Selling Cruises: Sailing the South Pacific
by John Hawks

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Every corner of the Tahitian islands offers different atmospheres and experiences. Most French Polynesia sailings start and end in Papeete, Tahiti's capital, with its cosmopolitan feel and amazing scenery. Raiatea, the second largest Tahitian island, offers the most authentic experiences for Polynesian culture. Bora Bora boasts an extraordinary lagoon for water sports and scuba diving, while Moorea offers mountains and crystal-clear bays. And the list goes on, with Huahine and Rangiroa and the Marquesas . . .

While some cruise lines add Tahiti as a stop on world cruises or special sailings, the two mainstays in the market are Princess Cruises (with the 670-passenger "Tahitian Princess") and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (with the 320-passenger "Paul Gauguin"). Other options for French Polynesian cruises include Bora Bora Cruises (two 70-passenger yachts), the "Aranui 3" (a passenger and cargo vessel that runs from Tahiti to the Marquesas), and Archipels Cruises (five eight-passenger catamarans).

For your clients' first visit to Tahiti, the "Paul Gauguin" or the "Tahitian Princess" will be the best bets. The "Paul Gauguin" leaves Papeete every Saturday for week-long sailings that usually include Bora Bora, Raiatea, Taha'a, Moorea, and Regent's private island. Meanwhile, the "Tahitian Princess" typically runs 10-day sailings with varying itineraries.

When's the best time to go? Tahiti boasts amazing weather throughout the year (average temp: 79 degrees). The best season may be June through October, when it rains very little. And, none of these ships will have formal dress evenings, which means casual clothing for the entire voyage.

Both Princess and Regent offer a wide range of pre- and post-cruise stays in Tahiti, allowing your clients to experience an evening or two on land without breaking the bank with the outrageous hotel rates.

For more details, check Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Also, you should visit the official site for Tahiti Tourisme (which provided photos graciously for this story).