I went on a Paul Gauguin cruise round French Polynesia. I did not need to depart

I used to be 5 days right into a seven-day voyage on the French Polynesia-based Paul Gauguin when the wild ideas started.

Do I actually have to return? Could not I simply keep right here without end?

Lounging by the pool on the 330-passenger Paul Gauguin Cruises vessel because it sailed between Bora Bora and Moorea, two of probably the most beautiful islands you may ever see, I began doing the psychological math. What if I offered my dwelling again in North Carolina? What if I cashed out my IRA? Might I afford to remain on board cruising these islands in perpetuity?

It was that lovely. That peaceable. That … je ne sais quoi, however I knew I simply wished to remain.

And, sure, I used to be beginning to lace my sentences with French phrases, like they do on board Paul Gauguin and throughout the islands it visits. I had the bug. Identical to the namesake of the 330-passenger ship, the celebrated post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, who famously fled Europe within the Nineties to hunt a less complicated life right here. And Fletcher Christian, the English naval officer who led the mutiny on the British ship HMS Bounty in 1789 so he by no means needed to depart.

Ultimately, I did get off the ship two days later and returned dwelling. There was no mutiny on The Gauguin. However solely reluctantly. And I am already plotting my return.

Idyllic climate, beautiful surroundings

To sail on The Gauguin, as Paul Gauguin Cruises likes to name its vessel (and the road solely has one vessel), is to be on an limitless loop of the best hits of tropical island magnificence.

Tahiti, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora, Moorea. On the ship’s weeklong itineraries they arrive one after one other, with out a single day of crusing in between. You permit one at sundown — invariably a ravishing sundown — and arrive on the subsequent because the solar rises.

In between, you may have full days free to discover every of the islands’ explicit model of South Pacific paradise.

On Huahine, for me at the least, that meant snorkeling within the extremely clear lagoon, the place I used to be dazzled by the neon-bright clams atop coral clusters and all kinds of colourful fish. I additionally snuck a peek on the historical Polynesian temples (marae) — Huahine is especially recognized for its temples — and ogled the famed blue-eyed eels.

The subsequent day, on Raiatea, it meant kayaking the one navigable river in French Polynesia, the Faaroa. If you wish to kayak in French Polynesia, that is the place.

In Bora Bora, it meant swimming with sharks and stingrays. (Sure, you possibly can swim with sharks and stingrays in Bora Bora.)

The backdrop for all this was the loveliest rainforest-covered volcanic mountains that you’re going to ever see. The islands are additionally ringed with sandy seashores, turquoise water and little palm-lined islets — which is to say, they’re beautiful.

And I have never even talked about the idyllic climate but. It is not perfectly-sunny-365-days-a-year climate, thoughts you. Lush rainforests aren’t created by all-day solar; clouds and downpours are common occurrences. However the local weather is unfailingly heat and tropical, with cooling breezes that generally carry the soothing scent of tiare and frangipani flowers or, should you’re on Tahaa, the candy and intoxicating aroma of vanilla beans.

A French Polynesia expertise like no different

There are a lot of methods to go to French Polynesia, after all. Many guests head straight to a resort on Tahiti, Bora Bora or Moorea — arguably the three most iconic islands of your complete South Pacific — and by no means depart. All three islands are recognized for resorts with overwater bungalows, the place the entire thought is just about that you’re going to verify in and by no means enterprise a lot additional than the crystal-clear waters simply exterior your door.

For individuals who can afford one, an overwater bungalow is the de rigueur technique to keep on this a part of the world.

There are additionally different cruise traces apart from Paul Gauguin that provide sailings to French Polynesia (although not as many as you may suppose). However with its one vessel, which relies in French Polynesia year-round, Paul Gauguin presents a South Pacific expertise that’s in contrast to every other.

A crusing on The Gauguin is, for starters, one of many solely methods you possibly can go to a variety of French Polynesian islands in a single journey with out the prices and logistical hassles that include island-hopping by airplane.

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Just one different cruise model, Windstar Cruises, bases a small ship within the area that visits as many islands as Paul Gauguin (should you do not depend the corporate that operates Arunai 5, the odd-looking French Polynesian cargo ship with passenger cabins).

However Paul Gauguin can be interwoven into the local people like no different cruise vessel — and thus presents a particular allure.

Constructed particularly to sail in French Polynesia and, for many of its 28-year historical past, owned by a neighborhood firm (it was acquired by France-based Ponant Explorations in 2019), it’s staffed with much more native residents than is typical for cruise ships, in roles starting from the receptionist on the visitor relations desk to the ship’s nurse.

Among the many most charming points of the ship is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — locals who stay aboard the ship as hosts and entertainers with a mandate to convey the spirit of French Polynesia to life. I beloved watching them work together with passengers, whether or not it was educating dances, ukelele classes or how one can tie a pareo (French Polynesia’s model of a sarong).

On the once-a-sailing “Polynesian Evening,” when passengers have been inspired to indicate up of their most Polynesian-inspired apparel, the Gauguins and Gauguines have been there to assist apply non permanent tattoos. On a number of nights, they carried out conventional songs and dances within the vessel’s predominant theater.

As I noticed on a number of of my outings, The Gauguin additionally has longstanding relationships with locals who function most of the excursions it presents throughout island stops. Because of this, these excursions usually have the texture of a resident exhibiting you round her or his dwelling. I beloved that my information in Huahine, who toured us round in an open-air truck with room for eight individuals, stopped to indicate us the fish lure that his household personally used for catching dinner.

As well as, the meals on board is commonly regionally sourced, with the ship’s head chef leaving the vessel within the morning to select up contemporary fish for that evening’s dinner — regardless of the fishermen have simply introduced in. I skilled this firsthand a number of nights, feasting on pretty fresh-caught yellowfin tuna (served all kinds of how, from sashimi and tartare to grilled), mahi-mahi and Ray’s bream (which the locals name papio) on the ship’s eating places.

Briefly, a crusing on The Gauguin feels extra like a keep at a locally-owned boutique resort than a voyage on a world cruise ship.

An overwater bungalow that sails

Little question conscious of simply how common overwater bungalow resorts are in French Polynesia, Paul Gauguin’s advertising workforce are fond of claiming The Gauguin is “an overwater bungalow that sails.” It is a slick slogan, for certain. However on some stage, it is true.

Almost each morning of my crusing, I swept open the drapes of my cabin to discover a utterly new, spectacular view that invariably included an expanse of pristine water backed by beautiful mountains. In Huahine, we have been anchored smack in the course of Maroe Bay, thought of some of the lovely bays in French Polynesia. No resort on the island presents nearly as good a view. In Bora Bora, we anchored simply off the city of Vaitape, inside the picture-perfect lagoon that has made the island so well-known.

Unveiled in 1997, The Gauguin is on the older facet with regards to upscale cruise vessels crusing the globe. Its cabins lack a number of the trappings of the most recent luxurious ships, like bedside USB ports or marble-lined walk-in showers in bogs. However a serious refurbishment lately has left these cabins wanting shiny and ethereal, with a snug and up-to-date really feel — and the ship’s public areas have additionally been stored up-to-date through the years with common overhauls, together with a serious one just some months in the past.

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What the ship lacks in newness, furthermore, is canceled out at some stage by a few of its “they do not make them like this anymore” options. I significantly beloved the wide-open decks atop the ship — decks that have been way more open than you may sometimes discover on a more recent ship this measurement. I usually headed as much as the spacious entrance space of the highest deck at sailaway for the uncluttered, 270-degree view. On a extra trendy ship, this area absolutely can be busied up with “sights” like placing greens or a pickleball courtroom that might simply take away from the expansiveness.

Entry to a non-public islet

Along with onboard actions, passengers on each Paul Gauguin crusing have the chance to spend a day lounging on the line’s very personal personal islet — or motu, as they’re known as within the South Pacific.

Referred to as Motu Mahana, this personal islet is positioned simply off the French Polynesian island of Tahaa, near Bora Bora, and it is but another standout characteristic that makes these journeys so particular.

Showing on each Paul Gauguin itinerary (normally as a day cease simply earlier than the ship visits Bora Bora), Motu Mahana is dwelling to a palm tree-lined seashore and heat shallow waters for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking.

On the Motu Mahana day of every cruise, just about everybody heads off the ship, which anchors close by, for a full day of beachy enjoyable that features a seashore barbecue, volleyball video games, conventional music and dancing by the Gauguins and Gauguines, and a spread of hands-on actions.

An all-inclusive getaway

Paul Gauguin sailings aren’t low cost. The seven-night Extra Society Islands and Tahiti crusing I did sometimes begins at near $4,000 per particular person. That works out to a bit over $1,000 per evening for a pair sharing a room.

A few of the line’s longer, extra off-the-beaten-path sailings, equivalent to its 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotu, and Society Islands journeys, can price considerably extra in whole — though on a per-day foundation, the pricing is analogous.

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The beginning costs talked about above are for entry-level cabins on sailings throughout the offseason. As is typical for cruises all over the place, pricing is increased for greater cabins and for sailings throughout peak season intervals, equivalent to across the winter holidays.

Nonetheless, as is customary for cruise traces on the excessive finish, Paul Gauguin features a lot in its base worth. Along with a room on board and all meals, the fares embody most drinks on board, shipboard Wi-Fi and gratuities.

Backside line

The 330-passenger Paul Gauguin is one thing of a unicorn on this planet of cruising — a one-of-a-kind vessel constructed particularly to sail within the far-from-almost-everywhere waters of the South Pacific. It’s there that it started its life almost 30 years in the past, and it’s there that’s has remained all these years, on a seemingly limitless loop between a number of the best-known and most lovely tropical islands discovered wherever on this planet.

In case you’re wanting to see the islands of South Pacific (significantly the nook of the South Pacific that’s French Polynesia) and you do not need to be restricted to visiting only one or two locations, it is an important trip alternative.

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