If you want to see French Polynesia, or if you just want to spend an enjoyable vacation in a beautiful part of the world, then the M/S Paul Gaugin is for you. Here are some specific comments:
• The Paul Gaugin offers a number of different itineraries. We selected the longest, a 14-night cruise that includes the Tuamotus and the Marquesas as well as the better-known Society Islands. We loved stopping in the remote Marquesas, which are very scenic, thinly populated and rarely visited by travelers. On the other hand, the shore excursions and other activities in the outlying ports are quite limited due to the lack of a tourist infrastructure. Because of the distances involved, this itinerary includes four days at sea, and one of the long passages was quite rough.
• If you have a choice, you should consider the season. In January, the weather was quite warm (although never oppressively hot) and humid. During most days, we had several showers. They generally passed quickly and had little impact on our activities. However, the sky was at least partially cloudy most of the time.