French Polynesia guide
Getting to French Polynesia
You fly into Faaʻa International Airport at Papeete on Tahiti, with direct services from the US West Coast and routings from Europe, New Zealand and Japan. From the Midwest and the East Coast, plan on a connection and an overnight flight. Almost every cruise embarks in Papeete, and we strongly recommend a hotel night there before boarding.
The flight
Papeete is served directly from the US West Coast, and that is the routing most American travelers use. From the Midwest or the East Coast you add a domestic leg, which in practice means leaving home in the morning and arriving late at night.
It is a genuine long haul and worth treating as one. Seat choice, an aisle for a night flight and a realistic connection buffer matter more here than the fare difference between two similar itineraries.
Why we add a night before the ship
Arriving in Papeete late at night after a long flight and boarding a ship the same day is a poor start to an expensive holiday, and it leaves no margin if a connection fails. A hotel night solves both problems and gives you the market and the waterfront in the evening.
It is the single change we most often make to a client's own plan, and nobody has yet told us it was a mistake.
Inter-island flights
Domestic services connect Tahiti with Moorea, Bora Bora, the Tuamotus and the Marquesas, and they are useful for pre- or post-cruise nights. They are limited in frequency, and baggage allowances are tighter than on the international leg, so they need to be planned alongside the cruise rather than added afterwards.
We book the air and the cruise together for exactly that reason. If you want a few nights on Moorea or Bora Bora at the end, tell us before we hold anything.
Common questions
How long is the flight from the United States?
From the West Coast it is a long overnight in the air. From the Midwest or the East Coast, add a domestic leg and expect most of a day door to door. The return crosses back the other way and is usually the easier direction for sleep.
Do I need a visa?
French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity and entry follows French requirements. US passport holders do not currently need a visa for a short tourist visit, but rules change and passport validity matters. We confirm the current requirements for your itinerary before you travel.
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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.
Last updated .