Cruising the South Pacific, no show tunes allowed

[bPeteb]

We returned yesterday from a great 12 night Papeete to Lautoka cruise on Norwegian Spirit. Booked last August through Cruiseaway. Flights, two nights pre and post cruise hotel in balcony guarantee for $8600 each.

This is a teaser because in the last six weeks a lot has happened and the actual report most likely isn't going to get posted in the next week or so.

We decided to consolidate. We'd get rid of both our investment property and our own apartment. It was time to move to somewhere quieter, away from the screaming girls of All Hallows school and the boys with small d***ks and fat exhausts who've taken over the streets of the city.

Our tenants made an offer on the apartment in New Farm before it was officially listed and we had an offer on our own place after the first open. We held off on accepting as we needed to find a place either to rent, our buy.

On the morning of the budget the initial sale offer was increased and we accepted. In the same hour our offer on an apartment in West End was accepted. Problem - the sale would compete while we were in French Polynesia and the purchase not until later in the week after we get back, Thursday this week in fact.

bAlt is still working so I booked a storage unit and over the course of the next couple of weeks packed and moved everything packable into it. On the Thursday before we flew out the movers came for the big stuff, and we moved into the Holiday Inn Express for three nights until we flew out.

I'm writing this from Art House Apartments at South Brisbane. This morning it's pre-settlement inspection. Friday, the movers are back, then we'll get everything out of self storage over the weekend.

After unpacking I'll get to this report, and maybe the one of our great little trip to Winton and Longreach.

Stay tuned.

 

[kookaburra75]

We're tuning in for your report, and updates on your new place - coughtails in hand of course.

 

[Major]

A bit early for a coughtail, but looking forward to the details

 

[Flyfrequently]

Wow, what alot on your plate @bPeteb
Await your TR when you have the time and energy, keen to hear about Longreach too.

 

[bPeteb]

Art back up on the walls (yesterday) means the move is complete. I can now relax and take everything in about our new home, and our new suburb of West End.

It’s unusual (third time in 25+ years) for us to book a package holiday but the price was way less than I could get if I booked each element separately.

The $8600 each included Y fares to PPT via AKL and home direct from NAN. All booked through QF. Once I added my QFF number to the booking I was able to select seats on the QF and FJ flights but no dice on the TN flights even though it said free seat selection when I access the booking. Even a call to TN achieved nothing. We would be allocated seats on check-in

Two nights of accommodation in Papeete and Lautoka were also included. In Papeete it was the InterContinental Tahiti Resort and Spa and in Lautoka at Tanoa Waterfront. I asked the agent to add my IHG number (lowest of low status) to the IC booking and enquired if Denarau was an option. It was, for AUD400 per night plus the lengthy transfers up there and back to NAN. No thanks. Tanoa, and Lautoka, was all we needed to wrap up the holiday.

As I’ve mentioned, we had a bit going on in the immediate lead up to the trip. So that we could pack for the move we had to pack for the trip way before. Then on top of clothes for the holiday we had to leave stuff out for the three days before we flew out and the three days after we got back before the move to West End.

I’d booked the movers for Wednesday, hotel (Mantra) from Wednesday and parking from Saturday.

The week before we flew out I was checking things in TripIt when I noticed we were dropping the car off the day before we flew out. Had Qantas changed our flights to Sunday without us noticing? Then I realised that we would be checking out of the hotel on Saturday and flying Sunday. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Bloody dateline crossings.

I contacted the movers to see if we could push the move back to Thursday – no worries. The Mantra wasn’t available Saturday so I had to change us to another hotel. Shortening the parking was no issue. Crisis averted.

It all worked out perfectly.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Express Brisbane Central so that we could walk back to Skyline to finish the cleaning and supervise the move. Great place for a base in Brisbane.

We really liked the room. It had a desk big enough for bAlt to work from. Good HIE breakfast. Lovely staff. We paid for parking the last night so we had the car with us to get to the airport and not back in our car space at Skyline.

Apologies for the departing room photos



Car parked, photo taken where car was parked (!). I’m not a fan of the self service kiosks but there were plenty of staff around when I couldn’t get my bag tag to scan. Boarding passes for both flights were spat out. It initially looked like we were sat together.

We were at the airport with a couple of hours to spare so visited the Int J lounge. Not hugely busy. For the first time ever I wasn’t in the mood for bubbles. Just juice. The last couple of weeks had done me in.



Checking our boarding passes for the TN flight showed that although we were in the same row, I was in the aisle of middle row and bAlt in aisle of outer row. Sigh.

We left before they announced the flight to tell us to head through security and immigration. It was quiet and we were both through in a couple of minutes.

We pulled back one minute early and arrived into AKL one minute late . Nice crew who served the two WPs by name. We both had the cooked brekkie and it was hot and tasty.



I’ve already gone into great detail on another thread about being refused entry to the QF lounge in AKL. First world problems. Instead we found a bar with a great runway view and had some soothing Kiwi beers and vege cheese nachos (wtf was bAlt thinking with those nachos?).

Our QF and TN chariots



Down at the gate lounge a steady stream of passengers were called to the service desk, us included. We were all going on the cruise and all had to show details of the cruise booking (onward travel) so we could board the flight.

 

[bPeteb]

Boarding for the TN flight was bizarre. The groups appeared to be called in no order. I think our group, 5, was called straight after J. Whatevs. Our seats ended up being perfect. I had an extra leg room seat, and bAlt across the aisle from me. We were right near the loos. There was a very large number of Chinese on the flight who ignored all instructions from the crew. Also lots of whingy older Australian and UK passengers that had clearly not noticed that they were travelling in Y.

I think we both had beef for dinner plus a number of wines, all French of course.



The crew were all really nice but very much took no cough. I saw a couple of interactions where the passenger was just rude and the crew member was appropriately ‘abrupt’ with their response. Loved it.

Immigration at PPT was a mess. I really have no idea how long it took to shuffle towards the immi desks. At least an hour. We were surrounded by moaning older people. Every desk had someone working at it. Where did they think anyone extra would be able to work? There was just too many people to cope with with two wide body jets arriving at the same time (a Hawaiian plane had arrived not long before us).

Finally out and it was off to the taxi queue.

I had bought some XPF a couple of weeks before specifically so that I had money for a taxi to the hotel. One of the couple two in front of us began loudly berating the taxi driver. She would not get in unless the driver told her exactly how much it would be to their hotel. The driver kept saying about x and that it was metered. Her male partner just wanted to get going but the driver had had enough and waved to the next people in the line. They asked if they could use card. Cash only was the response. So in we got. Our taxi driver was lovely. She said it happened all of the time. How hard is to be polite?

Five minute drive to the hotel.

Super lovely check-in agent. Thanked for being an IHG member (ha, maybe twice a year) and upgraded from garden to ocean view room. SCORE! A couple of drink vouchers handed to us. Breakfast explained.

We’d made it to Papeete, with our bags. Yay!!

Our room was just beautiful. It opened out onto the lawn and even though it was pitch black we knew the view was to Mo’orea.



As part of the booking I was asked if we wanted a welcome amenity and if we were having a celebration. As it was our 25th anniversary on the first day of the cruise I said yes. Happy birthday it is then (plus a huge bowl of fruit)



Even though it was after midnight we both needed that welcome drink. The lobby bar looked down across the pool. Beautiful. Tahitian beer number one



then a quick walk around the pool area before it was time for bed



our room on the ground floor with the light on the terrace

 

[Lat34]

Boarding for the TN flight was bizarre. The groups appeared to be called in no order. I think our group, 5, was called straight after J. Whatevs. Our seats ended up being perfect. I had an extra leg room seat and we were right near the loos. A very large number of Chinese on the flight who ignored all instructions from the crew. Also lots of whingy older Australian and UK passengers that had clearly not noticed that they were travelling in Y.

I think we both had beef for dinner plus a number of wines, all French of course.

View attachment 513555

The crew were all really nice but very much took no cough. I saw a couple of interactions where the passenger was just rude and the crew member was appropriately ‘abrupt’ with their response. Loved it.

Immigration at PPT was a mess. I really have no idea how long it took to shuffle towards the immi desks. We were surrounded by moaning older people. Every desk had someone working at it. There was just too many people to cope with with two wide body jets arriving at the same time.

Finally out and it was off to the taxi queue. I had bought some XPF a couple of weeks before specifically so that I had money for a taxi to the hotel. One of the couple two in front of us began loudly berating the taxi driver. She would not get in unless the driver told her exactly how much it would be to their hotel. The driver kept saying about x and that it was metered. Her male partner just wanted to get going but the driver had enough and waved to the next people in the line. They asked if they could use card. Cash only was the response. So in we got. Our taxi driver was lovely. She said it happened all of the time. How hard is to be polite?

Five minute drive to the hotel.

Super lovely check-in agent. Thanked for being an IHG member and upgraded from garden to ocean view room. SCORE! A couple of drinks vouchers handed to us. Breakfast explained. We’d made it to Papeete, with our bags. Yay!!

Our room was just beautiful. It opened out onto the lawn and even though it was pitch black we knew the view was to Mo’orea.

View attachment 513560View attachment 513561View attachment 513562

As part of the booking I was sked if we wanted a welcome amenity if we were having a celelbration. As it was our 25th anniversary on the first day of the cruise I said yes. Happy birthday it is then

View attachment 513564

Even though it was after midnight we both needed that welcome drink. The lobby bar looked down across the pool. Beautiful. Tahitian beer number one

View attachment 513556View attachment 513563

then a quick walk around the pool area before it was time for bed

View attachment 513557

our room on the ground floor with thelight on the terrace

View attachment 513558

LOVE Hinano beer! Still remembered very fondly from a yacht rally in 2000 - flew from Papeete to Raiatea charter base then 10 days onboard yachts for Huahine, Tahaa, Bora Bora and back to Raiatea. Working full time back in those days, so unfortunately no time for the Moorea extension - just a quick sightseeing tour around Papeete. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Bundy Bear]

Just a few changes in your life,

Holiday Inn Express is pretty good, I might have stayed there in past few years because its a handy location.

Look forward to the trip report, hopefully the new place in West End is quieter although watch out for cyclists.

A good reminder I need to write a trip report for AFF.

 

[bPeteb]

We'd taken off in Brisbane on Sunday morning and arrived into PPT on Saturday night so when we woke up it was groundhog day, Sunday June 7 again. On top of that our body clocks had us had us getting out of bed after lunchtime. One of the consequences of travel. And again, first world problem. We are very privileged to be able to travel.

The view when we pulled the curtains back



Sunday at the IC is Tahitian Brunch day, apparently an event that has been running for many years. The restaurant is packed with local families and there is an amazing island show as well. As we had breakfast included the brunch was also included. “Welcome for your loyalty” greeted us at every venue. Ah Qantas...

I’m not sure why I took no photos, just this video of the chocolate fountain

The food was endless. All of the standard western breakfast buffet staples of a five star resort as well as a couple of stations of local food. The locals piled their plates high with the western food and bAlt and I kept to the local fare.

bAlt's photo of his food



What bAlt and I call ika mata was of course there in a number of varieties – raw seafood of all kinds ‘cooked’ in coconut and lime juice - fish, giant clams, prawns . The food was amazing as was the show.

- YouTube

then it was time for an explore and a swim

around the resort



there are two large 'normal' pools, the bright blue chlorinated types, and one large salt water pool. The chlorintated pools were freezing but the salt water pool beautiful tropical warm.

The large salt water pool is split by a walkway over a net. Two thirds is for swimming and the rest an enclosure for injured sea turtles

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fish in the salt water pool



we had no desire to head outside the resort. We've been to Papeete before. so we just lazed by the pool



we chatted to some people sitting nearby and both couples were heading to the ship the next day. We'd see them many times over the next couple of weeks.

 

[RooFlyer]

Memo to self. You must, you must, you must take more holidays like this..

 

[bPeteb]

The hotel had quite a bit of work going on with at least one block completely closed.



We lazed in the shade by the pool for most of the afternoon then went back to the room where we could see the sunset starting to colour the sky up. Quite beautiful with Mo'orea front and centre.




The fine diner Le Lotus was also gutted and undergoing a transformation. We resisted a return to the buffet and had dinner at Huriama. Service a little slow and French Polynesia expensive but it was lovely sitting out by the ocean



FP beer number two



then we went for another wander around the hotel including a walk up to the viewpoint

 

[bPeteb]

June 8, cruise departure.

The ship was not due to sail until 10pm, not surprising considering Mo'orea is literally in view. We could have booked another day at the hotel but decided to head to the ship and board as early as we could so we could get a feel for the ship without the initial crowds. We'd submitted the lowest bid possible for a suite upgrade but were not successful so a balcony it would be.

Our boarding time was 1.30 so we had the morning to bum around the resort and that's what we did.

Good morning world



a pond full of small turtles



some of the extensive 'standard' buffet



daylight view from the viewpoint



overwater bungalows



casual beach bar Huriama

 

[bPeteb]

we had time for a sneaky coughtail before we left




another last wander around the hotel





bAlt had not updated the time on his phone and just found this beer shot from the previous afternoon

 

[bPeteb]

We were last here in 2015 and there was no cruise ship terminal back then. I have a feeling Ponant will be behind the new structure since taking over Paul Gaugin cruises.

It was a simple bag drop off then a slightly less simple check-in and registration. It was very 'island' from what we watched with no-one really taking any notice of what was happening around them. The line was out the door so they just got the second half of the long line to create a new one. Of course this did not please some of those in the first line. How dare they get onboard 15 minutes before us.

Docked beside the ship was Octopus, an extraordinary private yacht OCTOPUS | Luxury Yacht Charter | Lürssen 126m Superyacht To charter - USD2,200,000 per week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



muster station tick, it's time for beer!!



We had booked the cruise with the More at Sea or All at Sea or something at sea package. This gave us five dinners at specialty restaurants, premium drinks package, $50 shore excursion credit (per port?) and 300 minutes each of internet. Most people we spoke to only had four dinners and 150 minutes of internet. The internet difference was it was reduced after Starlink became the internet provider.

This was the H2O adults only deck and pool. Unlike on RCL and Carnival, not a kid was spotted out here. It was a beautiful space but the pool was weirdly shallow.



The announcement that cabins were available saw us continue with our beer. The cabin was going nowhere

 

[bPeteb]

We'd always intended to go for a walk in town after we'd got everything put away. I wanted some more cash for the next few days in French Polynesia so off we went. It reminded me of getting onto The World back in 2015 and then going back ashore.



We had our first specialty dinner booked for 7.30 at Silk, one of three Asian restaurants grouped together, the other two Sushi and Teppanyaki. We had booked all of our specialty dining the moment it became available a few months before. Silk was very quiet this first night. The food and service were excellent.

 

[bPeteb]

We sailed pretty much right on 10pm, maybe a bit earlier. The ship sailed right past the runway of PPT




this cruise had been a long time booked but we were finally underway.

First impressions told us we were going to have an excellent time. The ship was as lovely as all of the YouTube reviews we'd watched had indicated. Small in the scheme of modern ships, beautifully updated, nice venues and lots of smiling staff. The drinks package looked like it was going to be excellent. Once you'd ordered one glass of wine they just kept refilling. Nice!

Sure many will look down their noses at NCL, and every other mainstream cruiseline, but we thought straight away this ship was going to be perfect for us.