Month: March 2019

The best weather yet on our trip, a 40-foot-tall tiki statue atop a hill that was the site of an early 1800s fort, an outstanding hike to a viewpoint overlooking a gorgeous bay, a delicious dinner aboard Oceania Marina, and an amazing local folkloric show by Nuku Hiva dancers and drummers – it all adds up to the best day so far on our cruise around French Polynesia.

Nuku Hiva, 127 square miles (a bit less than twice the size of the District of Columbia) is the largest of the Marquesas Islands, one of five archipelagos that make up the far-flung territory of French Polynesia. It has a population of 3,150. The island features Vaipol Waterfall, the tallest in French Polynesia at 1,148 feet.

After visiting four islands in the past five days, we got our first full day at sea today sailing from Bora Bora Island to Nuka Hiva in the remote Marquesas Islands. Spent most of the day working but took a two-hour break to swim and read.

This is the first time Mom and I have cruised with Oceania, which has a six-ship fleet. Oceania was formed in 2003 by cruise industry veterans Frank del Rio and Bob Binder, who continue at the helm today.

Oceania Marina sailed away from Bora Bora early this afternoon and we’re now en route to Nuka Hiva in the remote Marquesas Islands. Mom and I experienced a beautiful departure from Bora Bora, a quiet rest of the day at sea, and a fantastic Valentine’s Day dinner at the ship’s Italian specialty restaurant.

We had a wonderfully sunny early afternoon as we sailed shortly after 1:00 past Bora Bora’s outlying motus (islets), home of several world-famous five-star resorts with over-water bungalows. Mom and I sat on Deck 14 above the pool reading and taking in the scenery as Bora Bora faded from view.