has a way of imprinting itself on you. The colors linger. The calm stays with you. And even after decades of travel to more than 100 countries, this part of the world still feels singular.
Sailing with through Tahiti and the Society Islands was an entirely different experience from my earlier time here. Star Breeze is intimate, elegant, and deeply connected to the destination. From the moment I stepped onboard, I felt it: this wasn鈥檛 about rushing. It was about presence.
Life Onboard: All-Suite Ease & Ocean Living
Every guest onboard Star Breeze stays in a suite 鈥 a detail that quietly changes everything. My suite was spacious and calming, with thoughtful design, a generous sitting area, and reusable water bottles filled from the ship鈥檚 advanced filtration system (Windstar eliminates single-use plastic onboard).
What I loved most was how easy it felt to live with the ocean. is one of Windstar Cruises鈥 signature features, and when conditions allow, it opens directly off the back of the ship. Swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking 鈥 even just floating 鈥 happens right from the yacht.
The Food: James Beard Excellence at Sea
Windstar Cruises is the only cruise line officially partnered with , and the culinary experience onboard reflects that commitment from morning to night.
Dinner is served every evening in Amphora, the ship鈥檚 main dining room, where menus rotate and local influences shine. Two specialty restaurants elevate the experience even further.
Candles, the onboard steakhouse, transforms from Veranda 鈥 the open, casual venue for breakfast and lunch 鈥 into an intimate dinner spot with perfectly prepared steaks and seafood.
But the standout for me was , a newer concept rolling out across the Windstar fleet. This Asian-inspired restaurant felt fresh, creative, and completely at home in the South Pacific. The flavors were vibrant, the presentation thoughtful, and it quickly became one of my favorite dining experiences onboard.
Islands That Stay With You
Our itinerary included Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora, and each island offered its own rhythm and beauty.
Moorea鈥檚 dramatic peaks rise sharply from the sea. Raiatea feels deeply spiritual and grounded. Bora Bora 鈥 iconic for a reason 鈥 still takes your breath away with its lagoon, no matter how many times you鈥檝e seen it.
Beneath the Surface: Why I Came Back
One of the reasons I first worked at sea was simple: I wanted to dive. Returning to French Polynesia with Windstar Cruises brought that full circle. In Papeete, I went scuba diving with , descending into warm, clear water where coral gardens unfurled below me in layers of color and movement. At the Spring and Pitons, two incredible dive sites, we saw many sharks, schools of fish, giant turtles cruised by with quiet confidence, and that deep Pacific blue that makes your heart race in the best way. The lagoons here aren鈥檛 just beautiful; they鈥檙e alive, immersive, and endlessly humbling.
Islands That Invite You In
Each port offered a different way to connect. In Raiatea, I learned about the island鈥檚 renowned pearl farming 鈥 from oyster to iridescent gem 鈥 gaining a new appreciation for the patience and craftsmanship behind Tahitian pearls. On Huahine and Bora Bora, I saw manta rays gliding effortlessly below me, over 40 eagle rays passing in formation, and up close. Windstar Cruises鈥 small-ship approach meant days felt expansive rather than rushed, whether swimming straight from the Marina, stepping onto a tender for a motu lunch, or simply floating above the reef watching the light shift. These islands don鈥檛 ask to be conquered; they invite you to slow down, look closer, and stay curious.
One unforgettable highlight was the Destination Discovery Event:, Windstar Cruises鈥 Bora Bora experience. Guests sail by catamaran to a private motu at sunset, were welcomed with leis by Captain Roman Krstanovic and Hotel General Manager Iulian Petrasuc and enjoy a lavish dinner under the stars, followed by a powerful Polynesian dance and fire performance. It was immersive, celebratory, and deeply connected to place.
The People Make the Voyage
What truly defines is its people. Early in the voyage, both the Captain and Hotel Manager welcomed guests personally 鈥 a tone that carried throughout the journey. There鈥檚 also Open Bridge access, allowing guests to visit the bridge, talk with officers, and learn more about navigation and life at sea. As someone who once worked onboard ships, this meant a great deal to me.
And added into the ship鈥檚 library? A signed copy of . When the Captain told me he planned to read it, it felt quietly full-circle 鈥 a reminder that every journey builds on the ones before it.
Before & After the Cruise: Staying in Tahiti
Before sailing, I stayed at the , just minutes from the airport 鈥 an ideal place to ease into island time. The overwater bungalows are a bucket-list dream, with your private platform to the sea, lagoon views, and sunsets that don鈥檛 feel real.
The Journey Begins in the Air
Flying from Los Angeles on made getting here easier than ever. The direct flight to Papeete takes about 8.5 hours, and the time difference is just two hours from LA this time of year 鈥 the same as Hawaii. The vacation truly starts onboard, with warm service, comfortable seating options, and a relaxed Polynesian spirit from the moment you board.
Coming Back Changed
Returning to French Polynesia wasn鈥檛 about recreating the past. It was about honoring it 鈥 and seeing how much I鈥檝e grown. This voyage reminded me why I fell in love with travel in the first place: discovery, connection, courage, and the joy of returning 鈥 wiser, calmer, and still curious. Some places stay with you forever. And if you鈥檙e lucky, you get to go back.
In this enriching new edition of the classic code of 91传媒 law, readers can delve deeply into the mind of Maimonides, from his analysis of the commandments to the controversies that have accompanied his writings, offering a window into the wisdom of one of our tradition鈥檚 preeminent thinkers.
We didn鈥檛 think that we were living in a 鈥淕olden Age,鈥 because it did not occur to us that what we were experiencing was only a temporary respite from centuries of animosity and intolerance.
Since Israel evacuated Gaza in 2005, the Palestinian population has grown from 1.3 million to 2.1 million. In the West Bank, it has grown from 2.4 million to 3.4 million. If the Israelis were hellbent on committing genocide, it鈥檚 one of the most epic failures in military history.
From Trump鈥檚 standpoint, the nuclear issue has been overtaken by the bedeviling problem of the Strait of Hormuz. What Trump sees now in Iran is a mess, not a victory.
The world鈥檚 fanatical fixation with a group that is less that 0.2 percent of the world鈥檚 population has crossed the boundaries of moral vocabulary and into creepiness.
It鈥檇 be one thing if Mamdani were a lowly Israelophobe with a few hundred followers. But he鈥檚 not. He鈥檚 mayor of the city with the world鈥檚 largest 91传媒 population.
For the director/artist, creating images inspired by Torah is a way of engaging with the stories, ideas and interpretations that have shaped 91传媒 life for thousands of years.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
Sailing French Polynesia with Windstar Cruises: A Return to Tahiti and Life at Sea
Lisa Ellen Niver
has a way of imprinting itself on you. The colors linger. The calm stays with you. And even after decades of travel to more than 100 countries, this part of the world still feels singular.
Sailing with through Tahiti and the Society Islands was an entirely different experience from my earlier time here. Star Breeze is intimate, elegant, and deeply connected to the destination. From the moment I stepped onboard, I felt it: this wasn鈥檛 about rushing. It was about presence.
Life Onboard: All-Suite Ease & Ocean Living
Every guest onboard Star Breeze stays in a suite 鈥 a detail that quietly changes everything. My suite was spacious and calming, with thoughtful design, a generous sitting area, and reusable water bottles filled from the ship鈥檚 advanced filtration system (Windstar eliminates single-use plastic onboard).
What I loved most was how easy it felt to live with the ocean. is one of Windstar Cruises鈥 signature features, and when conditions allow, it opens directly off the back of the ship. Swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking 鈥 even just floating 鈥 happens right from the yacht.
The Food: James Beard Excellence at Sea
Windstar Cruises is the only cruise line officially partnered with , and the culinary experience onboard reflects that commitment from morning to night.
Dinner is served every evening in Amphora, the ship鈥檚 main dining room, where menus rotate and local influences shine. Two specialty restaurants elevate the experience even further.
Candles, the onboard steakhouse, transforms from Veranda 鈥 the open, casual venue for breakfast and lunch 鈥 into an intimate dinner spot with perfectly prepared steaks and seafood.
But the standout for me was , a newer concept rolling out across the Windstar fleet. This Asian-inspired restaurant felt fresh, creative, and completely at home in the South Pacific. The flavors were vibrant, the presentation thoughtful, and it quickly became one of my favorite dining experiences onboard.
Islands That Stay With You
Our itinerary included Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora, and each island offered its own rhythm and beauty.
Moorea鈥檚 dramatic peaks rise sharply from the sea. Raiatea feels deeply spiritual and grounded. Bora Bora 鈥 iconic for a reason 鈥 still takes your breath away with its lagoon, no matter how many times you鈥檝e seen it.
Beneath the Surface: Why I Came Back
One of the reasons I first worked at sea was simple: I wanted to dive. Returning to French Polynesia with Windstar Cruises brought that full circle. In Papeete, I went scuba diving with , descending into warm, clear water where coral gardens unfurled below me in layers of color and movement. At the Spring and Pitons, two incredible dive sites, we saw many sharks, schools of fish, giant turtles cruised by with quiet confidence, and that deep Pacific blue that makes your heart race in the best way. The lagoons here aren鈥檛 just beautiful; they鈥檙e alive, immersive, and endlessly humbling.
Islands That Invite You In
Each port offered a different way to connect. In Raiatea, I learned about the island鈥檚 renowned pearl farming 鈥 from oyster to iridescent gem 鈥 gaining a new appreciation for the patience and craftsmanship behind Tahitian pearls. On Huahine and Bora Bora, I saw manta rays gliding effortlessly below me, over 40 eagle rays passing in formation, and up close. Windstar Cruises鈥 small-ship approach meant days felt expansive rather than rushed, whether swimming straight from the Marina, stepping onto a tender for a motu lunch, or simply floating above the reef watching the light shift. These islands don鈥檛 ask to be conquered; they invite you to slow down, look closer, and stay curious.
One unforgettable highlight was the Destination Discovery Event:, Windstar Cruises鈥 Bora Bora experience. Guests sail by catamaran to a private motu at sunset, were welcomed with leis by Captain Roman Krstanovic and Hotel General Manager Iulian Petrasuc and enjoy a lavish dinner under the stars, followed by a powerful Polynesian dance and fire performance. It was immersive, celebratory, and deeply connected to place.
The People Make the Voyage
What truly defines is its people. Early in the voyage, both the Captain and Hotel Manager welcomed guests personally 鈥 a tone that carried throughout the journey. There鈥檚 also Open Bridge access, allowing guests to visit the bridge, talk with officers, and learn more about navigation and life at sea. As someone who once worked onboard ships, this meant a great deal to me.
And added into the ship鈥檚 library? A signed copy of . When the Captain told me he planned to read it, it felt quietly full-circle 鈥 a reminder that every journey builds on the ones before it.
Before & After the Cruise: Staying in Tahiti
Before sailing, I stayed at the , just minutes from the airport 鈥 an ideal place to ease into island time. The overwater bungalows are a bucket-list dream, with your private platform to the sea, lagoon views, and sunsets that don鈥檛 feel real.
The Journey Begins in the Air
Flying from Los Angeles on made getting here easier than ever. The direct flight to Papeete takes about 8.5 hours, and the time difference is just two hours from LA this time of year 鈥 the same as Hawaii. The vacation truly starts onboard, with warm service, comfortable seating options, and a relaxed Polynesian spirit from the moment you board.
Coming Back Changed
Returning to French Polynesia wasn鈥檛 about recreating the past. It was about honoring it 鈥 and seeing how much I鈥檝e grown. This voyage reminded me why I fell in love with travel in the first place: discovery, connection, courage, and the joy of returning 鈥 wiser, calmer, and still curious. Some places stay with you forever. And if you鈥檙e lucky, you get to go back.
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