There is simply no better way to experience French Polynesia than aboard the Paul Gauguin. The ship was purpose-built for these waters — her shallow draft lets her slip into lagoons and tiny ports that larger ships cannot reach. Now owned by Ponant, she has had a thorough refurbishment and the onboard standard has noticeably risen, with included drinks, watersports from the marina platform, and a private island day on Motu Mahana that is genuinely magical. If your clients dream of Bora Bora and Moorea, this is the only ship I would recommend.
The m/s Paul Gauguin has been the defining luxury cruise experience in the South Pacific since her maiden voyage in 1998. Purpose-built to navigate the shallow lagoons and small harbours of French Polynesia, she is the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury ship in the region — a genuine one-of-a-kind vessel that reaches places no other cruise ship can access. With just 332 guests and a crew steeped in Polynesian hospitality, the onboard atmosphere feels closer to a boutique island resort than a conventional cruise.
Acquired by Ponant in 2019 and comprehensively refurbished in 2025, the Paul Gauguin has seen her already impressive standards elevated further. Complimentary beverages including wines and spirits are included, as is use of the ship’s retractable watersports marina for kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkelling directly from the vessel. The dining reflects both French culinary tradition and Polynesian flavours, and the Algotherm spa offers treatments rooted in island botanicals. Every stateroom and suite features a private balcony or veranda, ensuring guests wake to turquoise lagoons and volcanic peaks each morning.
The signature experience is a day on Motu Mahana, a private islet near Taha’a where guests swim, feast on a beachside barbecue, and listen to Polynesian musicians under palm-thatched shelters. It is moments like these — barefoot, unhurried, impossibly beautiful — that set Paul Gauguin apart from any other cruise line in the world. Shore excursions across Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, and the Marquesas are thoughtfully curated, blending cultural encounters with natural exploration.
Paul Gauguin sails year-round from Papeete, Tahiti, with itineraries ranging from 7-night Society Islands loops to 14-night voyages reaching the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, and the remote Tuamotus. With Ponant planning to deploy a second ship in the region from late 2026, the future of luxury South Pacific cruising looks brighter than ever — but the Paul Gauguin herself remains the undisputed original.
Tell us your travel dates and our Paul Gauguin specialists will create a tailored proposal.
