The "floating art gallery" line gets used a lot about the Paul Gauguin, and I used to roll my eyes at it until I sailed her. It isn't about paintings on the wall; it's that the ship carries the feel of these islands aboard with it. The people who do that are Les Gauguines, the Tahitian hosts who sing, dance and teach, and they're the reason the ship feels rooted in French Polynesia rather than dropped into it. Add the marina and a private island, and you have a ship with a real sense of place. Here's what stood out to me.
Les Gauguines set the tone
Les Gauguines are Tahitian women who travel as hosts, leading dance, craft and language sessions and performing in the evenings. They're not a hired troupe flown in for a season; they bring the culture of the islands aboard, and a ukulele lesson with one of them tells you more about the place than any lecture. For me they're the heart of what makes this ship different.
The marina off the stern
The marina is a platform that folds down at the back of the ship, opening straight onto the water for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and easy snorkelling. It sounds like a small thing and it changes the whole feel of a sea day. Instead of waiting for a tender, you step off the back of the ship into the lagoon.
A day on Motu Mahana
Motu Mahana is the line's own private islet off Taha'a, and the day there is the one guests photograph most. There's a floating bar in the lagoon, barbecue ashore, and the Gauguines bringing music to the beach. It's relaxed rather than choreographed, which is exactly why it works.
Frequently asked questions
Who are Les Gauguines?
They're Tahitian hosts who sail with the ship, leading cultural activities like dance, crafts and language, and performing in the evenings, bringing local culture aboard.
What is the onboard marina?
A platform that folds down from the stern, giving direct access to the water for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling without waiting for a tender.
What happens on the Motu Mahana day?
The ship calls at its private islet off Taha'a for a beach day with a lagoon bar, barbecue and live music from the Gauguines.
Planning a Paul Gauguin voyage? Tell us your dates and what you're dreaming of and we'll map it out for you.