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Tuhaa Pae
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FAQ’s
General FAQ’s
Answer: There is no internet connection on the Tuha’a Pae. When you are close to shore or in port, you can use cell based internet services. To do this you may purchase a cell plan or Tahiti Wifi router at the Papeete airport on arrival.
Answer: The staff of the Tuhaa Pae are locals that live in and come from the islands of French Polynesia. These staff members are proud of and pleased to share the traditions and cultures of the islands. As a result all serving staff, front desk workers and sailors are very familiar with the islands but most of them do not speak English fluently as they do not work in the tourism industry. An English speaking Host or Hostess will be on the ship to assist in translation and communication. During tours on the islands, guides may speak limited English as this is a remote area of French Polynesia with little tourism. An app such as Google translate is recommended and can be downloaded to a phone or digital device.
Answer: The bridge is generally open at all times except for the 30 minutes prior to pulling into or out of a port. A limited number of passengers are permitted in the bridge at any given time.
Answer: Weather conditions from month to month and day to day can be varied and unpredictable. Even when the daily forecasts are posted, it is best to prepare for any type of weather. One island or atoll can have multiple climatic zones with rain on one side and bright sun on the other. November to May temperatures range from 26 to 29 Celsius. June to October is slightly cooler on average with temperatures around 24 to 25 degrees Celsius. As this is a freight ship without stabilizers it is recommended to prepare for all types of sea conditions and ship movement.
Answer: Each of the ports in the Austral Islands have a dock for the Tuha’a Pae so tendering is not necessary. A steep staircase must be used to get on and off the ship.
Answer: European format 220 volt power plugs are located throughout the ship. Power adaptors should be brought if your device uses another current.
Answer: Parents take primary responsibility for their children during the Tuhaa Pae experience as there are no set kids activitites.
Answer: The distance covered is approximately 2500 kilometres on the classic voyage and 3000 kilometres on the grand tour!
Answer: As of 2024 you do not require a visa or vaccination to visit French Polynesia/Tahiti if you are a citizen of Canada, the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and a variety of other countries if staying for less than 90 days and for tourist purposes. Your passport however must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your day of arrival. It is always good to check in advance should any of these requirements change.
Answer: Comfortable, informal, and easy to wash clothes are highly recommended. Dining is very casual but some people may prefer to dress up slightly rather than wearing shorts and tshirts to dinner in the evening.
Answer: Clothing-wise, be sure to pack the following: shorts/jeans/pants, t-shirts/tops, a bathing suit, rain jacket or waterproof poncho, water shoes, bug repellent, sunscreen and a light sweater for cooler evenings. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes suitable for shore excursions as well as water shoes or strap on sandals that can get wet. Additionally, be sure to bring all necessary medications you will need. Finally sunscreen for sunny days and insect repellent with at least 25% DEET is essential especially when visiting archaeological sites in jungle areas. Make sure to apply sunscreen after applying insect repellent as insect repellent may cause skin to burn much easier than on areas of your body without repellent.
Answer: French Polynesia has an extensive network of cell phone coverage throughout the islands including Tahiti and the Austral Islands. As a result most every port has good cell phone reception on the Vini network. Please note however that charges by your cell phone provider may be high when traveling internationally. If you have an unlocked phone and plan to be making and receiving calls within French Polynesia, it is advisable to purchase a SIM card while in Tahiti which will give you a local number to make and receive calls from. These SIM cards are available at all post offices in Tahiti.
Answer: If you are planning on flying home on the nightly international flights from Papeete, chances are you are not going to want to carry your luggage around with you all day long. You have three options. 1) If you are staying in a hotel they will usually store your luggage after you check out until the evening when you are ready to go to the airport. 2) You may book a day room with us at one of the hotels in Tahiti. 3) You can book a private tour with a company that will store your bags during your excursion.
Activities FAQ’s
Answer: Excursions are included in your cruise fare and are subject to change. If you prefer you can do your own activities at your own expense. You must however meet up with the ship at least an hour prior to its departure time. Here is a sample of what you may experience on each island.
RIMATARA: The day starts with a tour of the island, which may include a visit to the village, a stop to see local craftsmen, a field of “pandanus” and a “braiding” workshop.
This is followed by a traditional lunch on the beach. In the afternoon, weather permitting, you will visit a location to view the production of local “monoï” oil.
RURUTU: Tour the island, with a stop to visit villages, caves and a “marae” (ancient temple), beaches and different bays.
Lunch will be at a local guide’s guesthouse where you may enjoy the beach and swimming pool.
TUBUAI: By car you can visit the villages, a “marae”, the many plantations, tour of the island with explanations of the various sites including “Fort Georges”. You will hear about the arrival of the Bounty with Christian Fletcher and enjoy lunch on shore.
RAIVAVAE: If the weather permits, enjoy an excursion to the natural blue “motu swimming pool” with a traditional picnic.
RAPA: This stop is only on the Grand Voyage. Visit the village and see the market of various artisan creations including intricately woven hats and other hand made articles. craftsmen. Take a short hike to visit the site of “the lying woman” and explore the mound remains of the various “forts” on the hilltop above the village.
Answer: Visits are limited to the time that it takes port authorities and cargo operators to finish their duties and varies based on destination. The ship is generally in port from 9 am until 4 pm on each island for excursions. You should check this however with the tour director as the main purpose of the ship is for its freight and cargo.
Answer: There are opportunities to snorkel during the cruise but you should arrange any snorkeling excursions you would like to do in advance.
Answer: No snorkeling gear is provided on the Tuhaa Pae and in the remote islands, stores have limited supplies. It is recommended that you bring your own snorkeling gear.
Answer: There is no planned evening entertainment on the Tuha’a Pae. Having said that, locals and staff may be seen on occasion playing music on a guitar or ukulele and singing traditional songs.
Answer: The Tuhaa Pae has a cafeteria, small dining room, private cabins and an outside deck area with chairs. This is a working freighter and limited facilities are available onboard.
Answer: On Sundays there may be an opportunity to take part in a church service at a local church. This will vary depending on the cruise schedule. At a local church you will have the opportunity to listen to the mesmerizing spiritual music of Polynesia and see the local artistry of their hand woven hats, bags and other articles.
Answer: We recommend arriving in Tahiti at least one to two days before your Tuha’a Pae cruise or 3 to 5 days early if you would like to visit the nearby island of Moorea. Tahiti has some 2 and 3 star hotels in the city of Papeete which are great for a short stay where you can walk to the main market and evening roulottes (food trucks) for dinner. 4 star resorts are located within a 10 to 20 minute shuttle ride from the city. Moorea is a short 10 minute flight or 30 minute catamaran ride from Tahiti and is where the Tahitians go to vacation away from the busy port of Papeete. Bora Bora is also stunning and worth spending 3 to 4 nights.
Dining FAQ’s
Answer: The Tuhaa Pae provides a few bottles of water in your in room upon arrival. Water bottles can be refilled in the kitchen area. It is recommended that you bring your own reusable water bottle.
Answer: There are no assigned tables onboard the Tuhaa Pae. The tour group dining area is small with only one table that is shared with all tour participants.
Answer: Most dietary requests can be accommodated provided you make arrangements at the time you make your Tuhaa Pae reservation. When boarding the ship, please make sure to reconfirm your dietary needs with the kitchen staff.
Answer: Meals change from time to time depending on the day’s itinerary.
Answer: Coming Soon.
Answer: Coming Soon
Answer: Yes, you may bring your own alcohol onto the ship from shore.
Answer: Smoking is not permitted in the common areas of the ship, inside private cabins or on private balconies. Smoking can only take place in a designated area at the back of the ship.
Health & Mobility FAQ’s
Answer: There is no doctor onboard the Tuhaa Pae. Staff are trained in first aid and Doctors can be found on each of the Austral Islands being visited during the cruise. Staff can radio ahead to each island for emergency medical needs.
Answer: • The Tuhaa Pae does permit CPAP machines on-board. Power outlets are also located in the cabin although a power converter may be needed depending on the plug on your device. An extension cord should be brought in case power outlets are fare from the bed.
Answer: There is no elevator onboard the Tuhaa Pae. Staircases are the only way to get around the decks of the ship.
Answer: To reduce the incidents of illness it is recommended you bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands frequently in the locations provided. Frequently disinfecting hands during your cruise can help keep you healthy for the duration of your cruise.
Answer: • On board the Tuhaa Pae mosquitoes are not a problem while in air conditioned areas. The areas where you should be most vigilant about preventing bug bites are when visiting remote jungle areas and archaeological sites.Tropical diseases found in French Polynesia and that are common in many tropical areas of the world include Dengue fever, the Zika virus and Chikungunya. These conditions can lead to severe fever’s and joint and muscle pain which can last from 3 days up to multiple weeks. The best way to prevent mosquito infections is to not get bitten by mosquitoes. The most effective way to prevent mosquito bites is to cover exposed skin with loose fitted clothing. Long-sleeve shirts and pants, hats with sun flaps to cover the neck and closed toe shoes will minimize areas of exposed skin. Exposed skin and clothing should also be sprayed with bug repellent. Bug repellent containing the active ingredient of deet is one of the most effective ways to prevent bites by mosquitoes as well as itchy nono/sand flea bites. More powerful concentrations of deet repellent cannot be purchased in French Polynesia and should be brought with you. Repellents with a minimum of 25% deet are recommended. Natural oil repellents also include citronella, lemon eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, catnip, basil, clove, thyme, lemongrass, geranium and lavender but some people do not find these effective in the Marquesas islands.
Answer: • This depends on the extent of your mobility issues or disabilities. It is critical that you be able to mount and descend staircases as this is the manner in which you will be embarking and disembarking from the ship. There are no handicap accessible rooms. In a few villages there may be a fair amount of walking around unless you choose to hire your own driver. In some cases passengers can be shuttled by pre-arranged transportation. Persons that are visually or hearing impaired should not travel on the Tuhaa Pae as it can lead to dangerous situations in navigating through the different sections of the ship or decks. Feel free to ask about a particular disability to determine if you are able to travel aboard the Tuhaa Pae. The Tuhaa Pae reserves the right to refuse passage if it is determined that serious limitations or disabilities were not previously disclosed.
Money and Services FAQ’s
Answer: Swimming with whales from July to September is the most popular additional activity that you can arrange and pay for in advance. You must contact Far and Away Adventures well in advance to arrange this experience for your trip.
Answer: It is always a good idea to have a small amount of cash when you travel in case of emergency. Having smaller bills can also be helpful. As it is difficult if not impossible to get the local Polynesian Franc in advance of arriving, most people will wait until they arrive in Tahiti to obtain the local currency. The exchange rate with the Euro is a fixed flat rate (1 Euro (€) = 119.33 Pacific Franc). Pre-booking transfers from the airport to your hotel will make it easier to start your trip without having to obtain Polynesian Francs. There are however ATM machines and a currency exchange at the Faaa International Airport, the arrival point for all flights into Tahiti. This currency exchange is open for all arriving international flights. Withdrawing money at ATM machines in Tahiti is the easiest and most convenient way to obtain money at a good exchange rate although most hotels will also exchange money at rates that are less competitive. Credit cards are widely accepted at stores throughout French Polynesia but are not accepted at local markets stalls, street vendors and at roulottes (food trucks) where cash is generally required.
Answer:• There is no place onboard the ship to exchange money into the local Polynesian Franc. It is recommended that you bring some local cash with you prior to boarding. Many bank machines are located throughout the city of Papeete which is the best location to get local currency.
Answer: Tipping is not customary in Tahiti or French Polynesia so there is no need to tip on board the Tuhaa Pae. Should you wish to provide tips for good service, you can still do this but it is not required.
Answer: You will need Polynesian Francs in order to purchase souvenirs from local residents on most islands. The best way to get the local currency is to withdraw money from a bank machine using a debit card. The Tuhaa Pae cruise includes shore excursions in all ports. There are a few ports where these excursions are simply walking around a village or you will have the opportunity to go on a hike. As tipping is not required, special drinks and sodas on-board the ship and souvenirs may be your main additional expenses.
Answer: There is no store on the Tuhaa Pae.
Answer: No laundry services are available onboard the Tuhaa Pae.
Answer: Cabins do not have hair dryers, fridges or safes in each cabin.
Answer: Towels, soap, and shampoo are provided in your room similar to most cruise lines and hotels. Other toiletries should be brought with you.