Public Areas & Facilities

Designed specifically to sail in French Polynesia year-round, the Paul Gauguin is actually owned by Grand Circle Travel, but it is operated year-round by Regent Seven Seas Cruises. She succeeds in offering an extension of the informal, relaxing atmosphere of the islands with an on board ambiance as soothing as a tropical shower. Adding to the unique personality of French Polynesia are the troupe of Gauguines, who act as part cruise staff, part entertainers, part storytellers.

From a passenger's perspective, Paul Gauguin is quite small, but with one of the highest passenger space ratios at sea, the ship never seems crowded. Although experts about Tahitian culture and history accompany every sailing, and lectures are well attended, most cruisers happily kick back and enjoy the sociable atmosphere.

Restaurants

French cuisine with a Polynesian accent is served on an open-seating basis for lunch and dinner in the main restaurant, L'Etoile. La Veranda also serves open-seating breakfast and lunch. For dinner, La Veranda becomes a French Restaurant inspired by Le Cordon Bleu; it requires reservations but does not assess a surcharge. A casual poolside grill buffet is another option for breakfast and lunch, and the area is transformed into an indoor/outdoor bistro featuring grilled items for dinner. Afternoon tea is served daily and room service is available 24 hours. Vegetarian and healthy options are always available, and special dietary requests can be satisfied upon request.

What Works & What Doesn't

Paul Gauguin is a unique ship that consistently receives favorable reviews and positive feedback. It has an all-inclusive approach to pricing, with an open-bar policy throughout the ship (all beverages, including wine and liquor) and personalized service delivered by the attentive staff. The Fare Tahiti Gallery, a library that also displays Polynesian art and artifacts, integrates the islands' colorful heritage into the onboard experience, as do Tahitian dancers and singers, who come aboard to perform in some ports. While few onboard activities are planned other than lectures and small-scale shows, most passengers are content to entertain themselves. The feeling on board can be likened to a country club at sea.

You might want to think twice about booking this ship for a family vacation, as Regent clearly emphasizes there are no facilities for small children on Paul Gauguin. Additionally, children under age 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times while on the ship, and children under age 18 must be accompanied on the cruise by a parent or responsible adult over age 21.

Accommodations

Layout: All accommodations are spacious and have queen-size beds (some can be converted to two twins). Closets and storage are adequate -- remember, you need no formal wear for a Paul Gauguin cruise. All feature a vanity/desk and sitting area and, while all staterooms and suites have an ocean view, 50% also have private balconies. Fresh fruit baskets and tropical flowers are welcome enhancements.

Amenities: All staterooms and suites have hair dryers, personal safes, refrigerators, and TVs with VCRs. Bathroom extras include shampoo, lotion, and bathing products, a bathtub with shower, as well as slippers and bathrobes to use during the cruise.

Suites: In addition to more space and a separate tub and shower in the marble-clad bathroom, the Owner's Suite also has a small dressing area. Grand Suites have a huge balcony that wraps around from the side to the front of the ship as well as forward-facing windows that offer a view similar to what is seen from the ship's bridge one deck below. Suites, including categories OS, GS, A, and B, include butler service.

Good to Know: Staterooms in the lowest category, Category F, have twin portholes instead of a picture window. Only one stateroom is wheelchair-accessible; it is larger than standard, though, at 225 square feet.

Category	Size (square feet)
Owner's Suite	534
Grand Suite/Deluxe Suite	332/300
Verandah Stateroom	249
Balcony Stateroom	239
Outside Stateroom	200

Favorites

Smoke 'Em if You've Got 'Em: The Connoisseur Club is an elegant little retreat where cigars and brandy are the order of the evening.

Best Place to Get Wet: Watersports are a highlight of a Tahiti cruise, and with the retractable watersports platform, passengers may descend to sea level where they can hop on a windsurfer or ocean kayak, water ski, or set out for a scuba diving expedition. No certification? No problem -- a scuba certification program is offered on board.

Our Favorite Spot for a Nightcap: For quiet conversation with a music and indoor-outdoor dancing, we prefer our nightcap in the La Pallette Lounge.

Kid Stuff: On select sailings -- including summer and holidays -- the Ambassadors of the Environment Program is offered as a fun and enriching experience for young people from 9 to 15. Leaders of the program are educated naturalists for Jean-Michel Cousteau, with degrees in the sciences and extensive experience in teaching marine ecology.