My husband and I traveled on the Paul Gauguin in mid-October. This was by far one of the best trips we have even taken. The ship and its crew were top notch. We booked a pre-cruise stay through Paul Gauguin at the Intercontinental Le Moana on Bora Bora. It was an excellent choice in choosing Bora Bora for the pre-cruise stay. The water is simply stunning and the island had a very relaxed vibe. Other than the Le Moana location being very windy (you can read my Trip Advisor review for more on that), the hotel was excellent.
Embarkation
We arrived at the ship around 5 p.m. We were asked to fill out a health form and then taken to reception. We were checked in very quickly and taken to our room by one of the room stewards. Very efficient - A+