Tahiti Done Marvelously

There is no better way to get the overview of a region than by a cruise sampling its best destinations.

That is especially true of Windstar Cruises in Tahiti.

Just like the islands of Hawaii, you can fly to one and hop to another by plane, or you can board a ship, unpack once and much more leisurely visit the highlights.

With the line’s 7-day Dreams of Tahiti itinerary on the Wind Spirit, guests need only fly to Papeete before additionally hitting up Moorea, Raiatea, Motu Mahaea (Tahaa), Bora Bora, Huahine and a roundtrip return to Papeete. Thanks to a choice of pre- and post-cruise hotel options, guests can extend their stay in the turnaround port for as long as they desire.

My wife and I enjoyed two full days before and after the sailing in Papeete, Tahiti to delve in accordingly. As much as we enjoyed the island and sites such as the sacred Marae Arahurahu temple, stunning Faarumai waterfall and scenic Arahoho blowhole, we found even greater beauty in the surrounding ports.

Just as Hawaii is so much more than the titular Big Island, so too is Tahiti grander than its singular namesake.

Windstar operates shore excursions in a combination of ways. Some differ little from those on other ocean cruise lines while others are more expeditionary: Tenders often take guests first ashore before tours depart, but alternative experiences are available from directly off the ship.

If an outside vendor is the tour operator, the extra step of initially getting shoreside is necessary—even if excursions are ocean activities. However, for the cruise line’s two private islands, passengers are conveniently transported from the sailing ship straight to the venue with no extra time lost.

A huge benefit of small ship cruising? It never takes long to reach any tour with fewer guests to shuttle.

READ MORE: Windstar’s Full Menu of Tahitian Hotel Options

In fact, sometimes the activity is as simple as heading to the ship’s marina and complimentarily paddle boarding, water skiing, swimming or kayaking immediately off the stern.

It may have been raining in Moorea, but the latter was just as fun being wet already. It’s quite the dramatic perspective of the ship from the waterline too.

From Raiatea, heading to the Anapa Pearl Farm to dive for our own oysters and retain the keepsake within was easily one of the best shore excursions I’ve ever been on. As we were docked that day, it was a breeze to head off the ship and into a van with only seven people total prior to being whisked to a nearby coast for a quick boat ride to a shack over the snorkel site.

There was simply no beating the next day’s experience at Motu Mahaea either for our first taste of Windstar’s private islands.

One of the Spirit’s onboard zodiacs took us to a pristine island in a shallow lagoon with crystal clear waters that mirror every characteristic photo taken in Tahiti. It was super easy to wade into the surrounding ocean for an aquatic stroll or more active adventure, and the spread of signature buffet food was only the passengers’ for the taking.

READ MORE: Windstar Cruises as a First-Timer

The only private island experience to supersede the first was later off Bora Bora, where we enjoyed an overnight stay as in Raiatea. These two-day stops are a fantastic way for Windstar to give guests even more time to explore along the route. (Greatest of all is the opportunity to discover your favorite destination for a potential extended return visit.)

Here, we snorkeled the beautiful blue lagoon and saw the famed overwater bungalows before accessing Motu Tapu exclusively at sunset for a breathtaking evening BBQ buffet and Tahitian show. The local poisson cru was beyond delicious, and the live Polynesian music set the scene for traditional dances to escalate into fire dances in the sand.

The kinetic shoreside entertainment was mind-blowing.

Also appreciated were local storytellers Heimau & Tihoti who shared their culture onboard.

The elder made us all laugh with one astute observation in particular: How ironic it is that Europeans came to the islands and made the locals cover their naked bodies only for them to later visit the beaches nude themselves.

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