For many people, the Islands of Tahiti have long been at the top of their bucket list, whether it's for a honeymoon, an anniversary, a special birthday or a luxury getaway. But there is so much more to this destination than enjoying a cocktail from an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora.
I was lucky enough to be hosted on a Tahiti Tourism familiarisation trip in March 2024. I experienced a seven-night cruise, Dreams of Tahiti, aboard the Windstar ship, Star Breeze. Honestly, there's no better way to experience Tahiti and here are a few of the reasons why...
Experience so much more of the destination
Travelling to Tahiti and only experiencing Bora Bora is equivalent to travelling to Hawaii and only visiting Honolulu. There are 118 islands in Tahiti so there is a magnitude of incredible experiences you’re missing out on if you’re only visiting one island. The seven-night Dreams of Tahiti visits six different islands, Papeete, Moorea, Ra’iatea, Tah’aa, Bora Bora and Huahine.
Experience more of the Islands on a small ship cruise of Tahiti.
Windstar Destination Discovery Event
All Windstar guests get to experience an evening on a private motu (tiny islet), exclusively for Windstar guests. We were greeted at the dock with a fragrant floral lei and smiles from our beautiful crew. After taking photos of the stunning sunset, cocktail in hand of course, we then enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner, complete with Tahitian pig cooked in the traditional ahi maa, an underground oven heated with hot coals. The highlight of the evening was dancing by the local Tahitians. Fire dancing has long been deeply embedded in the Polynesian culture as a way to send messages to the Gods. I was dazzled by their high-speed acrobatic moves and the throwing flames.
A unique way to visit Bora Bora
Windstar knows that many clients have spent their lives dreaming of an overwater bungalow experience and have found a unique way to ensure guests don’t have to sacrifice this if they choose to see Tahiti by cruise. Windstar offers a unique ‘shore excursion’ where you’ll be picked up from the ship and taken to your five-star resort for a night in your own overwater bungalow. This excursion is possible because the ship has an overnight stay in Bora Bora, so they will pick you up the next day and take you back to the ship in time to sail away. As you can imagine, this excursion is very popular so make sure you add it to your booking when you first book to avoid missing out.
Don't miss out on your bucket list experience - stay in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora.
Value for Money
If you’ve always wanted to visit Tahiti but you’re not sure if it’s in the budget then it’s worth considering a cruise. When cruising onboard Windstar you’ll be able to choose your standard of accommodation on their all-suite ship, ranging from a porthole to balcony to the Grand Owner’s Suite. Oh, and the food! Included in your cruise fare is breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, as well as snacks, 24-hour room service and even specialty dining! And the food was exceptional.
Whilst the serving sizes in Tahiti are big, the food can be quite expensive. I did check out some menus in Moorea at a four-star property and found a burger for AUD $43. So if you’re doing a land-based itinerary, the cost of food over a week would add up.
Make sure you upgrade to the All In Package which includes unlimited Wi-Fi, crew gratuities and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for USD $89 per person per day.
And did I mention the swim platform off the back of the ship where you can enjoy included water sports in some ports?
Benefits of a small ship experience 
Whilst some of the bigger cruise lines travel through Tahiti on their repositioning cruises from Australia to the Americas, only small ships are allowed to call into some of the islands, such as Bora Bora.
The process of tendering on and off the islands was so quick and easy. We never waited more than 10 minutes for a tender which made everything so easy. I’d previously cruised with a big cruise line and waited three hours to get a tender ashore in the South Pacific!
Unpack once
Never underestimate the ease of a cruise holiday! If you were to experience multiple islands independently, you’d need to pack up your room, get a ferry or flight between islands, and then transfer to your resort, only to arrive and have to unpack. With a cruise, all you need to worry about is what you’re going to choose for dinner! Unpack once for the week and never waste time travelling from one destination to the next, you’ll sail in the evening and wake up each morning in a new paradise.
Personalised Service
I loved the personalised service onboard. By the end of the week, the staff knew the drink orders of our group and my room attendant knew my name from day one and would always greet me with a warm smile.
A few hints and tips:
Book shore excursions
The best experiences I had in Tahiti were shore excursions off the boat. Whilst it is possible to get off the boat and wander around the area, if you do you’ll be missing the charm and experiences on offer.
My personal favourite experience 
Swimming with black-tipped sharks was a personal highlight!
Swimming with stingrays and black-tipped sharks. This can be done in either Moorea or Bora Bora.
Packing
The sun is lethal so if you’re planning on doing lots of water-based activities, I’d recommend packing a rashie and board shorts. Hat and sunnies are a must and I’d also recommend a handheld fan. There’s also a lot of coral, so reef shoes are great for your beach and snorkel days.
Money
I was surprised to learn how easy it is to pay for items on credit card and even Apple Pay. There was only one item on the trip where I couldn’t use the card at a local market that accepted cash only. For this reason, if you’re doing the cruise, you probably only need a small amount of local currency and you can use your credit card for everything else.
Ready to experience your own Windstar Dreams of Tahiti holiday?
Get in touch with me here and I can make your Tahiti dream a reality.
