Bora Bora is one of the South Pacific’s most photographed cruise stops, but it works very differently from a Caribbean port. There is no pier — ships anchor inside the barrier reef and tender guests to the village of Vaitape. A cruise lets you sample several Society Islands in one trip, while a resort stay is the way to actually sleep in an overwater bungalow. Below are the lines that call here, what to do on a port day, and an honest cruise-versus-resort breakdown.
Cruise lines that stop in Bora Bora
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Luxury, French Polynesia specialistm/s Paul Gauguin (332 guests)
7 to 14-night Society Islands & Tuamotus loops from Papeete
From ~$4,500 per person for 7 nights (all-inclusive)
The gold standard for the region. Purpose-built for these lagoons, it usually overnights in Bora Bora, giving you a full day and evening in the lagoon plus its private motu (islet) beach day off Taha’a.
Windstar Cruises
Small-ship sailing yachtsWind Spirit (148 guests)
7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands round-trip from Papeete
From ~$3,300 per person for 7 nights
Intimate motor-sail yacht with a watersports platform that drops right into the lagoon. Typically spends a day and a half in Bora Bora with a beach party on a private motu.
Oceania Cruises
Upper-premium, foodie focusRegatta / Marina class
South Pacific & Tahiti voyages (10 to 20+ nights)
From ~$3,900 per person on longer repositioning sailings
Larger ships that call in Bora Bora on wider South Pacific itineraries. Strong dining reputation, but usually a single tendered port day rather than an overnight.
Regent Seven Seas & luxury lines
Ultra-luxury, all-inclusiveSeven Seas Navigator / Explorer
Occasional Pacific crossings and Tahiti sailings
From ~$6,000+ per person
Bora Bora appears as a marquee port on premium Pacific itineraries. Expect included excursions, but tendering and shorter port hours are the trade-off for the big-ship comfort.
What a port day looks like
Tendering ashore
Bora Bora has no cruise pier. Ships anchor in the lagoon and tender guests to Vaitape, the main village. The ride is short and scenic across impossibly blue water.
Lagoon tours & snorkeling
The signature port-day experience: a half-day boat tour to snorkel with rays and reef sharks, drift over coral gardens, and stop at a motu for a Polynesian barbecue.
Matira Beach
The island’s best public beach is a short taxi from Vaitape — soft white sand and shallow, warm water, ideal if you just want a few relaxed hours in the lagoon.
Lunch ashore
Bloody Mary’s is the famous port-day lunch stop, with its sand floor and fresh-fish display. Book ahead on days when ships are in port.
Cruise vs. resort stay
| Cruise | Resort stay | |
|---|---|---|
| Nightly cost | Bundled into fare (food, some tours included) | $800–$8,500+ per night, à la carte extras |
| Time in Bora Bora | Usually 1 day, sometimes an overnight | As long as you book — 3 to 7 nights typical |
| Overwater bungalow stay | No — you sleep on the ship | Yes — the classic Bora Bora experience |
| Other islands | Multiple islands in one trip (Moorea, Taha’a, Huahine) | Single island unless you island-hop separately |
| Flexibility | Fixed schedule, limited port hours | Fully flexible days and dining |
| Best for | Sampling the region, first-timers, value seekers | Honeymoons, relaxation, the bucket-list stay |
Choose a cruise if
You want to see several islands in one trip, prefer bundled pricing, and are happy sleeping onboard.
Choose a resort if
Your dream is an overwater bungalow, long relaxed lagoon days, and a honeymoon-style escape.
Booking a Bora Bora cruise
Most French Polynesia sailings depart round-trip from Pape’ete, Tahiti, so you’ll still fly into Tahiti (PPT) first. Book Paul Gauguin and Windstar sailings 6–12 months ahead, especially for the dry-season months of May through October when demand and prices peak. Fares on the specialist lines are largely all-inclusive; larger lines charge separately for shore excursions, so factor a lagoon tour (~$100–180 per person) into your port-day budget.
Frequently asked questions
Paul Gauguin Cruises and Windstar Cruises are the two lines built around French Polynesia and call in Bora Bora on nearly every sailing. Oceania Cruises and luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas visit on wider South Pacific itineraries.
No. There is no cruise pier. Ships anchor in the lagoon and shuttle guests ashore to Vaitape by tender boat, a short ride across the water.
A 7-night French Polynesia cruise starts around $3,300 per person on Windstar and roughly $4,500 per person on the all-inclusive Paul Gauguin. Luxury lines run $6,000 and up per person.
A cruise is ideal if you want to see several islands in one trip at a bundled price. A resort stay is better if your goal is an overwater bungalow, long relaxed days in one lagoon, and a honeymoon-style escape.
Most ships spend a single day in port, though Paul Gauguin and Windstar often overnight, giving you an evening in the lagoon and a private motu beach day nearby.