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Original paintings by contemporary local artists decorate hallways and lounges. Paul Gauguin has a robust scuba program that attracts veterans and newbies. If you love scuba or want to learn, you’ll be in good company (See the Activities tab for more on the ship’s scuba offerings). If you’re looking to explore a variety of French Polynesian islands – and you really should, as each are different – you need to be on a small ship. It’s hard to do better, and with more included in your fare, than Paul Gauguin. Everything ranges from “expensive” to “indescribably expensive” which is why we were so happy to be enjoying this Paradise from the ship where everything was included.
Food on Paul Gauguin is Outstanding, with French Flair and Polynesian Flavors
In summary, the Paul Gauguin is a superb cruise ship that offers passengers an opulent and pleasurable experience. The Paul Gauguin has something for everyone, from the roomy and luxurious accommodations to the mouth watering dining options. The service and employees are welcoming and helpful, and the trips and activities are well-planned and pleasant. Finally, the Paul Gauguin is a genuinely unforgettable cruise experience thanks to the amenities and entertainment, which provide passengers a choice of ways to unwind and have fun. To help you make the most of your time at each port of call, Paul Gauguin delivers a roundup of shore excursions with local operators each day. It includes active adventures, such as ATV tours and e-bike rides, and engaging cultural encounters.
The Cabins
The crew aboard the ship is polite and well-trained, always going above and beyond to make sure that visitors have a good time. With some free time to explore Bora Bora, we headed to the open-air Aloe Café in Vaitape to fulfill my goal of eating as much poisson cru as possible, dining with locals and fellow tourists. After lunch, we stretched our legs walking out of the tourist town, past views of flower gardens and a woman selling fish.
Tahiti (Papeete)
The waitstaff provides outstanding service and is consistently cordial and attentive. Visitors can savor their meals in a laid-back and comfortable setting with breathtaking views of the nearby waterways. The cabins also have a TV and air conditioning, which gives visitors entertainment and a comfortable setting. Additionally, the cabins are well-kept and kept clean, making sure that visitors have a comfortable and enjoyable trip.
25 BEST South Pacific Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to the South Pacific on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
25 BEST South Pacific Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to the South Pacific on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:33:21 GMT [source]
The cabin was comfortable and spacious, but the balcony was tiny by today’s standards. The interior design was extremely dated and wooden surfaces were quite scratched and scuffed. Bathtubs and plumbing was difficult to access and would be quite dangerous for the elderly. Bathtubs really should’ve been torn out in the refit last year.
On-Board the Cruise Ship
The indigenous entertainment troupe, Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins, add a special touch to Paul Gauguin. The Polynesian staff serve not only as entertainers but also as the ship’s activity staff. Former Gauguines and Gauguins often come back as staff at the front desk, the excursion team and the boutique; it’s a dedication to the region that makes Paul Gauguin a treasured institution in the region.
We had an oceanfront room with a king bed, double vanity, shower and tub, and an outside area with a table and chairs. Whether you seek adventure, romance, or world renowned beaches, you’ll find it on a Paul Gauguin cruise. Reviewers on Cruise Critic praise the cabins on The Paul Gauguin as roomy, cozy, well-appointed, and well-maintained, with a private bathroom and shower, TV, air conditioning, and quiet atmosphere. The Paul Gauguin is a luxury cruise ship that travels to exotic and far-flung destinations in the South Pacific and the Society Islands. On the Paul Gauguin, some of the staterooms also offer a private balcony with a breathtaking view of the surroundings. These balconies provide visitors a distinctive and fascinating experience and are ideal for unwinding and admiring the surroundings.
The service on-board was the best that we have ever had on any vacation! The crew called us by name after the second day, and we never had to wait more than a minute for service. The food was also incredible, with presentations and flavors to delight your senses. The ship is 24 years old, but it was refurbished in 2020 and undergoes some updates yearly. The interior of the ship, including the cabins, were in great shape. There are 218 rooms/suites – mostly oceanfront, with 28 overwater bungalows.
Is Paul Gauguin a good ship to cruise on?
Fun morning touring the island very informative and back to the ship by lunch. Without question, the South Pacific Ocean is teeming with fish and so as you would expect- the freshness of the fish served onboard is the very best. If you like seafood, you will (like us) think you’ve died and gone to heaven. Even if you don’t like fish, the other options are just as delicious. When we embarked the ship it was a typical high end luxury welcome with super friendly staff. We were given a glass of champagne coming onboard and staff escorted us to our stateroom.
The ship includes three dining establishments, each of which serves a distinct cuisine. The Le Veranda restaurant serves French-inspired food, while the main restaurant, L’Etoile, serves worldwide cuisine. Finally, throughout the day, snacks and light meals are available in the La Palette restaurant. For divers, the ship has a for-a-fee scuba program with equipment and scheduled dives designed for all levels of experience.
The crew is constantly on hand to help with any inquiries or requests, and they are familiar with the ship and her amenities. The staff is always eager to assist guests, whether they need assistance with their cabin, information about the excursions, or simply want to speak. The Paul Gauguin’s staterooms are roomy and luxuriously furnished, providing visitors with a welcoming setting. Compared to other larger ships, the ship feels more intimate because it only has 332 cabins. A cozy bed, a ton of storage space, and a private bathroom with a shower are all features that each cabin is built to provide visitors. Fares for seven-night cruises on the m/s “Paul Gauguin” are from about $3,500 per person, including drinks and gratuities.
It definitely enhances the experience to have these more personal interactions with people from the region. The ship does not have specific meetups for different nationalities or LGBTQ+ passengers. Groups – either with a certain travel agent or affinity organizations – are common on Paul Gauguin. As a result, and also because the ship is so international, it can be a bit harder to strike up conversations with strangers than on other cruise ships, as people tend to stick to the groups they came with.
The ship’s updated color palette of blue, green, taupe, and pearl mirror the Tahitian landscape. In our standard Deck 7 balcony cabin, we passed a stone tiki statue on the way to the bath and had plenty of room to stretch out in our indoor sitting area and balcony big enough for a couple of chairs and a cocktail table. At night, women traditionally wear skirts or slacks or capris with blouses, and men go for trousers and short-sleeved collared shirts.
Still, like any ship, it’s hard to feel lonely, as the staff go out of their way to create a friendly atmosphere. The pool deck on Paul Gauguin seems small at first glance; the square pool doesn’t seem like it would fit the demand. But we found that it was never crowded, as people spent a lot of time off the ship snorkeling at various beaches or on excursions. The renovation improved the quality of the loungers not only at the pool deck but outdoor seating around the ship.
Suggested shipboard attire is easy and elegant with a dash of tropical. I visited the new museum just outside of Papeete, called Tahiti and Island’s Museum. It’s a small museum, but it has remarkable historical findings. I would highly suggest spending two hours so you can take the fascinating headset-guided tour. The museum features tikis (sculpted statues of wood or stone), cultural iconography, early Polynesian canoes, different formats of paddles, and a comprehensive history of the origins of the Polynesian peoples.
Fill your suitcase with lightweight clothes made of natural fibers (cotton, linen and silk), and you'll have everything you need. Breakfast and lunch on Paul Gauguin are elaborate buffets, with a daily theme (although you can also order items off the menu if you want). Dessert lovers won’t want to miss the teatime spread at Le Grill; it’s buffet style, as opposed a three-tiered server, but decadent nonetheless. Because the ship is older, there are a wide variety of cabins, including those with portholes and picture windows, in addition to balcony rooms and a handful of suites. The 165 rooms on Paul Gauguin were also given a refresh during the 2021 refurbishment, and attractive tropical pastels complement the nautical wood cabinets. There is plenty of storage for two people, thanks to smartly designed closets and drawers.
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