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Epic Highs (& A Few Lows) Cruising French Polynesia

Tips For Travellers
Tips For Travellers
πŸ₯ˆExpert
πŸ‘οΈ 147K viewsπŸ“… 3 years ago⏱️ 16:00

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creator details a cruise experience through French Polynesia, specifically focusing on the Society Islands including Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Huahine. The journey highlights the remote and pristine nature of the islands, noting the lack of mass tourism and the presence of volcanic mountains, coral reefs, and soft beaches. The creator emphasizes the benefits of traveling on a small ship, such as the Paul Gauguin, which allows access to iconic locations like Bora Bora that are restricted for larger vessels. Key activities mentioned include snorkeling with sharks and rays, e-biking through pineapple fields, and hiking. While the creator praises the authentic Polynesian cultural immersion provided by local performers, they also note several challenges. These include the high cost of flights and cruises, the necessity of pre-booking excursions and transport due to limited local infrastructure, and the potential for significant motion on smaller ships. The creator concludes that despite the extreme travel time, high expenses, and the need to plan around weather and jet lag, the experience is worthwhile for those who can afford it.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Paul Gauguin
Solid Strip
All-time creator consensus for Paul Gauguin
Solid Strip

This review is in line with the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsFull Ship ReviewπŸ₯ˆExpert Creator
❀️ Best for CoupleSouth_pacific · Summer · 7 nightsFrom PapeeteVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

It took me 26 hours, three flights, and a time change of 12 hours to get to my cruise it was brutal

one enormous highlight of the cruise was the phenomenal and unique scenery across those islands I was absolutely Blown Away by what I saw

the best things to do on the island were active and those overnights meant being able to do multiple activities

going on a small ship was best for two key reasons first since shutdown French Polynesia have outlawed Mega Ships coming through the region at all

Creator's Tips & Advice

βœ“Build in time before and after the cruise to adjust to jet lag
βœ“Pre-book taxis, bikes, or tours online a day or two before
βœ“Stick to the prime season (June to September) for the driest weather
βœ“Consider longer cruises beyond the Society Islands for more value

πŸ†•New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Long travel time and jet lag β€” Build in pre- and post-cruise days to adjust and be ready for the busy schedule
High cost of flights and cruises β€” Consider the value of inclusions and plan for the expense, possibly opting for longer cruises

Questions This Creator Answers

QHow was the experience of cruising French Polynesia after a long journey?
QIs it worth the time and cost to cruise in French Polynesia?
QWhat are the highs and lows of this cruise destination?

Topics Covered

Service Crew3Β½ Happy BaconShip Condition2Β½ Happy BaconValue Pricing1Β½ Sad BaconCabin Balcony3 Happy BaconDining Main3Β½ Happy BaconCrowd Capacity3 Happy BaconItinerary Route2Β½ Happy BaconExcursions2Β½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Motu Mahana4Β½ Happy Bacon
Bora Bora3Β½ Happy Bacon
Top: Snorkel tour with sharks and rays ($145 per person)
Huahine3 Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon β€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon β€” creators took issue with this
Meh β€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = β€œmeh”, 5 = β€œbacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube