We just returned from 10 days on the Ocean Princess sailing on February 19, 2014 from Papeete to Papeete. I would say this has to be the most economical way to go to 6 islands in French Polynesia.

We love to travel and we have been to many nice places, but we are not wealthy people and now retired, so I try to get as much bang for my buck as possible, and not blow all our travel dollars on one trip. Would I have rather stayed in an over water bungalow for 5 nights in Moorea and 5 nights in Bora Bora, probably. We met one couple from Canada who did that (for 9 nights) which cost them $13,000, including flights but not including food which is extremely expensive in these islands. Our 10 day cruise to 6 islands cost us $605 each, before taxes and gratuities, and of course the cruise includes your food. This is about the cost of one night in an over water bungalow. I heard one couple on our ship spent one night in Bora Bora in an over water bungalow while our ship was docked there for 2 days which cost $1,500 for one night, and this is not even the high season. The $605 was a great price for this cruise, and was for an inside cabin, but we got a complimentary upgrade to an outside cabin. However, to find that price, I was checking in most every day and that price was there for 2 days until it sold out, and I did not see any other sailings that low. I will write this review of the cruise with the added perspective on what one might do to save dollars along the way.

Also, I would add that we did this same cruise 13 years ago, on this very same ship which at that point was owned by Renaissance Cruises. (The only difference was the first cruise went to Tahaa and this one went to Rangiora) The ship still has the same look as it did 13 years ago, although I noticed a few changes. It still looks good. It had the same hand painted murals on the ceiling in the dining room, same beautiful black wrought iron staircase. Last time, we had a balcony cabin, but this time it was just an outside cabin. Read more