Paul Gauguin Cruises

The South Pacific Specialist

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates a single ship, the m/s Paul Gauguin, dedicated exclusively to French Polynesia and the broader South Pacific. The company has operated the vessel since 1997 and has built its entire programme around intimate access to the islands, lagoons, and anchorages of a region that most cruise ships visit only as a brief port call. As of 2024, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates independently, having previously been associated with Ponant.

We recommend Paul Gauguin Cruises to guests for whom the South Pacific is the destination rather than a stop on a longer itinerary, and who want a ship sized to enter the places that define the region: the small passes into lagoons, the anchorages off uninhabited motus, and the reef moorings that a larger vessel cannot safely reach.

The Ship

The m/s Paul Gauguin carries 332 guests in a configuration designed for warm-water comfort rather than polar or ocean-crossing purpose. She is 156 metres in length with a draft that allows access to Bora Bora’s inner lagoon, Fakarava’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve anchorages, and the remote atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago. A retractable marina at the stern provides direct water access for snorkelling, kayaking, and paddleboarding without the need for a tender transfer.

Onboard amenities include a full spa, two pools, a casino, and multiple lounges. The social atmosphere is relaxed and destination-focused: the ship is a base for exploring the islands, not the attraction itself.

All-Inclusive in the Pacific

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates on an all-inclusive basis: drinks, gratuities, and a selection of snorkelling and water-sports equipment are included in the voyage fare. Shore excursions are available additionally. The culinary programme features French cuisine adapted for Pacific produce, with local fish, tropical fruit, and regional ingredients central to the daily menus.

A team of Tahitian Ambassadresses – local cultural hosts – is present on every voyage, providing an introduction to Polynesian culture, music, and language that a purely external crew cannot replicate. Their presence is one of the most consistently noted aspects of the on-board experience by returning guests.

Destinations

Itineraries focus on French Polynesia: Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahaa), the Tuamotu Archipelago (Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau), and the Marquesas Islands. Extended itineraries reach the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, and occasionally Samoa. Departure and return port is Papeete, Tahiti, which eliminates the transatlantic or trans-Pacific repositioning that passengers on other lines face when visiting this region.

Why We Recommend Paul Gauguin Cruises

For guests whose primary interest is French Polynesia, no other operator combines itinerary depth, lagoon access, year-round programme, and a ship of this scale in the same package. The Tahitian Ambassadress programme and the dedicated focus on a single region make this a specialist proposition rather than a generic luxury cruise that happens to visit the Pacific.