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. Providing experiences the place greetings are real and adventures are supplied graciously to small teams of honored company is a trademark of small ship cruises anyplace — and notably particular in French Polynesia.
“In a area with so many intimate islands, our 36 years of working ships in French Polynesia additionally means we all know its folks, its customs and its treasures,” says Janet Bava, Windstar’s chief business officer. “Whether or not your pursuits lie in watersports, dance and music, scrumptious sea-influenced delicacies, exploring its rugged pure magnificence or making an attempt your hand at native creative endeavors, immersion in French Polynesia will remodel 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’ primary worldwide airport is situated, just isn’t as lengthy a visit as you may anticipate. Nonstop flights, clocking in at across the eight-hour mark, can be found from gateways similar to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Which French Polynesia itinerary is looking your identify?
There are 4 main itineraries to select from, starting from seven- to 21-night sailings. The choices embrace adventures to swimsuit everybody, from these new to the area to these returning desirous to go farther and keep longer. Yr-round cruising means you possibly can go to the islands in your schedule, made even simpler with Windstar’s Air + Lodge + Cruise packages or with an Overwater Bungalow Cruise Tour.
Finest For First Time Go to: Seven-Day Society Islands
The Goals of Tahiti itineraries are a good 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 folks.
Why?
Weeklong cruises are the straightforward strategy 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 proper cruise for scuba divers and snorkelers, in addition to for these on the lookout for an immersive cultural expertise.
Listed below are simply a few of the highlights of Goals of Tahiti:
A Vacation spot Discovery Occasion on a motu (small island or islet) is a giant spotlight. Anticipate 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 stay music. All sailings embrace visitor lectures and Polynesian ambassadors on board all through the cruise. The ship’s marina off the strict of the yacht is open throughout a tremendous 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 embrace manta ray snorkeling in Bora Bora, a safari expedition in Huahine, e-biking in Moorea, and a “Harvest Your Personal 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 isn’t any secret. Right here’s his perception: “Everybody likes Bora Bora, which is the princess of French Polynesia. And but I’m at all times on the lookout for the underdog. I like Huahine as a result of it gives forests, seashores, tradition, folks, there’s numerous specialness, which is partly on account of its being slightly bit extra off the radar. That makes it extra tranquil and peaceable. On Huahine, there’s at all times the likelihood for discovery, from jet-skiing to a mountainous ATV (all-terrain car). It’s a lot greater than a beachy island.”
Increase your crusing for these bucket checklist adventures:
These are the sort of itineraries that transcend the fundamentals. Eye-popping choices embrace 13- or 15-night cruises that embody Tahiti and in addition take you to Fiji and the Prepare dinner Islands. Or think about wonderful Star Collector cruises like Twice the Tahiti; primarily it’s a two-week Society Islands cruise that gives overnights in Bora Bora and Papeete, together with a facet journey to the Tuamotu Islands. And right here’s an alternative 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 resort to ship.
Why?
If the unique siren music of French Polynesia is looking to you, these may be the proper cruises, particularly if you already know in your coronary heart you’ll wish to lengthen your keep, whether or not it’s your first time or your tenth.
Listed below 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 on your use all through the cruise, making it straightforward to peek beneath the floor of the waves at your leisure.
Within 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?
Maybe probably the most bucket list-worthy add-on you have got ever dreamed of is the choice for company staying in Star Breeze’s prime suites (the Proprietor’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 Need to Go Someplace You’ve By no means, Ever Imagined: The Marquesas
There comes a time when the journey you search is past the crowds and means past unusual. Windstar has Marquesas choices starting from 11 to 21 nights, all stuffed with journey.
Why?
Tiny ports on Hiva Oa and Fatu Hiva within the Marquesas are as reverse from megacruise ports as you’ll discover anyplace on the earth. The islands are far distant from the remainder of French Polynesia, with even a local weather of their very own.
Listed below are a few of the highlights of a Marquesas cruise:
Tradition 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.
Though the seas across the Marquesas aren’t suited to swimming or snorkeling, the itineraries embrace loads of splash time in ports earlier than and after. The 21-night Star Collector Complete Tahiti and Marquesas Journey contains 9 days with the marina scheduled to be open for play time along with the non-public seashore stops. You may’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 Nook Fb group: “Within the Marquesas we ended up on the island of Tahuatu [the smallest inhabited island in French Polynesia], the village Hapatoni, inhabitants roughly 100. Our deliberate cease at Hiva Oa was cancelled on account of tough surf. Essentially the most wonderful, good, mild folks. Later a gaggle of a few third of the village got here again to the ship and placed on a tremendous present. Not a hotel-type luau, however a multigenerational genuine present of tradition and custom.”
The Largest Shock About French Polynesia?
You may suppose a cruise in French Polynesia falls into the once-in-a-lifetime class, but its magic will train you in any other case. Prelog tells us that “the mix of the laid-back environment of Windstar Cruises, the crew, the officers and the way they work together with the company is an ideal match with Tahiti as a result of the Tahitian tradition is open, inviting, unpretentious, under no circumstances formal. Windstar isn’t just a cruise line crusing in Tahiti. Windstar is Tahiti.”
The submit Windstar’s Passport to Tahiti: Our Information appeared first on Windstar Cruises Journey Weblog.
