Our family unanimously agreed that this was one of our best vacations ever. We love to snorkel, and being in the water in general, and my husband and kids got certified to dive just for the trip. We liked that it was very active during the day, but relaxed at night. Service was exceptional, and the staff came to know all of us within the first day (the bartender could tell me the last time one of my kids came by for a beverage). The food was excellent and abundant, and I was impressed with the design of the cabin. It was small, but comfortable, and we had more storage space than we could use. (I recently posted about how to pack for it.) So it’s a great trip for just about anybody.
Beautiful Wind Spirit anchored in Moorea.
But here is why I especially recommend a Windstar Tahiti cruise for travelers who like to be active on vacation:
Relaxed luxury – It’s upscale in terms of service, amenities, food, and decor, yet casual. You feel pampered without the pressure of having to dress up, even in the dining room. It’s perfect for honeymoons and celebrations, where you want the setting to feel special but not pretentious.
Cocktails at sunset on deck never gets boring. And is great for meeting people!
“Specialty dining” is when they turn the deck into a restaurant. Shorts are acceptable!
Adventurous excursions – And the variety! Hiking, diving, snorkeling, cycling, jet-skiing, to name a few. Though it’s ideal for travelers who want to be in the water every day like us, there are plenty of land and cultural activities as well. It’s great for families with older children who like to be on the go, even those who say they “don’t cruise.” (It’s nothing like a big ship cruise.) Divers have opportunities almost every day to do easy to advanced diving, and they also offered beginner excursions which required no certification.
First offical dive after certification!
Insider tip: I recommend that more advanced adventurers hire a private guide. They can tailor activities to your experience level, and you can do more in the same period of time. We are experienced snorkelers, so we went out in a speedboat instead of catamaran, and visited 5 locations in a 2 hour period. We also had a private jet ski tour which was really fun, and I felt more comfortable zipping around in a smaller group.
The best way to travel around Bora Bora, literally all the way around it.
On our private “snorkel safari” we saw eagle rays, manta rays, and lemon sharks in just a few hours. And snorkeled through a gorgeous coral garden (cover photo).
Lots of beach time – Being on a cruise often means giving up beach time. No worries with Windstar, there were three opportunities for the entire ship to hang out on a private island, equipped with all amenities. Passengers could spend an entire day swimming, snorkeling, and using the kayaks and paddleboards. And they set up a full bar!
Happy to be stranded on this private beach all day.
Especially with these guys taking care of us!
There were also excursions to private motus, we enjoyed one in Huahine which was led by a lifelong resident. It was interesting to hear about her life on the island, and she made it fun, too.
Learning to make poisson cru .
Flexibility – Most of the islands are easy to explore on your own. I do caution travelers to attend the shore talks the night before to get tips and safety advice. Or you can just hang out on the ship and enjoy the water sports platform for swimming, sailing, SUP and kayaking. Even tendering was easy, as it was fast and there were never lines.
Amazing street art in Raiatea
Hanging out off the back of the boat with all the “toys.” They even have sailboats.
Camaraderie – The small size (<150 passengers) means you get to know people who also enjoy the same type of adventures. We found ourselves on the same excursions with a couple other families who had kids the same age, so we naturally hit it off.
The die hard snorkel group heads out on their first excursion.
Pareo tying lesson on the catamaran
Cultural activities– Locals came onboard or met the ship at the dock to share their culture and demonstrate crafts. And on every Windstar sailing there is a special Destination Discovery Event. Ours was a celebration feast on a private motu in Bora Bora, with fantastic food and authentic Tahitian entertainment.
Ready to party!
Tahitian dancers at our private Bora Bora feast
Have to admit, I was nervous sitting in the front row when some of these flaming sticks were being tossed around.
Year-round destination – There is a rainy season from December to March, but like most tropical areas, it can often mean just occasional, isolated showers. We had a few short showers but they did not interrupt any of the activities. So you can pick the best time of year for your schedule, or plan around airfare deals.
You don’t get sunsets like this without some rain.
Or lush vanilla plantations.
Fun and relaxing, with spectacular scenery, lots of outdoor activities on land and water, unique cultural experiences, and lots of good food and drink at the end of the day. What more could an adventure traveler want?
To find out if Tahiti is the right fit for your family, send an email to suzette@suzettemacktravel.com.
There’s never a bad sunset when you’re on a Windstar Tahiti cruise.
