Epic Highs (& A Few Lows) Cruising French Polynesia

[@misterg1157]

I am a newcomer to your channel. I have been binge watching it since I discovered it a week or so ago. Only yesterday I heard you say that you had cancer about 10 years ago. It is heartwarming to see how you’ve seized life by the scruff of the neck since then, lived your life to the full and in the process created such an informative channel. It’s easy to forget how good your channel is until I’ve looked at some others. I joined your livestream last week and asked two questions, knowing they’d be lost in a sea of other questions so I submitted them and forgot about them. I was surprised you answered the first and astounded when you later answered the second. Thank you. May you and your husband have many more happy cruises.

[@NJ-Cathie]

You have hit a goldmine of excellent tips & reviews.

[@traceytheisen8067]

Lovely post! I don't even cruise and LOVE his videos. Such a lovely man and informative and entertaining at the same time. I like that he keeps it real and you feel like you're not only getting expert advice, but down-to-earth insights and suggestions. He makes me want to take a cruise!

[@Sushi2735]

So expensive! Wow! Too much for me for seven days. I can spend two weeks, modestly in France and Paris for that amount of cash! I’ll go to France instead. 😅😅😅😅😅

[@IvyroseGullwhacker]

Oh my gosh, that small-ship experience in one of the most beautiful regions of the world, with crew and entertainment from the area...absolutely my style of cruising! I travel to LEARN as much as to relax. Time to put on my bucket list for when I meet certain financial goals.

[@rebeccaw9656]

On the opposite distance scale to you, as an Australian this would be more “do-able” for my family than cruising in Europe or the US. Thanks for adding to my bucket list - looks beautiful!

[@MasterMalrubius]

Personally, I think if you're family enjoys the tropical life then it is a homerun. The lower cost of travel would make up for additional spending on the cruise or even upgrading to a higher stateroom.

[@EagleRockers]

Congratulations on your 20 year milestone! That's absolutely marvelous. My husband and I did a 10 night cruise of Tahiti in 2007 to celebrate our 30 year milestone. We were on the now defunct Tahitian Princess and will never forget it. Luckily, we live in L.A. and the flight/time change wasn't bad at all. This was a terrific video! - Martin in La La Land

[@iamlubos]

I was in French Polynesia in 2021, about a week or so after it reopened to tourists (only to Americans at that time, not even French were allowed in). This was "on land", with visits to 4 islands over 10 days. I thought we had a really packed schedule but you got us beat! It's amazing to see how much you got to see and do over the much shorter time period. If you ever get back, my favorite thing was running all the way around Bora Bora (it's 19 miles). Of course it could also be done on a bike.

[@colinwalker9583]

We were on Princess and managed to visit some of the wonderful islands just before lockdown as our retirement treat. It was an absolute privilege to visit the area. Moorea, in particular, was stunning. Long may the islands stay pristine. Great video as usual, Gary.

[@CarboneCat]

The flights and the budget for doing this cruise is on another level. However, I’m all for a more candid experience.

[@ExploreTheWorld703]

20 years together, congratulations! Such a wonderful way to celebrate such a milestone.

[@lap8329]

Garry, now you know what us poor Aussies have to go through to travel to pretty much anywhere. My current record is 40 hours to Tashkent from Melbourne. I sincerely hope it’s a record I won’t have to break anytime soon.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Yes! it so long. I am heading to Australia again this Christmas. It sooo long...

[@lap8329]

@@tipsfortravellers Good for you - Christmas in Australia is amazing. As an ex-Canadian, even after 30++ years in Australia, I still marvel at the effortless Christmas dinners with lots of salads and seafood, and the simple pleasure of visiting friends without worrying about a blizzard ruining the day. Cruising here no doubt? Looking forward to hearing all about it. I am off on my very first cruise in January, just local - Melbourne round trip to Fiji and New Caledonia with Princess. I’m an inveterate long-time solo traveller, but now that I’m pushing 80, seat-of-the-pants, el cheapo solo travel is starting to become a bit exhausting, so I’m investigating cruising so someone else can deal with the inevitable problems while I suck up another Pinot Grigio from the comfort of my chaise.

[@alandyer910]

Thank you for your look at the m/s Paul Gauguin. I sailed on it twice, for special solar eclipse cruises, which they’ve done several. The need to get to the eclipse path took us off the usual itinerary, in 2005 to Pitcairn Island where we were able to land, ferried ashore by the islanders in their longboat, and in 2009 to the remote northern Cook Islands, where I remember us delivering ice cream as a special treat to one of the islands that rarely see passing ships. The on board anthropologist was fabulous in his lectures about Polynesian history and culture.

[@donkiml5805]

We planned a 2 week Australia/New Zealand cruise on Celebrity as our retirement celebration. The flight from Minneapolis to Sydney was crazy long. We planned ahead, making reservations 18 months in advance. The cruise cost when up and did sell out. We divided the travel into 2 days. Minneapolis to Honolulu (10 hrs), with a walk around and fun dinner, then Honolulu to Sydney. This made it 20 hours total but shorter then having fight transfers. We saved our travel points for a long time only paying for 1 if the 4 legs. We went early and traveled 2 days in Sydney. The cruise was fabulous! We traveled back from Auckland to Honolulu. Our original plan was to stay 3 days in Honolulu but got emergency news my mother was very ill and ending up passing on our way home. 😢 Gary gave great details for traveling far away. Happy Anniversary🎉

[@PeaceFan1]

I REALLY Appreciate that you don't have annoying music in the background of your video..THANK YOU for Sparing me this!

[@Buddy869-z9x]

I love everything about this trip! Nature, the ship, weather, authentic experiences…I see no downside other than the expense and flying time.

[@chriswilliams6568]

I was actually underwhelmed when we did a 28 day round trip cruise from LAX on the Sapphire Princess in Oct 2013. We did a shore excursion on every island, that drove all around it and we never saw one decent beach. Maybe the tide was high up, I don’t know, but all I saw was sharp coral. On a glass bottom boat trip we saw all the coral was dead or dying, no fish hardly as there is no protection for them, they need to hide from predators. Dead coral is due to sun bleaching caused by global warming. It was way too hot, 35C, the highest I have ever been in. I felt exhausted, Ill, faint and then heat exhaustion. I hated it. Plus we are not water people, we do not swim and I am unable to hike. I went for the scenery, yes pretty, but I have seen better. Each to their own. Thx for lovely video.

[@traceybartlam7737]

Congratulations to you and your partner. This looked a fantastic trip, what a stunning location

[@MadeNCda]

I'm glad you and Mark were able to go as it was a big milestone. 🎉😊

[@honeymcdonald9120]

Congratulations to you both on your anniversary. Great vlog as always.

[@terryvince3440]

You were lucky Garry, I did the cruise before you and got caught up with the Air Tahiti strike, had to book another flight to get home with Air Cal via Noumea, and had to hang around Papeete for three days after the cruise, would have happily taken your 26 hours compared to my 3 day wait and 24 hour flight back to Hobart

[@ColoRadio6996]

Gary, we did an extended cruise with Holland America to FP earlier this year on MS Koningsdam, it was affordable, but many sea days, and no stop to Bora Bora, but still a great cruise.. Cheers, J

[@bebreyes4766]

Great video! So enjoyable and I really really appreciate the cost breakdown. You’re the best! Congratulations on your 20 yr anniversary! You always seem happy! ❤️❤️

[@IslandTourist]

Been on it twice... I am a teacher and it took a decade just to do this trip twice. There is a famous line about these islands... "anyone that has ever been here longs to go back". French Polynesia is the place of my dreams and encourage anyone who has never seen it to just book it!

[@arokh72]

Of course being an Aussie it's easier to get there, though still relatively expensive. Another thing to keep in mind, is not only Nov - March the rainy season, it's also cyclone season, meaning your entire trip could be cancelled due to cyclones, or even just tropical storms. This is why when I eventually sail to Vanuatu etc, I'll do so this time of year, July, to avoid the heat and possible port cancellations. For example, last southern summer Port Lifou in Vanuatu was closed for several weeks due to storm damage, meaning a number of cruises had to cancel that part of Vanuatu as a port, it even took a while to clean up the debris enough to allow it to be used as a tender port.

[@Toobula]

Speaking from experience, the big problem is that the cost of the travel is not worth it for just 7 nights. I have flown often to Australia. You have to have a minimum stay is 3 to 4 weeks or the travel isn't worth it. For this kind of trip (and I have done thia) is to stay a week or two in Hawaii on the front and/or back end. I would also consider staying in Polynesia for a week or two after the cruise. Discover things from the cruise, and then pick a place you could spend a week and sip cocktails, take private dive sessions, go sailing, whatever. If the cruise originates outside of Polynesia, perhaps negotiate with the cruise company to come in on one boat, stay a while, and then leave on another.

[@broccanmacronain457]

Congratulations on being together for 20 years!

[@loreleir5087]

Great vlog Mr Gary. We did a cruise like this on the new Carnival Luminous ship. 22 days from Australia to Seattle. We stopped at many of the ports that you did. We did swim with the black tip sharks & stingray. Awesome cruise ⚓🚢

[@kathyslocombe1182]

Congratulations to both you and Mark on your 20th anniversary! Your videos are so fair and on point. We're on the Koningsdam in February for a 35 day cruise from San Diego to Hawaii, South Pacific and the Marquesas Islands, return. While we would love to cruise with Paul Gaugin, I, unlike you, could not do the flight for a 7 day cruise. Why? I was on a flight where we had a crash landing and my fear still exists. So, a 3 hour flight from Vancouver to San Diego is fine. Aside from this, this cruise offers overnights in Raiatea, Papeete and Moorea so we're focusing our excursions on all of the adventures on these Islands plus going to the Marquesas Islands is a bonus. This video has certainly given us so much information and adventures that we can look forward to. Thank you, yet again, for the best videos!

[@loisadams837]

Great video. Congrats on 20 years! We weren’t able to afford a Paul Gauguin, but this past March-April we did fly from home Chicago to Los Angeles. Then got onboard Crown Princess for 28 days. Yes we had a LOT of sea days but the ship was nice and we saw Hawaii, the Samoas, Tahiti, Mo’Orea and due to emergency stop Huahine. Super nice and affordable trip. Flight was 4 hours -doable. No Bora Bora though. We were very sad. Princess was selling t-shirts that were from prior cruises that listed Bora Bora on the cruise itinerary😔 Anyway, I thought Venice was my favorite place on earth but I’ve since changed that to Mo’Orea. I want to live in one of the bungalows on the hill above the Motu. Beautiful. Just absolutely beautiful! Thanks for the reminder of a beautiful cruise.

[@lynnleipold2617]

We did this trip on the Viking Marina a number of years ago. Fabulous weather, sightseeing, and lovely people. Congratulations on 20 years together!

[@JeanineWoolet]

This has been on my bucket list since I was a little girl. I am hoping to celebrate our 50th anniversary in the next couple years. Thank you for all your suggestions. 😊

[@andyrose5576]

Hi Gary, I am taking my family this November on a round trip 32 day cruise from Los Angeles to the South Pacific and back. Thanks for this video shows me how much fun to expect on my cruise….

[@angelaivy4720]

We might be on the same cruise. Sapphire Princess??

[@andyrose5576]

@@angelaivy4720 Yes, the Sapphire Princess leaving on the 30th.

[@andyrose5576]

@@angelaivy4720 Great see you in November….

[@markwhite2199]

I just watched your vid of the Paul Gauguin cruise around French Polynesia. Why is you opinion of Royal Carribean cruise? If I remember correctly you Mentioned in another vid that you were a cancer survivor. Last year I had surgery for Stage III renal Cancer. You are an inspiration. His bless

[@chriswilliams6568]

He said that the ships with over 1200 passengers are not allowed in their waterways. All RCI ships have way over that, so no good for this itinerary.

[@Geoduck.]

It was great to see you both celebrate your 20th anniversary is such a lovely place. Visiting Bora Bora is beyond our budget but its still fun to see it.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@garganega]

Been there twice. We love it. Circle Japan to Seattle is a good one also.

[@Sushi2735]

You are right. I could not do all those plane hrs. But if you can, it is magnificent. Slow paced relaxed! How wonderful!!

[@MrWiggenhammer]

Our first cruise was with Crystal from San Diego to French Polynesia. I still check the pictures regularly!

[@angelahorton5745]

Great video Gary! We enjoyed our cruise to the Tumultuous, Society and Marquesas Islands on Oceania Regatta. Like you we hired bikes on a few islands and really enjoyed cycling around Bora Bora. As your videography shows it is a stunning destination.

[@cherrybb3888]

Thanks you for taking me to places I will probably never get to. Congratulations on your 20th!

[@DanetteSWhite]

Bora Bora is beautiful. Love the colors of the water.

[@dianacarragher5845]

Lovely insight into the South Pacific where we have cruised many times we visited these places many times over the years P&O celebrated 90 years cruising this area in fact they pioneered it. Glad you enjoyed our area of the world

[@1234j]

Congratulations on 20 years 🎉🎉🎉. Great video and insights. Thank you.

[@conanthedentist]

Happy anniversary :) Thank you for all your quality content.

[@childbirthct]

Congratulations on celebrating your 20th year together ❤

[@teresaking9538]

True bucket list, looked totally worth it to me!

[@BlackBuck777]

Excellent review, I'll never be able to afford it though. Interestingly some friends are currently relaxing in Raroia atoll, just North of the area you were in, having sailed all the way from the Galapagos. Your posting gave me a good idea of the amazing scenery they are enjoying. And congrats on your anniversary.

[@krab1791]

Glad to here Disney is going back to in person muster drills. We are leaving on the British Isles Cruise on the Dream on Sept 10th and have never sailed on the Dream so I was feeling a little leery about watching it on TV. Nothing replaces walking the actual hallways. We went on the Alaska Cruise last September and they had the “drill” on TV BUT it was on the Wonder which we have sailed many times.

[@kirstenschwendiman2010]

Happy anniversary! Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!

[@pacerdanny]

Happy anniversary! Thanks for the detailed video. It sounds like this trip combined many aspects of a dream cruise experience. However, for that kind of money, I would take a different type of trip that would last longer.

[@mattiemathis9549]

Wow! The time difference thing is really important. Thank you for everything, but that is something I haven’t heard before.

[@marymiller-crews1307]

Congratulations on your anniversary, i hope you have many, many more.

[@Scolopente]

I spent 8 months working on Tahitian Princess out of Pape'ete. It's fabulous.

[@ouronoble7232]

happy 20th anniversary! what an amazing way to celebrate. What a gift !

[@kellieashman6908]

Congratulations on 20 years together

[@ameliaerin1544]

Gary, your knowledge is incredible.😊

[@Benjamin.Jamin.]

I think this the first one I've seen that I actually want to go on!

[@winifredjonesii-muhammad6920]

Thanks for your candid opinion

[@dontpanic716]

This looked like a great cruise. I worked on cruise ships over 10 years ago. My first week was a cruise going from hawaii to new zealand and we stopped at some of these ports. My day in Bora Bora was one of my best ever. I also did the sharks and stingray tour.

[@lynneshrode2927]

My husband and I were on the Paul Gauguin in March of this year, (March 4th through the 30th), we did Bali to Fiji. I would love to do this cruise as well. Thank you for showing the highlights! ❤. We absolutely loved the Paul Gauguin and it’s staff.

[@susannegaskins4463]

Happy Anniversary to both of you!

[@duffyjones4476]

Congratulations to you and Mark ❤ this cruise looks wonderful

[@KevinMontreal]

I have to agree with you on all your points. It is far, very expensive but if you can go, it’s worth it. I was on a segment of a Princess world cruise, so the cruise was. 11 days from Papeete to Hawaï on a small ship. We did a pre cruise stay in Papeete and then cruise to Moorea, Bora Bora (it rained) then 4 sea days and Hawaï, Maui, Kauai then Oahu with a post cruise stay in Honolulu. The flights and the stays were more expensive than the cruise, so was an expensive trip. Would I go again? Probably not, it’s too far and too much money to re-do something I did. I would spend the same on another trip instead.

[@victoriasmith1897]

French Polynesia is TOTALLY on my bucket list! After watching this I understood why you went PG. I think I will have to win Lotto to do that even though our fares to get there are cheaper. A great video that answered all My ??’s. Thanks Gary!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Yes, it is the $$$ way to do it but if we go back will look at more cost effective way for sure too!

[@LOrealHardly]

Top of my list of places to go is Bora Bora, but like many, I'll never get there. Can but dream!

[@Cta2006]

I am going soon back to French Polynesia. It will be my 3rd time there from Europe. I highly recomend it. I have not been on a cruise in the region, but I have used airplane wich allows you to spend more time on the various islands. I also recomend the Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa. It's a long flight / several flights from Europe, but so worth it compared to the over touristy places in the Caribbean.

[@julieb3019]

I loved your recap and review of your Paul Gauguin cruise. What you liked, what you didn’t.

[@MiaHessMusic]

What a great video, thank you!! That part of the world sounds so beautiful!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching as always., Yes, it is quite a place!

[@lizsharpe1031]

Great video..includes so much info. Thanks Gary

[@suerobinson844]

Congratulations on your 20 year anniversary. We are going there next month from Brisbane Australia and back with Princess cruise. 35 days. We will miss Bora bora but going to Hawaii.

[@underthesequins7589]

20 years?! Congratulations 😄🎉❤️ and thank you always for your informative videos!

[@seattime4075]

Cruise looked nice, right up to you mentioned the price of everything...I must be a cheap as##😀.

[@dinogovender5074]

Wow, absolutely beautiful and so much info given

[@CCB249]

Happy 20th Anniversary! Great place to celebrate!

[@Kitsambler]

The Air Tahiti flights from Seattle are not every day, currently.

[@eddirkswager2342]

Have been to French Polonesia four times and would love to add a fifth.

[@tipsfortravellers]

yes!!!! multiple visits a must I think!

[@im2bused]

Congratulations! Happy anniversary!

[@catherine8332]

You were genuinely lit up (even more than usual 😁) on this video.

[@kathleenh3975]

Congratulations on 20 years!

[@hopefulton8669]

Congratulations to yall

[@nathanfitzgerald6651]

From the menu @9:39, I would order the New York steak with Polynesian flourishes.

[@sipschk]

Congratulations on your 20 year anniversary!

[@Cliffdog01]

I feel like if I cruised anywhere near as much as you do I'd have taken the Southhampton to Auckland cruise on the Queen Victoria or the Dover to Auckland on the Coral Princess and then take either an Oceania or Windstar to Papeete.

[@lisagraves7390]

Hi Gary, I'm wondering what your opinion is about cruising there on one of the major cruise lines. Celebrity stops there on the way from Hawaii to Australia. I'm thinking about doing this in the future. Since you've been there, I'd love to know what you think.

[@paulscheibel5829]

I've done two cruises from Hawaii to Sydney via Bora Bora, via New Zealand. Radiance of the Seas. Swimming with the sharks and sting rays was the high light. We live in a great place.

[@Elyndyr]

Basically the only cruise line I am interested in. I absolutely despise large ships and big crowds of people crammed into one place. I feel like this is actually the essence of what a cruise is supposed to be, I wish they were a bit more affordable though ^^

[@racquelkelley7094]

Happy Anniversary 🎉 Im a Fan from DC ❤.

[@suea8935]

Great video. Only 10 hours from Melbourne Australia worth considering for us!!

[@RandallLeighton]

Happy 20th anniversary! What a great way to celebrate.

[@TAP7a]

The Aranui cruise going all the way out to Pitcairn is my #1 bucket list cruise. Definitely one for after a lottery win and not before though, crikey...

[@gisme4648]

Will be experiencing this beautiful part of the world again in October on Quantum of the Seas repositioning transpacific cruise. Can’t wait.

[@yesimsixtyfive]

This area of the world is definitely on my bucket list. Hope to do Paul Gauguin in 2026.

[@nancyrussell1491]

Happy Anniversary! 🎉🎉🎉

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thank you!!

[@peterjaro6804]

I understand that the experience (while finally there...) must have been fantastic, but to me... I would have needed a week in a spa hotel to RECOVER after all that flying to get there, before I had started to enjoy the actual place. Don't get me wrong. I like to be active on my holidays so pushbike tours and climbing mountains sounds fine, but 3 flights after each other is NOT 'active'... but thats just me.

[@cherifurr3935]

I loved my South Seas cruise, but I got spoiled with the leisurely cruise from Papeete to Bora Bora, 2 islands in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Brisbane, with lots of sea days between islands, ending in Sydney. I wish I had built in time in pre-cruise in Moorea, but not much fun to do that solo. I was on Oceania, so not based in French Polynesia. I think we had 550 passengers. Nice that you had that authentic Polynesian entertainment, private island and Bora Bora beach. Surprised there were kids on board. We had perfect weather in Nov. and ended in Dec., just before the pandemic started. I did build in time in Sydney at the end, but by then I had become friends with two ladies who were staying nearby, so we toured together, did a harbor cruise one night and enjoyed a nice dinner by the harbor the night before we flew home, that flight being extremely long back to the east coast.

[@tipsfortravellers]

That sounds like a wonderful itinerary and one I have added to my still ever-growing list.......

[@refresh-qc6oj]

mo'orea is one of the best islands ive ever cruised to!

[@JoeFrohlich]

Congratulations on your anniversary.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

It looked amazing! Ships of that size appeal to me, I would not go on a mega-ship, I think! Thank you for the video!

[@babyboy770]

French Polynesia (especially Bora Bora) is my all-time number one trip I've ever taken. Videos and pictures do not do it justice. We did a Windstar cruise out of Tahiti. And you are right; their safety policy for activities is very laissez faire. That took me time to get used to. My only issue was there was only one French Polynesian staff member on our cruise. Would have loved to see more, which is a comment I made on my survey. I hesitate to tell people about it because it's such a hidden paradise. But I know most people won't go there because of the costs and time to get there.

[@simongreasley8643]

Fantastic as ever Gary. Maybe when the lump sum hits the bank.

[@Honolulu-Blue]

Thanks for sharing. I'm eyeing a transpacific cruise that's on my BUCKET LIST, of which visiting FP would be a part of. I'm mentally preparing myself for some murderous (and extortionate) flights both to Honolulu and from Sydney. It would be on one of the BIGGEST ships FP sees, so I'm also mentally preparing to tender everywhere besides Papeete. But the experience promises to be worth it, even if I skip out on the regional cruises.

[@marybethschroeder4804]

I have been 30 days on PG. Can't wait to go back. Want to do the Cook Islands.

[@StaceyLoloee]

In case someone needs a more budget friendly option to French Polynesia,New Caledonia and Vanuatu in the same region offer the same experience in a fraction of a price. P&O has as low as $55/day including taxes and port fees for a quad share on Pacific adventure and Pacific Encounter. The extra cost would be a return ticket to Sydney or Brisbane…