Cruises on M/S Paul Gauguin

I'm scheduled to take the MS Paul Gauguin in late August, visiting the Society Islands, Cook Islands, Tuamotus and Australs. Has anyone taken this in the past and have any suggestions on using ATMS to change money and sightseeing on the various islands without taking the ship tours? I am an experienced traveler, older woman but quite fit and I normally travel independently. But I thought this is the easiest way to see many places on one trip. Any suggestions or ideas will be greatly appreciated.

You will have no problems accessing ATM's in the Cook Islands, but not having entered by ship I dont know if there are any at the dock itself - you may have to travel by taxi to find one. As for French Polynesia, we did not find one ATM that would allow us to access our bank - other people have had limited success while a few lucky ones have no problems. It has been 3 years sine we were there so the situation may be better now. We were able to change travelers cheques at the banks but had to pay a hefty fee(or so we thought). I would imagine the situation will be more difficult in the Tuamotus or Australs as the infrastructure is more limited there. We were able to purchase Pacific French Francs before we left Canada and were glad we did. I would suggest that you try to bring some francs with you and get the rest in Tahiti before heading off to the smaller islands.
Sounds like a great cruise!

The islands are gorgeous. You will have a great time!

I haven't been on this ship but saw it in Papeete harbor where it docks right next to the ferries. It is beautiful.

Sighseeing is difficult without a tour since there is no or very limited public transportation in French Polynesia. You can explore Papeete on foot, but going outside town proved to be difficult. We managed to take the bus to the Gauguin museum (not worth it imho since all pictures are low quality copies), but the bus never came back despite the driver's assurance. We wound up hitchhiking.

FP: We could not access the ATM machines either, nor did friends with a French card. We changed money at the airport in Papeete and at banks in town. Did not try to change money on the smaller islands since the banks there were ususally overwelmed by the number of customers.

We took the Aranui (freighter to the Marquesas islands) twice. I highly recommend this trip which has all excursions included.

Thanks for the tips. I have considered the Aranui also and may do that later since the Marquesas aren't on this trip. I just love being on the ocean, I don't really care where I go, so I'm sure I'll do more trips in the future.

You will love the PG! We have been on this ship 3 times and will return for our 4th time in November. We exchanged money at the airport and have used our cards in the ATM machines on the main islands. You can exchange money on the ship(of course,not at the best rate).We have not been to the Australs or the Cook Islands but I believe you will not need much extra cash since many places take credit cards. Unless, you plan to purchase black pearls there isn't much else to purchase.

If you have any other questions about the ship or FP I can try to answer them.

I would think, if you got maybe $100(US) in Polynesian francs it would take care of most of your purchases. We purchased tee shirts, a pareo, sodas,etc.

The best place to purchase soaps,handicrafts,material,etc. is the market place in Pappette. When the ship docks, get up early,eat breakfast and disembark for the market place. It is a short walk from the pier.

Market and purchases:
I love the Papeete market, but I would not buy any Monoi oil there any more. The brand they are selling there and at other places is made from copra (dried coconut meat). It becomes rancid on your skin at the end of the day and in the bottle after a few weeks.

Fine drugstores in Papeete and the Botanical Garden in Moorea sell different brands which are made from fresh coconut meat and are of far superior quality. The chemist at the Moorea Botancial Garden ( a very small place) also makes excellent vanilla lip balm to which I am addicted, but can't get, and a rough looking coconut soap which is bliss on the skin. The Botancial Garden is near the Petit Village where your tour bus probably stops because of the pearl shops.

I have purchased oil in the market place and used it in my hair and body for over a year and it was still fragant. I also purchased oil from the cruise ship spa that was very expensive and could not really tell the difference. I'm not saying you are wrong just giving another experience.

thanks so much. I have terribly dry skin in the winter, and now it is about year round because I'm in the pool four days a week all year round. I definitely will buy some oil and soap, but no to black pearls. I have two nights in Papeete at the Sofitel Tahiti Maeva Beach Resort, which according to some posts online, is near a supermarket. Do you by chance know if it is near the Papeete market? Any suggestions for lunch or dinner outside of the hotel and on the reasonable side since they are not included these first days.

The most reasonable eateries open at 6 pm near the downtown Papeete ferry dock: the roulottes! Vans with food. They offer Chinese food cooked in woks, French crepes, Pizza, and miscellaneous other food. Tourists and locals alike flock there at night.

I am not sure how far the Soffitel is from downtown, never stayed there, but don't remember it being in walking distance to the market. You should be able to buy Monoi in the supermarket.

During the day, there are many busses running in Papeete and in its vicinity. ('Le truck') Ask in the hotel if they run your route after nightfall which is at ~ 6 p.m. You may need a taxi for your return to the hotel.

I believe the hotel is near Carrefour a large supermarket where you also can purchase some of your oils and soap. I believe it is within a healthy walking distance from your hotel. Ask at the desk. I believe it is to left of your hotel. We purchased french bagette sandwiches from the supermarket and found them very tasty.

The roulottes is a good place to eat in the evening. They have everything. Ask how late does the LeTruck run since the taxis are more expensive in the evening. We had to take taxi the the Intercontinental and it cost us $30(US). They run at least until 9sih for sure.

Take the Letruck during the day to downtown and from there the marketplace is 3-4 blocks in.

Hi Beachdreamer: I hope you are still reading this because I have new questions! On the Gauguin there are many expensive excursions and I am especially interested in snorkling. Do you know if it is necessary to take these excursions to do any snorkling? I thought I heard somewhere that there is a ship bus or something that can take passengers to a beach for snorkling. If I were to take all the excurisions that appeal to me it adds another $1,000 to the already expensive trip (I'm traveling as a single so I pay a high price). I don't know anyone who has traveled on this ship before, so you are a real find! thanks so much.

Sorry, I was in Germany for a month and was not looking at this website. You can snorkle at the Regent's private island during their picnic day along with their other beach opportunity. We found the free snorkling on Rangiroa to be as good or better right next to the pier as the snorkling excursion we took. (you take the shuttle boat over to the hotel side and snorkle to the right of the pier). We took a sailing trip that also offered snorkling while on Bora Bora and it was ok. The ship would not take us out nearer to the reef and you had to swim to it which was a bit long for some.
I will pm you with my email so you can communicate with me a little faster if you wish.
We found the PG a wonderful experience...so casual and so friendly and for the most part interesting passengers.