10. Crew Life on a Auckland to Honolulu Repositioning Cruise

Esther
Oct 11
4 min read

Updated: Oct 26

Let me take you onboard Auckland to Honolulu reposition cruise.

II was incredibly excited to be part of the crew when the Legend repositioned from Auckland to Honolulu. The cruise lasted 15 days, and along the way, we visited three beautiful ports: Papeete, Bora Bora, and Moorea.

This was by far the most amazing cruise I’ve ever done and I’m pretty sure anyone lucky enough to sail this itinerary would agree. It truly feels like the other side of the world, especially if you’re coming from Europe. Picture a tropical paradise straight out of a bounty commercial: palm-fringed beaches, crystal-clear blue waters, and breathtaking scenery. That’s exactly what you’ll find in French Polynesia. These islands are absolutely stunning, but also incredibly remote. Most supplies, including food, have to be brought in by boat, which makes everyday products on the islands very expensive.

Moorea

In Moorea, I went on a snorkel tour with reef sharks. We headed out in a small boat to the reef, and at one point, the guide simply said, “You can get in the water here.” I looked around and saw all these Reef sharks swimming around the boat , imagine a great white, but a smaller version. They looked just like the big ones… and definitely not friendly! Before we jumped in, the crew started feeding the sharks, just in case they were hungry. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about getting into the water at that point. Honestly, I’d rather jump out of a plane than swim with Reef sharks without knowing how they'd react! But of course, I did it anyway. In the end, everything went well, and we actually had a lot of fun. The marine life was impressive, and the vegetation around Moorea is absolutely stunning.

Papeete

In Papeete I went to the Marche de Papeete where they were selling mostly fish, fruit and vegetables place is like a city not as beautiful as the other two islands.

Bora Bora

In Bora Bora, the ship organized a special crew tour, a scenic trip around the island. After the tour, we were dropped off at the only hotel on the island at the time: the Sheraton. I went along with some of the shop crew (“shoppies”) from onboard. The hotel had those iconic overwater bungalows, which were amazing to see up close. It’s definitely a beautiful place to relax for a couple of days, but I imagine you could get bored quickly if you’re looking for more to do. There’s no airport on the island either, most guests arrive via ferry or short flight from Papeete.

There were ten sea days during this cruise: five to reach French Polynesia and another five to get to Hawaii. We were all working long days and nights, but despite the busy schedule, I made memories that will last a lifetime.

Have you ever crossed International Date line?

When we crossed the International Date Line, everyone on board guests and crew, received a personally signed certificate from the Captain. I still have mine, and it’s definitely a special keepsake. Not many people can say they’ve crossed the Date Line, so it’s a memory I’ll always treasure.

Have you ever crossed the Equator?

When you’ve done a few repositioning cruises, it’s quite likely you’ve crossed the Equator. I’ve crossed it at least four times myself, not even counting the time I sailed from Mombasa to Athens, since that route stays just north of the Equator.

If you’ve ever crossed the Equator at sea, you know that Neptune makes an appearance. It’s time for a big party onboard: a special moment for both guests and crew, since many people don’t get to experience this often.

For the cruise staff, it’s time to dress up! Guess who I was? Neptune’s wife. The celebration is all about the Pollywogs (those crossing the Equator for the first time) and the Shellbacks (those who have crossed before).

I have experienced both sides of this tradition: as a crew member helping to organize it, and as a guest participating in the ceremony. Even the Captain plays a key role in the festivities.

Neptune and his wife at Equator crossing

Together with the Cruise Director as Neptune's wife

The Pollywogs have to go through a series of games and tests to prove they’re ready to become real seafarers. (Keep in mind, these traditions vary widely between cruise lines, I’ve seen much tougher challenges on MSC, while Royal Caribbean tends to keep it friendly.)

Here are some of the tests the Pollywogs had to go through:

Kissing a “death fish” (an MSC tradition)
Butter in their hair
Eggs in their hair
Flowers in their hair

After the ceremony, all the Pollywogs ended up in the pool as part of the celebration.

As Neptune's wife I had to participate and throw the eggs

The Shellbacks lead the ceremony, guiding the Pollywogs through the rituals to become real seafarers.

My Cruise Staff colleague was the doctor to do research on Captain

The Captain is symbolically “sacrificed” as part of the ritual to make the ceremony more spectacular. He undergoes a mock surgery on a table behind curtains, and at the end, the crew playfully throws him into the pool.