Contact us here to plan your future trip to French Polynesia
The Paul Gauguin — French Polynesia's Finest Cruise Ship
The m/s Paul Gauguin has been sailing French Polynesia continuously since 1998 — longer than any other luxury vessel in the South Pacific. It was designed specifically for these waters: shallow draft to access coral lagoons, intimate size for a personal atmosphere, and a Polynesian crew that knows these islands as home. If you want the most refined, all-inclusive way to experience French Polynesia — with gourmet dining, a private marina platform, and shore excursions in the world's most beautiful lagoons — this is the ship.
Budget, best season, islands, itineraries — everything before you book.
The m/s Paul Gauguin — Specs & On-Board Experience
The Paul Gauguin is an intimate luxury ship — 156 metres long, 330 passengers maximum — built to navigate the shallow lagoons and tight anchorages of French Polynesia that larger cruise ships cannot reach. It is the only large luxury cruise vessel that remains in Polynesian waters year-round, which is why the crew knows every anchorage, every pass, and every motu by heart.
The m/s Paul Gauguin — designed exclusively for French Polynesia since 1998, the only luxury ship that sails these waters year-round.
On board, the atmosphere is deliberately intimate — with a 1:1.5 staff-to-guest ratio, service is attentive without being intrusive. The ship's signature feature is the retractable marina platform at water level, which deploys at anchor to give guests direct access to the lagoon: kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling gear, and a watersports platform surrounded by the lagoon's turquoise water. No tender required.
Unlike most cruise lines that visit French Polynesia seasonally, the Paul Gauguin is based here permanently. The crew — predominantly Polynesian — has been sailing these specific waters for years. Your shore excursion guide is not reading from a script; they grew up on these islands. This makes a genuine difference to the quality of cultural experiences on board.
The pool deck — the social heart of the ship between island stops, with views across the lagoon at anchor.
Paul Gauguin Itineraries — 7, 10 & 14 Days
The Paul Gauguin offers three main itinerary formats. All depart from and return to Papeete (Tahiti), making connections straightforward — Papeete is served by direct flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Paris, and Auckland. Below are the three formats with their key stops.
The Paul Gauguin at anchor in Bora Bora — the ship's shallow draft allows it to anchor close to the motus, where larger vessels cannot go.
Paul Gauguin Cruise Prices — 2026
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and include most of what you'll need on board (see the included section below). The ranges below reflect the spread between entry-level cabins in low season and suites in peak summer.
| Format | Duration | From (entry cabin) | To (suite) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Society Islands | 7 nights | ~€4,000per person | ~€6,500per person | First visit, families, short holidays |
| Society + Tuamotu | 10 nights | ~€6,000per person | ~€8,500per person | Divers, honeymooners, best value |
| Grand Polynesia | 14 nights | ~€9,000per person | ~€14,000+per person | Marquesas + complete circuit |
The Paul Gauguin sails at high occupancy year-round. Entry-level cabin categories sell out first — if you want an ocean-view balcony at the base price, booking 6–12 months in advance is strongly recommended, especially for July–August and December departures. Last-minute availability exists but tends to be suite categories only.
Sunset from the Paul Gauguin — every evening at anchor brings a new lagoon, a new silhouette of volcanic peaks against the light.
What's Included in a Paul Gauguin Cruise
The Paul Gauguin is an all-inclusive cruise — but "all-inclusive" is not the same everywhere. Here is exactly what the cruise price covers and what you'll need to budget separately.
- Accommodation in your chosen cabin category
- All meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner in all restaurants
- Most beverages — wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks
- All shore excursions — guided tours at every port
- Watersports from the marina platform — kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling gear
- Diving — two complimentary scuba dives per person
- Onboard entertainment — Polynesian dance shows, lectures, cultural activities
- Use of all ship facilities — pool, fitness centre, spa (treatments extra)
- Port fees and taxes
- WiFi (basic connectivity)
- International flights to Papeete
- Pre- or post-cruise hotel nights in Papeete
- Spa treatments and beauty services
- Additional scuba dives beyond the two complimentary ones
- Premium spirits and Champagne
- Private shore excursions (beyond the included group tours)
- Personal shopping and boutique purchases
- Crew gratuities (customary — ~USD 15/person/day)
- Travel insurance
Unlike most cruise lines that charge separately for every shore excursion, the Paul Gauguin includes guided excursions at every port in the base fare. This is a significant value — in French Polynesia, guided 4x4 tours, lagoon services, and cultural site visits typically cost €80–150 per person when booked independently. Over a 7-night cruise with 5–6 island stops, this represents a substantial saving.
Opunohu Bay, Moorea — one of the most iconic anchorages on the Society Islands circuit, accessible directly from the ship.
Cabin Categories — From Stateroom to Owner's Suite
All 166 cabins on the Paul Gauguin have an ocean view — there are no interior cabins. The ship was built with this principle from the start. Categories differ in size, position on the ship, and whether you have a private balcony or a porthole window.
Ocean-view window (no balcony). Approximately 21 m². Queen or twin beds, marble bathroom, flat-screen TV. Lower decks, quieter. Good value entry point to the Paul Gauguin experience.
Private balcony — the most significant upgrade. Approximately 28 m² cabin + balcony. Waking up to the lagoon from your own terrace is one of the defining experiences of this cruise. Strongly recommended.
Large private balcony, separate living area, butler service. 57 m² total. Priority embarkation, premium spirits in cabin, dedicated concierge. The most intimate and spacious option on board.
A balcony stateroom on the Paul Gauguin — waking up to a lagoon view from your private terrace is what most guests remember most.
Paul Gauguin vs Private Catamaran — Which is Right for You?
Both offer extraordinary ways to experience French Polynesia by sea — but they are genuinely different products suited to different travellers. The question is not which is "better" but which matches what you're looking for.
| Paul Gauguin | Private Catamaran | |
|---|---|---|
| Group size | Solo, couples, any size — join with other guests | Your group only — 2 to 8 people |
| Itinerary | Fixed departures, set schedule | Fully tailor-made, flexible daily |
| Comfort level | 5-star ship — restaurants, spa, pool, nightly entertainment | Comfortable but intimate — 4 cabins, open cockpit |
| Price (7 nights) | From ~€4,000/person | From ~€875/person (8 guests, low season) |
| Cultural experience | Expert guides, lectures, Polynesian entertainment | Skipper's local knowledge — more spontaneous |
| Best for | Luxury seekers, solo travellers, couples, families wanting full service | Groups of friends or family wanting privacy and freedom |
For a group of 6–8 people who want total freedom — choosing their own anchorages, their own pace, their own meals — a private catamaran at €7,000–11,500 for the whole boat is significantly more cost-effective and more intimate. For solo travellers, couples, or anyone who values expert cultural programming, spa access, and the energy of a luxury ship, the Paul Gauguin has no equivalent in Polynesia.
The Paul Gauguin in the lagoons of French Polynesia — its shallow draft gives access to anchorages impossible for larger ships.
Best Season for the Paul Gauguin
The Paul Gauguin sails year-round, and French Polynesia has no truly "bad" season. The choice comes down to what you prioritise — weather, whale watching, crowds, or price.
The most settled weather, lowest humidity, and best visibility for snorkelling and diving. Humpback whales are in the Society Islands from July to October — a genuine highlight if you time your cruise for this window. This is peak season: prices are highest and cabins sell out months in advance. Book early.
Warmer and more humid, with occasional afternoon showers. Lagoon conditions remain excellent — the Leeward Islands and Tuamotu are largely sheltered from the prevailing weather. Prices are 10–20% lower than peak season and availability is easier. December–January is popular despite being wet season, due to Northern Hemisphere school holidays — prices reflect this.
Want to include the Paul Gauguin in your French Polynesia trip?
Tell us your travel dates, group size, and budget. We'll help you build the right itinerary around the cruise — combining it with land stays, other islands, or a catamaran extension.
→ Plan my trip around the Paul GauguinThinking about combining the Paul Gauguin with a land stay or a private catamaran before or after? The cruise departs and returns to Papeete — adding a week in the Leeward Islands or Tuamotu on either side is straightforward.
