Gina and Craig Currim enjoyed island vacations, but had already been to Bermuda, Aruba and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "We wanted an exotic, romantic location that we didn’t hear of too many people going to," Gina said. "We wanted our honeymoon to be a special trip," Craig added. They chose the Tahitian Islands, beginning and ending their honeymoon with stays in Hawaii.

At Papeete, the Tahitian capital, they stayed in a luxurious "over the water" bungalow perched on stilts at the Beach Comber Park Royal Hotel. "It was really a little house," Craig noted. "Room service would deliver the food in a canoe. We could come out of our bedroom onto the deck and jump right into the water. It was very romantic." Their room, fitted with air conditioning, a Jacuzzi, safe and satellite television, was filled with tiare, a local flower similar to a gardenia.

The Beach Comber boasted a manmade beach with an artificial fresh water lagoon. A stone wall separated the fresh water from the ocean but was invisible to the eye. "It felt like you were swimming out into the ocean," Craig said.

Papeete offered a different culture and cuisine with a relaxed, rustic third-world flavor. Only French and Polynesian are spoken. Outdoor cafes in the style of the French Riviera abounded. Morrison’s, a rock ’n’ roll theme cafe named for Jim Morrison, was reached by elevator, offering four star restaurant cuisine surrounded by glass walls overlooking the Island of Moraeh while also providing panoramic views of Papeete. Their main souvenirs were health and beauty products based on coconuts, tiare and vanilla, along with vanilla extract, the taste of the island’s cuisine. They could not use their ATM cards. Although international credit cards were accepted, they recommend bringing cash. "Tahiti was considerably more expensive than Hawaii," Craig noted.

At the hotel, the varied entertainment, which included fire juggling acts, was in French, but staff spoke English. Multiple restaurants featured a mixed French and island cuisine. They cruised the Tahitian Islands aboard the Paul Gauguin, a Radisson cruise ship, exhibiting original Gauguin paintings. Although the youngest couple aboard, the entertainment was geared to all ages including shows, movies, satellite television in their cabin and a casino. A wine tasting group invited them to join their events. "There was one crew member to every two guests and everyone spoke English," Craig noted. "They served six-and-seven course meals featuring French and Italian cuisine." Craig bought a black pearl necklace for Gina. "The pearls are like a peacock," Gina said. "In the light they shift color showing shades of pink and green."

The ship called in at Huhaine, Raitea, Bora Bora and Moorea offering special excursion at each island. "Bora Bora looked like you died and went to heaven," Craig said. " Its deep turquoise water with the mountains in the background was the most beautiful we saw." They snorkeled among coral reefs, fed sharks and sting rays, went para sailing and wave running. They also took a safari to a volcano. "It was beyond worth the money," Craig said. Their trip was handled by Island Resort Tours of Manhattan. Arrangements required two months advance notice.