Cruise Ship Review: 5 Reasons to Sail French Polynesia on Paul Gauguin Cruises

Swaying palm trees, crystal clear waters in every shade of blue, and legendary culture make French Polynesia among the world’s best destinations for a tropical vacation. Many consider French Polynesia remote, yet it is not as great a distance from home as some people think. Flight times to the Tahiti is 5 hours from Auckland, 6 hours from Honolulu, 8.5 hours from Los Angeles (yet only 3 time zones away), and 9.5 hours from Sydney. 

This French overseas territory, comprised of five different archipelagos, includes over 100 islands scattered over 1,200 miles of ocean in the middle of the South Pacific. The best way to explore these beautiful islands is on a luxury cruise.

Destination Expertise

Paul Gauguin Cruises is French Polynesia’s destination expert. The Gauguin was built specifically to navigate the idyllic atolls and lagoons of these South Pacific isles and has called Tahiti home for more than 25 years. With a dedicated year-round presence, Paul Gauguin Cruises offers more unique itineraries and more boutique ports of call than any other luxury cruise line.

A Beloved, Intimate Ship

Affection runs deep for this casually elegant ship, refreshed in 2019 by current owner Ponant. Hosting just 330 guests in spacious suites and staterooms—70% with a private balcony—guests enjoy French-inspired local cuisine, heartfelt service, and unmatched enrichment. On our recent cruise, 279 guests were pampered by 214 crew members.

I’ve sailed on the Paul Gauguin twice – once with my daughters for a mother-daughter SCUBA trip and again in August 2024 with my husband. Both voyages were magical and memorable, feelings shared by the many returning guests and those celebrating milestone occasions.

All staterooms feature an ocean view, temperature control, queen-size bed (a limited number can have twin-bed configuration), bathroom with full-size bathtub and shower, TV, personal safe, a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, and much more. There are also wheelchair-accessible staterooms available and select staterooms can accommodate three guests. 

The Owner’s Suites are in a class by themselves, with 534 to 588 square feet of space and a private veranda. This suite can accommodate three guests, and the bathroom includes a separate shower and a dressing area.  

Aboard the Gauguin, guests in suites and staterooms in Category B and higher automatically receive the indispensable perk of Butler service, a perk that elevates your Tahiti trip to the next level. Butlers can unpack your luggage, arrange to have your clothes pressed, and make reservations at the spa or for dinner in La Veranda or Le Grill. Butlers can even arrange for a private car or make lunch reservations at a local restaurant—the ultimate in personalized service.

The Algotherm Spa combines the art of gentle pampering with exquisite products. Choose from an extensive range of services, such as skin care therapies, exfoliation, massage, reflexology, body wraps, facials, beauty treatments, nail services, and hair styling. Make sure to bring home some Monoi oil for your skin and hair made from local coconuts. 

The Gauguin’s fitness center features the latest equipment, including Lifecycles, treadmills, stair climbers, and weight machines. Fitness activities, like deck walks and dance classes are offered daily.

The ship offers three gourmet dining restaurants, 24-hour room service, two lounges, expansive deck space, a watersports marina, a pool, a theater featuring nightly entertainment, a boutique, a spa, and plenty of spaces for socializing.

Immersive Cultural Experiences & Authentic Cuisine Onboard

Only on The Gauguin will guests enjoy the hospitality of Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, a troupe of local Tahitians who live aboard as hosts and entertainers, sharing the spirit of Polynesia from the retelling of ancestral legends through music and dance to hosting complimentary Polynesian craft and dancing lessons. The pianist JoJo serenades nightly in the Piano Bar. The Sound Wave Band plays favorite melodies in La Palette. And the crew members onboard The Gauguin are not only experts at providing first-class service to guests, but they also boast many other talents that are showcased in the crew show.

The Captain’s Gala Welcome Party introduces guests to the charming captain who introduces the Senior Officers of MS Paul Gauguin. Guests also can take a photo with the captain. French is the official language of French Polynesia and of the crew, but English is widely spoken. Announcements are made in both French and English.

On every voyage, local performers are invited onboard to entertain the guests. “O Tahiti E”, a fabulous professional folkloric dance group, will enchant you. Another evening, a guest magician performed an after-dinner show. Every voyage features Polynesian Night, complete with a Polynesian menu and demonstrations of how to make Heis and Leis by local artisans. Guests are gifted leis and offered Polynesian Tattoos (temporary) and encouraged to pose for photos with costumed performers. 

At La Veranda, dine al fresco or enjoy wraparound ocean views from the dining room, where there is an ever-changing selection of buffet breakfast and lunch items and a la carte options, many of which are inspired by the destinations visited.  

Le Grill is located by the pool and offers a buffet breakfast, grilled lunch favorites, salads, and fresh tropical fruit. In the afternoon, stop by for tea with finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, desserts, pastries, and petit fours. Return in the evening to sample Polynesian specialties in a relaxed atmosphere. Reservations required for dinner. 

L’Etoile, the exquisite main dining room, impresses with perfectly appointed décor, fine table linens, and delicate china. Come every evening for dinner and sample a tantalizing array of expertly prepared dishes, perfectly paired with complimentary wines. 

Two Private Beaches & Active Shore Excursions

French Polynesia is revered for its white-sand beaches, and The Gauguin features access to both a private beach in Bora Bora with the iconic Mount Otemanu as a stunning backdrop, and a day at Motu Mahana, a private islet complete with a swim-up bar, authentic barbecue, and shady sun-loungers.

Shore excursions are offered for an additional cost in every port. Activities range from island tours to active adventures like ATV tours, kayaking, waverunner rentals, snorkeling and SCUBA. Visits to pearl farms and vanilla plantations are popular. Reservations can be booked in advance of the cruise or onboard with the Travel Concierge team. Note that cancellation deadlines and terms and conditions are strictly enforced.

Water Sports

The Gauguin’s aft marina offers complimentary kayaking and paddle boarding directly from a water sports platform—the perfect way to explore the pristine lagoons. Guests enjoy complimentary use of snorkel gear throughout their voyage.

Certified divers can select from daily dives, weather permitting. Divers must provide proof of certification, a log book, and complete a medical form in advance of the sailing.

Optional SCUBA certification on board is available for beginner divers, too. SCUBA dives are single tank dives from a zodiac. All equipment is included in the cost of each dive.

On our recent cruise, 40 guests were divers. The capable dive staff separated the more experienced divers from the beginners to ensure that everyone experienced dive sites appropriate to their skill and comfort level.

Itineraries & Highlights

Here are some highlights of the beautiful ports of call we experienced in this magical part of the world:

• All Paul Gauguin cruises start and end on Tahiti, the island which hosts the only international airport in French Polynesia.
• Heart-shaped Moorea is known for its stunning mountains and palm-fringed beaches. It is a quick ferry ride from Tahiti and makes a great pre- or post-cruise addition.
• The Garden Isle of Huahine entices with some of the best-preserved archaeological sites and the mythical blue-eyed eels.
• On Taha’a, the vanilla island, Motu Mahana is Ponant’s own private islet—where an indulgently exclusive beach day is included on every itinerary.
• Bora Bora is legendary for its brilliant lagoon and iconic Mount Otemanu. The island of Bora Bora has been awarded the Golden Beach Award 2024 by BeachAtlas, an online guide made for and by beach enthusiasts. Do not go to French Polynesia without visiting Bora Bora! 

Our cruise, the More Society Islands & Tahiti itinerary, also featured a return to Raiatea, the sacred homeland of the Maohi people and the UNESCO-listed Marae Taputaputea archaeological site. 

Paul Gauguin also offers some longer itineraries to more remote islands like the Tuamotu archipelago, the world’s largest group of coral atolls. The Marquesas, revered in song, literature, and art, is featured on a new 14-night Islands of the Marquesas & Tuamotus voyage.

 The Gauguin’s 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands itinerary showcases the incredible beauty and diversity found in that unspoiled paradise with no branded resorts and no buildings taller than a coconut tree. A visit to Aitutaki, a triangle-shaped atoll covered in palms and sugary sands, affords access to One Foot Island, considered one of Polynesia’s best beaches.

Farther west is the Kingdom of Tonga and the islands of Fiji. And tiny-but-mighty Tonga is Polynesia’s only remaining monarchy and takes great pride in being the only island nation in the Pacific not to have been colonized by a foreign power. A 14-night Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands itinerary between Papeete and Lautoka crosses the International Date Line, meaning you might be traveling for 12 or 13 days, depending on the direction of your cruise! 

Need help selecting the perfect itinerary and timing for your voyage in French Polynesia?

Let’s get started planning your luxury cruise vacation! Reserve your complimentary consultation call with me to begin!