Tahiti had always been on our bucket list. I have a good friend who is a travel agent and she gave me the tour book. Within 2 hours we had booked for my husband's birthday, bucket list, and father's day all rolled into one cruise. Knew it was right.

Except for the 25 hours of travel to get there and home the entire pre-hotel and cruise was amazing. We flew in the night before and stayed at the Intercontinental in a room on stilts and in the morning had a wonderful breakfast outside overlooking the pool and the ocean. I could go back and stay a week there.

We lounged around poolside until the Paul Gauguin rep came and got us to take us to the ship around 2pm. There organizational skills were amazing - we wanted for nothing our entire cruise. We were lucky enough to be offered a discounted upgrade to a Grande Suite and it was worth every cent. Our butler, Shernan who made our dinner reservations, brought us delicious treats every afternoon, made sure we had ice, water, soda, and alcohol to our domestic goddess who thoroughly cleaned our room spotless every day, twice. Butler service is offered with many of the rooms and is included in the cruise. Everything, including air fare from LAX was included except any excursions off the ship. It seemed costly at first, but once you add up how the other cruise lines nickel and dime you to death, the price is very reasonable and the quality of service surpassed every cruise line I have ever been on. I was truly spoiled rotten. Read more