Tropical Travel Girl
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Choosing to Cruise
More than six years have passed since my husband and I returned from a dozen days spent in Tahiti and the Tuamotus — a remote part of the South Pacific located halfway between California and Australia — and I still haven’t fully recovered.
Any vestiges of jet lag dissipated long ago and re-entry to real life, while a bit painful, has been resolved, but there is something about this paradisiacal part of the world that lingers. Or many “somethings,” actually… which I’ll share with you in words and images through a series of posts as I try to communicate what is so captivating about Tahiti.
So, where in the world is Tahiti?
Five island groups in the South Pacific located midway between California and Australia make up the Islands of Tahiti, officially known as French Polynesia. Tahiti is the largest of 118 islands and atolls (small ring-shaped coral islands) in French Polynesia and is part of the Society Islands that includes Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora. Nearly 70% of the population of French Polynesia lives on the island of Tahiti. Visitors fly into its capital city of Papeete (PPT), which is also the embarkation point for cruises of the islands.
In addition to the Society Islands, two other island groups — the Tuamotu Atolls (Rangiroa, Manihi, Tikehau and Fakarava) and the mountainous Marquesas (NukHiva and HivaOa) are often included in cruise itineraries, or are accessible by plane from Papeete.
My first visit to Tahiti
I first visited Tahiti in 2010 — a land-based trip to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora with other writers. Hotel stays and island tours on those three islands gave me a magical introduction to the South Pacific. (See my Why French Polynesia? page for more information and to read my article, published in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.)
Seeing these iconic islands with my own eyes had fulfilled a decades-long dream, but I longed to return someday with my husband, and last November (2017), the timing was finally right to make it happen.
Choosing to cruise
Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit under full sail.
Visiting Tahiti via cruise ship seemed like the best option this time around… There were multiple options on several major cruise lines to consider, but we settled on Windstar Cruises, a small ship luxury line we’d sailed with the previous year on a 7-day Treasures of the Greek Isles cruise from Athens, Greece, on the Star Pride. (See my Why Windstar – Greek Isles? page for more information and to read my award-winning article in the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.)
Choosing to cruise meant we’d be able to see more islands in a shorter period of time and have all the “no worries” a cruise offers, i.e. unpacking once, knowing what we’d spend for accommodations and meals, except those we may choose to eat while in port, a wide variety of pre-planned shore excursions to choose from, and lots more.
Windstar Cruises 10 Day Itinerary – Tahiti and Tuamotus
We narrowed it down to the 7-day Dreams of Tahiti cruise or the 10-day Tahiti and Tuamotus itinerary. The longer cruise won out. Having the opportunity to finally visit the Tuamotus atolls of Fakarava and Rangiroa would be another “dream come true” experience. While I wasn’t familiar with Fakarava, I had read about Rangiroa’s spectacular SCUBA diving for years and never thought I’d actually make it there.
While Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the Tuamotus and one of the largest in the world, my research about Fakarava revealed it is a UNESCO biosphere reserve due to its untouched environment and underwater life. Wow! My excitement grew even more!
Fakarava, a UNESCO Biosphere, one of the Tuamotus atolls, was our first port of call.
There would also be two port stops on islands in the Society Islands chain that I’d not previously visited — Taha’a and Huahine — along with revisiting Bora Bora and Moorea.
Love Here Pearl Farm on Taha’a
Feeding blue-eyed eels on Huahine.
Belvedere Lookout on Moorea
Dive guide with turtle in Bora Bora
We were sold…and booked a package that included airfare from LAX, the 10-day cruise aboard the 148-passenger Wind Spirit, and pre-and-post cruise hotel stays at Le Méridien Resort in Papeete.
Le Meridien Resort daytime view of its overwater bungalows.
Le Meridien Resort room view.
Getting There
From our home airport – Indianapolis (IND) – we flew to Los Angeles (LAX) and boarded an Air Tahiti Nui flight to Papeete (PPT). (Now we’re based in Evansville, IN (EVV) so would most likely fly Delta to Atlanta (ATL), then to Los Angeles (LAX) and on to Papeete (PPT).)
Air Tahiti Nui is the airline Windstar Cruises includes in their air/cruise/hotel packages but if you book flights on your own, there are now several other options (some are seasonal) to get to Tahiti from the U.S. Air France also flies to Papeete from Los Angeles but there are new options from San Francisco:
United Airlines is now flying year-round from San Francisco to Papeete.
Hawaiian Airlines flies to Tahiti from its hub in Honolulu.
French Bee (formerly French Blue), a low-cost French carrier, flies to Tahiti from New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Paris Orly.
Now read… Tahiti and Tuamotus: On board Windstar’s Wind Spirit — Learn what it’s like to be a passenger on Windstar Cruise’s Wind Spirit… the sail-away, our cabin, our days at sea, on-board activities, meals, and more!
And keep reading about each port we visited:
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Fakarava — our first port of call
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Rangiroa — our second port of call
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Taha’a and Motu Mahaea
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Bora Bora
Tahiti and Tuamotus: Tahiti – our final port of call
My Guest Review: Why choose Windstar’s 10-Day Tahiti & the Tuamotu Islands Cruise? is also now available on Windstar Cruises’ Blog! Check it out!
thanks for this amazing post, Debbie. I’ve not yet been to Tahiti or French Polynesia, but your post certainly makes me want to go. I didn’t realize there are actually a number of islands that make up Tahiti. Looking forward to your next post.
So glad you enjoyed it, Doreen, and happy I could offer a bit of a geography lesson about French Polynesia, too! I hope you will get to see its incredible beauty for yourself someday!
This looks like a dream cruise. Such a beautiful looking part of the world!
Dreamy is a great way to describe it, Donna! Cruising was the perfect way to see Tahiti and the Tuamotus.
It does weave a magic spell doesn’t it? We took a repositioning cruise from Hawaii to Australia as our introduction to the South Pacific. It was unforgettable. . .and it is difficult to find the words that describe it well enough to say why. It was hot, humid and simply spectacular. Loved your post; keep ’em coming!
I’m definitely smitten, Jackie! I’d love to do the repositioning cruise you mention. What a journey! Australia is on my list, too!
I’d love to visit Tahiti because I hear the snorkelling is AMAZING amongst the islands and a cruise would be a great way to get to those areas (although those eels didn’t look so ‘dreamy’ to me! 😉
Ha! Jane, the eels were pretty interesting to see…and their eyes really are blue! However, both the diving and snorkeling is absolutely amazing there! So many fish and coral are different in the Pacific waters than in the Caribbean, where most of my experience has been. I hope you get to see it for yourself someday. It’s worth the trip!
Oh my, what a dream cruise you had. I didn’t realize that Tahiti is a group of islands of French Polynesia. I agree that the smaller cruise ships like Windstar are better than the mammoth ones! Love the eels being fed and all your photos are amazing.
I think a lot of people don’t realize Tahiti is often used to refer to all of the Society Islands so I’m glad I could help clarify that! My travels have definitely helped me learn more about world geography. And thanks, re: the photos. I will have many more to share in upcoming posts so stay tuned!
WOW…what a beautiful destination! I will be adding Tahiti and Tuamotus to my Bucket List. Simply perfect!! Thank you for sharing your adventure!
You’d love it there, Marilyn! You have been to so many corners of the world that I am surprised I’ve been to an area you haven’t yet visited. I’ll be glad to tag along if you decide to go! 🙂
Looks spectacular! So many great memories!
Yes, Lynn, and you know it was spectacular…except you chose the 7-day cruise instead, if I recall! Memories of Tahiti are getting me through the winter!
Wow, You are so brave! I saw those blue-eyed eels on Huahine and they are huge! They were writhing around eating like giant beasts so I’m very impressed you got up so close. A truly beautiful part of the world and your photos are gorgeous!
Thanks, Michelle…re: the photos. Not that brave, really! I was standing above and shooting down on the guide who was feeding them. Just zooming in. 🙂 A bit braver, though, when scuba diving with lots of sharks around, but that doesn’t bother me anymore either! I’m getting more and more fearless!
I’m still waiting for my first visit to Tahiti. I really enjoyed your post here, and especially liked your image “Feeding blue-eyed eels on Huahine.”
I have been twice now, Carole, seven years apart. I hope it’s not another seven years before I can go back Those blue-eyed eels on Huahine were definitely something to see! Hope you get to go!
I made my first trip to Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora around the same time as you. I absolutely loved that part of French Polynesia. I’ve never been to the Tuamotus atolls, but they look just as beautiful!
There’s a lot to love in French Polynesia, that’s for sure! The Tuamotus are especially appealing for those who love to scuba dive and snorkel…and for their remote location. I just got a taste of them; hope to go back someday!
I’ve been following your French Polynesia travels on Instagram with delight. The South Seas have long been on my bucket list and your gorgeous photos have made me more anxious than ever to get there. Do the eels really have blue eyes?
Yes, they really have blue eyes! I’ll include a photo of one of them that shows the eyes in a future post. Hopefully, you will eventually make it to the South Pacific to see them and all the other amazing sights this part of the world has to offer!
Ah Tahiti! This sounds like an amazing Cruise. I have heard from many people that Windstar is an excellent choice for a cruise. I visited the Tuamotu Islands a few years ago on freighter cruise out of Tahiti. Fakarava on the way to the Marquesas Islands and Rangirora as our last stop before arriving back in Papeete. They were both amazing islands. I have to go back because i haven’t seen Bora Bora or Moorea. I have heard Windstar also does a cruise to the Marquesas.
I look forward to your next installment about your cruise.
Wow, I’d love to do the freighter cruise to the Marquesas and back to the Tuamotus! And yes, I’d recommend Windstar; we loved both cruises we’ve taken and have another of their itineraries on our wish list. You must go back to visit Bora Bora and Moorea – both absolutely beautiful in their own ways.
OMG! This really sounds like the cruise of a lifetime~ You’ve really whet my appetite for the South Pacific.
It really was a bucket list trip for us and I’m so glad we were able to do the 10-day itinerary on Windstar! I’d love to get back on the ship and do it all over again.
Beautiful post, Debbie, congratulations! I am always envious to read about your fancy travels. You have already been to Tahiti twice and I haven’t been there at least once! Not fair. I would have chosen to cruise to Tahiti too. Not that I am a big fan of cruising, but for my first visit to remote destinations I always prefer to get a feel of the place first. Cruising is great for that. Beautiful pictures, like always.
Thank you, Anda! Even if you’re not a big fan of cruising, I think you’d like sailing on one of Windstar’s small ships. You should plan a trip to the South Pacific sometime in lieu of your European travels. I know you’d love it!
Pingback: Tahiti and Tuamotus: On board Windstar’s Wind Spirit – Tropical Travel Girl
Pingback: Tahiti and Tuamotus: Fakarava – our first port of call – Tropical Travel Girl
Pingback: Tahiti and Tuamotus: Rangiroa – our second port of call – Tropical Travel Girl
Pingback: Tahiti and Tuamotus: Tahiti – our final port of call – Tropical Travel Girl
Aloha!
First let me congratulate you on your post. We LOVE French Polynesia, and your summary was spot on with the what, hows and whys. One caution for the future and Windstar. They came back to FP after a long bankruptcy and seem to be in recovery. Part of their new strategy intrigued me, so we sampled a seven day Costa Rica cruise on their just-refurbished former Seaborne line power vessels. I cannot recommend anyone considering the Seaborne ships. There is much deferred top-deck maintenance, and they are not equipped to handle rough seas.
Thank you, Jim! As you know, the yachts that were formerly Seabourne aren’t used in the South Pacific. We were aboard the Star Pride yacht for our Greek Isles cruise and loved it. The ship itself was in fine shape. We didn’t have rough seas there, though. We have actually been considering doing the Panama Canal/Costa Rica itinerary in the future so I’m interested to know if rough seas are normally experienced on that itinerary. I hope you enjoyed the cruise overall. Thanks again for your comments.
Pingback: Tahiti and Tuamotus: Huahine – Tropical Travel Girl