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

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 beautiful islands you may ever see, I began doing the psychological math. What if I offered my residence again in North Carolina? What if I cashed out my IRA? Might I afford to remain on board cruising these islands in perpetuity?

It was that lovely. 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. Similar to the namesake of the 330-passenger ship, the celebrated post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, who famously fled Europe within the 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 depart.

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

Idyllic climate, beautiful 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, with no single day of crusing in between. You allow one at sundown — invariably a good looking sundown — and arrive on the subsequent because the solar rises.

In between, you could 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 identified 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’re going to ever see. The islands are additionally ringed with sandy seashores, turquoise water and little palm-lined islets — which is to say, they’re beautiful.

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, in the event you’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 your complete South Pacific — and by no means depart. All three islands are identified for resorts with overwater bungalows, the place the entire concept is just about that you’re going to examine in and by no means enterprise a lot additional than the crystal-clear waters simply exterior your door.

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

There are additionally different cruise strains moreover Paul Gauguin that supply sailings to French Polynesia (although not as many as you may assume). However with its one vessel, which is predicated in French Polynesia year-round, Paul Gauguin provides a South Pacific expertise that’s in contrast to another.

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 (in the event you do not depend the corporate that operates Arunai 5, the odd-looking French Polynesian cargo ship with passenger cabins).

However Paul Gauguin can be interwoven into the local people like no different cruise vessel — and thus provides a particular allure.

Constructed particularly to sail in French Polynesia and, for many of its 28-year historical past, owned by a neighborhood firm (it was acquired by France-based Ponant Explorations in 2019), it’s staffed with way 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 educating dances, ukelele classes or easy methods to tie a pareo (French Polynesia’s model of a sarong).

On the once-a-sailing “Polynesian Evening,” when passengers had been inspired to point out up of their most Polynesian-inspired apparel, the Gauguins and Gauguines had been there to assist apply non permanent 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 provides throughout island stops. Because of this, these excursions usually have the texture of a resident displaying you round her or his residence. I cherished that my information in Huahine, who toured us round in an open-air truck with room for eight individuals, stopped to point out us the fish lure that his household personally used for catching dinner.

As well as, the meals on board is commonly domestically 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 world cruise ship.

An overwater bungalow that sails

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

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

Unveiled in 1997, The Gauguin is on the older aspect on the subject of upscale cruise vessels crusing the globe. Its cabins lack among the trappings of the most recent luxurious ships, like bedside USB ports or marble-lined walk-in showers in loos. However a serious refurbishment lately has left these cabins trying brilliant and ethereal, with a snug and up-to-date really feel — and the ship’s public areas have additionally been stored up-to-date over time 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 stage by a few of its “they do not make them like this anymore” options. I notably cherished the wide-open decks atop the ship — decks that had been way more open than you may sometimes discover on a more moderen ship this dimension. I often headed as much as the spacious entrance space of the highest deck at sailaway for the uncluttered, 270-degree view. On a extra trendy ship, this house certainly could be busied up with “points of interest” like placing greens or a pickleball courtroom that might simply take away from the expansiveness.

Entry to a non-public 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 referred to as within the South Pacific.

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

Showing on each Paul Gauguin itinerary (often as a day cease simply earlier than the ship visits Bora Bora), Motu Mahana is residence 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 sometimes begins at near $4,000 per particular person. That works out to a bit over $1,000 per evening for a pair sharing a room.

A number of the line’s longer, extra off-the-beaten-path sailings, comparable to its 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotu, and Society Islands journeys, can value considerably extra in whole — 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 in the course of the offseason. As is typical for cruises in every single place, pricing is increased for greater cabins and for sailings throughout peak season intervals, comparable to across the winter holidays.

Nonetheless, as is customary for cruise strains 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.

When you’re desirous to see the islands of South Pacific (notably 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 amazing trip selection.

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