Windstar Day 5: Tahaa Excursion and Private Island Snorkelling - Dreams of Tahiti Cruise

Day 5 of our Windstar Dreams of Tahiti cruise on Star Breeze takes us from a Tahaa vanilla and pearl farm excursion to snorkelling, kayaking and a private island BBQ on Motu Mahaea in French Polynesia. We have now spent five days on the Star Breeze ship has part of our Windstar Dreams of Tahiti cruise. The fun begins before sunrise as the Star Breeze approaches Tahaa (Taha'a). The morning starts quietly as we prepare for an early excursion called A Scenic Exploration of Tahaa, which becomes one of the most informative parts of the itinerary. This day also shows how the Windstar itinerary blends cultural excursions with lagoon activities across the Society Islands. The tender brings us to the island where we jump in 4WD utes and begin to drive around the Tahaa Island in French Polynesia. The first stop is a vanilla farm. The walkthrough shows the plants, the drying racks and the traditional method used to prepare vanilla, along with an explanation of how the plants are fertilised, how flavour develops through each stage of the process, including drying. We also learn about the history of vanilla farming. It becomes clear how this part of the Windstar Tahiti excursions program connects local agriculture with the wider Tahiti cruise itinerary. From the vanilla farm we continue to a pearl farm, where the focus shifts to the history of pearl cultivation in French Polynesia. The visit includes a demonstration of how oysters are seeded, how pearls form and how quality is assessed. We learnt about the removal of the pearl and the differences between grades, colours and shapes. The explanation highlights what makes French Polynesia pearls distinct within the region. The excursion continues into the hills of Tahaa where the views open across the lagoon and the surrounding motus. At the viewpoint we try local fruit and learn a simple dance step from the guides, adding a cultural moment to the morning. The return to the ship brings the first half of the day to a close as the Star Breeze gets ready for the Windstar private island experience. This mix of land exploration and lagoon time is a defining rhythm of a French Polynesia cruise. The afternoon takes place on Motu Mahaea, Windstar’s private island in French Polynesia. Zodiacs shuttle guests from the ship to the beach, where a large BBQ buffet is set up under the palms. The video shows the layout of the island, the seating areas, the bar and the water access points. After lunch the day becomes more active with kayaking, swimming and snorkelling in the shallow water around the motu. The snorkelling footage includes coral, reef fish and the movement of the current across the lagoon. Small waves break on the outer edge of the reef, adding a sense of the wider ocean beyond the calm swimming area. This could be a good French Polynesia surfing spot! As the afternoon ends we return to the ship for a tropical island sunset. The light over the water is warm as we sit in the jacuzzi hot tub and watch the colours shift across the horizon. The evening continues with dinner on board, followed by a performance from a local band in the lounge. The music, the atmosphere and the relaxed pace of the night bring the day to a natural close. By the end of Day 5, you can see how each stop fits into the broader South Pacific cruise experience. This episode is part of my Windstar Dreams of Tahiti cruise series, my French Polynesia travel series and my wider cruising series, documenting each day of the journey in a POV 4K style that follows the real flow of family travel through the islands. It also shows how Day 5 sits within the overall Tahiti cruise itinerary that Windstar operates through the Society Islands. I’m Chris Stead, an award‑winning journalist, travel editor and creator of The Motivated Travel Show. I document family travel, cruising, backpacking with kids and the emotional rhythm of long journeys. You can follow the full Dreams of Tahiti playlist on the channel, along with my broader family‑travel and cruise‑focused guides. #frenchpolynesia #cruise #windstar #snorkeling #travelvlog