Review of a magnificent cruise in the Pacific Islands with the Royal Princess

Great to see VF back in action! However, is it normal that we can’t upload more than 10 photos per post? If so, that’s a real shame!

Looks like I’m the first to post a review, but I’m sure others will follow to keep this forum—our forum—alive. Once again, a BIG thank you for bringing it back!

I got home yesterday but still can’t sleep, so I’d rather share this amazing cruise I just took on the Royal Princess.

Last year, I did almost the same itinerary on the Ovation OTS (Royal Caribbean), and it was mixed at best—let’s just say it was disappointing.

The itinerary: - Los Angeles - 5 days at sea - Honolulu - Hilo (replaced by Kona) - 5 days at sea - Papeete - Papeete - Moorea - 3 days at sea - Pago Pago (Samoa Islands) = canceled - 1 day at sea - International Date Line crossing - 1 day at sea - Tauranga - Tauranga - Auckland

I booked this cruise over a year in advance through the Logitravel agency. I chose a Balcony Category D cabin because the Cat B cabins on this ship class don’t have a sofa. I like having a couch in the cabin so I don’t have to sit directly on the bed when I come in.

My last cruise with Princess was years ago, and after last year’s disappointment with Royal Caribbean (Ovation OTS), I decided to give Princess another try. Not only did I love the itinerary, but the cruise was longer, and there was a new port for me—Pago Pago—which unfortunately got canceled.

Honestly, I can tell you I didn’t regret my choice for a second—this cruise will stay with me forever. Everything, or almost everything, was PERFECT!

After Oceania, I’d rank Princess in second place, and I think their service is a notch above Celebrity. You’ll see why as you read this review.

From what I remember, Catherine Isa and others have already tried this ship class and loved it.

Here we go! Day 1: Departure from Roissy to Los Angeles on an Air France flight.





Last year, I flew Air Tahiti Nui (ATN) for the same route, and I can tell you it was WAY better than AF in terms of comfort and service. Unfortunately, ATN now flies very few routes to Los Angeles, preferring to transit through Seattle to get to Papeete. So, I had to go with AF. Back in 2018, I did a Paris/Papeete flight with AF and was a bit disappointed with the 24-hour journey. Anyway!

During this flight, we had one meal and a snack before landing in LA. Drinks were available throughout the flight. We arrived on time in LA.

Before taking off from Roissy, I downloaded the MPC (Mobile Passport Control) app—a mobile app for travelers with an ESTA to save time at customs (only for those returning to the U.S. at least a second time). It lets eligible travelers skip the long lines at customs when arriving in the U.S. After filling out a form and answering a few questions about your trip in advance, you get a ticket that lets you access a special line with shorter wait times. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the ticket, so I had to wait in the regular line. Thirty minutes later, I got the ticket, but it was too late—I was already in the visitor line. It took us 1.5 hours to get through immigration.

Since I’m traveling again in January next year, I’ll try MPC again to see if it works.

After leaving the airport, I took a taxi to my hotel on Hollywood Blvd, but the driver tried to scam me to make more money. Last year, the same ride cost $50, but this time, he took a long detour to run up the meter. When I saw it hit $80, I told him that last year the same trip cost $50, and we weren’t even there yet. He said, “You’re going to a hotel on Hollywood Blvd, and you’re quibbling over a few dollars?” I told him I wouldn’t pay that much because I saw he took a longer route (via Google Maps), and if needed, I’d call the police. Then he said, “Let’s work something out.” I told him I’d pay $50, just like last year—not a cent more. When we arrived, he said, “Give me $60, and we’ll call it even.” So, I gave him $60. If I hadn’t said anything, he would’ve charged me over $100. Oh well!

Our hotel (Lowes Hotel) is on Hollywood Blvd. It’s a really nice hotel with a rooftop pool. That said, it’s not worth 330 € per night plus 30 € per person for breakfast. But since we’re on Hollywood Blvd, everything’s overpriced.













We checked into our room with a view of the Hollywood Sign (as requested). We dropped off our things, then relaxed by the pool with a drink before taking a stroll down Hollywood Blvd.





That evening, we went to dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel, just 100 meters from our hotel—a legendary Hollywood hotel where Marilyn Monroe used to stay regularly. In fact, her suite still bears her name. Honestly, the hotel is really old, and I didn’t think much of it—or the dinner. We headed back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep because tomorrow we had a tour booked to see the stars’ houses and Beverly Hills.

To be continued: Beverly Hills/Hollywood tour and embarkation.

Hello! Thanks for this feedback on VF and this travel journal—I think it’s going to be fascinating with this company I haven’t tried yet, and I’ve heard good things… Mich74

Hi Joseph, What a pleasure to read you here! Thanks for this great start to your travel journal—it promises some wonderful reading ahead. I’m so happy for you that your cruise was so satisfying. I disembarked yesterday from a cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean, and today we’re in Venice before heading home tonight. I plan to write a little recap as soon as I’ve sorted my photos to help revive this forum. The limit on the number of photos per post isn’t an issue—you just need to make more posts. 😊 It might even be simpler since it’s easier to manage.

Hi there, Thanks for this feedback on VF and this trip report—I think it’s going to be fascinating with this company I don’t know yet, and I’ve heard good things… Mich74

Hi Michel,

Thanks for following along!

By the way, did your cruise in the Pacific with NCL happen yet? Is it coming up soon?

Hello Joseph, What a pleasure to read you here! Thank you for this lovely start to your travel journal—it promises some great reading moments. I’m so happy for you that your cruise was so satisfying. I disembarked yesterday from a cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean, and today we’re in Venice before heading home tonight. I plan to write a little review as soon as I’ve sorted my photos to help revive this forum. The limit on the number of photos per post isn’t an issue—you just need to make more posts. 😊 It might even be simpler since it’s easier to manage.

Hi Catherine!

The pleasure is mutual!

Yes, this cruise was a real success, and it’s been a long time since that happened. The last one was in 2018 with Oceania Marina (the Pacific Islands).

Safe travels home, and we’d love to see a little review from you—your beautiful writing is missed by all of us.

For the photos, I’ll make more posts as you suggested. Alfred

Follow-up

Day 2: Visit to Beverly Hills / Hollywood After having breakfast, we head to the reception to check out and leave our luggage in storage. The meet-up spot for the tour is right across from our hotel (just cross the street). The tour starts in a half-open minivan in English, and there were 6 of us. Our guide spent more time telling us about his life than giving us a tour, and on top of that, there were no stops to take photos. As for the so-called "celebrities' houses," I have my doubts. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this 2-hour tour. Back in 2018, at the end of a cruise in Los Angeles with Oceania Marina, I found a private French-speaking guide online who picked us up at the port of San Pedro and gave us a "real" 8-hour (full-day) tour, then dropped us off at the airport for only $350. Here, we paid 60 € per person for a 2-hour tour that really wasn’t one. We just drove around and stayed in the van… In short!

Continuation:

Day 2 (Embarkation)

Back at the hotel around noon to pick up our luggage, then we called an Uber to head to San Pedro, where the cruise port is located. The trip took a good hour because there was quite a bit of traffic. I’ve never had such a quick embarkation (less than 10 minutes). Everything was ready—we just had to drop off our luggage, show our visa for New Zealand (NZeTA), and pick up our medallions (which serve as access cards), and that was it... When we arrived at the cabin, our steward was right there, opened the door for us, and gave us a few explanations. We dropped off our things and headed to the buffet for lunch. At first glance, the buffet seemed a bit complicated because there are several islands, but you get used to it quickly and find your bearings. There’s everything—it’s really good and varied. We went back down to the cabin, and there were our suitcases inside, one on the bed. A great start! That evening, I gave my steward a tip because I hadn’t thought to do it when he first introduced himself. I also asked him for wine glasses since we brought two good bottles we could drink on the balcony. After putting away all our things and taking a quick tour of the ship, relaxing by the pool with a good cocktail under the radiant sun was a must. I thought to myself that the vacation was off to a great start, and I plan to make the most of it!!! Dinner was really good, and we had the option to try several dishes.



















I’ll try to break down more details about the buffet, restaurants, the ship, the food...

The ship looks really beautiful😏

Thanks for your comments. I was also on this cruise to Sydney. After the cancellation of Pago Pago, the stop in Picton, New Zealand, was also canceled. The cruise lost a lot of its appeal after these port cancellations. I wasn’t familiar with Pago Pago either. I recently took cruises with Celebrity and Holland America. Princess Cruises is well below the level of those two American companies. Princess is about the same level as MSC. Personally, I found the food very average—lots of creamy dishes and a lot of pork... Well, tastes differ, but I won’t be cruising with this company again. My next cruise will be with Norwegian, which I haven’t tried yet. I’ve been on cruises, including a world cruise, with Costa, MSC, Ponant, Holland America, and Celebrity. I booked this cruise with vacationTogo.

Thanks again for your stories.

Thank you for your comments. I was also on this cruise until Sydney. After the cancellation of Pago Pago, the stop in Picton, New Zealand, was also canceled. The cruise lost a lot of its appeal after these port cancellations. I didn’t know Pago Pago either. I’ve recently taken cruises with Celebrity and Holland America. The Princess line is well below those two American companies. Princess is about the same level as MSC. Personally, I found the food very average—lots of saucy dishes and a lot of pork... Well, tastes differ. But I won’t be cruising with this company again. My next cruise will be with Norwegian, which I haven’t tried yet. I’ve been on cruises, including a world tour, with Costa, MSC, Ponant, Holland America, and Celebrity. I had booked my cruise with vacationTogo.

Thanks again for your stories.

Hello,

I’m sorry to hear that the Picton stop was canceled for you.

Canceled stops happen on almost every cruise I’ve been on. Last year, with Royal Caribbean (Ovation OTS), 50% of the stops were canceled, and the food was a notch below—if not downright ordinary.

We must have crossed paths on the ship, but what a shame I didn’t get to meet the few French people on board (about 10, according to someone at reception).

As you said, tastes differ. But I think you’re being a bit harsh comparing Princess to MSC—I’ve been on several MSC cruises, including one over Christmas/New Year’s, and the food was more than basic...

That said, in terms of entertainment, I found it wasn’t great—even mediocre.

I’ve never had scallops on MSC, but here we had them two or even three times a week. Sure, there were a lot of saucy dishes, but that didn’t bother me. On the other hand, my wife, who doesn’t like sauce, asked for none, and every day her dish had none—or sometimes a little on the side in a small ramekin.

Maybe you just had bad luck because I was fortunate to have a Moroccan server at the Allegro restaurant, and I can tell you we were very well taken care of.

We had dishes that weren’t even on the menu, and he let us taste almost everything. He didn’t even give us the menu—just said, "Trust me, I know you by now...." I’ll come back to this in my review because it was exceptional....

I haven’t done a world tour like you since I’m still working, but I can say I’ve been lucky enough to try several companies, and the cruise I just took met almost all my expectations.

Thanks again for your input, and please don’t hesitate to add any additional information or comments if needed.

Best regards, Alfred

You might have had bad luck, but I was fortunate to have a Moroccan server at the Alegro restaurant, and I can tell you we were really well taken care of.

We had dishes that weren’t even on the menu, and he let us taste almost everything. He didn’t even give us the menu and just said: "Trust me, I know you by now...." I’ll come back to this in my travel journal because it was exceptional....

It’s true that the success of a cruise also depends a lot on the people around us and those we meet.

Day 2: Sea day: On Princess, cabins are cleaned twice a day (something you don’t find on some other cruise lines). It’s good to know that on Princess, you can always have breakfast in your cabin for free, but I find the selection very limited. So, we’ll be hitting the buffet every morning. After a good night’s sleep, we woke up around 8 a.m. and headed to the buffet. There’s something for every taste (sweet, savory...). You’d have to be really picky not to find something you like. It’s also worth noting that servers come by regularly to offer tea, coffee, different kinds of juice, water... all without you having to move (another thing you don’t always find on other cruise lines). That morning, I met a Moroccan server who speaks French perfectly and invited us to dine at the Allegro restaurant where he works. After breakfast, we went for a walk and explored the ship. One thing we really appreciated was how the deck chairs are arranged (not stacked) and well-spaced. In some areas (like the Retreat space), there’s even a small coffee table between two chairs. Each chair has a towel on it. Again, no need to go to the towel stand with your cabin card to get one. You’re not packed in like sardines like on some other cruise lines.







Plus, you don’t need to wake up at 6 a.m. to reserve a deck chair—there are plenty everywhere. On this ship, there are 3 pools: two in the middle of the ship (1 for adults and 1 for kids). At the front of the ship in the "Retreat" area, there’s one reserved exclusively for adults.



Still in the "Retreat" area, there are also two jacuzzis and "paid" cabanas (15$ for the day).





There’s also the "Sanctuary" area, which is paid (50$ for a full day and 25$ for 4 hours). We tried it twice, and it was pure bliss! However, it’s missing a pool and a jacuzzi in this space. Bars are everywhere, and servers are at your disposal.



I’ll come back later to talk about the restaurants, shops... In the evening, we went to eat at the Allegro restaurant (which has open seating), but you still have to tip. Strange concept! At the entrance, we asked for our server, and he had a table available. Let me tell you, the service was impeccable. He gave us recommendations on the dishes and offered to let us taste several. And that’s how it was every evening—pure bliss!!! That night, we tried 2 appetizers, 2 main courses, and 2 desserts... but I can’t post too many photos, so I’ll try to make a post with all the dishes.







To be continued...

You might have had bad luck, but I was fortunate to have a Moroccan server at the Allegro restaurant, and I can tell you we were really well taken care of.

We had dishes that weren’t even on the menu, and he let us taste almost everything. He didn’t even give us the menu and just said: "Trust me, I know you by now...." I’ll come back to this in my travel journal because he was exceptional....

It’s true that the success of a cruise also depends a lot on the people around you and those you meet.

I totally agree with you, Catherine!

Day 3 (sea day) Starting this morning, we decided to "skip" lunch, have a late brunch, and only eat in the evening to avoid gaining weight.

Around 9:30 AM, we headed to the buffet for brunch. Not many people, and the food stations were well-stocked.

After brunch, a little jog on the track to burn some calories.

During the day, there wasn’t much activity by the pools—it was pretty quiet (similar to HAL).

Sometimes, there’s either a movie on the screen or a game... (nothing like RCCL/NCL/Carnival...). But that didn’t bother me too much because I knew what to expect and had brought my headphones to listen to music. I took the opportunity to do some reading (something I usually struggle to do in normal times).

I’ll take this chance to tell you about the "pluses" of this cruise line.

The pools and jacuzzis are open 24/7 but aren’t supervised. Towels are also available for those who want a midnight swim.



Pizzas, ice cream, hamburgers... are available all day.

Certain drinks like water, coffee, tea, apple juice, lemonade, iced tea, and orange juice are available all day, and you can even ask for them in the restaurants if needed.

After 6 PM, Deck 16 transforms into an outdoor cinema (Movies Under the Stars).





On every deck, there’s a Laundromat (for washing and ironing clothes). Very few cruise lines offer this service—I’ve only seen it on Cunard (QM2).



Tonight is the gala evening. The champagne pyramid fountain is back after some time, but it’s just for fun now—they don’t hand out glasses from it anymore; they just throw them away. What a waste!!!





The crew is introduced in the atrium, and you’re served a glass of "sparkling wine" (not great).

No handshakes or photos with the captain...

Dinner around 8 PM at the same restaurant, at the same table, with the same waiter. I actually reserved the same table for the rest of the cruise. As soon as we sat down, our waiter brought us a cheese plate to tide us over and said: "Tonight, no menu—I’m going to let you taste all the dishes in small portions."









IMPECCABLE service!!!

After this great dinner, we headed to the theater, but the show wasn’t great. So, we went to listen to some music at the Vista Lounge instead. However, every evening, there are two young violinists in one of the lounges or the atrium, and it’s really pleasant to listen to (Catherine would’ve loved it)—it’s the same style as Oceania.

To be continued

Starting this morning, we decided to "skip" lunch, have a late brunch, and only eat in the evening to avoid gaining weight.

Hi Alfred, I’m curious—did this strategy work for you?

After that great dinner, we headed to the theater, but the show wasn’t great. So, we went to listen to some music at the Vista Lounge instead. However, every evening there are two young violinists in one of the lounges or in the atrium, and it’s really pleasant to listen to (Catherine would’ve loved it) because it’s the same style as Oceania.

I’m not a big fan of the shows on Princess or Celebrity either—I much prefer the music in the atrium on Princess, which brings back great memories, or the vibe on Oceania or HAL.

Starting this morning, we decided to "skip" lunch, have a late brunch, and only eat in the evening to avoid gaining weight.

Hi Alfred, I’m curious—did this strategy work?

Hey Catherine,

I’ll let you know by the end of this review.

Sea days 4 & 5: These two days at sea are similar because it’s always the same routine. We took the opportunity to spend half a day in the "Sanctuary" area for $25 per person. This place is truly "zen," very beautiful, and well-designed. However, a pool and/or a jacuzzi would be a nice addition to enhance this area. You can order drinks or even food from servers who are at your disposal.







We had a great time in this magnificent spot. We repeated the experience during the sea days. Now, let’s talk about the different restaurants: On this ship, all restaurants are open from 5 PM to 9 PM (including the buffet). After 9 PM, if you're a little hungry, the only option left is the International Café (which acts as a snack bar).



There are 3 restaurants: - Symphony for fixed meals with two seatings (5:30 PM and 7:30 PM) and no reservation required. - Allegro, "open sitting" from 5 PM to 9 PM, but a reservation is required (this is where I had all my evening meals with an excellent server). - Another one (apparently reserved for suites only), with a supplement charged for other passengers (didn’t try it). Otherwise, in each restaurant, there’s a private area called "Chef’s Table Lumière," featuring a table and 12 chairs where you can reserve for a special occasion with friends or family. I don’t know the price.



There’s also the International Café (open 24/7), which acts as a snack bar and is located on Deck 5 in the atrium.



There’s also Sabatini (Italian restaurant) and The Crown Grill (grilled dishes & seafood). Before dinner, I went for a drink and listened to some Hawaiian music in the atrium.



Meals were always very good.









Every evening for 15 minutes, there’s a small sound and light show on Deck 16.



Coming up: Honolulu (Hawaii)

Honolulu 6 a.m./11 p.m.:

Boarding and disembarking for some since there are those who boarded in San Diego and are disembarking today. Meanwhile, others are boarding for an 18-day or longer cruise heading to Australia or the Fiji Islands.

After 5 days at sea, I’m eager to see dry land again.

Up at 6 a.m. to watch the ship arrive, and it’s always nice to see a boat dock.



Had a "light" breakfast super early because we wanted to make the most of this stop.

I’ve already stopped over and/or stayed in Honolulu 6 times, so I’ve pretty much done it all (Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace, beaches, museums, helicopter tour...).

So this time, I just booked a trolley tour (Hop On Hop Off) for a few hours.

Left the ship around 8:30 a.m. and took a local bus (to the right when exiting the port) for $3 per person per trip to get to Waikiki Beach. Be careful—these buses don’t give change (you need exact fare).

Took a little stroll on Waikiki Beach before hopping on our trolley for the tour.

Not many people on the beach since it was only 9 a.m.



















More to come...

Continuing: Honolulu After this little stroll, we took the trolley for a tour that lasted about 2 hours.











Back to the beach for the rest of the day





My wife has a minor back problem and can’t lay her towel on the sand (she struggles to get back up afterward). So, she tried to rent a lounge chair, and that’s when we got a rude awakening—$40 for 2 hours or $60 for 4 hours. I’ve never seen such high prices for lounge chairs (except maybe in Bermuda). I walked the whole beach, but the rates were the same. We didn’t have a choice but to go for the $60 option, or we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the day. Last year, this wasn’t an issue because we were staying at the Sheraton Waikiki before our cruise, and the lounge chairs (both on the beach and by the pool) were included. A few years back (pre-Covid, of course), we paid $25 for a half-day lounge chair, and now it’s $60. Oh well, we’re on vacation, and we’re not going to ruin the day over a little thing like that. Around 1 PM, I went to grab some tacos and drinks from Duke’s restaurant (since we were right in front of it) to eat on the beach. But seriously, the prices were outrageous—$75 for 3 tacos, one beer, and a Coke. Sure, we’re in Waikiki, but that’s just ridiculous. We had a fantastic day on this gorgeous beach that I particularly love. Before taking the bus back to the ship, we did some shopping on Kalakaua Avenue (all kinds of trinkets). We returned to the ship around 6 PM by local bus ($3 per person). My wife went back to relax and get ready, while I took a walk to Aloha Tower (about a 15-minute walk). Unfortunately, everything was closed because there was a wedding at the foot of the tower. What a shame!





Photo taken before the ship departed

To be continued...

Hi Joseph,

Waikiki Beach is really beautiful in the morning when it’s empty, and the night photo is gorgeous too—I love Hawaii. Prices have gone completely crazy and out of proportion; tourism has gone to their heads.

Hello,

Thank you so much for making us dream with this beautiful start to your travel journal. Can’t wait for the rest! So happy to be back on this forum!

Have a great evening.

Hello,

Thank you so much for sharing this and taking us on such a distant journey—those of us who can no longer take long-haul flights for health reasons. Back in 2015, we took a cruise from Los Angeles to Santiago with Princess Cruises. What a difference compared to MSC/COSTA, which felt like housing projects next to the cabins, lounges, etc., on Princess Cruises! We also loved the laundry rooms with washing machines and dryers. Looking forward to reading the rest of this beautiful cruise story. mum49

Hello Joseph,

Waikiki Beach is really beautiful in the morning when there’s no one around, and the night photo is gorgeous too—I love Hawaii so much. Prices have become completely crazy and disproportionate; tourism has gone to their heads.

Hey Catherine, I love Hawaii too, especially Waikiki because it has a vibe you can’t find anywhere else—it’s really unique. I totally agree with you—since Covid, prices have been completely out of control, whether it’s for hotels, restaurants, or anything else....

Hello,

Thank you so much for making us dream with this beautiful start to your travel journal. Can’t wait for the rest. So happy to be back on this forum!

Have a great evening.

Hello,

The pleasure is all mine to share this wonderful cruise with you. Sure, I’m not a pro at travel journals (like some of you), but I’m doing my best.

I’m really happy the forum is back and especially to reconnect with some of you (the regulars) we’ve exchanged with quite a bit about cruises.

Hello,

Thank you so much for sharing this and taking us on such a distant journey, especially for those of us who can no longer take long-haul flights due to health reasons. In 2015, we went on a cruise from Los Angeles to Santiago with Princess Cruises. What a difference compared to MSC/COSTA, which felt like public housing projects next to Princess Cruises’ cabins and lounges! We also loved the laundry rooms with washing machines and dryers. Looking forward to reading the rest of this beautiful cruise: mum49

Hello,

Thanks for following along.

I totally understand about long-haul flights—it’s not easy when you have health issues and have to endure 25 hours of flying (without an overnight stop).

The perfect cruise doesn’t exist, since this is my 60th, and no matter the company, there are always pros and cons. But I can tell you this one nearly met all my expectations compared to my previous cruises.

In my opinion, MSC/Costa are clearly below Princess, and I’d even say they’re not comparable.

Best regards, Alfred

Kona (Hawaii) 9:00 AM / 3:00 PM



Disembarkation is done by tender boat, and you need to get a ticket to go ashore.





Ticket distribution starts at 8:00 AM on Deck 6 (one hour before arrival). From what I remember, there were two lines—one for suites/excursions and another for other passengers. I got up around 7:00 AM, had breakfast by 8:00 AM, then headed to Deck 6 to grab a ticket. No waiting, and it was super smooth. Back in 2018, I had a bad experience with Oceania Marina because the tender boat organization in Bora Bora was so chaotic that I missed the excursion I’d booked online, which Catherine had recommended. I had to improvise on the dock and ended up taking an unplanned excursion. Ugh! Originally, we were supposed to stop in Hilo, but a few days before the cruise, Princess sent us an email to let us know that this stop would be replaced by Kona—a new discovery for me. I’d done some research online before leaving but didn’t find many excursions to book. I figured I’d see what was available once we got there. When we arrived at the dock, there were Hop On Hop Off buses offering tours for $35 per person. I bought two tickets and asked to take the 11:00 AM bus since we wanted to explore the town before the excursion.



On the dock, there are two small set-up beaches (just for a quick dip).





For an hour and a half, we wandered around town, took some photos, and then headed back to the dock to catch the bus.









To be continued...

The rest

Everything is overpriced or even more expensive than Waikiki. I was a bit disappointed because all we did was drive around and stop at shops.













Honestly, there isn’t much to see. The highlight of this excursion was White Sand Beach, where we spent a good part of the day enjoying this gorgeous spot.









More to come

Next:

We got back around 4 PM and took the 4:30 PM shuttle to return to the ship.

On the dock, refreshing towels and drinks were handed out.







This stop didn’t cost us much since we didn’t spend a lot (just two Hop-on Hop-off tickets and two cocktails at a bar). Still, we had a great day and especially a real discovery since we didn’t know this place at all. Back on the ship, we took a little tour to deck 16 for some relaxation in one of the jacuzzis with a nice cocktail and watched the departure.



Dinner tonight:







Coming up: days at sea

Kona 9 AM / 5 PM (instead of 9 AM / 3 PM)

Hi Alfred, Even if there isn’t much to see, soaking up the atmosphere to remember it later is essential. And your photos really capture the vibe of these stunning islands—thanks!

Hey Alfred, I just got this review back— your photos are gorgeous and full of SUNSHINE, it’s so nice, THANKS!

I can definitely vouch for PRINCESS, and I’ve actually just booked a cruise on the REGAL PRINCESS for August 2025. I’m back from CELEBRITY and I’ll go ahead and post a little review too to celebrate the forum’s return 😉

Thank you for your comments. I was also on this cruise until Sydney. After the cancellation of Pago Pago, the stop in Picton, New Zealand, was also canceled. The cruise lost a lot of its appeal after these port cancellations. I wasn’t familiar with Pago Pago either. I’ve recently taken cruises with Celebrity and Holland America. The Princess line is well below those two American companies. Princess is about the same level as MSC. Personally, I found the food very average—lots of saucy dishes and a lot of pork... Well, tastes differ, but I won’t be cruising with this company again. My next cruise will be with Norwegian, which I haven’t tried yet. I’ve been on cruises, including a world tour, with Costa, MSC, Ponant, Holland America, and Celebrity. I had booked my cruise with vacationTogo.

Thanks again for your stories.

Hello, I have to admit I’m also shocked by the PRINCESS / MSC comparison :O For me, these two companies have nothing in common, whether in terms of clientele (zero Italians on PRINCESS and far fewer kids) or in terms of services. PRINCESS is a premium line, so you can eat whenever you want without being in AUREA, the buffet is clearly superior on PRINCESS, same for the restaurant. On top of that, there are plenty of little extras that make a difference: - The tonnage-to-passenger ratio is much better on PRINCESS - The calm onboard - Longer port stops and original itineraries - The quality of onboard service (free in-cabin breakfast, towels available at the pool, the little stand with refreshing towels and drinks set up at every port) All those little pluses that make a difference!

So I can confirm you had a bad experience with PRINCESS :/

Hello Alfred, Even though there isn’t much to see, soaking up the atmosphere to remember it later is essential. And your photos really capture the vibe of these stunning islands—thanks!

Hi Catherine,

That’s exactly it—even if there wasn’t much to see, I still had a fantastic day, and the landscapes were breathtaking. What can I say about the different black or white sand beaches! Unforgettable moments...

Hi Alfred, I just got this report back— your photos are gorgeous and full of SUNSHINE, it’s so nice, THANK YOU!

I can confirm I have great memories of PRINCESS, and I’ve actually just booked a cruise on the REGAL PRINCESS for August 2025. I just got back from CELEBRITY and I’m about to post a little report too to celebrate the forum’s return 😉

Hi Isa,

It’s so great to see you back on this forum!

I’m counting on you for the reviews to keep this forum alive.

I’m looking forward to your feedback on Celebrity (one of my favorite cruise lines) because I have to book a cruise in the Caribbean with them in January. I read on Cruise Critic that some of their services have gone downhill—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Best, Alfred

Day at sea

The 5 days at sea went smoothly (sports, reading, pool, jacuzzis) and all under glorious sunshine. There was the famous "Equator Ceremony," but I’m not a fan. In the evening, we received the "Crossing the Equator" certificate.





Two days before our arrival in Papeete, all passports were collected by the stewards and returned after we left Moorea. I’ll get straight to our stop in Papeete

Days 13/14 (Overnight) Papeete (French Polynesia)

Originally, we had planned to take a domestic flight (Air Tahiti) to Bora Bora for a day. Given the price of the ticket, we decided to skip it and stay in Papeete instead.

We’ve already been to Bora Bora in 2018, but didn’t have time to do everything.

You should know that recently, only small boats stop in Bora Bora. What a shame!

Since we’ve already made several stops and stays in Papeete, we decided to rent a car to explore the island and be independent.

Online, I found a rental company called "Tahiti Rent" located right across from the port, which doesn’t require a deposit or cleaning fee. So, we rented a Clio 4 for 6,500 XFP (about 55 €) for the day.



The ship was supposed to dock around 8 AM, but I was up at 6 AM to watch the arrival and also had a meet-up at 8:30 AM to pick up the car. No time to waste since we had to be among the first to disembark.









Sure enough, by 8 AM, we were already at the door among the first, ready to disembark... On the dock, as usual, the welcome was as warm as ever with flowers and music...





On weekdays, Papeete Market opens as early as 5 AM and closes at 4 PM. So, I dropped my wife off at the market, then went to pick up the car and got it an hour later.









To be continued...

Continuing;

You should know that downtown Papeete’s traffic during rush hour is worse than the Paris Périphérique. Sometimes it’s the police who direct traffic...

To avoid the traffic jams, we decided to tour the island starting from the north. Before leaving, I downloaded "Google Maps" because there’s no GPS in the car, and it was perfect!

I had made my itinerary before leaving, planning the "strategic" spots to visit or revisit since we wouldn’t have time to do everything in one day. Plus, I wanted to finish this tour at the Intercontinental Hotel for a drink.

1) - Tahara’a Belvedere 2) - Faarumai Waterfalls 3) - Vaihi Waterfalls 4) - Mara’a Caves 5) - Marae Arahurahu 6) - PK 18 Vaiava Beach (the most beautiful white-sand beach on the island) 7) - Intercontinental Hotel (for a drink)

First stop: "Tahara’a Belvedere"

Not many people at the sites since it was still early.





Next, the Faarumai Waterfalls

A small local market has recently been set up at the entrance to the waterfalls—it wasn’t there last year.















To be continued...

Continuation:

The sky started to look more and more threatening, and we ended up getting a heavy downpour. We decided to skip a few visits because of too much rain.

There was a lull around Taverea, so we stopped for a few moments to take a break.







At the local market, we were given a small "tiaré" flower because they saw we were tourists.

After this break, we continued toward Viaiva Beach (PK18).















Just so you know, in Papeete, there are very few white sand beaches (PK15 and PK18, if I remember correctly). All the others have black sand.

This beach is truly magnificent!

To be continued...

Good evening! Thanks for this review—it’s dreamy! 😊 The last two beaches are stunning! I can confirm that PRINCESS is a solid cruise line, especially for the meals :P. That said, we found its twin ship a bit outdated, along with the cabins.

Good evening, Thanks for this report that makes me dream 😊, the last two beaches are gorgeous! I confirm that PRINCESS is a good company, especially for the meals 😛, though we found its twin a bit outdated, as well as the cabins.

Hello Marie Christine,

Thanks for following me! It’s so nice to see almost everyone back on this forum!

I’ll admit it—on some ships, the cabins are indeed clean but do feel a bit "outdated."

Papeete Suite:

After 2 hours of relaxation on this magnificent beach, we hit the road again to grab a drink at the InterContinental Hotel (a place I’d already stayed for 3 days before Covid).

I took the chance to look around and noticed quite a few changes. The place is still just as stunning. I could easily spend a whole day here!













Around 4 PM, I got back on the road to return the car, and it took me over an hour to cover just 10 km. After dropping off the car, my wife decided to head back to the ship, while I preferred to wander around downtown and snap a few photos. This city is still as fascinating as ever...









To be continued

Papeete follow-up:

Back on the ship around 6:30 PM to get ready and go see a Tahitian troupe’s show, which has two performances at the Theater (one at 7:30 PM and the other at 9:30 PM).



Tonight, we’re not eating at the restaurant because we’d rather head to the buffet and go back down to make the most of Papeete.

We attended the 7:30 PM show (which lasted 45 minutes) and then grabbed a quick dinner at the buffet. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety at the buffet—you’d have to be really picky not to find something you like.

We disembarked around 9:30 PM, and to our surprise, Vaiete Square—which is usually lively and packed with food trucks, musicians, and crowds—was nearly empty. Just two food trucks and about ten people around (no more than that). For a Friday night, that’s really strange!





We wanted to grab a drink at a nightclub right across from the square but turned back because the place didn’t seem too trustworthy.

At the marina, there are plenty of bars and restaurants, including one on stilts that I really like. I tried to go for a drink around 10 PM, but unfortunately, they stop taking customers after 10 PM.

Basically, after 10 PM, almost everything is closed except for a few rare restaurants and nightclubs. So weird!!!















A little disappointed with the evening!

Otherwise, overall, we still had a great day and made plenty of memories. How lucky we are to experience unforgettable moments like this!

Next up: Moorea

Your photos are gorgeous, they really make me want to go! 🙂 Is the sea water warm? And was the pool on the Princess properly heated?

Your photos are absolutely stunning—they really make me want to go! 🙂 Was the sea water warm? And was the pool on the Princess properly heated?

Thanks, Isa!

Compared to last year when the sea was really rough, this year we had glassy calm waters and it was warm almost the entire cruise. Pure bliss!

All three pools were at a great temperature (at least 28°C) and, most importantly, a good depth—2.5 meters if I remember correctly. Super practical for swimming without touching the bottom!

It's awesome!! Thanks so much for the detailed reply 😊

Moorea: Day Pass at the Sofitel Hotel

I’ve already visited this island several times, so this time we decided to get a "Day Pass" at a hotel to relax a bit.

Originally, I wanted to get the Day Pass at the Hilton Hotel near the port, but unfortunately, they don’t offer Day Passes on weekends. So, I opted for the Sofitel, which is on the opposite side of the Paul Gauguin port. We were really happy with our choice because the hotel is gorgeous, and the Day Pass is cheaper.

Hilton 5* Day Pass: 170,000 XPF (143 € per person) Sofitel 5* Day Pass: 100,000 XPF (85 € per person)

The Day Passes include: access to all water activities, the pool, lunch (drinks not included), a 10% discount at the Spa, and access to the entire hotel...

I contacted several transport companies for a round-trip rate (Port/Hotel/Port), and the cheapest I found was 10,000 XPF (85 €).

So, I contacted Albert for a vehicle rental for the day. They offered me a rate of 8,100 XPF (68 €) for a full day (8 hours). Same as in Papeete—no deposit, no cleaning fee, just fill up the tank.

The boat anchored in Opunohu Bay, and we took a launch to reach the Paul Gauguin port.











We got up really early to see the boat arrive, then headed to the buffet for a "light" breakfast since lunch was included in our Day Pass. You have to get a ticket (like in Kona) to go down. I showed up around 7:30 AM, and there was no line—it was super smooth. A few minutes later, I was on the dock, picking up the vehicle.







To be continued...

Moorea segment:

The vehicle was brand new (only 150 km on the clock). We did a loop and then set off for a little drive before heading to our hotel for the day.

First stop: Ta'ahiamanu Beach (no swimming, just for photos).







Not many people on the beach since it was still early.







Toatea Belvedere, where we had a stunning view of the Sofitel Hotel! Wow wow!!!!





More Moorea to come!

Albert, the must-see of Moorea! 😎

Albert, the must-see in Moorea! 😎

Not only a must-see, but they're also very professional and reliable...

When I returned the vehicle, they gave me a nice surprise. I'll tell you all about it when the time comes.