We picked this cruise for its' itinerary and it was way less money than the Paul Gaugin. We also upgraded to an Owner's Suite and had high expectations for the ship, cruise, and suite amenities.

Flew into Papeete a day early and had a very expensive night at the Inter-Continental Hotel. 2 buffet breakfasts (similar to what Americans are used to at a Marriott for free) cost $38.00/pp, and the entire bill came to $522 for one night. The property is in sore need of upgrading and a reality check on their prices, and consistency of enforcement of hotel policies. Also, it would be nice to be informed of the Happy Hour specials, hours, etc. Yes, they have a Happy Hour and it is worth taking advantage of as a mixed drink is $18 USD.

Embarkation on the Pacific Princess was super fast and really set the mood for our onboard experience. The suite was very spacious and we were lukewarmly welcomed by our cabin steward, Eric. This is the first time that we have gotten a steward that was less than enthusiastic about his job, and was generally not very attentive. I should mention that we are not high maintenance cruisers and try to develop good relations with cruise staff from the start. The suite is in need of a complete renovation as does most of the public areas in the ship. Read more