Tahiti and South Pacific Cruise ~ September 28 - October 13th, 2024

Trip Leader: Jeff Koss

(click photo to see trip photo album)

The islands of French Polynesia have long enchanted travelers with their clear turquoise waters and the lush green mountains. Twenty-two club travelers joined this trip to French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. SCSTC had arranged an 11-night cruise on the 330-passenger M/S Paul Gauguin taking the club to ports of call on five of the Society Islands and two of the Cook Islands. This trip also included an optional post-cruise 3-night stay on the Island of Moorea at the Manava Beach Resort with a choice of beach cabanas or overwater bungalows. We had the unintended experience of adjusting our flights both going to Papeete and returning home due to two Florida hurricanes in a 2-week period, Helene and Milton. But all travelers arrived safe and sound on time for the first night in Papeete and safely home after the trip.

The group met up in Papeete, Tahiti for a pre-cruise tour of the island of Tahiti, an evening social, a group dinner and night of rest before boarding the M/S Paul Gauguin cruise ship the next day. Ship embarkation was late in the afternoon, so travelers used the morning to explore the downtown area: city market, shops, and waterfront parks.

The M/S Paul Gauguin is a small luxury ship built to sail the waters of the South Pacific, with a shallow draft to allow her to access many ports too small for larger ships. Our all-inclusive cruise included gourmet dining in three restaurants, complimentary wines, beer and spirits, Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, and access to the ship’s marina for kayaks, paddle boards, and scuba diving adventures. Shore excursions were offered at each port, ranging from hikes, or e-bikes, to open-air jeep or enclosed bus tours plus scuba diving and snorkeling. We also enjoyed a day on their private islet, Motu Mahana, complete with floating bar, beach chairs, kayaks, BBQ buffet, and entertainment by the Tahitian hosts, the Gauguines and Gauguins.

Our club members enjoyed the variety of adventures experienced each day, which we shared pre-dinner as we often met in one lounge or another for cocktails. One lounge was a Piano bar, another where a small musical troupe played music for dancing, listening, or a theme night of Abba tunes, and another was poolside. We had one private SCSTC cocktail party and two group dinners in the ship’s main dining room--L’Etoile. The services on board were first class, with wait staff knowing our names and favorite drinks after a few days no matter which of the various restaurants were enjoyed.

At the completion of the cruise, 13 travelers headed back to the USA while 9 disembarked the ship and boarded a ferry for the 40-min ride to the Island of Moorea where we stayed for 3 more nights. Scuba diving, snorkeling and hiking to a green mountaintop were enjoyed plus pool time. The most unique outing was a private Snorkel boat trip out of the lagoon into the open ocean where we snorkeled with multiple Humpback whales, a mother and baby, plus heard the large male singing underwater! Back in the lagoon, the group enjoyed colorful corals with countless tropical fish, Eagle Rays, Reef sharks, and turtles, which made for a magical adventure in the sea.

The entire travel experience made for an unforgettable dream trip and a check mark on many Travel Bucket lists!