I went on a Paul Gauguin cruise round French Polynesia. I did not wish to go away

I used to be 5 days right into a seven-day voyage on the French Polynesia-based Paul Gauguin when the wild ideas started.

Do I actually have to return? Could not I simply keep right here ceaselessly?

Lounging by the pool on the 330-passenger Paul Gauguin Cruises vessel because it sailed between Bora Bora and Moorea, two of essentially the most gorgeous islands you will ever see, I began doing the psychological math. What if I bought my dwelling again in North Carolina? What if I cashed out my IRA? May I afford to remain on board cruising these islands in perpetuity?

It was that stunning. That peaceable. That … je ne sais quoi, however I knew I simply needed to remain.

And, sure, I used to be beginning to lace my sentences with French phrases, like they do on board Paul Gauguin and throughout the islands it visits. I had the bug. Identical to the namesake of the 330-passenger ship, the celebrated post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, who famously fled Europe within the Eighteen Nineties to hunt a less complicated life right here. And Fletcher Christian, the English naval officer who led the mutiny on the British ship HMS Bounty in 1789 so he by no means needed to go away.

Ultimately, I did get off the ship two days later and returned dwelling. There was no mutiny on The Gauguin. However solely reluctantly. And I am already plotting my return.

Idyllic climate, gorgeous surroundings

To sail on The Gauguin, as Paul Gauguin Cruises likes to name its vessel (and the road solely has one vessel), is to be on an limitless loop of the best hits of tropical island magnificence.

Tahiti, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora, Moorea. On the ship’s weeklong itineraries they arrive one after one other, and not using a single day of crusing in between. You permit one at sundown — invariably a phenomenal sundown — and arrive on the subsequent because the solar rises.

In between, you may have full days free to discover every of the islands’ specific model of South Pacific paradise.

On Huahine, for me a minimum of, that meant snorkeling within the extremely clear lagoon, the place I used to be dazzled by the neon-bright clams atop coral clusters and all types of colourful fish. I additionally snuck a peek on the historical Polynesian temples (marae) — Huahine is especially recognized for its temples — and ogled the famed blue-eyed eels.

The subsequent day, on Raiatea, it meant kayaking the one navigable river in French Polynesia, the Faaroa. If you wish to kayak in French Polynesia, that is the place.

In Bora Bora, it meant swimming with sharks and stingrays. (Sure, you’ll be able to swim with sharks and stingrays in Bora Bora.)

The backdrop for all this was the loveliest rainforest-covered volcanic mountains that you will ever see. The islands are additionally ringed with sandy seashores, turquoise water and little palm-lined islets — which is to say, they’re gorgeous.

And I have not even talked about the idyllic climate but. It isn’t perfectly-sunny-365-days-a-year climate, thoughts you. Lush rainforests aren’t created by all-day solar; clouds and downpours are common occurrences. However the local weather is unfailingly heat and tropical, with cooling breezes that generally carry the soothing scent of tiare and frangipani flowers or, for those who’re on Tahaa, the candy and intoxicating aroma of vanilla beans.

A French Polynesia expertise like no different

There are lots of methods to go to French Polynesia, after all. Many guests head straight to a resort on Tahiti, Bora Bora or Moorea — arguably the three most iconic islands of the whole South Pacific — and by no means go away. All three islands are recognized for resorts with overwater bungalows, the place the entire concept is just about that you will verify in and by no means enterprise a lot additional than the crystal-clear waters simply outdoors your door.

For individuals who can afford one, an overwater bungalow is the de rigueur technique to keep on this a part of the world.

There are additionally different cruise traces moreover Paul Gauguin that supply sailings to French Polynesia (although not as many as you may assume). However with its one vessel, which relies in French Polynesia year-round, Paul Gauguin gives a South Pacific expertise that’s not like every other.

A crusing on The Gauguin is, for starters, one of many solely methods you’ll be able to go to a variety of French Polynesian islands in a single journey with out the prices and logistical hassles that include island-hopping by airplane.

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Just one different cruise model, Windstar Cruises, bases a small ship within the area that visits as many islands as Paul Gauguin (for those who do not rely the corporate that operates Arunai 5, the odd-looking French Polynesian cargo ship with passenger cabins).

However Paul Gauguin can be interwoven into the area people like no different cruise vessel — and thus gives a particular attraction.

Constructed particularly to sail in French Polynesia and, for many of its 28-year historical past, owned by an area firm (it was acquired by France-based Ponant Explorations in 2019), it’s staffed with much more native residents than is typical for cruise ships, in roles starting from the receptionist on the visitor relations desk to the ship’s nurse.

Among the many most charming elements of the ship is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — locals who stay aboard the ship as hosts and entertainers with a mandate to deliver the spirit of French Polynesia to life. I cherished watching them work together with passengers, whether or not it was instructing dances, ukelele classes or the best way to tie a pareo (French Polynesia’s model of a sarong).

On the once-a-sailing “Polynesian Evening,” when passengers have been inspired to indicate up of their most Polynesian-inspired apparel, the Gauguins and Gauguines have been there to assist apply momentary tattoos. On a number of nights, they carried out conventional songs and dances within the vessel’s most important theater.

As I noticed on a number of of my outings, The Gauguin additionally has longstanding relationships with locals who function most of the excursions it gives throughout island stops. Because of this, these excursions typically have the texture of a resident exhibiting you round her or his dwelling. I cherished that my information in Huahine, who toured us round in an open-air truck with room for eight folks, stopped to indicate us the fish entice that his household personally used for catching dinner.

As well as, the meals on board is usually regionally sourced, with the ship’s head chef leaving the vessel within the morning to choose up contemporary fish for that evening’s dinner — regardless of the fishermen have simply introduced in. I skilled this firsthand a number of nights, feasting on pretty fresh-caught yellowfin tuna (served all types of the way, from sashimi and tartare to grilled), mahi-mahi and Ray’s bream (which the locals name papio) on the ship’s eating places.

In brief, a crusing on The Gauguin feels extra like a keep at a locally-owned boutique lodge than a voyage on a global cruise ship.

An overwater bungalow that sails

Little doubt conscious of simply how in style overwater bungalow resorts are in French Polynesia, Paul Gauguin’s advertising and marketing group are fond of claiming The Gauguin is “an overwater bungalow that sails.” It is a slick slogan, for certain. However on some degree, it is true.

Practically each morning of my crusing, I swept open the drapes of my cabin to discover a fully new, spectacular view that invariably included an expanse of pristine water backed by gorgeous mountains. In Huahine, we have been anchored smack in the midst of Maroe Bay, thought of one of the crucial lovely bays in French Polynesia. No lodge on the island gives nearly as good a view. In Bora Bora, we anchored simply off the city of Vaitape, inside the picture-perfect lagoon that has made the island so well-known.

Unveiled in 1997, The Gauguin is on the older aspect in terms of upscale cruise vessels crusing the globe. Its cabins lack among the trappings of the newest luxurious ships, like bedside USB ports or marble-lined walk-in showers in bogs. However a serious refurbishment in recent times has left these cabins wanting shiny and ethereal, with a cushty and up-to-date really feel — and the ship’s public areas have additionally been stored up-to-date through the years with common overhauls, together with a serious one only a few months in the past.

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What the ship lacks in newness, furthermore, is canceled out at some degree by a few of its “they do not make them like this anymore” options. I significantly cherished the wide-open decks atop the ship — decks that have been rather more open than you will usually discover on a more recent ship this dimension. I recurrently headed as much as the spacious entrance space of the highest deck at sailaway for the uncluttered, 270-degree view. On a extra fashionable ship, this house certainly could be busied up with “points of interest” like placing greens or a pickleball courtroom that will simply take away from the expansiveness.

Entry to a personal islet

Along with onboard actions, passengers on each Paul Gauguin crusing have the chance to spend a day lounging on the line’s very personal personal islet — or motu, as they’re known as within the South Pacific.

Known as Motu Mahana, this personal islet is situated simply off the French Polynesian island of Tahaa, near Bora Bora, and it is but another standout characteristic that makes these journeys so particular.

Showing on each Paul Gauguin itinerary (normally as a day cease simply earlier than the ship visits Bora Bora), Motu Mahana is dwelling to a palm tree-lined seaside and heat shallow waters for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking.

On the Motu Mahana day of every cruise, just about everybody heads off the ship, which anchors close by, for a full day of beachy enjoyable that features a seaside barbecue, volleyball video games, conventional music and dancing by the Gauguins and Gauguines, and a spread of hands-on actions.

An all-inclusive getaway

Paul Gauguin sailings aren’t low-cost. The seven-night Extra Society Islands and Tahiti crusing I did usually begins at near $4,000 per individual. That works out to a bit over $1,000 per evening for a pair sharing a room.

A few of the line’s longer, extra off-the-beaten-path sailings, resembling its 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotu, and Society Islands journeys, can value considerably extra in complete — though on a per-day foundation, the pricing is comparable.

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The beginning costs talked about above are for entry-level cabins on sailings through the offseason. As is typical for cruises in all places, pricing is larger for larger cabins and for sailings throughout peak season intervals, resembling across the winter holidays.

Nonetheless, as is customary for cruise traces on the excessive finish, Paul Gauguin features a lot in its base worth. Along with a room on board and all meals, the fares embody most drinks on board, shipboard Wi-Fi and gratuities.

Backside line

The 330-passenger Paul Gauguin is one thing of a unicorn on the planet of cruising — a one-of-a-kind vessel constructed particularly to sail within the far-from-almost-everywhere waters of the South Pacific. It’s there that it started its life almost 30 years in the past, and it’s there that’s has remained all these years, on a seemingly limitless loop between among the best-known and most lovely tropical islands discovered anyplace on the planet.

In the event you’re wanting to see the islands of South Pacific (significantly the nook of the South Pacific that’s French Polynesia) and you do not wish to be restricted to visiting only one or two locations, it is an ideal trip alternative.

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