The first thing I tell people who book the Paul Gauguin through us is that the ship is small on purpose. With around 330 guests, I never once waited in a line or hunted for a deck chair. I remember stepping off the marina platform at the stern straight into the lagoon before breakfast, then drying off and ordering coffee without changing out of my swim trunks. It is a ship that lets you forget the clock. That ease is the whole point, and it is what I try to set expectations around before anyone sails.
A ship sized for the islands
At roughly 330 guests, the Paul Gauguin is built to slip into small French Polynesian lagoons that larger ships simply cannot reach. I found that scale changes the rhythm of a day. Crew learn your name by the second morning, the watersports marina off the stern means you can kayak or paddleboard on a whim, and the public spaces never feel crowded. If you have sailed big-ship cruises before, the quiet will surprise you in the best way.
Where I actually ate
There are three restaurants, and I rotated through all of them. L'Etoile leans French and is the main dining room; La Veranda serves Polynesian dishes and local fish that I came back to again and again; Le Grill is the casual poolside option where I ate most lunches in a swimsuit. Nothing is rushed, and dress code relaxes as the week goes on. I tell guests to try the local fish at La Veranda at least twice.
The Gauguines and Motu Mahana
Les Gauguines are Tahitian hosts who sing, dance, and share the culture onboard, and they are a genuine part of what makes the ship feel rooted in French Polynesia rather than generic. The highlight for me was the private island day at Motu Mahana off Taha'a, where the crew set up a floating bar in the lagoon and a barbecue ashore. It is the kind of day people describe to me for years afterward.
Frequently asked questions
How many guests are on the Paul Gauguin?
Around 330, which is small for an ocean cruise ship. That size lets it reach lagoons big ships skip and keeps the onboard feel relaxed and uncrowded.
What are the dining options like?
Three restaurants: L'Etoile (French), La Veranda (Polynesian and local fish), and the casual poolside Le Grill. Dining is unhurried and the dress code stays relaxed.
Can I get in the water from the ship?
Yes. There is a retractable watersports marina off the stern for kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming when the ship is at anchor in calm lagoons.
Planning a Paul Gauguin voyage? Tell us your dates and what you're dreaming of and we'll map it out for you.