Cruising with Paul Gauguin
Posted on 01/18/2017
When it comes to cruising, most people can name off a long list of popular cruise lines, but when I mention Paul Gauguin I tend to get a blank stare back at me. Paul Gauguin is a unique cruise that oozes with luxury, individuality and class and sails throughout French Polynesia.
My little family and I had an amazing opportunity to sail on the Paul Gauguin over the Christmas holiday, I have to say, it was an experience of a lifetime. This isn't a mega ship that will hold thousands of passengers, it is a small, luxury ship and it only has one ship in it's entire fleet. The Paul Gauguin holds 332 passengers and has a 1-1.5 crew to guest ratio. What does that mean for you? That means you want for nothing. The cruise is really an all inclusive cruise which means your drinks and tips are included, so no worrying about a bill at the end of your cruise. Go ahead, sip on a cocktail and let your worries roll away.
The ship itself is just beautiful. The rooms have wonderful wood features throughout, a lot of great storage and a nice subtle, cozy feel and design. I also appreciated the fact that the bathroom offered a full bathtub, which is very uncommon on cruise ships. The dining venues were elegant and room service so quick. The staff onboard was the best I have ever experienced. This cruise line doesn't just deliver in looks and service. It is unique to say the least. The entertainment consists of stargazing on the pool deck, galley and bridge tours, paddle boarding and kayaking out of the back of the ship and enjoying performances by the local children and families, along with daily lecturers and Polynesian shows at night. You really get to be a part of the region and have the opportunity to learn along the way. It doesn't hurt that their destinations are second to none, but we will save that for another blog post.
My husband had the chance to take a Galley tour which was given by the head chef who was from France, he explained that much of the food was brought onto the ship daily while we were in port, so everything was always fresh. Nothing was reheated or mass produced. The menu was cooked to order and breads and pastries were baked daily. (Don't even get me started on the amazing pastries.) The food was so good and the presentation was fantastic. I don't recall eating anything I didn't like, and that says a lot coming from a picky eater.
If you are looking for something out of the ordinary or if you are wanting to take that special trip for that special occasion, I couldn't recommend the Paul Gauguin more. They know how to make you feel special and give you a chance to really know what "luxury cruising" is all about.
