I was the lucky winner of a Paul Gauguin cruise to Tahiti and the Society Islands. Amazingly, our room was not the lowest level, but had a beautiful picture window! Our room was ideal, and included a small in-room safe (large enough for a tablet but not a small laptop) and restocked beverage refrigerator. The climate control in all areas of the ship was amazingly comfortable, particularly with the heat and humidity (which I loved, don't get me wrong!) of the gorgeous French Polynesian islands. The meals were wonderful--healthy and delicious choices were the norm! Room service was included, too. The ship's amenities included a small gym--very nice for a ship this size.

The staff were truly outstanding! The port talks were a refreshing change from larger ships' sales pitches--the excursions were actually presented at the end, with independent options (eg. bicycle rentals on Bora Bora) also mentioned. Snorkel gear are included, and can be picked up in advance of excursions. We enjoyed the underwater diving helmet experience (we are non-swimmers), and would highly recommend it. As well, the guided archaeological walk on Moorea was also excellent. Friendly, casual, and yet very attentive service made the cruise perfect!

A small error occurred prior to embarkation, but was remedied more than adequately, reflecting the high professionalism of the staff and the integrity of Paul Gauguin. Read more