LUXURY CRUISING
What had always put me off was the
journey. Tahiti is a full 22 hours from Paris, with only a 2-hour layover in Los Angeles to do customs and immigration checks before arriving in a time zone 11 hours ahead, and a scant five hours’ flying time from New Zealand. For years, I let that awesome psychological barrier put me off doing this fabulous cruise. I was completely wrong to do so. Air
Tahiti Nui fly big, beautifully appointed Airbus A340s to Polynesia, with some of the most stunningly good airline food I have ever tasted. The menus – brought round in advance – listed both international and Poly- nesian fare on both legs, and it was superb. Drinks service was continuous and complimentary. ATN have the great idea of leaving food and drinks trolleys set up at different stations, so you can help yourself to sandwiches, hot soups and coffee at any time. And yes, this was in economy. I have seen worse business class on some airlines. Leg room was more than ample and the seat-back TV’s had a decent choice of music, films and games, all changed again when we reached LA. In between eating, a few drinks and some real decent sleep, I was somehow wafted across three quarters of the world. Before I knew it, the doors were open and the warm Tahitian night breeze hit me like an Exocet missile as we disembarked in Papeete.
A relaxing overnight stay at the Inter- Continental put me in fine shape for the next day. The breakfast buffet even included miso soup on the menu in this fabulous waterfront property that seemed to go on forever.
tling harbour at Papeete, just seconds walk from an exotic market square that flooded the waterfront with fruit blessed with an
B
y contrast, Paul Gauguin appeared positively petite on first glance. She sat square in the middle of the bus-
incredible range of shades and scents, not to mention taste.
A gaggle of coloured flags waved decorously above the snow white hull as we were welcomed on board by the Gauguines, the ship’s resident troupe of lovely Polynesian ladies. Their presence on board was to give us a kind of crash course in Polynesian lore, legends and culture, and they did it with all the languid warmth, charm and grace of their home islands. One or more of them was always to be seen around the ship or ashore,
Spring 2011 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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