The final word information to Paul Gauguin Cruises

Is a visit to the South Pacific in your bucket listing? A voyage with Paul Gauguin Cruises could be the reply.

The tiny cruise model, which solely operates one ship, is the longtime chief in sailings to the best-known islands of the South Pacific — locations like Bora Bora, Moorea, Fiji and the Marquesas.

To say that Paul Gauguin is a South Pacific specialist is an understatement. Because the line’s debut in 1997, cruises to South Pacific islands are primarily all the corporate and its one vessel, the 330-passenger Paul Gauguin, have performed (for only a transient interval within the 2010s, the road provided sailings in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, too, with a second small ship).

On a Paul Gauguin cruise, you may go to a various array of at the very least 5 of probably the most well-known and exquisite South Pacific islands — and, typically, many extra — in a single, easy-to-arrange, all-inclusive journey. That is one thing that is nearly inconceivable to do another means.

Based mostly in Tahiti, The Gauguin, as the corporate likes to name its one ship, is especially identified for sailings round French Polynesia’s Society Islands, which embrace Tahiti, Bora Bora and Moorea.

Many guests to those iconic French Polynesian locations will e-book a keep at a land resort with overwater bungalows. There are fairly just a few overwater bungalow resorts within the Society Islands, and they’re huge attracts for vacationers. However staying at these properties solely permits entry to a slice of what French Polynesia has to supply.

A French Polynesia voyage with Paul Gauguin Cruises gives a much wider look.

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3 issues TPG loves about Paul Gauguin Cruises

• Its unusually big selection of South Pacific itineraries
• Its native Tahitian hosts, generally known as Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines
• Its all-inclusive fares

What we may do with out

• Twin-language bulletins

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Locations and itineraries

For a line with only one ship, Paul Gauguin Cruises provides a variety of itineraries.

The cruise line’s single vessel solely operates in a single area, the South Pacific, but it encompasses a crusing schedule that features practically a dozen totally different routes.

The voyages that Paul Gauguin provides vary in size from seven to 16 nights and contact a various array of tropical locations, from the long-lasting South Pacific island getaways of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora (as famous above, all a part of the Society Islands) to the far-flung islands of the Marquesas chain and the Tuamotus.

Sometimes, the Tahiti-based Gauguin will sail farther throughout the Pacific to Australia, Indonesia and even Singapore. Voyages to the Prepare dinner Islands and, at occasions, Fiji are additionally on the ship’s schedule.

Certainly, no different cruise ship or line provides as various an array of South Pacific cruise itineraries — and it has been that means for years. Whereas it is a comparatively small model, Paul Gauguin Cruises has lengthy been the chief in South Pacific cruising.

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Who sails with Paul Gauguin Cruises?

Paul Gauguin attracts vacationers from all around the world, however the largest segments of its clients are from the U.S. and Canada. It additionally sees a major variety of clients from France and different French-speaking nations. That is maybe not stunning given the road’s one ship spends most of its time in a French territory (French Polynesia) and is owned by Ponant, the one main France-based cruise line working ocean cruises.

You may usually discover that the passenger combine on The Gauguin skews extra to People on weeklong sailings, as these comparatively brief itineraries attraction to working People who cannot take too many days off. Longer sailings usually draw extra French passengers than People. However the backside line is you will in all probability discover each English audio system and French audio system in your crusing.

To cater to this type of combine, all onboard bulletins are made in each English and French, one thing that may drag out these bulletins significantly. The excellent news is that the road tries to maintain such onboard bulletins to a minimal.

Regardless of from the place they arrive, Paul Gauguin Cruises passengers usually are effectively heeled — these aren’t cheap journeys. Age-wise, you will discover a broad combine of consumers. You may discover numerous passengers within the 55-plus vary, together with a good variety of retirees, but additionally some youthful vacationers, together with honeymooners.

Basically, you will discover numerous {couples} on The Gauguin and a few solo vacationers. You may additionally discover the occasional multigenerational group — a retired couple touring with their working-age grownup youngsters, for example.

On choose sailings throughout vacation intervals, the road additionally attracts households with youthful children with particular children packages (extra on this beneath).

Cabins and suites

What are the cabins like on the one ship operated by luxurious line Paul Gauguin Cruises? In a phrase, comfy.

Unveiled in 1997, The Gauguin is on the older facet relating to upscale cruise vessels crusing the globe. In consequence, its cabins lack a few of the trappings of the most recent luxurious ships, from USB ports by the beds to marble-lined walk-in showers in bogs. However a serious refurbishment in recent times has left these cabins and suites wanting vivid and ethereal, with a snug and up-to-date really feel.

Amongst vessels crusing year-round within the South Pacific, furthermore, there’s, fairly merely, nothing as elegant.

Basically, The Gauguin’s cabins are comparatively spacious, with rooms beginning at 200 sq. toes in measurement and topping out at 588 sq. toes in measurement. In distinction to what you will discover on many cruise ships, additionally they all have home windows of some type searching over the ocean. The Gauguin doesn’t have windowless inside cabins.

Nearly all of cabins and suites on The Gauguin additionally include balconies, which is not all the time the case with cruise ships working repeatedly within the South Pacific. And there are a number of giant suites, too.

In brief, The Gauguin is an effective alternative if you happen to’re searching for a ship to discover the South Pacific in relative type. As talked about above, it is an older vessel, and it does present its age in locations. However common refurbishments have saved it feeling comparatively up-to-date, and like a cultured older resort, it has a attraction that you do not all the time get with newer vessels.

Eating places and eating

As is typical for small ships, Paul Gauguin has only a handful of eateries — three, to be precise.

The ship’s foremost eating room, L’Etoile, is probably the most elegant of the three, with upscale multicourse meals of French and European cuisines served on superb china and linens each night. It is right here that you will have most of your dinners.

L’Etoile is not open for breakfast or lunch, however the ship’s two different eateries, La Veranda and Le Grill, are.

La Veranda provides an informal buffet breakfast and lunch day-after-day, with the lunch choices altering each day based mostly on a theme (someday, Greek delicacies is the main focus; the subsequent day, Pacific Rim delicacies). Within the night, the venue transforms right into a high-end, reservation-only French restaurant with full desk service, a degustation menu and elevated French wines.

La Veranda can also be the place you will discover the ship’s afternoon tea service.

The ship’s third restaurant, Le Grill, is, because the title suggests, a grill eatery situated outdoor by the ship’s pool. Like La Veranda, it provides a buffet breakfast and lunch day-after-day, with an analogous menu (for lunches, it provides the identical themed meals as La Veranda).

Like La Veranda, Le Grill additionally transforms within the night right into a full-service, reservations-required sit-down restaurant (on this case, one serving Polynesian specialties that always embrace contemporary fish from the islands the ship visits).

Amongst different meals choices, there’s additionally a small continental breakfast (assume: pastries, fruit and yogurt) laid out every day for early and late risers within the La Palette bar area in the back of the ship.

Moreover, room service is on the market across the clock on Paul Gauguin. The menu contains an all the time obtainable array of appetizers, soups, sandwiches and burgers, in addition to extra elegant fare similar to beef tenderloin and salmon. You may also order dishes from L’Etoile, the ship’s foremost restaurant, throughout its working hours. In contrast to on some cruise ships, none of this comes with an additional cost.

Leisure and actions

In contrast to the large ships operated by mass-market cruise strains, The Gauguin would not serve up a nonstop stream of leisure and actions in the course of the day to maintain you busy. That is not what this ship is about.

On the road’s sailings round French Polynesia’s Society Islands, specifically, the place nearly day-after-day brings a cease at a brand new tropical paradise, most passengers are off the ship exploring in the course of the day, and it is comparatively quiet on board.

That principally leaves the evenings for leisure, which on The Gauguin usually means a efficiency of conventional Polynesian songs by Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines — native Tahitians who stay aboard the ship as hosts and entertainers to carry the spirit of Polynesia to life.

You may additionally discover performances by the ship’s band or a magician on some nights within the ship’s foremost theater, plus stay music in a number of lounges.

Theaters, lounges and reveals

The Gauguin has a single venue, Le Grand Salon, that serves as the primary leisure area on board. Arrange like a cabaret theater with semicircular rows of swivel chairs dealing with a stage and a bar on the again, it is dwelling to musical performances on most nights.

In lots of instances, these performances are led by Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, the native Tahitian hosts talked about above. They usually characteristic conventional Polynesian dance and track.

The presence of Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines is a key differentiator for Paul Gauguin Cruises as in comparison with different cruise manufacturers that supply sailings within the South Pacific, and their presence is felt all over the place on board the ship. In the course of the day, you will usually discover them educating native handicrafts similar to shell arts and lei-making throughout hands-on demonstrations. They host conventional dance lessons and ukulele classes, in addition to extra typical cruise ship actions similar to trivia.

For passengers, Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines present a chance to work together immediately every day with the individuals who stay within the islands the ships go to, along with assembly folks on shore.

Along with Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, the ship sails with a home band that performs in a number of venues, together with Le Grand Salon and La Palette — an indoor lounge in the back of the ship on the identical deck because the ship’s pool. The band additionally typically performs outdoor across the pool.

There’s additionally a piano participant on board who performs repeatedly within the evenings within the Piano Bar, which is simply exterior of Le Grand Salon. The latter venue is a foremost gathering level for predinner cocktails and is commonly busy each earlier than and after dinnertime.

The pool deck and different venues

The Gauguin has a single rectangular pool on the center of its prime deck, flanked by lounge chairs on every of its sides and with the adjoining Le Grill poolside eatery simply behind it.

Different public areas within the inside of the ship embrace a small however elegant spa with therapy rooms for massages, reflexology, physique wraps and facials, and an adjoining health heart that’s small however provides high-end TechnoGym tools. There’s additionally a small boutique.

Like a luxurious yacht, the vessel additionally has its very personal fold-down marina at its again, the place you will discover paddleboards and kayaks for watery playtime (and, if that is not sufficient watery enjoyable, you may signal on for the ship’s onboard PADI-certified scuba program for an additional cost).

One of many great little touches of a cruise on The Gauguin is that the ship provides passengers using snorkeling gear free of charge. Passengers can signal out masks, snorkels and flippers on the marina for no further cost firstly of sailings and maintain them for each day use till the voyage is over.

A non-public isle

Along with onboard actions, the listing of issues that passengers on each Paul Gauguin crusing have the chance to do features a day of lounging on the line’s very personal non-public islet (or motu, as they’re known as within the South Pacific).

Referred to as Motu Mahana, this non-public islet is situated simply off the French Polynesian island of Tahaa, which is near Bora Bora and seems on each Paul Gauguin itinerary (often as a day cease simply earlier than the ship visits Bora Bora). It is dwelling to a coconut 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 seashore enjoyable that features a seashore barbecue, volleyball video games, conventional music and dancing by Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins, and such hands-on actions as demonstrations on tips on how to tie a pareo or open a coconut.

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Youngsters’s program

The Gauguin usually would not draw many youngsters, however youngsters are welcome, with just a few age-related caveats. Youngsters below the age of 1 should not allowed on The Gauguin, and the variety of youngsters between the ages of 1 and three allowed on any given crusing may be restricted.

Moreover, babysitting companies should not obtainable, and the ship will not be outfitted to supply prenatal, postnatal or pediatric companies.

There isn’t a formal youngsters’s program on the vessel many of the yr, both. That stated, on choose summer season and vacation voyages, youngsters ages 6 to fifteen have entry to a devoted program of hands-on studying with a neighborhood twist — every thing from naturalist-led island excursions to crafts, video games and science actions — as a part of the road’s complimentary Moana Explorer Program. It is provided in partnership with South Pacific marine schooling and conservation basis Te Mana O Te Moana.

What to know earlier than you go

Required paperwork

Paul Gauguin operates worldwide itineraries the place a passport is required. Passports have to be legitimate for at the very least six months past the date of the voyage’s finish. Notice that it is vital that the title in your reservation be precisely as it’s acknowledged in your passport or different official proof of nationality.

Gratuities

In contrast to many cruise strains, Paul Gauguin doesn’t add a service cost or gratuity cost to closing payments. Workers gratuities are included within the fare.

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Wi-Fi

Paul Gauguin provides free Wi-Fi service to passengers on its ship — one thing that sometimes solely higher-end strains do.

That stated, it is a comparatively gradual Wi-Fi service that does not work for high-bandwidth capabilities similar to film streaming (you will not be capable of watch Netflix reveals in your telephone, for example) or downloading or enjoying podcasts. You’ll want to obtain any films, reveals or podcasts that you will need obtainable on board earlier than you arrive on the ship.

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Carry-on drinks coverage

In contrast to many strains, Paul Gauguin means that you can carry your individual wine, Champagne, beer and liquor on board at embarkation with no limits. The road additionally would not cost a corkage price.

Smoking coverage

Smoking or vaping is simply allowed in designated outside areas on Paul Gauguin that embrace the ahead outside areas on Deck 5 (starboard and port sides), the outside space of the La Palette lounge on Deck 8 and the starboard facet of the Bar Du Soleil space on Deck 9. Smoking or vaping is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Pipe smoking will not be allowed anyplace on board.

Laundry

In contrast to some ships, The Gauguin doesn’t have self-service launderettes. The ship provides extra-charge laundry and urgent companies for barely increased costs than you would possibly discover at dwelling (as of July 2025, it was $6.75 to launder a shirt and $7.50 for trousers). What the road calls eco-friendly dry cleansing can also be obtainable at barely increased costs.

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Electrical shops

The ship has each commonplace North American-style, 110-volt shops and European-style, 200-volt shops in rooms. Simply be warned that, as is typical for older ships, The Gauguin’s cabins have comparatively few of those shops. In some cabins, this would possibly imply only one U.S.-style outlet and a single European-style outlet per cabin situated at a desk space. If you happen to envision plugging in multiple gadget at a time, it’s best to carry a European-style outlet converter with the intention to benefit from each shops without delay.

Foreign money

The forex used on the ship is the U.S. greenback.

Notice that you just usually can change {dollars} for small denominations of the native forex within the locations the ship visits at its reception desk. Two exceptions are when the ship is crusing in Fiji and Vanuatu. Throughout visits to those nations, the reception desk won’t be able to change {dollars} for the native currencies (the Fijian greenback and Vanuatu vatu).

Ingesting age

You have to be 21 or older to devour alcohol on the ship.

Gown code

Paul Gauguin sailings are comparatively casual, with no gala evenings that require formalwear.

In the course of the day, it’s best to costume on board such as you would at any good seashore resort. Shorts and short-sleeved shirts are completely superb.

Within the evenings, the costume code is a considerably elevated “nation membership informal” (i.e., elegant resortwear). For ladies, which means a skirt or slacks with a shirt or sweater; for males, slacks and collared shirts are the norm. No ties are required at any time, nor are jackets, though a handful of males put on jackets to the once-a-cruise Captain’s Welcome Reception.

One factor you would possibly wish to carry, in case you have it, is a flowery or colourful shirt or costume to put on on the once-a-cruise Polynesian Night time that the road organizes on board. If you happen to’re like me and haven’t got one thing that adheres to the theme, don’t fret. You may nonetheless slot in. However it may be enjoyable to play together with a night that features costume up with (no-extra-charge) flower-and-leaf crowns made by native crafters who come on board and short-term Polynesian tattoos utilized by Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines.

Notice that the night costume code particularly forbids denims, T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops in all venues besides at Le Grill, the informal decktop eatery.

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Paul Gauguin Cruises loyalty program

Paul Gauguin Cruises could solely function one small ship, but it surely has a loyalty program worthy of a a lot larger cruise model.

The Paul Gauguin Society, because it’s known as, has a number of standing tiers that include such beneficial perks as important reductions on cruises, onboard spending credit and free onboard laundry service.

What’s extra, the Paul Gauguin Society loyalty program is one the place you begin gaining access to a few of the greatest perks proper after your first cruise — one thing that is not all the time the case with cruise line loyalty packages.

Plus, the Paul Gauguin Society loyalty program has one of the vital enjoyable tier-level naming buildings within the cruise enterprise. Critically, who can flip down the chance to formally be titled an “admiral” or a “commodore” when cruising?

Incomes Paul Gauguin factors

The Paul Gauguin Society points-earning system — if you happen to may even name it that — is about as easy as may be. Each time you sail with the road, regardless of how lengthy the voyage, you’re going to get credit score for one crusing. Your standing stage in this system will rely solely in your complete variety of sailings and nothing else. In contrast to at some strains, your standing stage is not going to be influenced by what number of complete days you sail or the kind of cabins you e-book.

That stated, there’s a not-so-obvious solution to accumulate extra credit for sailings than you would possibly assume attainable, provided that Paul Gauguin Cruises operates only one ship in a single area of the world. Hidden within the superb print of the Paul Gauguin Society program guidelines is the pronouncement that you could get credit score for any sailings you’re taking with the a lot larger expedition cruise line Ponant. The 2 strains are associated, as Ponant has owned Paul Gauguin Cruises since 2019.

Provided that Ponant operates 13 ships all over the world, the partnership gives much more potential sailings that can contribute to your Paul Gauguin Society standing.

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As for these perks, you will discover that even on the introductory Main stage of this system, which you earn after you verify your second cruise, there are some strong choices, together with a 5% low cost on any future cruise you e-book. That is an excellent perk, because it quantities to actual cash in your pocket.

The subsequent tier of this system, the Admiral rung after you verify your fourth cruise, brings a good larger low cost of seven.5% if you e-book a future cruise, in addition to a cabin class improve if you sail, ought to a cabin for such an improve be obtainable.

Each tiers, in addition to increased ranges, additionally include shipboard credit that improve as you rise by way of the echelons, together with different advantages which can be beneficial.

How a lot does a Paul Gauguin cruise price?

Paul Gauguin Cruises sailings aren’t low cost. Seven-night “Tahiti & The Society Islands” sailings that absorb such iconic French Polynesian islands as Moorea and Bora Bora begin at $4,220 per particular person. That works out to roughly $1,200 per day for a pair sharing a room.

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

The beginning costs above are for entry-level cabins on sailings in the course of the offseason. As is often for cruises all over the place, pricing is increased for larger cabins and for sailings throughout peak season intervals similar to across the winter holidays.

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

How one can e-book

If you happen to’re certain you recognize what kind of cabin you need, on which itinerary — and a few dozen different issues — you may head over to pgcruises.com and e-book immediately.

That stated, given the complexity of reserving a cruise, there are numerous selections to make in the course of the reserving course of, belief us. We all the time advocate that you just use a seasoned journey agent who makes a speciality of cruises.

A very good journey agent will quiz you about your explicit pursuits, journey type and preferences, and steer you to the proper cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. An agent can even enable you if one thing goes unsuitable earlier than, throughout or after your voyage.

If you happen to’re certain that Paul Gauguin is your line, search for a journey agent who makes a speciality of journeys with the model. You need somebody who is aware of all the road’s itineraries intimately and, ideally, has sailed on or at the very least inspected the road’s vessel, too, to know the varied cabin varieties and onboard facilities.

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Whether or not you employ a journey agent or not, be certain to maximize your bank card spending when paying for the cruise by utilizing a bank card that provides further factors for journey purchases. This might be the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs), which earns 3 Chase Final Rewards factors per greenback spent on journey and eating (excluding the annual $300 journey credit score). There’s additionally the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs), which earns 2 Final Rewards factors per greenback spent on journey (and three Final Rewards factors per greenback spent on eating).

Backside line

Paul Gauguin Cruises is a longtime chief in South Pacific cruises and a best choice if you wish to see extra of the area than only one or two islands. On a voyage on the road’s one ship, the 330-passenger Paul Gauguin, you will go to at the very least 5 (if no more) of the world’s most stunning tropical islands, together with such iconic locations as Bora Bora, Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine.

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