“I thought I’d have to get married to travel to Tahiti,” my friend and solo traveler Lisa said to me while we were sipping pina coladas on the upper deck of Windstar’s Star Breeze. Lisa joined me and a few other friends on this Windstar Dreams of Tahiti cruise .
She is an avid diver and snorkeler and was excited to finally visit Tahiti, a place she had always wanted to visit. “I didn’t think Tahiti was accessible to me as a solo traveler because it was not really fiscally responsible or attainable. I didn’t even know that a small ship cruise was an option, and it exceeded my expectations!”
This was my first trip to Tahiti, too, and I had the same preconceived ideas about it that Lisa had. It was for couples and honeymooners, it was romance overload, it was expensive, and it was hard to get to—making it even more expensive! However, I like to go against the grain and live my single life to the fullest, so Tahiti was a good place to achieve that as a solo traveler.
I convinced a few other friends to join me on this unique way to travel to Tahiti. A married girlfriend whose husband wasn’t interested in Tahiti (Michaela), a solo traveler (Lisa), and a married couple (Brian and Colleen), we all set out to try cruising around Tahiti as a friends’ adventure – and not a honeymoon.
What Can You do in Tahiti beyond Romance?
Sooooooo much! If you love water, you are in luck – there are so many water adventures. And it’s not just diving or snorkeling in the dreamy turquoise waters. We also did kayaking, dolphin tracking, ebiking, visited vanilla and pearl farms, stand-up paddle boarding, met locals, visited artists, and did jet skiing!
I feel like my friends and I turned Tahiti from romance islands into adventure islands!
Is it Tahiti or French Polynesia?
Let’s clarify this first. French Polynesia is the territory, and Tahiti is the biggest island, with the capital city being Papeete. 119 islands make up French Polynesia, with a population of 283,000. However, most people (and the internet) refer to all of the islands as Tahiti instead of French Polynesia. This is sort of like Hawaii, which refers to one specific island. Still, people refer to the collection of islands as Hawaii.
I will continue to use Tahiti and French Polynesia interchangeably – because that’s what we are used to – but know that it’s not exactly correct.
One of my biggest ‘duh’ moments after I arrived is that this is FRENCH Polynesia—therefore, everyone speaks French, and the entire place operates like France. Many of our guides were originally from France but lived in French Polynesia their entire lives. They had French accents but had the laid-back vibe of Polynesians and island life—how exotic! Expect some great French restaurants and great wine among the local seafood favorites.
Benefits of a Tahiti Cruise
It was pretty clear from the beginning that there were many benefits to cruising around Tahiti rather than traditional ‘land’ travel.
1. Visit All the Islands
Windstar’s Dreams of Tahiti Cruise stopped at the five main Society Islands: Tahiti, Mo’orea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, and Huahine. Each one had a different vibe and a different level of tourism. Huahine was the quietest, Tahiti the most bustling, and Bora Bora the most heavily touristed. We were fortunate to be able to visit each one and experience these differences, meeting locals from each island.
However, suppose you travel to Tahiti the more conventional way. In that case, you will typically be forced to pick only one island (two tops) to visit due to time, logistics, and money constraints. Most travelers go to Bora Bora, and that’s it. By doing a Tahiti cruise, we were able to cover much more ground
2. Easier to Meet Other Solo Travelers to Hang Out With
Solo traveling can be intimidating in Tahiti. Tahiti tourism really pushes romance and couple experiences. Most tours require a minimum number of people to operate, making it hard to find experiences you can do as a solo traveler. Finally, with many people there honeymooning, they aren’t really looking to meet other travelers, so it can be somewhat isolating.
In contrast, our ship was filled with various travelers, families doing reunions, couples, and many solo travelers! In fact, on the first full day on the ship, Windstar traditionally hosts a solo traveler meetup so that solo travelers can meet each other early on. Plus – the crew is always eager to introduce you to other travelers and eat as a communal group. You are only alone if you want to be!
3. It’s Cheaper – Over the Water Bungalow Vs. Windstar Cruise Suite
Bora Bora is known for its over-the-water bungalows—for many people, staying there is a bucket list item. However, on average, a Bora Bora bungalow costs about $1000 a night. Stay there for four nights, and that’s potentially what you would pay for the entire cruise—plus all of your food and drink is included on the ship!
“We completely debunked Bora Bora – I didn’t want to spend $1000 a night for a bungalow – but thought that was the only way to do it” Brian
Most people don’t even know that a cruise in Tahiti is a possibility, but when you compare the costs for the same number of nights and the food and drink, the cruise will end up being cheaper. In addition, cruising around Tahiti is also cheaper than a seven-day Hawaii vacation in hotels!
And if you are worried that staying on a cruise ship will prevent you from getting that beautiful opportunity to walk out of your bungalow and jump right into the water off your porch—don’t fear! The Star Breeze has the coolest watersports platform that turns the entire South Pacific into your swimming pool! We all loved the watersports platform and utilized it every time it was available. It’s pretty cool to float around next to your ship!
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4. French Polynesian Culture Travels with You
You might think that being on a ship means you wouldn’t be as close to the islands’ culture. However, Windstar has doubled down on cultural experiences that travel with you on the ship.
Pearl, our French Polynesian cultural ambassador, is part of the crew organizing events such as Tahitian dance and language lessons, crafts, a Ukulele performance, and more. She was so lovely, always socializing with guests when she wasn’t entertaining them with her ukulele skills and singing. She grew up in Tahiti and was a super person to talk to when you had questions about Tahiti!
In addition, the ship holds special events each sailing that bring other local groups on the ship in certain locations to teach travelers how to make a lei, tie a pareo, and enjoy Tahitian music and dancing. Windstar also has an immersive cultural even in Bora Bora on a motu (private island) where guests enjoy an al fresco dinner with traditional foods, live music and local fire dancers lighting up the night.
