I did a Paul Gauguin cruise around French Polynesia. I don’t want to leave

When the wild thought began, I took a five-day voyage from Paul Gauguin of French Polynesia.

Do I really have to go back? Can’t I stay here forever?

Hanging by the pool of 330 passengers Paul Gauguin, it sailed between Bora Bora and Moorea, two of the most amazing islands you’ve ever seen, I started doing spiritual math. What if I sell it home in North Carolina? What if I cashed in on the IRA? Can I afford to cruise on board these islands permanently?

That’s so beautiful. That peace. That… je ne sais quoibut I know I just want to stay.

And, yes, I started to lace with French phrases, just like they were on Paul Gauguin and on the islands they visited. I have an error. Like the same name as the 330 passenger ship, the famous post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin famously fled Europe in the 1890s, seeking a simpler life here. British Navy officer Fletcher Christian led the rebellion on the bounty of the British ship HMS in 1789, so he never had to leave.

Finally, two days later, I did get off the boat and go home. There is no rebellion on the instrument. But only forceful. And I’m already planning my reward.

Idyllic weather, magnificent scenery

When sailing on the instrument, Paul Gauguin Cruises likes to call his ships a boat (only one boat), it’s the endless loop in the greatest hits of tropical island beauties.

Tahiti, Hua Hin, Ryatiya, Taha, Bora Bora, Mooria. During the weeklong itinerary of the ship, they followed each other and did not sail for a day. You leave one at sunset – always a beautiful sunset – and arrive at the next as the sun rises.

In between, you have the freedom to explore the South Pacific Paradise brand of each island throughout the day.

For me, at least, it means snorkeling in an incredibly clear lagoon, where I am bewildered by neon clams on top of coral clusters and a variety of colorful fish. I also peeked at the ancient Polynesian temple (Marae) – Huahine is famous for its temples – and declared the famous blue-eyed eel.

The next day, on Raiatea, this means that the kayaking lined the only navigable river in French Polynesia. If you want to use kayaking in French Polynesia, this is the place.

In Bora Bora, this means swimming with sharks and stingrays. (Yes, you can swim in Bora Bora’s sharks and stingrays.)

The background of all this is the cutest rainforest covered volcanic mountains you’ve ever seen. The islands are also filled with sandy beaches, turquoise water and small palm-lined islands – that is, they are amazing.

And I haven’t even mentioned idyllic weather yet. Please note that this is not a 365-day weather for a year. Lush rainforests are not created by sunshine throughout the day; clouds and downpours occur routinely. But the climate is always warm and tropical, with the cool breeze sometimes with the scent of soft tits and flangepani flowers, or, if you are on Tahaa, the sweet and intoxicating aroma of vanilla beans.

The experience is unique in Polynesia, France

Of course, there are many ways to visit Polynesia, France. Many tourists head directly to the resorts of Tahiti, Bora Bora or Moorea, arguably the three most iconic islands in the entire South Pacific – never leaving. All three islands are famous for resorts covered with water bungalows, and the whole idea is almost what you want to check out, and never before has it taken a step further than the crystal clear water outside the door.

For those who can afford it, a water bungalow is De Rigueur Ways to stay in this part of the world.

In addition to Paul Gauguin, there are other cruise companies that offer sailings to French Polynesia (although not as much as you might think). However, Paul Gauguin offers a different vessel than any other with its year-round ship located in French Polynesia.

For beginners, sailing on board is one of the only ways you can visit a wide variety of Polynesian islands on a single trip without the cost and logistical hassle of island jumps brought by the plane.

Related: Why Your Next Dream Holiday Should Be a Luxury Island Cruise

Only another cruise brand, Windstar Cruises, is on a small boat in the area, which visits as many islands as Paul Gauguin (if you don’t count the company that runs the Arunai 5, it’s the weird French Polynesian cargo ship with passenger Cabins).

But Paul Gauguin also interweaves it into the local community like other cruise ships, so it has a special charm.

It is designed for sailing in Polynesia, France, and in its 28-year history, owned by a local company (which was acquired by France’s Ponant Explorations in 2019), its staff far exceeds the typical residents of a cruise ship, with roles ranging from receptionist’s receptionist at the guest relationship table to nurses on board.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the ship is the presence of instruments and instruments – locals take the ship as hosts and entertainers on board with the command to bring the French Polynesian spirit to life. I love watching them interact with passengers, whether it’s teaching dance, Ukraine lessons or how to tie up Pareo (the apron version in Polynesia, France).

In the “Night of Polynesia” that once ended, the gauges and gauges are there to help apply temporary tattoos when passengers are encouraged to appear in their most favorable clothing. On several nights, they performed traditional songs and dances in the main theater of the ship.

As I have seen on several outings, Galin also has long-term relationships with locals who offer many trips during their docking on the island. As a result, these trips usually have the feeling of a resident showing you her or his home. I love my guide at Huahine, who was wandering around an open-air truck for eight people to roam, and he stopped to show us the fish traps his family used to hang out for dinner.

In addition, the food on board is often locally sourced, with the ship’s head chef leaving the vessel in the morning to pick up fresh fish for that night’s dinner — whatever the fishermen have just brought in. I experienced this firstthand several nights, feasting on lovely fresh-caught yellowfin tuna (served all sorts of ways, from sashimi and tartare to grilled), mahi-mahi and Ray’s breath (which the locals call papio) at the boat’s restaurant.

In short, sailing on the instrument feels more like a boutique hotel accommodation located in a locally owned boutique, rather than a sailing of an international cruise ship.

A sailing on a water bungalow

There is no doubt that Paul Gauguin’s marketing team likes to say that Garlin is “a water bungalow for publicity.” Of course, this is a smooth slogan. But to some extent, it is true.

Almost every morning, I swept the cabin curtains and found a brand new, spectacular view that always includes a whole lot of pristine water supported by breathtaking mountains. At Huahine we are anchored in the middle of Maroe Bay, considered one of the most beautiful bays in French Polynesia. There are no hotels on the island to enjoy the views. In Bora Bora we anchored the perfect lagoon of such a famous island near the town of Vaitape.

The instrument was unveiled in 1997, on an upscale cruise ship sailing across the globe, the instrument was on the older side. Its cabin lacks some of the pitfalls of the latest luxury boats, such as the head of the bed USB port in the bathroom or a walk-in shower with marble. However, in recent years, a major renovation has made the cottages look bright and airy, with a comfortable and up-to-date feel – and the public areas on board have also remained up to date with regular overhauls, including a major overhaul a few months ago.

Related: Paul Gauguin Society Cruise Loyalty Program: Everything You Need to Know

Furthermore, the ship lacks novelty, which somehow cancels some levels of its “they are no longer like this” feature. I especially like the open deck on this boat-the deck is much more open than you usually find on newer boats of this size. I often head to the spacious front area of the top deck of Sailaway for a neat 270-degree view. On a more modern boat, the space will surely be busy with “attractions” such as putting vegetables or pickle courts, which will only get rid of the swelling.

Enter the private island

In addition to the activities on board, every Paul Gauguin sailing passenger has the opportunity to hang out on the line for a day on the South Pacific with a private island or Motu.

This private island, known as Motu Mahana, is located in the French island of Tahaa near Bora Bora, near the French island of Bora, which is another outstanding feature that makes these trips so special.

Motu Mahana appears on every Paul Gauguin itinerary (usually a day stop before a boat visit to Bora Bora), is a palm-lined beach and warm shallow water for swimming, snorkeling and canoeing.

On every Motu Mahana day, almost everyone sailed away from nearby boats, anchoring a full day of entertainment nearby, including beach barbecue, volleyball games, traditional music and dance of instruments and instruments, as well as a series of hands-on activities.

An all-inclusive vacation

Paul Gauguin sailing is not cheap. I usually do seven nights of Social Islands and Tahiti sailing, close to $4,000 per person. Couples who share a room every night can calculate over $1,000 per night.

Some longer, less popular routes of the route, such as its 14-night trip to the Marquis, Tamotu and the Social Islands, could be much larger in total, although the prices are similar every day.

Related: 5 Best Destinations You Can Visit on the Paul Gauguin Cruises Boat

The starting price mentioned above is the entry-level cabin in the offseason. As is typical for cruising everywhere, larger cabins and sailings are priced higher in larger seasons, such as winter holidays.

Still, just like the habit of high-end cruise routes, Paul Gauguin has a lot of basic prices. In addition to the onboard rooms and all meals, the fare includes most of the drinks on board, Wi-Fi and remuneration.

Bottom line

Paul Gauguin, whose 330 passengers, is a unicorn in the cruise world, a unique vessel dedicated to sailing far away in the South Pacific. It began there nearly 30 years ago and has been around for years, with seemingly endless loops between the most famous and beautiful tropical islands in the world.

If you are eager to see the South Pacific islands (especially the corner of French Polynesia in the South Pacific) and you don’t want to be limited to visiting one or two places, that’s a great vacation option.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories: