cruises like Twice the Tahiti; basically it’s a two-week Society Islands cruise that gives overnights in Bora Bora and Papeete, together with a aspect journey to the Tuamotu Islands. And right here’s another choice: Add a pre- or post-cruise keep at an overwater bungalow (featured on “The Golden Bachelorette”) on Bora Bora with Windstar arranging lodging and dealing with your transportation from airport to lodge to ship.
Why?
If the unique siren tune of French Polynesia is asking to you, these is perhaps the right cruises, particularly if you understand in your coronary heart you’ll wish to lengthen your keep, whether or not it’s your first time or your tenth.
Here are simply a few of the highlights of bucket checklist adventures in French Polynesia
For these (like me) with watersports excessive on their to-do checklist, these prolonged cruises offer you far more splash time, each from the yacht’s marina and on the seashore. You’ll take pleasure in a private set of snorkeling gear to your use all through the cruise, making it simple to peek beneath the floor of the waves at your leisure.
In the Tuamotus, Fakarava Atoll is a whisper-thin circle of land that makes you ask your self the way it even exists. This distinctive UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere Reserve is understood for scuba diving, snorkeling and its Insta-worthy seashores.
We ask fellow vacationers: What are your favourite discoveries in French Polynesia up till now?
Perhaps essentially the most bucket list-worthy add-on you could have ever dreamed of is the choice for company staying in Star Breeze’s prime suites (the Owner’s Suite, the Broadmoor Suite, and the Sea Island Suite) to e book a post-cruise keep at The Brando — an ultra-exclusive hideaway on the Hollywood star’s non-public island of Tetiaroa.
When You Want to Go Somewhere You’ve Never, Ever Imagined: The Marquesas
There comes a time when the journey you search is past the crowds and means past strange. Windstar has Marquesas choices starting from 11 to 21 nights, all crammed with journey.
Why?
Tiny ports on Hiva Oa and Fatu Hiva within the Marquesas are as reverse from megacruise ports as you’ll discover wherever on this planet. The islands are far distant from the remainder of French Polynesia, with even a local weather of their very own.
Here are a few of the highlights of a Marquesas cruise:
Culture rises from each crevice within the type of stone tiki carvings scattered throughout the wild inexperienced mountains. The persons are heat and real as they share their lifestyle by way of artwork, dance and folklore.
Although the seas across the Marquesas aren’t suited to swimming or snorkeling, the itineraries embody loads of splash time in ports earlier than and after. The 21-night Star Collector Comprehensive Tahiti and Marquesas Adventure consists of 9 days with the marina scheduled to be open for play time along with the non-public seashore stops. You can’t get wetter than that.
We ask fellow vacationers: What are your favourite discoveries within the Marquesas Islands up till now?
Robert Johnson, a latest Windstar-in-the-Marquesas traveler, shared this within the Windstar Cruises — Cruisers Corner Facebook group: “In the Marquesas we ended up at the island of Tahuatu [the smallest inhabited island in French Polynesia], the village Hapatoni, population approximately 100. Our planned stop at Hiva Oa was cancelled due to rough surf. The most amazing, nice, gentle people. Later a group of about a third of the village came back to the ship and put on an amazing show. Not a hotel-type luau, but a multigenerational authentic show of culture and tradition.”
The Biggest Surprise About French Polynesia?
You may suppose a cruise in French Polynesia falls into the once-in-a-lifetime class, but its magic will educate you in any other case. Prelog tells us that “the combination of the laid-back atmosphere of Windstar Cruises, the crew, the officers and how they interact with the guests is a perfect match with Tahiti because the Tahitian culture is open, inviting, unpretentious, not at all formal. Windstar is not just a cruise line sailing in Tahiti. Windstar is Tahiti.”
The publish Windstar’s Passport to Tahiti: Our Guide appeared first on Windstar Cruises Travel Blog.