French Polynesia guide
Polynesian Culture and Heritage
French Polynesia is not only a seascape. Marae — stone ceremonial platforms — sit across the islands, the marae complex at Taputapuatea on Raiatea is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and traditions of navigation, tattoo, carving and dance are living rather than historical. The best cruise itineraries build in time for this rather than treating it as a photo stop.
Navigation
These islands were settled by voyagers crossing thousands of miles of open ocean without instruments, reading swell, stars, cloud and birds. It is one of the great achievements in human history, and it is not a museum subject here — traditional navigation has been actively revived across the Pacific in recent decades.
Once you know that, the geography of a cruise reads differently. The distances your ship covers overnight were covered by sailing canoes under a sky.
Marae and archaeology
Marae are open-air stone platforms that served as ceremonial and social centres. They survive across the islands in varying states, and the complex at Taputapuatea on Raiatea — a place of enormous significance across eastern Polynesia — is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The Marquesas hold a particularly rich archaeological record, with tiki and ceremonial sites in the valleys. See our guide to the Marquesas.
Tattoo, carving and dance
Tattooing is Polynesian in origin and the English word derives from it. Carving in wood and stone remains a serious craft, most strongly in the Marquesas. Dance — the ōteʻa and its relatives — is a competitive and highly disciplined art form, not a hotel floor show, and the annual festivities in July are its high point.
Where a ship arranges a performance, ask who the performers are. Community groups and school troupes are common, and paying attention to that is part of travelling well here.
Being a good guest
The usual courtesies apply and matter more in small communities: ask before photographing people, dress modestly away from the beach, greet people before asking for anything, and treat marae as the sacred sites they are rather than as backdrops.
French and Tahitian are the everyday languages, and a few words of Tahitian go a long way. Our broader position on travelling responsibly is on responsible travel.
Common questions
Are cultural visits staged for cruise passengers?
Some are, particularly on the busiest islands. Others — village visits in the Marquesas, community dance groups, working craft studios — are not. The difference usually comes down to the operator's local relationships, which is one of the things we look at when comparing itineraries.
What language should I try to speak?
French is the administrative language and Tahitian the heritage language of the Society Islands, with distinct languages in the Marquesas. English is widely spoken in tourism. A greeting in Tahitian — ia ora na — is warmly received everywhere.
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Written by your expedition advisors
Chris Commisso · Expedition Expert
Erika Commisso · Travel Experience Architect
CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor · ASTA Verified Travel Advisor
Chris and Erika have personally sailed 18 expedition ships and explored eight expedition regions.
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