So we got off the ship at 9am Thursday. Took a taxi to a hotel that offered day passes – dump the suitcase and sit in the air conditioning. Could have used their pool but my costume was still wet from Bora Bora. After a great deal of sitting around, left for Auckland at 2am Friday. That was all there was of Friday as, following … Continue reading Onward….

Last day of the cruise! Wonderful stuff. The staff and facilities are lovely and they really take care of you at all stages. Worth the vast amounts of money. Well, Bora Bora is another atoll, a mountain surrounded by lagoons and expensive hotels. Went this morning to feed black tip sharks and stingrays. The rays will feed from your hand and even nosed up to … Continue reading Bora Bora

Well, as I said, not a lot happened yesterday owing to us being at sea all day. We did have an interesting chat about cargo with a guy called Tino who has been on the ship since the Aranui 1 in 1984. He was in cargo for 30 years and transferred to guiding passengers 5 years ago. Images of delivering cars by rowing boat from … Continue reading Rangiroa

This is the last island in the Marquesas. 600 inhabitants, no airport and the dates of visiting cruise ships posted on the village notice board. Very beautiful place. Again we were greeted with singing – some of it coming from early morning mass. We have had a demonstration of how to make tapa – the fabric made from beaten bark – how to make flower … Continue reading Fatu Hiva

We are still around the same two islands, just in different bays. Makes you realise how much this boat means to the locals – long lines of people waiting to both load copra, noni fruit etc or to unload cement, coke, corrugated iron for roof panels etc etc etc, up to and including a boat and a car. Noni fruit juice is apparently sold in … Continue reading As yesterday…..

Well this is the famous island. Gaugin lived here and died here. Jacques Brel lived here, died in Paris but is buried here. There is a Gaugin museum with reproductions of his paintings – the irony is that there is currently a Gaugin exhibition on in London. Gaugin’s house (a replica) which is on the site of the original one, is called the Maison de … Continue reading Hiva Oa

And on to the next island. Bit wetter and appears to be raining at the top of the crater like it was in Tahiti. Bit more of a relaxed day today. We are tied up at the pier so can wander on and off as we like – they scan us in and out just to make sure though. Visit to jolly cultural centre – … Continue reading Ua Pou

Well after yesterday’s jollies during the day, we had Polynesian evening on the boat. Tables, buffet and more traditional dancing on the pool deck. Dressing up requested – I feel it may be a sneaky trick to get us to the shop. Diet – referring you back to the baby whales above. I will be lucky if anything does up by the end of next … Continue reading Ua Huka

So we have arrived in the Marquesas Islands, spending the first day at Nuku Hiva. Up at the crack of dawn again, military efficiency to get us on the dock and into cars – ordered by language! No fraternising with other languages for us. Just meant that we had a guide working in one language. Drove across the island in every rentable vehicle they’ve got. … Continue reading Nuku Hiva

As we are not going anywhere today – apart from across the Pacific – I am going to talk about the ship. There are approximately 200 passengers, mainly the affluent retired. 100 French speakers, 50 English and 50 Germans. There are only about 5 from the UK. A few younger ones. There are activities and outings – most of which I am avoiding. At the … Continue reading At sea