Paul Gauguin cruise - Moorea day at the Intercontinental (10 of 11)

This continues our series about our Paul Gauguin cruise.  If you missed the rest, start reading here. Today, after getting off the ship, we spent a day at the Intercontinental Hotel in Moorea.

The Intercontinental Hotel Moorea

Yesterday, we toured the island and visited both the Hilton and the Sofitel hotels.  Our conclusion after seeing both the Hilton and the Sofitel was that the Intercontinental Moorea is the best choice for most of the Paul Gauguin clients.  First, it is every bit as nice - especially once the over water bungalows are updated - scheduled to happen by Fall of 2017.  Secondly, the pools are much nicer at the Intercontinental and the snorkeling is very good indeed.  Plus the Intercontinental has the dolphin experience and the sea turtle rescue area right on property.

Also the Intercontinental hotel offers some more economical classic rooms (not in a stand alone bungalow) that are quite nice.  Finally this hotel is owned by the same company that owns the  Paul Gauguin (Pacific Beachcomber) and so booking pre or post cruise extension with the cruise offers a more seamless experience.  Let's say you booked the Intercontinental Moorea Hotel as a pre-cruise extension.  Assuming you used the included Paul Gauguin air from LAX, you'll arrive at the hotel by 9 - 10 am.   Your room will be ready for occupancy as soon as you arrive.  Similarly when it's time to leave, you'll be able to stay on property until the 3 pm ferry to Tahiti is ready.  And you and your luggage will be transferred directly to the ship for check in.  Nice.

For more description and pictures of the Intercontinental Moorea, see our earlier posts here and here and here.

Intercontinental Moorea view of the beach from the pool

A view of both infinity pools at the Intercontinental Hotel Moorea

View looking back towards the restaurants of the Intercontinental Moorea from the pool area.

A day at the beach

We decided to spend the day at the Intercontinental Hotel Moorea.  This is where we stayed pre-cruise and we wanted to spend just one more day there.  We went ashore with some friends we had met that also wanted to see the resort.    So we shared a taxi which we picked up directly from the pier. It was $20 for all four of us each way.

After touring the property with our friends, we settled in at the pool.   We watched the sea turtles and dolphins just for fun. The chaise lounges were nice and comfy plus they were in the shade. Soon a dip in the pool was in order.  Not just a short dip either.  Standing in the pool shoulder deep looking out at the ocean is a very nice place to be when it's 85 F and humid out.  And that's pretty much how the rest of the day went.  We decided against snorkeling because it the water was bit choppy.   Around mid day, we had a little snack, then ended up leaving around 2:30.  Our taxi was waiting for us (we had arranged with the same driver who took us to the hotel to pick us up) and we were back on the ship by 3:15.

Back to the ship

We showered, went up to the top deck for the cocktail party. Then another great dinner.  And then we packed since it was the last night of the cruise.  Bags were out in the hall by 10;30.  We did see a little bit of the show that night and it was good.  But we retired before the show was finished.

Most of the staff say "thanks" to the passengers on the last night of the cruise.

This was the last night of the cruise but not our last view of French Polynesia.  We have one more day left.