What could possibly be more rewarding than cruising through the islands of Tahiti on a luxury yacht with a mere fraction of the passengers of a normal cruise ship? How about having your own private deck on a luxury yacht? For those looking for the ultimately exclusive experience, Bora Bora Cruises announces a new on-board service: Vavau – My Bridge Deck. With six cabins and a large terrace on the aft deck, passengers will enjoy an intimate, private experience unlike anything else in the islands, with personalized service including a chef, butler, masseuse, and housekeeper. Relax in the utmost luxury on your own, or choose to mingle with the other guests on board, perhaps even have a candlelit dinner on the beach with your own skipper, chef, and butler. Whatever your choice, Bora Bora Cruises’ Vavau deck is a supremely unique experience for even the most experienced vacationer. For rates and availability, visit Bora Bora Cruises website.

*Note: Bora Bora Cruises’ Tu & Tia Moana ships will be on dry dock from January 29 through March 4, 2007

Following over $4 million dollars in renovations and upgrades, the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa continues to win accolades from critics and vacationers alike. Having recently been ranked #3 hotel in the Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific region in Travel + Leisure magazine’s “World’s Best” edition, Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa is not a stranger to recognition, having won numerous awards, including making Condé Nast Travelers Gold List since 2004. Though Bora Bora has a great reputation for being one of the most romantic vacation resorts in the world, it is as accommodating to families and divers as it is to honeymooners.

With the increasing development of the internet in everyday life and business, Tahiti has been taking greater steps to bring cyberspace to the islands. A number of small cyber cafés have slowly been appearing on many of the islands, offering customers a very different experience from a typical coffee shop. For instance, the Tiki Soft Café on the island of Tahiti offers not only coffee and sandwiches while you surf the web, but customers can also order sashimi and other traditional raw fish dishes. On the island of Moorea, Maria Tapas  offers live music most evenings, and the only cyber café on Bora Bora, L’Appetisserie serves breakfast, lunch, and home made ice cream. Most cyber cafés charge by the hour or half-hour, and offer both Mac and PC computers.

Tattoo
From the land that introduced tattoos to western civilization, Pearl Resorts & Spa plans to offer an experience that will remain with you for a long time! At Moorea Pearl Resorts & Spa, guests will have the opportunity to receive a traditional tattoo by native Polynesian tattoo artist, Herenui “Here” Teriitehau. Using hygienic, state-of-the-art equipment and authentic Polynesian black ink. Here designs tattoos according to client preference. Guests may reserve time at Here’s poolside booth, open every day except Sunday from 9am to 1pm. Most tattoos require a minimum of one hour for tattoo application which are applied either in the spa or in the privacy of the guest’s room.

Learn more about the history of tattoo.

Tahitian Wedding Ceremony Packages
Not only is Tahiti a perfect honeymoon destination, but couples can also tie the knot with a traditional Tahitian wedding. Both Moorea Pearl Resort and Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort have wedding packages that, although not legally binding, will bring a new level of romance to any vacation. The Moorea Pearl Resort offers a ceremony complete with a bed of roses in the couple’s bungalow, a musician’s trio on the beach, and a Polynesian canoe ride for the married couple. In the Bora Bora Pearl Resort package, the couple is dressed in traditional white wedding pareu and floral crowns, followed by the ceremony, where they are given unique Tahitian names and wrapped in a traditional Polynesian wedding quilt. In addition, both packages come with a marriage certificate, a complimentary bottle of champagne, and a photo album containing pictures of the ceremony. And the best part about these packages—they’re free!

After having invested more than $50 million in its four resorts on Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, Accor has decided to give its Sofitel hotels new names to go with their new looks. Sofitel Tahiti Resort, formerly Sofitel Maeva Beach and the first Sofitel resort in French Polynesia, has renovated all its rooms and public areas. Sofitel Marara Bora Bora has become Sofitel Bora Bora Resort, adding new overwater bungalows, a new spa and horizon pool, and a new bar for the pool and beach area. Sofitel Motu Bora Bora is currently going a soft refurbishment and will retain its original name. Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea is to become Sofitel Moorea Beach Resort, and will reveal its multi-million dollar overhaul, including the addition of 19 new overwater bungalows, a large spa, meeting and function rooms, and a new Polynesian restaurant. The property is scheduled to open later this fall. While Accor French Polynesia’s General Manager, Marc Reissenger decidedly aims to create “some of the best deluxe accommodation in French Polynesia,” he believes the new names “will make it easier for travel agents and other operators to identify where the resorts are located and that the product has been completely upgraded over the last year.”

The Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa is proud to announce Marc Gouronc as its new general manager. He takes over for Giuseppe Ressa, who during his three-year stint as manager helped the Sheraton Moorea become one of the 10 best Sheraton hotels in the world. Gouronc has been with the Sheraton chain since 2003, initially working as a grand chef.