Back from an unforgettable cruise in the Marquesas Islands, Worldwide Travel Specialist, Jo, talks about her time spent on the island of Ua Pou, French Polynesia.
We were told that we were going to have musical entertainment at breakfast but we weren’t prepared for quite how moving it would be. There were four beautiful Marquesan ladies wearing flowery dresses and were dancing effortlessly, swaying their hips and moving their hands gracefully to music played by a Marquesan band: their voices and musical instruments touching our hearts and souls. The spirit of Polynesia could be felt in that breakfast room and moved us to tears.
After recovering from our emotional breakfast experience, we headed off into town and tried some local products at the cultural centre including coconut, fresh mango and cooked bananas. The mango was so fresh in fact that we picked some off the trees nearby and ate them, the juices running down our chins! Delicious!
Next on our itinerary, we were to meet at a certain point at 11:30 for another cultural performance – so we diligently made our way there for that time. This time there were young girls, men dressed in scary animal bone outfits (one even had a goat’s skull hanging off his belt!) and ladies in their traditional outfits. We were again mesmerised by the music and the dancing. The men performed their haka dance, their traditional war cry filling our senses and the women moved gracefully to the enchanting music. These were just 2 of the many musical performances which we were privileged to see whilst in the Marquesas and every time, we were enthralled.
Experience the spirit of Polynesia for yourself
You can visit the Marquesas on our 7, 10, 11 and 14 night Cruise the Marquesas Islands cruise. Highlights include:
- A visit to Nuku Hiva’s spectacular bay
- Spectacular stargazing on the ship’s upper deck
- Local art and culture
- Discover Rangiroa, the largest atoll in the world
- Enjoy a picnic on a coral beach…