Windstar 7-day Tahiti Cruise: What to Expect – Ordinary Traveler (2024)

Embarking on a Windstar 7-day Tahiti Cruise is not just a journey; it’s a seamless exploration of paradise. Join me as I unravel the intricacies of reaching French Polynesia and delve into the wonders that await aboard the Star Breeze.

What I Loved About This Cruise

Here are some highlights that make this 7-day Dreams of Tahiti cruise with Windstar exceptional:

• The small ship’s ability to anchor at islands and hidden lagoons inaccessible to larger vessels.
• No scheduled sea days, maximizing time for island exploration.
• Each island on the itinerary offers a distinct experience.
• The inclusion of 2 days in Bora Bora provides an excellent opportunity for those with overwater bungalows on their bucket list to effortlessly enhance their trip by staying on the island.
• Complimentary access to water toys and a trampoline, easily accessible from the ship’s rear water sports platform.
• Nearly everything is included from espresso and soft drinks to specialty restaurants. This is not the case with many other cruise lines.
• The Star Breeze is an all-suite yacht so every cabin has at least 277 square feet of comfort.
• The crew, representing over 30 nationalities, were exceptional. From our cabin attendant to the Yacht Club barista, they played a significant role in making our trip truly special.

Getting There: The First Leg Of The Adventure

My adventure kicked off with a hassle-free journey from LAX to PPT with Delta Airlines. Strategically opting for a departure time of 10:30 am and arrival at 5:30 pm in Papeete meant we were able to avoid the red-eye fatigue.

Pro tip: Grant yourself an extra day pre-cruise to recover from the flight. Upon landing, a quick $30 USD taxi ride (Uber is not available) will take you to most hotels near the airport and ferry terminal. (I booked this hotel, which provided a free airport shuttle.)

When arranging your Windstar Cruise, I also recommend exploring their packages that include airfare, hotel, and transfers for a seamless experience. Visit my dedicated Windstar page to inquire directly with Windstar or feel free to contact me via email for a personalized booking experience, leveraging my expertise as a licensed travel advisor.

Things To Know Before You Visit French Polynesia

• Currency: While the US Dollar is widely accepted, I’d suggest withdrawing local currency (XPF) from the airport ATM for the best exchange rate.
• Cash: In popular spots like Moorea, Bora Bora, and Tahiti, credit cards suffice, but keep some cash handy for smaller islands, tours, and local transactions like taxis or buses. The more budget-friendly restaurants tend to be cash only, so it’s always a good idea to have cash available.
• Sunscreen: Pack more sunscreen than you think you will need! We ended up using much more sunscreen than we expected, and it wasn’t convenient or economical to find it in local stores.
• Shopping: While Windstar does offer a boutique store onboard with items like aloe, sunscreen, and UV protection swimwear, I recommend bringing your own rashguard and preferred brand of sunblock. That being said, I did have to purchase another bottle (I love that they stocked reef safe sunscreen!) at the shop onboard Windstar and their prices were definitely more favorable compared to local shops, which was greatly appreciated.
• Day Passes: Given that most flights from Papeete depart late at night, navigating the gap between disembarkation and your flight requires some planning. Numerous hotels extend day passes, providing a secure space to store your luggage and access their amenities. Personally, I opted for a day room at this hotel (inclusive of a free airport shuttle), costing around $100 USD — a more budget-friendly choice compared to a day pass at a resort. This way, we had a comfortable place to unwind before our departure.

Windstar Tahiti Cruise Review

The Star Breeze Ship: A Floating Paradise

Rated the best small cruise ship by Conde Nast, the Star Breeze has a capacity of 312 guests and feels more like a luxury yacht, than a conventional ship.

This all-suite cabined ship is equipped with a watersports platform where stand up paddleboards and kayaks are available to peruse the deep waters adjacent to anchorage. A multi-person trampoline sits on water for jumpers and sunbathers to enjoy the ease of floating enjoyment.

The two whirlpools are positioned on the bow and mid ship, accompanied with one neighboring pool to cool off and sip ice-cold beverages. If you feel you are getting too much sun, there’s the Star Boutique one floor down to purchase UV protection swimwear, hats and sunscreen.

When your time is up tanning, enjoy the world-class spa for deep tissue pampering and a variety of glamorous beauty treatments. For those who want to build up a sweat without the sun, there’s the hot bed and steam rooms available throughout the day with no appointment necessary.

Last but not least, the gym offers over a dozen workout machines, free weights and yoga room to complete your tailored exercise routine for the day.

Read more: South Pacific Cruise Packing List

Dining

Exploring the ship’s multiple decks, you will find five restaurants and one cafe with a variety of settings and eclectic cuisine. For the early birds, ascend to the bow views at the Yacht club on deck 8 for morning coffee, tea and smoothies while you experience epic sunrise photo opportunities. Offering fresh European style pastries, charcuterie and afternoon small bites, this cafe is tailored with communal literature and games with comfortable cafe seating.

Veranda, on deck 7, offers both indoor and patio seating with breakfast and lunch menus with aft views of the ship. On the bow side, the Star Grill contains the Star Grill with a luxurious barbeque style atmosphere where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet style or served to your table.

After dark, dine in the 5 star caliber restaurants of Amphora, Candles and Cuadro 44 to embark on exquisite cuisine by James Beard foundation chefs and the 10-time Michelin-star awarded chef, Anthony Sasso. Sit back, relax and experience the pleasures of fine dining service, wine pairing perfection, expert co*cktail creations and zero proof alcohol mocktails.

French Polynesia Itinerary

Papeete

Boarding commences at 1 pm, and the ship sets sail from Papeete around 6 pm. The check-in process was swift and easy, taking only about 30 minutes in total. With a capacity of 312 guests, the Star Breeze ensures a streamlined experience without the extended lines typical of larger cruise lines.

Once you’ve settled in and unpacked, I recommend acquainting yourself with the ship and collecting your snorkel mask and fins from the watersports deck. This set will be yours to use throughout the entire voyage.

To enhance your cruise experience, access their portal on your phone, offering details such as restaurant menus, shore excursion information, onboard account details, and much more.

The ship’s specialty restaurants require reservations, and I recommend booking these well in advance to ensure you secure your preferred days and times.

Moorea

What’s not to love about Moorea? This was my second visit to this picturesque island and, undoubtedly, it won’t be my last!

The Star Breeze anchors in the stunning Cooks Bay, which has no shortage of photo opportunities. My recommendations for your day in Moorea are to book a snorkel tour or visit one of the local public beaches and bring your snorkel gear. (Note: If you are visiting during whale season, I highly recommend booking a whale and dolphin watching tour!).

Taxis are conveniently accessible right at port, and you can hire one for approximately $20-30 USD to reach one of the nearby beaches.

Windstar also offers various land tours, one of which is a photographer’s perspective of Moorea, offering a glimpse into the diverse landscapes of the island.

Raiatea

Raiatea, often hailed as the “sacred island,” has a unique blend of exhilarating activities and cultural experiences. For a little something out of the ordinary, local tour operators offer a horseback riding adventure that incorporates a swim in the ocean. For a more serene exploration, I recommend taking one Windstar’s excursions along the Faaroa River, distinguished as the sole navigable river in all of French Polynesia.

Just steps from the dock in Uturoa, the second-largest city in Polynesia, you’ll find a wealth of shopping opportunities and charming cafes reminiscent of those found in France.

We personally needed some downtime, so we spent the morning shopping in town and treated ourselves to a leisurely afternoon with room service in our suite. In hindsight, I wish we had booked an excursion here because I had a little bit of FOMO after seeing everyone’s photos and hearing about their experiences on this island.

Motu Mahaea (Taha’a)

This particular destination was one I had eagerly anticipated. Not only have I heard great things about the island of Taha’a, Windstar had crafted an exclusive day for us on a private island called Motu Mahaea.

What is a motu, you ask? A motu is a reef islet formed by broken coral and sand surrounding an atoll. This particular islet is covered with stunning white sand and surrounded by a crystal clear turquoise lagoon.

Windstar transported us to the motu in cozy zodiacs, offering a day filled with sunshine, watersports, and a delicious barbeque lunch, all while our ship anchored close by. Thankfully, after the strenuous task of lounging on our private island, we were effortlessly shuttled back to our yacht for the evening’s festivities.

Read more: How to Pack for a Sailing Trip

Bora Bora

With two days anchored in Bora Bora, there’s plenty of time to explore this gorgeous island and lagoon. First, I recommend taking the local bus ($5 US per person) to Matira Beach — known as the prettiest public beach in Bora Bora.

For those stunning views of Mount Otemanu and to see the best sea life, book a lagoon tour with Windstar. We booked Windstar’s half day shared boat snorkeling excursion, which brought us to four different snorkel spots where we swam with eagle rays and manta rays!

I have always dreamed of spending the night in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora, so we took this opportunity to plan a stay at the Four Seasons Bora Bora! Their concierge set up a taxi to meet us at the port for a quick 20-minute drive and another 5-minute boat shuttle to the resort.

We spent the most dreamy 24 hours at the resort for memories that will last a lifetime. If you have the opportunity to incorporate this into your Windstar journey, it’s a decision you won’t regret! Feel free to contact me with any questions about the logistics of adding this to your trip.

Huahine

Huahine has left an indelible impression on every traveler fortunate enough to visit. Once the abode of Tahitian royalty, this island holds the highest concentration of ancient marae (temples) in French Polynesia, some believed to trace back to the Tahitians’ original ancestors.

The name Huahine, derived from the Tahitian word “vahine” (woman), likely alludes to a mountain ridge mirroring the silhouette of a pregnant woman — a powerful symbol of the island’s undeniable fertility.

The water clarity here rivals that of Moorea and Bora Bora, yet the island exudes a more unhurried ambiance with fewer tourists. The tranquility and serenity of Huahine served as the ideal ending to our Windstar journey.

Opting for a snorkel excursion with Windstar, we spent two hours snorkeling alongside friendly, vibrant fish. Our guide then led us to another captivating spot on the island, where the beach felt like stepping into another world.

Navigating The Details

I was surprised at the affordability of this cruise and, overall, I have found a Windstar cruise to be the best way to explore French Polynesia. With this itinerary, I visited 6 different islands in 7 days (they also offer an extended 11-day option). Attempting to visit even half of these islands independently would have entailed substantial planning and significantly higher expenses.

Diving into the specifics, the cost of a Windstar Dreams of Tahiti cruise starts at $2100 per person, however, I highly recommend exploring their packages, which incorporate airfare, transfers, hotel accommodations, as well as alcoholic beverages, wifi and gratuities.

Keep in mind that their base fare goes beyond room and board. It includes all meals, dining at specialty restaurants, 24-hour room service, non-alcoholic beverages, complimentary water sports equipment, and snorkel gear.

The price range for their port excursions typically falls between $99 and $259 per person and you won’t find these much cheaper by going through a local tour operator.

Embarking on two consecutive cruises in French Polynesia with Windstar has equipped me with valuable insights. If you have any questions about this voyage or need assistance in planning your dream trip, feel free to reach out to me. I’m here to help!