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I had visited Papeete previously but had always wanted After dinner everybody went upstairs for our sail-away
to visit the outer islands of Tahiti –and what better way cocktail, and at every departure from port, Vangelis’s
to do it than on a cruise? It didn’t take long for me and my Conquest of Paradise overture was played and the six sails
husband, Dave, to choose Windstar Cruises’ beautiful were hoisted. It sent chills down the spine and the feeling
sailing yacht, Wind Spirit. didn’t change; it became a definite “must-be-there” on
We chose this ship as it was smaller than the conventional every departure.
cruise ships, and different. And I have to say we were not The next day took us to the island of Taha’a where we spent
disappointed: the 5,736-ton, 110-metre Wind Spirit can the day on a private motu (island). Here we snorkelled and
accommodate 148 passengers and on our seven-day kayaked, had an amazing barbecue lunch and listened
voyage which began on 4 December we had 100 guests to live music while sipping cocktails. We set sail again at
and 98 crew. 5pm and arrived at our next destination, Raiatea, at 6pm,
We flew to Tahiti two days before the cruise departed a very short way just across the lagoon. Here we did a tour
and stayed in Papeete. On the sailing day we walked to of the ship’s galley the next morning that included the chef
the pier as the ship was berthed right in town! From the taking us ashore to the local market where he showed us
moment we checked-in and boarded you could feel the the many different local fruits and vegetables. We sampled
friendliness of the staff. There were no big queues and quite a variety of fruits and the chef was very informative.
very little formality and everything was very relaxed. Next it was off to Bora Bora for an overnight visit. We went
Our luggage was whisked away and once we were up the on a four-wheel-drive tour around the island and I gave
gangway we were given lovely refreshing towels and were up counting the number of overwater bungalows at the
taken through to a lounge where Champagne cocktails resorts we passed by. That evening we went to a private
were waiting. We sat in comfortable chairs and finished motu that Windstar had hired for us. Everything was
our check-in process – a lovely way to start our holiday. perfect, right down to the white tablecloths on the picnic
Our stateroom, where our luggage was waiting, was larger tables, and very grand. There was a performance by local
than we expected, with plenty of storage space. We then dancers and for the grand finale, fire dancers. It was a
had a leisurely lunch and the rest of the afternoon was free spectacular night.
until 5pm when we had a safety drill. The next day, a handful of passengers returned to the motu
Wind Spirit set sail at midnight for the short voyage to to kayak and snorkel, and I spotted a stingray and a small
Moorea. Here we arranged to do our own tour with a shark. With so few people it was quite surreal: you felt like
couple from the US and spent the day seeing the sights. I you were on your own deserted island. Our last stop was
have to say that at every port we visited there were plenty Huahine, the “Garden Isle”, where we took a tour of the
of optional excursions to choose from, especially water- island and visited a vanilla plantation and a pearl farm with
based activities. I had been a little bit worried about this a very knowledgeable guide.
as my husband prefers land activities – but I needn’t have All good things have to come to an end and the next day we
worried because we kept ourselves fully occupied. That arrived back in Papeete and reluctantly disembarked. I have
evening we dined in the ship’s main restaurant, AmphorA, to say that with the wonderful service on Wind Spirit and the
which serves gorgeous French food with Tahitian impossibly beautiful places we visited, our voyage around
influences. And as the chef hails from India, there were Tahiti’s outer islands was an experience we will never forget.
some Indian twists as well.
HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : WINTER EDITION
