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Paradise with an Exception

Marina Cruise Review to South Pacific

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 49

Overall rating:

4.5 out of 5
Verified Review
Marina

12 Night Pure Polynesia (Papeete Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 07, 2018

Ship: Marina

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8111

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

The cruise itself was excellent. It was just the embarkation rip-off that tainted the whole experience. It is highly recommended that if you book this cruise to make your own arrangements well in advance of arrival. For example you could arrive the same day as departure but book a local tour of Papeete and its surroundings. Or come a few days early and stay in a hotel but be sure to do this way in advance.

Embarkation

1 out of 5
We paid $129 each for transfer from the airport and early embarkation on the ship. We did get the transfer but were taken to Papeete city hall and sat in a bare room with small wooden folding chairs and no air conditioning. Water and coffee were provided but we had to share 1 bathroom for over 100 men and women. As a result we were extraordinarily uncomfortable after a 24 hour travel experience. This in spite of the fact that our travel agent was assured that even if we couldn't go on the ship we would be taken to a hotel. I have never had an experience like this before. When I book air with a cruise company or a travel company transfers to the airport are usually included for free and we certainly do not sit in a bare room. As a result of this outrageous ripoff we never got to see any of Papeete and the following excellent cruise was tainted.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

2 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Ports of call

Papeete, Tahiti Did not visit port

Trapped in a bare room, see above
Thumbs Up

Moorea, French Polynesia

5 out of 5
Nice snorkeling and swam with the manta rays
Thumbs Up

Raiatea, French Polynesia

5 out of 5
Beautiful island but we got rain
Thumbs Up

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

5 out of 5
Best of the best
Thumbs Up

Nuku Hiva, Marquesas

4 out of 5
Beautiful island but not a lot to see
Thumbs Up

Rangiroa, French Polynesia

5 out of 5

Huahine, French Polynesia

5 out of 5

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
Did it on our own. Grabbed a taxi at the pier, $40 for the 4 of us in our party (not 4x$129=$516). Took 10 minutes to the airport. We beat the bus arranged by the ship so we checked in faster.
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