I have always wanted to go to Tahiti - and having been home a week now, I wish we had stayed longer. It was the trip of a lifetime, and we will definitely return. My husband Bruce and I are 40, and we traveled with my brother and his wife, who share our rave review. We arrived May 13, cruised May 14-24 and returned May 25, seeing the Cook Islands with a day beforehand in Papeete and one afterwards in Moorea.

BEFORE YOU GO: I spent hours researching the FP islands, and was called the Clark Griswold of the family - yet my 3 inch binder filled with even the trivial details was our cruise Bible. Use this board, plus www.tahiti-explorer.com Book flights and hotels MONTHS in advance and use points if you can to defer outrageous costs otherwise. Don't rely on US dollars - make sure in advance your debit card or VISA will work in FP bank machines - my brother's did not. Use CFP local currency as you will get a very poor rate of exchange otherwise. There are two bank machines upon arrival at the airport. You can exchange $ on the ship as well. Take lots of small US bills, no one can give you change. Get a prescription for the sea sick patch. The seas get rough and even the strong stomached ones turn green at times. It may make you a little drowsy the first day, but WELL worth it!! Research the what to bring lists - I had the kitchen sink and was very pleased I packed those odd items you never think of.

LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE: We live in Florida, have never dived in our lives, someone said we were going to the best diving places in the world and on a whim, we took lesson beforehand and got PADI certified. BEST pre cruise decision we made!! People spend thousands every year to vacation where I live and rave about diving in the Keys, but you will NEVER see the corals or variety and abundance of fish here like they have in FP. I literally swam in schools of fish. Our reefs look dead in comparison. Read more