oceania tahiti cruises

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Oceania South Pacific / Tahiti cruises from $3,099*

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Oceania Cruises South Pacific / Tahiti Cruises

Cruise with Oceania Cruises and find comforting luxury in the islands of the South Pacific. Let the cool waters of Tahiti’s waterfalls cascade down your back as the vibrant fish swim around your ankles, or relax at night with a glass of French wine and delectable cuisine. Kick back in the sand and take in the sunsets of Bora Bora, or explore the exciting tropical rainforests of Fiji. Your eyes will widen in the Bay of Islands as you take a look at the blue penguins and flying dolphins. It’s all colorful, marvelous and unique when you cruise to the South Pacific with Oceania Cruises.

Things to Do on a South Pacific Cruise with Oceania Cruises

The secluded islands of the South Pacific give you a real opportunity to rejuvenate as you experience the culture of the natives and spend time on an aquasafari in the warm blue waters. Discover the ultimate paradise of the South Pacific with Oceania Cruises, and make the most of your visit with any number of shore excursions.

• Aquasafari (Bora Bora, French Polynesia) Dive into a lagoon wearing a special helmet that helps you descend 10 feet underwater to walk along the floor of the ocean and watch colorful fish swim past. This helmet covers your head allowing you to breathe normally, yet underwater. Under the water you’ll also see amazing coral and other sea creatures.  

• Garden of the Sleeping Giants (Lautoka, Fiji) Travel to the Viseisei village through fields of sugarcane, where you’ll be greeted with a welcoming song and dance before taking part in a kava ceremony. This is a tongue-numbing drink that is made from the pepper plant. The kava ceremony where you enjoy the drink is held at all the village’s cultural celebrations. Next you’ll travel to the orchid garden whose backdrop is a mountain, known as the sleeping giant. After this you’ll visit the shops at Nadi Town where you can purchase Fijian handicrafts.  

• Raro Safari by Off-Road Vehicle (Rarotonga, Cook Islands) Head off into the back roads of the island with a guide who will tell you about daily life on the island, as well as the uses of many of the island’s plants. You’ll head into the rainforest and climb to the top of Hospital Heights for soaring views. You can also head to the Papaaroa Beach and the Wigmore’s Waterfall. Another highlight are the marae, which are the islands’ sacred stones.  

• Tea at Omalata and Cultural Show (Pago Pago, American Samoa) Visit the Omalata residence which is situated right on the water. You can watch the waves roll in and the palm trees sway in the breeze. This house is also known for having a beautiful garden with orchids and plants indigenous to the island. During your visit performers will show you some of the folklore of the island through song and dance and you’ll have a delightful tea.  

• In Paul Gauguin’s Footsteps (Papeete, French Polynesia) Visit the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands which displays archeological artifacts explaining the island’s history and that of its people. Then you’ll drive to the Paul Gauguin Museum to learn about this acclaimed painter who moved to French Polynesia in his later life. Afterwards you’ll visit the Arahurahu Marae, a sacred landmark for the pre-Christian Polynesian societies.  

• Navua River by Longboat (Suva, Fiji) Take in the beauty of Suva as you glide through the Navua River which is surrounded by mountains, rainforests and beautiful flora and fauna. You’ll stop at the village of Nukusere and participate in the kava ceremony. Then you will be given a tour of the village and learn about coconut husking and scraping. Afterwards you can head back on the river to go swimming at the river’s largest waterfall.  

Top 10 Oceania Cruises South Pacific / Tahiti Cruises

• Nautica 10 NIGHT Tahiti CRUISE Departing From Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Jan 2025 - Feb 2025)
• Regatta 15 NIGHT Tahiti CRUISE Departing From Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii (Aug 2025 - Sep 2025)
• Regatta 10 NIGHT Tahiti CRUISE Departing From Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Aug 2025 - Sep 2025)
• Regatta 15 NIGHT Tahiti CRUISE Departing From Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia (Sep 2025)

Oceania Cruises South Pacific / Tahiti Departure Ports

Learn more about your potential departure ports for a South Pacific and Tahiti cruise with Oceania Cruises. Your Oceania Cruises South Pacific and Tahiti cruise could depart from any of the following cities:

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

Honolulu, with its near perfect weather every day and beautiful mountains and tropical landscapes, is a destination not to be missed.

Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

This picture-perfect island is everything you ever dreamt of, from lush greenery inland and perfectly clear turquoise waters to the scent of gardenia from the coconut groves.

Photo Gallery for Oceania Cruises South Pacific / Tahiti Cruises

Browse our photo gallery of South Pacific and Tahiti cruising photos from Oceania Cruises. Remember, this is only a taste of the experiences waiting for you on an Oceania Cruises South Pacific and Tahiti cruise vacation.

Mount Otemanu in Bora Bora

Black sand beach in Pirae, Papeete, Tahiti

Desert Island off Lautoka

Cook Islands resort

Bora Bora, Tahiti

Polynesian outrigger in Fiji

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Cruise the islands of Tahiti onboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta

--> BY Carla Grossetti

Last updated . 21 June 2023

Set your sights on the islands of Tahiti, where that lacquered blue-green backdrop forms an indelible aspect of the journey.

I can see the sun rising, rose and gold, just above the horizon from my stateroom balcony onboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta. It’s like a window has been left open just a crack. I know the day will soon begin, but right now I am on my balcony enjoying the softest of breezes.

Drawing back the curtains to do the big reveal is one of my daily rituals on a cruise. It’s pre-dawn on day two of a 10-day Papeete to Papeete cruise and before long, the sky is impossibly blue and the water that precise shade of turquoise that the Islands of Tahiti are famed for. It’s the very definition of paradise. And while the translucent seas are what I’ve been dreaming of, it’s the contrast with the rich green mountains of Moorea that rise precipitously all around that I find most alluring.

Go snorkelling around the translucent waters of Tahiti.

It’s this palette that will become my focus today on a small-group Capture Moorea shore excursion with local photographer and Eyes of Moorea founder Reno Fayada. Reno visited the island of Moorea 24 years ago on holiday from Paris and has been here ever since. “Moorea means ‘Land of the Yellow Gecko’,” says Reno, who has the local (and vocal) lizard tattooed on his calf. “I came here to change my life and get some sun and now I show people around paradise for a living,” he smiles.

Admire the jagged peaks of Mt Mouaroa on the island of Moorea.

What to expect

Reno steers our snap-happy group to the most scenic spots around the island during the four-hour tour that includes tips on how to sharpen our photography skills. “The tours are a great way to see the island up close and learn a bit of geography and history along the way.

Hopefully you will take some great photos as souvenirs, too,” he says. We stop to point and shoot at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, built in the 1800s, that has the scissor-sharp summit of Mt Rotui as its dramatic backdrop. We train our cameras on the serrated peaks of both Mt Rotui and Mt Tohivea from Belvedere Lookout and try and do justice to the pristine waters off the bays of Paopao and Opunohu.

We also venture to a vanilla plantation where local farmer Mama Vanilla’s warm smile is every bit as captivating as the scenery. All up, there are five archipelagos that make up the Islands of Tahiti : the Society Islands (which includes the Windward Islands such as Tahiti and the Leeward Islands such as Bora Bora), the Tuamotu Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands and the Austral Islands.

A friendly Bora Bora local strikes a pose. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

Sights to see and things to do

The region has 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls that necklace more than 2000 kilometres around the South Pacific . And you really do get a sense of the archipelago’s remoteness and natural beauty when circumnavigating on a cruise ship. The slide show changes as each day unfolds, but that predominant mix of blues and greens does not.

The greens that paint those monumental mountains are as vivid as the turquoise-tinted seas. If it’s a kaleidoscope you’re after, add flowers or fish. Or the pretty floral-patterned pareo (fabric for a wraparound skirt), which flutter in the breeze like prayer flags.

Be wowed by scenes from French Polynesia. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

Snorkelling in Bora Bora

You will find pops of colour underwater when you don a mask and fins to snorkel in the lagoon in Bora Bora. I spend two hours drifting around the translucent waters here playing dodgem with schools of rainbow fish. It’s like being in an underwater arcade game. There are turtles breaking the surface for a gulp of air and black-tip sharks circling below.

There’s so much to see underwater at Bora Bora Lagoon.

Sunset tour with Moana Adventure Tours

A sunset tour with Moana Adventure Tours also captures Bora Bora’s best side. It pootles past deserted beaches and bays, beautiful blue lagoons and the jagged mountain peaks that dominate the landscape.

The dramatic beauty of the Islands of Tahiti looms large. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

Rejuvenating massage at Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center

It also purrs past the Hilton’s Conrad Bora Bora Nui where the overwater villas stand knee-deep, like skinny-legged egrets, in the sea. Although there are 42 shore excursions to choose from, cruising in the South Pacific is also an opportunity to slow down and change tack.

Drift into a dream on a sea day. Lie sideways on a sun lounger. Enjoy a restorative massage at the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center . Visit the theatre for lively shows, talks and entertainment. And take a tender to shore to chat with friendly locals and contribute to the local economy.

Where to eat

A cruise onboard Regatta also offers ample opportunity to learn firsthand why Oceania Cruises claims to have the Finest Cuisine at Sea. There’s the signature olive oil tasting in Italian restaurant Toscana. Afternoon Tea at Horizons. Poke bowls at Waves Grill. The opportunity to frock up for fine dining in the Grand Dining Room. And sample the freshest sashimi at the Terrace Café.

Have a delightful Italian meal at Toscana.

The last day of the itinerary sees Oceania Cruises’ Regatta sidle up to the wharf on the island of Raiatea, which allows easy access to the seaside village. After spending the morning on my balcony waiting for the township to wake up, I meander around the farmers’ market and then follow the seductive aroma of buttery croissants to La Raie’Gate.

Enjoy onboard dining with waterfront views. (Image: Josh Lewis)

It’s there I find chef and baker Max Garie rolling out dough for pizzas and stuffing pillowy pesto-filled brioche buns with ham, cheese, avocado, onion, lettuce and tomato. Max also proffers a plate of poisson cru, the ubiquitous national dish of raw fish marinated in coconut milk and lemon.

Tomorrow, the curtains will close on my last day onboard Regatta. And while I may no longer be rolling with the ocean, I still have a collection of indelible snapshots as souvenirs. Smiling locals, sun-drenched waterfalls, riotous bougainvillea, azure seas and those sometimes voluptuous, sometimes vertical mountains all around.

Explore Tahiti on an Oceania Cruises’ Regatta 10-day Papeete to Papeete cruise. (Image: Carla Grossetti)

A traveller’s checklist

For more on Tahitian Legends, Oceania Cruises’ 10-day round-trip voyage from Papeete, Tahiti, visit Oceania Cruises .

Getting there

The fastest way to get from Australia to the Islands of Tahiti is to book a flight to Auckland with Air New Zealand or Qantas. Qantas has a codeshare agreement with Air Tahiti Nui for flights onward to Papeete.

Staying there

Flights arrive at Tahiti-Faa‘-a International Airport (PPT) at around 12.30am Tahiti time. Hotel Tahiti Nui is close to the airport and a convenient place to stay ahead of your cruise. Te Moana Tahiti Resort overlooks the ocean and is a great place to unwind ahead of your flight back home.

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Tahiti & South Pacific Islands

The South Pacific offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, with azure waters, majestic peaks and lush valleys. Cruises to this area of the South Pacific -- located halfway between California and Australia -- visit the Society Islands and its popular island of Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and more.

Many tourists are attracted to these islands’ carefree lifestyle, white sandy beaches and unspoiled terrain. Spend time exploring a lagoon on a glass-bottom boat ride, hike into the mountains for stunning views of the varied landscape or shop for Tahitian black pearls, one of the world's rarest pearls. Water activities abound with opportunities to scuba dive, snorkel, jet ski, parasail and windsurf off the coast of many islands.

• Cruises to Tahiti & South Pacific islands are available year-round.  
• Most cruises to Tahiti & South Pacific islands last from 7 to 14 nights.  
• Papeete is the most common departure port for a Tahiti cruise, but longer cruises that visit more islands are occasionally available from larger cities such as Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale or Sydney. If you must fly a very long distance to reach your port of departure, we suggest that you arrive at the port city at least one or two days in advance of your cruise. This will give you time to rest and get oriented before boarding the ship. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise hotel packages.

• Oceania Cruises

Tahiti: Oceania, Windstar or Paul Gauguin?

By EntrechatatSea , May 23, 2021 in Oceania Cruises

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EntrechatatSea

Hello Cruisers,

First thing, hope you are all well.  Second is a question: Which one of the above-mentioned cruise lines is less likely to have children onboard?  This cruise will be our 25th anniversary trip so we want it to be extra special.  We are looking at May or October 2023 to replace our 10/26/2020 cruise we cancelled in March 2020.  

Thank you in advance for your assistance and hopefully we will see a return to a more "normal" world this year sometime.  And please forgive me if this topic has been addressed elsewhere.

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Well, Windstar has a policy of not accommodating children under 8 years, so that would cut down numbers

By the by, it has an interesting policy of requiring those aged under 21 to be accompanied by someone aged 25+.  Oddly interesting in that the age of majority in my country is 18.

We've done both Windstar and Paul Gauguin and preferred Windstar. Only 142 passengers and a very special experience. Paul Gauguin has a new owner, so there's a big question mark there. Oceania has a wonderful product, but Tahiti belongs to Windstar and the PG. Keep in mind that some of the ports are very small and easily overwhelmed by a large influx of passengers. 

TrulyBlonde

PG PG PG...It is fabulous

We loved the PG!  We are Oceania fans! Not sure if it is a good fit for Tahiti. Would love to go back to Tahiti again. We had a wonderful time. Was our very first cruise, thanks to my beautiful Dad!

Best answered by this analogy. Do you go to the Maine seashore to eat fresh out of the sea lobster or Omaha steaks? Do you go to Omaha to eat lobster?

Oceania is a great cruise line, however when going to Tahiti and FP, PG is your answer followed by Windstar.

We did the 12 day Marina cruise to the FP. It was delightful. However, seeing many of the things the PG cruisers did in comparison, plus the huge difference in quality of speakers, PG wins hands down.

Are you a traveler or a cruiser?

16 minutes ago, pinotlover said: Best answered by this analogy. Do you go to the Maine seashore to eat fresh out of the sea lobster or Omaha steaks? Do you go to Omaha to eat lobster?   Oceania is a great cruise line, however when going to Tahiti and FP, PG is your answer followed by Windstar.   We did the 12 day Marina cruise to the FP. It was delightful. However, seeing many of the things the PG cruisers did in comparison, plus the huge difference in quality of speakers, PG wins hands down.   Are you a traveler or a cruiser?

We are travelers, so thank you for your response.  I just read that PG has great children's programs and that scared me a bit.  Visions of screaming children went through my head.

7 minutes ago, EntrechatatSea said: We are travelers, so thank you for your response.  I just read that PG has great children's programs and that scared me a bit.  Visions of screaming children went through my head.

I saw only one family when on PG. It seemed like Grandparents paid for a family cruise and they were all well behaved and enjoyed the diving programs etc that PG offers. October was a nice to time to be there. Not as hot as I have read from others doing FP in different times of year. 

It was truly a very adult cruise and one of my favorites.

Host Jazzbeau

One unique aspect of Windstar is their sailing ships.  Neither PG nor Oceania have that, and many people report that the sails dramatically enhance their cruise.

If you are planning on Windstar in the near term, they are moving Wind Spirit, the sailing ship, out of FP at the end of November and running Star Breeze, the stretched ocean ship until March 2022. Wind Spirit is being refurbished. Also, as of now Windstar will not allow independent going ashore even in Tahiti.

DeeniEncinitas

5 hours ago, TrulyBlonde said: PG PG PG...It is fabulous

🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺 🌺

I also will second that motion!!

Fantastic crew, wonderful passengers! The food WOW!

I have enjoyed Windstar but it is like apples vs Oranges.

PG all the way IMO

travelbug2225

42 minutes ago, susiesan said: If you are planning on Windstar in the near term, they are moving Wind Spirit, the sailing ship, out of FP at the end of November and running Star Breeze, the stretched ocean ship until March 2022. Wind Spirit is being refurbished. Also, as of now Windstar will not allow independent going ashore even in Tahiti.

  Good to know that Wind Spirit will be refurbished. Do you have information on what will be done on the ship? I google it but I can’t find information. We will be on her in August 2022. 

Lvwindstar007

Having done two Windstar Tahiti trips and one PG, we enjoyed both.  The motu dinner and show last time on Wind Spirit was delightful.  With PG drinks are included and we got maximum use of that feature.  I definitely suggest arriving at least a day early to adjust to the time change and get a decent night's sleep.  Both cruise lines offer a pre and/or post package but experienced Tahiti travelers usually make their own arrangements.  PG has special cruises that cater to children and have a program for them.  There is little for kids to do on Windstar but every day you are in port so that could work for them.  In 15 or so Windstar cruises I have seen very few children aboard...just a handful. FWIW its worth in sunny Reno.

cruisingsfun

Paul Gauguin only has the kid’s program during the summer. We will go on our fifth PG cruise in January. We have never seen small children on the ship. I’ve sailed Oceania and love it. Also have done a few Windstar cruises. For Tahiti, PG definitely wins. They have several Tahitian dancers, ambassadors, on board. They are so interesting to interact with and see perform. They have a private motu at Tahaa with a barbecue, drinks, and Tahitian activities. It is always a favorite day.

For our 50th wedding anniversary, we did the wedding vow renewal ceremony. Truly magical.

Don't know if this matters to you, but PG has elevators, and Wind Spirit does not. You can get a stateroom with a balcony on PG, on Wind Spirit you have only portholes. Despite that, we still liked Windstar a bit better, but you really can't go wrong with either. Like PG, Windstar  has a private motu for a beach day and a spectacular Tahitian show and dinner.  They also have that fabulous on-deck barbeque one night.

The difference in the quality and knowledge of the enrichment speakers between PG and O is gigantic. Oceania, to be fair, never emphasized their speakers ( they don’t even list them anymore) . The French Polynesian experience on PG, which includes an incredible array of island specialists, sets them apart for travelers.

Have done all three, WS, O and PG Tahiti. WS wins hands down. And of three cruises on WS, never saw a soul less than ( a guesstimate only) 21 years, Will also be on the 18 day WS August 2022.

12 hours ago, Petoonya said: Have done all three, WS, O and PG Tahiti. WS wins hands down. And of three cruises on WS, never saw a soul less than ( a guesstimate only) 21 years, Will also be on the 18 day WS August 2022.

Can you give us reasons why you prefer WS for FP? Since you have tried all 3, this would be valuable to all who inquire.

Another sailing ship that might be in that neck of the woods in 2023  (as she's scheduled for 2022 at the moment) is the sailing ship Golden Horizon (Tradewind Voyages) this was the ship that was scheduled to be the "Flying Clipper" but Star Cruises pulled out of the deal.

I'm going to give it a try out in July up the west coast of Scotland, I'll report back  🙂

2 hours ago, TrulyBlonde said: Can you give us reasons why you prefer WS for FP? Since you have tried all 3, this would be valuable to all who inquire.

It's personal. To me there is nothing quite like those sails going up against the delicious Tahitian sky, the silky breeze against your skin, the resonance and sensation of the waves and sea. It's the true Tahitian experience. The dining rivals O, and same for service. You get physical Tahitian intimacy, but what you don't get quite as much of is the cultural one as compared to PG. You only have a porthole and there are no elevators but that adds to the yacht-like appeal for me.

I wasn't entranced with the PG cultural experience- it's just me, but it felt hokey. Oceania comes in second just because I love the R ships and love O. PG was not a good fit- the food and staff are terrific but I felt there was a lot of forced schmaltz.

I'm apologize to PG afficionadios- as I say it's just a personal perspective. I've visited Tahiti about a dozen times in the last thirty years and Wind Spirit best captures the enchantment that is Tahiti to me.

This comment is really not pertinent to today, but I went on PG around 12 years ago right at the end of when they were being operated by Regent. It had to be the worst food of any cruise that I had ever been on. Had a great time though, and didn't go hungry, but it was really lousy food. I've been back twice but only on Regatta & Marina. Always had a good time there. 

4 hours ago, Alan2504 said: Another sailing ship that might be in that neck of the woods in 2023  (as she's scheduled for 2022 at the moment) is the sailing ship Golden Horizon (Tradewind Voyages) this was the ship that was scheduled to be the "Flying Clipper" but Star Cruises pulled out of the deal.   I'm going to give it a try out in July up the west coast of Scotland, I'll report back  🙂

• 2 years later...

So, which line did you go with?  How was it?  Did it meet your expectations?

Heartfelttraveler

We did Oceania’s Tahiti to Tahiti 10 night trip.  It was fabulous.  We did several of Oceania’s excursions and they were excellent.  (Drift snorkel was fab.). Keep in mind that if Windstar still has the sailing ship in FP, non of the cabins have balconiesn but the ship does have the swim platform.  Paul Gauguin and Windstar home port in Tahiti. Oceania is seasonal.  Again, oceania was wonderful.

8 hours ago, MAEUNC said: So, which line did you go with?  How was it?  Did it meet your expectations?

To me it’s simple. Do you want to go to FP to immerse in the culture, in the local fresh foods, and educated by truly outstanding enlightenment speakers?   

Or, do you want to see the FP in a very comfortable Americanized manner eating in the PG and Toscana, getting the exact same foods served to you as you would in the Med, Baltic, or Asia? Maybe one night at the buffet you’ll even get a FP night, with an Americanized version of the food. 🙄

Do you cruise to cruise, or cruise to travel? Particularly for the FP, once you answer that simple question, the other answer is clear.

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Why you should take a mate not your partner on your next cruise

W hen life gives you an intimate Tahitian cruise and no significant other to share it with, invite your friend instead, writes Ivy Carruth

He looks truly pained when he says it, but say it he does. “I’m sorry, but I can’t go; I’ve got a work conference, and I can’t change it.” This is what my partner tells me when I invite him to cruise through Tahiti aboard Nautica, Oceania’s five-star ship holding just over 600 lucky passengers.

I can’t help but feel glum about it, but also see it as an opportunity. Right then and there, I decide that this will be a seafaring jaunt of a different stripe, a kicked-back casual luxe holiday in the truest sense of the word – and the ultimate girl’s trip to boot.

I phone one of my cruise-loving friends, Selena, and successfully tempt her into joining me for 10 days of trade winds, lounge chair loafing and ports of call at some of Tahiti’s most unique (and difficult-to-reach) islands. We’ll be visiting Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva, Rangiroa, Bora Bora and Raiatea before ending up back where we started, in Papeete.

READ MORE: Where to go in French Polynesia that’s not Bora Bora

We fly directly to Tahiti, landing at Faa’a International Airport in Papeete. It’s the capital city of French Polynesia, a scant five-hour journey from Auckland. Arrivals deplane on the runway, and stepping out of the arctic chill of the blissful canned plane air into the smack-your-face heat of the South Pacific is a rude awakening, indeed.

Consider layering so you can strip off as you queue for customs, which operates on Tahiti time, languid and unhurried like the ceiling fans wheeling above you. It’s not air-conditioned, and you’ll long for a wisp of something cooler than what feels like the surface of the sun. Don’t be like me and wear jeans.

Travelling with friends can be tricky. You can love someone to bits but be completely opposite personalities when it comes to how you “holiday”. I’m an introvert, and I love my alone time. There’s a meme that says something along the lines of :“A fun thing to do in the morning is not talk to me” ...

I’m not one to hit the ground running when the roosters crow. Lena and I have travelled together a few times, and even though she’s an outgoing social butterfly, she knows I need to regularly recharge my battery, and she respects that.

• The best things to do in Tahiti, French Polynesia - ...
• Pacific travel: A guide to the best islands of French ...
• How to get the most out of your trip to French Polynesia ...

This is one of the things that makes us a great pair for travelling together. She’ll chat with anyone. When we’re in groups, and I’m inching towards depletion, she’ll do the talking for both of us, and she’ll do it happily; that’s pretty brilliant in my book.

Plus, it’s a cruise. Cruises are perfect for travelling with friends because there are a host of things to do. While Nautica isn’t the overwhelming amusement park that some cruise ships are, it does have a gym, library, computer centre, pool deck, nightly entertainment, esteemed speakers, daily high tea, and dining options galore. This means I can head to the spa for a massage, and she can pop to the pool deck for some sun and a cocktail, and everyone’s happy.

We spend our first night in a local hotel, arriving the night before we sail so we can board in the morning. Much of the check-in process is done online ahead of time, making it a breeze to embark; I’m impressed.

The ship, Nautica, is elegant without being snooty. She was completely remodelled in April 2022 with Euro-inspired nuance and a flair for neutral but sumptuous furnishings.

We saunter around a bit, orientating ourselves to the layout and the amenities, and since our luggage won’t be in our room yet, we sink into a tufted Weimaraner grey sofa with cappuccinos for the most out-of-this-world skim capps and French pastry called canelés de Bordeaux.

Oceania is known for its cuisine, and at our first taste of these utterly perfect bites of nirvana, we know that this reputation is well-deserved.

We’re duly caffeinated, so we roam a bit longer, checking out the curio shop and the pool deck. We remark immediately on the abundance of loungers. There will be no fighting for a chair, no 5am wake-ups to run and save one with a book or a bag and towel for fear of missing out.

Finally, we go to the spot we’ve been most curious about, the one where we’ll be claiming space for the next 10 days. Selena and I head to our stateroom, a concierge level verandah with two single beds, and after seeing it, giggle a bit madly at our home for the next 10 days.

Our stateroom is glorious, and the bed is so incredible that they sell them the world over. We’ve each taken full advantage of the 32kg weight limit, unpacking, settling in, and cracking our bottle of complimentary champagne.

At the concierge level, we enjoy a few perks, including room service at any time, laundry, priority bookings at specialty restaurants, non-alcoholic beverages, priority embarkation and access to the spa terrace and its large whirlpool.

Our week goes quickly; too quickly. We enjoy dinners of whole lobster, fat pillows of gnocchi, wagyu steak, fish tacos, oysters Rockefeller and more. I find myself, even now, craving the Philadelphia pepper pot soup and the Thai watermelon cucumber salad.

On the days that we’re feeling a bit sunburnt or over-cocktailed, we simply order room service and enjoy the best view in the house right from our shaded balcony before deciding if later we’ll head down to hear the night’s comedian. (We do, and he’s a ripper.)

We soak up the South Pacific sun, wander the ports, shop for black pearls and meet fellow cruisers who marvel at our gumption in doing a trip together to Tahiti. “The islands of love?” they query. Of honeymooners and couples and partners?

“Of course,” I tell them. What better than a trip with a friend? It’s an institution that deserves celebration and nurturing, not unlike a marriage or partnership.

For more things to see and do in Tahiti, visit tahititourisme.nz/en-nz

And Away We Go Travel

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