award-winning luxury cruise ship
Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
The m/s Paul Gauguin award-winning luxury cruise ship, operated by Paul Gauguin Cruises, presents exceptional cruise experiences in the wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, the South Pacific, and Fiji. Indeed, the 5+-star m/s Paul Gauguin was built specifically to sail the waters of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. Lastly, m/s Paul Gauguin is the longest continually operating year-round luxury cruise ship in this enchanting destination providing up-close, authentic experiences.
The m/s Paul Gauguin has been specifically designed to glide in luxury through the shallow seas of the South Pacific as the Gauguin is a small-ship cruiser’s dream. The m/s Paul Gauguin delivers travelers to intimate ports inaccessible to larger cruise ships, all the while providing a travel experience that is nothing short of luxurious.
Celebrating 25 Years: The Paul Gauguin Experience
Artfully Authentic Discovery – All-Inclusive Luxury
Enchanting, carefree, and award-winning, The Gauguin Experience is celebrating 25 years exploring The Islands of Tahiti. Purposefully designed to navigate the region’s fabled lagoons, together with her beloved crew and local troupe of Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines who live aboard ship, the m/s Paul Gauguin delivers an expert and artfully authentic experience unmatched in cruising.
Paradise for Kids (and Families too!)
At NorthStar, we encourage you to pack up your kids and head to Tahiti! The m/s Paul Gauguin welcomes youngsters ages 7-15 aboard to participate in its complimentary Moana Explorer Program that goes far beyond the “camp-like” structure of other cruise lines. Offered in conjunction with Te mana o te moana (a South Pacific marine education and conservation foundation) on more than many sailings, naturalist-led activities engage both kids and their families with sea turtle care center visits, real-life beach “Survivor” games, volcanic mountain hikes, snorkeling in pristine lagoons, cultural activities, and more.
NorthStar is devoted and dedicated in making The Gauguin the highest-rated luxury ship in French Polynesia. This video kicks off a year of soon-to-be-announced exclusive anniversary offers and special onboard events, and we invite you to share it with your friends and families. Mauruuru! (Thank you!)
Update: Multi-Million-Dollar Refurbishment for M/S Paul Gauguin
The Best Keeps Getting Better
Celebrated as French Polynesia’s destination expert and winner of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Best Small Cruise, Paul Gauguin Cruises announced plans for its beloved m/s Paul Gauguin to undergo a multi-million-dollar refurbishment during a seven-week drydock in Singapore, February-March 2025. The extensive project will introduce sustainable technology upgrades, a contemporary new look for its popular Le Grill restaurant, a reimagined pool deck complete with shaded cabana area, eight new connecting staterooms—perfect for multi-generational travelers—and the updating of soft furnishes throughout.
Top 10 Reasons to Choose Paul Gauguin Cruises
- Small, intimate, and award-winning: One of the highest rated ships year over year, the 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin is the longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific.
- Extraordinary value in luxury cruising: Our all-inclusive fares allow for a relaxed and carefree ambience on board.
- Exceptional service: A crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.5 is among the highest at sea and features our own troupe of Tahitian host/entertainers who live aboard the ship year-round.
- Exclusive retreats: Revel in our private beaches and islets off the coasts of Bora Bora* and Taha’a.
- Luxurious ocean-view accommodations: Butler serviced suites and spacious staterooms – nearly 70% with private balcony – include European linens and in-room refrigerator with beverages replenished daily.
- Three fine-dining venues and 24-hour room service: Savor expertly prepared cuisine presented by our knowledgeable and attentive staff.
- Water-sports: Our onboard marina offers kayaks and paddle-boards for your use in select ports and at destination beaches; complimentary snorkeling equipment for your use throughout your cruise; and optional PADI SCUBA diving programs.
- Enrichment program: Sailings are enhanced with presentations by local naturalists and/or other experts, and special guests join select voyages.
- More unique itinerary options than any other luxury line in the region: Our 7- to 14-night voyages feature as many as three overnights on a single sailing including Bora Bora, Moorea, Fakarava, and Papeete.
- Moana Explorer Program: In partnership with the Te mana o te moana conservation foundation, kids ages 6 to 15 enjoy educational and fun explorations; complimentary on select summer and holiday sailings. Plus, kids up to 17 years of age sail free as the third guest in select staterooms.
Paul Gauguin Cruises Current Promotions
Wave Season Promo! Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti
$500 Shipboard Credit
Experience the most romantic place on Earth with a $500 Shipboard Credit, Champagne & Chocolate per stateroom on select 2025 voyages. Book by Valentine’s Day with code SBCSWEET and soon you’ll be island hopping your way through paradise with the line voted Best Small Cruise in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Reader’s Choice Awards. *Terms & Conditions Apply
Bonus Savings up to 30%
Valid for Travel Now Through: 31 Dec 2026
Explore paradise with French Polynesia’s destination expert and enjoy Bonus Savings of up to 30% on the widest variety of all-inclusive journeys in the region when you book now. These islands have been our home for more than 25 years and our expertise in revealing them with artful authenticity is unmatched. Terms & Conditions Apply
Plus, enjoy $100 Shipboard Credit per guest as part of the Virtuoso Amenity Program NOW available on ALL 2025-2026 sailings*.
Best Gift, Ever.
Valid for Travel 01 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2025
Wrap up the holiday with Extra Savings up to $2,900 per guest on select 2025 voyages exploring Bora Bora, Fiji, the South Pacific and beyond aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin. Renowned for its authentic discovery and all-inclusive luxury, Paul Gauguin Cruises delivers immersive experiences, genuine Polynesian hospitality, exceptional cuisine, and so much more. All-inclusive fares begin at $4,360 per guest. Book your voyage by January 3, 2025. Terms & Conditions Apply
Solo Traveler: Zero Single Supplement Offer
Valid for Travel Now Through: 02 Dec 2026
Paul Gauguin Cruises welcomes all solo travelers with a Zero Single Supplement on a rich selection of 7- to 14-night all-inclusive voyages. Treat yourself to the genuine hospitality and pampered luxuries unique to The Gauguin and indulge in the serenity of this over-water “bungalow” that sails.
Traveling by yourself can be life changing. For those who already know this, you won’t want to miss this exclusive offer: We are waiving the single supplement on select sailings. Paul Gauguin Cruises Zero Single Supplement is just one more reason to grab your passport and celebrate your freedom to wander the world. And for those who’ve yet to embark on an independent travel adventure, there’s no better place to begin than aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin in the warm embrace of our friendly and hospitable crew. Welcoming just 330 guests with her tropically chic décor and luxuriously relaxed vibe, The Gauguin is the perfect choice to discover paradise on your own.
Enjoy 0% Single Supplement on category C, CS, E, and F cabins on select voyages aboard The Gauguin. Reserve today!
The Paul Gauguin Cruises Experience
The Paul Gauguin Cruises Experience
Artfully Authentic Discovery
All-Inclusive Luxury
Designed specifically to glide in luxury through the shallow seas of the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin is a small-ship cruiser’s dream. The Gauguin delivers travelers to intimate ports inaccessible to larger cruise ships, all while providing a travel experience that is nothing short of luxurious. Once on board, guests enjoy spacious suites and staterooms (nearly 70% with private balconies), a waters-ports marina, three dining venues, an extensive spa, and five-star service.
If you are new to Paul Gauguin Cruises, we hope you find this introduction valuable. If you are already familiar, perhaps this will ignite Polynesian memories. In any case, please do reach out if you’d like information about Paul Gauguin Cruises. We highly recommend it!
The Gauguin Wins Best Small-Ship
Travel + Leisure’s 2022 – World’s Best Awards #1
It is thrilling to announce that the world’s most discerning travelers have once again voted Paul Gauguin Cruises as the #1 Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards. What an honor and a testament to the genuine hospitality and authentic experiences provided by the Officers, Staff, and Crew aboard the intimate, 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin. Recently reimagined with a contemporary tropical elegance, the beloved ship boasts an ambience of carefree all-inclusive luxury setting the stage for immersive journeys throughout wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji and the South Pacific.
The Gauguin’s SCUBA diving excursions are designed for all levels of experience and is the only luxury ship in the French Polynesian islands to offer PADI certification onboard for novice divers.
As the world leader of small-ship cruising, in September 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT’s family. Discover the difference of cruising with purpose on Paul Gauguin Cruises and let us introduce you to utterly authentic Polynesia.
Are you missing out on travel? Then let Paul Gauguin Cruises take you on an aerial port tour through French Polynesia.
In a world of ever-evolving technology, on-demand entertainment, and manufactured experiences, this October Paul Gauguin is taking a moment to slow down and appreciate the real, the genuine, and the original. Instinctually, this is what they want in their relationships, and something we crave in our food, our clothes, and our own personal enrichment. Being authentic contributes to one’s holistic well-being by quietly fueling happiness and fulfillment. And while authenticity is also the most talked about trend in travel, it’s something Paul Gauguin has long known and appreciated. Paul Gauguin Cruises is pleased to share writer Fran Golden’s “quintessentially Polynesian” observations of her recent journey aboard the beloved m/s Paul Gauguin.
Best Dive Sites in French Polynesia
Tahiti is for Divers (and Snorkelers too!)
From reef walls, canyons, and shark dives to snorkeling amidst coral gardens teeming with fish, French Polynesia is a world-renowned paradise for Technicolor adventures both advanced and novice. Think Fakarava’s UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve, Rangiroa’s Tiputa Pass, Bora Bora’s famed lagoon, and more. There’s drift snorkeling near our private motu in Taha’a, and thrilling discovery in Hiva Oa, considered a must-do “new” dive destination by experienced divers. Discover them all in this issue of The Gauguin Insider: A South Pacific Luxury Cruise Blog. VIEW POST
The Best Way to See wonders of Tahiti & Her Islands
The Value is with Paul Gauguin Cruises
With her famous lagoons, idyllic beaches, and iconic mountain peaks, French Polynesia is a perennial bucket-list favorite. When trying to decide between wonders of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora or beyond, the world’s #1 Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line invites everyone to explore them all in seamless, luxurious comfort. Paul Gauguin has done the homework and thought you might be interested in their 7-night Sea vs Land comparison: With gourmet dining, fine wines and spirits, gratuities, entertainment, waters-ports, private motus, and more all included, the value of a voyage aboard the enchanting m/s Paul Gauguin is simply unmatched. So go ahead and book with your NorthStar Advisor in an over-water “bungalow” that sails and let them revel in an artfully authentic experience.
2025 Paul G Cruises: Boutique Crossing Collections
Immersive and indulgent, Paul Gauguin Boutique Crossing Collection combines the best of exotic island discovery with the blissful freedom of days at sea. The m/s Paul Gauguin becomes your welcoming host on voyages of 14, 16, or 20 nights navigating the remote treasures of Oceania, Indonesia, and Melanesia; and added shipboard enrichment invites opportunities for rejuvenating mind and body. *Terms & Conditions apply
Crossing Oceania: Fiji to Bali
[LAUTOKA, VITI LEVU ISLAND, FIJI TO BENOA, BALI]
Here is a voyage made for lovers of ocean cruising; perfect for those seeking to disconnect from the everyday with an indulgent balance of days at sea and seven intriguing South Pacific islands bookended by the tropical icons of Fiji and Bali. A robust program of guest speakers invites personal enrichment on board to renew mind, body and spirit, while a call at Alotau, Papua New Guinea highlights an itinerary also featuring Vanuatu, Guadalcanal, and Komodo National Park.
Immersive Indonesia: Singapore to Australia
[SINGAPORE TO DARWIN, AUSTRALIA]
Set sail from Singapore to discover Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty. This exotic journey visits Parai Beach and explores Javanese treasures in Surabaya and Semarang—gateway to Borobudur Temple. Bali enchants with its temples while Komodo National Park intrigues with the world’s largest lizard. From Timor-Leste’s charming capital, Dili, journey on to tropical Darwin in Australia’s verdant Northern Territory.
Crossing Melanesia: Australia to Fiji
[DARWIN, AUSTRALIA TO LAUTOKA, VITI LEVU ISLAND, FIJI]
Explore wild beauty and important history on this immersive journey navigating the remote island countries of Melanesia, from the verdant landscapes of Australia’s Northern Territory to the tribal culture of Papua New Guinea and the historical WWII significance of Guadalcanal. Two days in the Solomon Islands allow for incredible snorkeling and diving, with the pristine beaches and enchanting culture of Vanuatu ready to welcome you just beyond. Arrive in Fiji, ready to discover its vibrant markets and famed shores.
Are you missing out on travel? Then let Paul Gauguin Cruises take you on an aerial port tour through French Polynesia.
Travel Advisory/Covid-safe Protocol
Awards & Accolades
Paul Gauguin Cruises has been recognized for their top cruises including being voted “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” and “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for Families” by the readers of Travel + Leisure. Paul Gauguin Cruises has also received exceptional cruise reviews and accolades from their guests, always appreciated for providing the best cruises in the world. You are invited you to sail with Paul Gauguin Cruises and experience their top cruises.
Gold, Silver & More Magellan Awards
Paul Gauguin Cruises is honored to share news of their recent accolades in Travel Weekly’s 2022 Magellan Awards. Presided by a panel of esteemed experts from all facets of travel, the annual awards bestowed the m/s Paul Gauguin with Gold in the Overall – Small Cruise Ship category. They also received two Silver awards: one for Overall – Luxury Ship, the other for Cruise Elements – Luxury Ship Itinerary.
More Accolades for Paul Gauguin Cruises
Condé Nast Traveler – 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
Top 2 Small Ship Line – Paul Gauguin Cruises is proud to be recognized by the world’s most discerning travelers as the Top 2 Small Ship Line in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards, and we salute our parent company, PONANT, in earning the #1 spot in both the Small Ship and Expedition categories. Recently reimagined with a contemporary, chic elegance, the beloved ship hosts just 330 guests for enriching, all-inclusive journeys to Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji, and the South Pacific.
travAlliancemedia
Gold Travvy Award – Best Cruise Line Australia/ New Zealand/ South Pacific 2020
USA TODAY
Best Ocean Cruise Line – USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2020
Best Small Cruise Ship – USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2020
Conde’ Nast Traveler
Finalist – Top Small Cruise Lines Readers’ Choice Awards 2019
AFAR
Best French Polynesia Cruise Line – 2019
Travel + Leisure
1 Midsize-Ship Cruise Line 2019
BRIDES Magazine
BRIDES Honeymoon Awards 2019
Warm Wishes from the wonders of Tahiti
The Islands of Tahiti are well known for being an untouched island paradise with vibrant marine life, stunningly clear water, and a warm local population that welcomes travelers with a fragrant tiare lei and a genuine smile. These are among the many attributes that make The Islands of Tahiti one of the most enchanting and sought-after bucket list destinations.
‘Tis the season for joyful moments of togetherness with those you love most, and we’re sending you and yours warmest wishes sprinkled with sunshine and filled with wonder. Te mau mahana oaoa! Happy Holidays!
PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES
RENOVATION DETAILS UNVEILED!
Our favorite small-ship, and yours, had received a makeover! In February of 2021 during dry dock, the m/s Paul Gauguin underwent a refresh of textiles, fabrics and furniture. The vision of this renovation was to enhance The Gauguin’s elegant and unique Polynesian signature with a chic and modern style to enrich the guest experience. Paul Gauguin also made significant environmental upgrades to allow them to continue to support sustainable tourism. The Gauguin is revered for her exceptional service as well her short passenger list, so you now can be among the first to enjoy her new décor as they explore the lagoons of French Polynesia.
wonders of Tahiti has no shortage of these natural water features. The Islands of Tahiti are known for their relaxing tropical climate. Miles of white sand and lush forests are commonplace in this paradise. Check out: Where to Find Tahitian Waterfalls
Aerial tour: A bird’s eye tour of some of the ports we visit nestled in French Polynesia’s idyllic atolls, mountains, reefs and lagoons.
Other Paul Gauguin Related Links:
