Paul Gauguin Ship Tour 2012

PG at anchor in Moorea

Without a doubt, Paul Gauguin (PG) was one of the most intimate and romantic ships we have ever sailed. It is small, holding just 332 passengers, and able to tuck into the shallowest harbors inside the delicate coral reefs that surround most of the islands in the South Pacific.  In addition to having been recently refurbished with brand new modern soft goods when we sailed in 2012, the PG has always been well connected to the South Pacific (SP), both in it's decor and with it's specialized staff of Gauguinnes with food, entertainment and activities geared specifically to the culture of FP. The PG was not only beautiful, but it also served as a full cultural immersion to the places it sails! Like most small ships we've sailed, everything is conveniently located and easy to access, even though there are a limited number of dining and lounge areas.  

Ship Photos

The PG at it's embarkation port of Papeete Tahiti

Water Sports Platform open at Ta'aha

At Raiatea with the sports platform closed up, a view of the L'Etoile dining room on deck 5 (glass windows), La Verandah dining room on deck 6 with outdoor aft seating, aft cabins on deck 7, and La Palette Lounge on deck 8.

Docked at Raiatea

Tender platform at Moorea

Our tour of this ship will start on the lowest passenger decks and go to the upper decks and from the aft of the ship to the bow.  There are passenger cabins on decks 3-8. If you look at the photo directly above of the exterior of the PG, you can see what the windows and balconies look like for cabins on each deck. 

Cabins on decks 3 have small port holes, (Deck 3 is the deck where the officer in white is standing on the tender platform in this photo) cabins on deck 4 are just below the first blue stripe and have a double window. (There are no passenger cabins on deck 5, so skip that row of windows between the blue stripes) Deck 6 cabins have a balcony, the first set of balconies above the blue stripe in the photo above. Deck 7 has a mix of suites and cabins and have larger balconies, and deck 8 are the largest cabins, many are suites with larger balconies

Cabin 621

We can start with a tour of our own cabin on Deck 6.  We found this to be a great place to stay.  It provided the most cost effective balcony option, was centrally located, vertically, to most venues on the ship and had cabins above and below to buffer any sounds from public areas.

A welcoming bed and lots of storage

The soft headboard 

The sitting area and balcony

Lots more storage, a safe, tv and minibar

The balcony

 

Deck 3 Water Sports Platform

The stairs down to the water sports platform

The water sports platform open

Deck 4 Reception and other services

Reception

Shore Excursions Desk

DVD available on the honor system

Sitting area and the scuba diving excursions desk, where dive trips are organized

Deck 5 Le Grand Salon, Casino and L'Etoile Dining Room

The stage and seating areas in Le Grande Salon.  This is the main area for entertainment, including it appears, ping pong!

The bar in Le Grande Salon

An evening's entertainment with O Tahiti E in the the Grande Salon

The Casino and Piano Bar; through the small glass door on the right is a room with a few slot machines.

The piano part of the Piano Bar

Original artwork

In the area alongside L'Etoile dining room, local women make leis, and heis with guests on Polynesian night

L'Etoile dining room on Polynesian night, with local dancers and singers

Deck 6 La Verandah Restaurant, Boutiques and Fitness center

La Fare Tahiti, a small exhibit area in the lobby of La Verandah Restaurant 

La Verandah

The outdoor seating at La Verandah

The shop on board

A lending library, again on honor system

Spa, and everyone asks but it was pure luck that the passenger waiting for service looks just like the poster!

The internet cafe

A little closet for the on board photographer. Photos would be lined on the walls, but he sold any necessities and photos from this tiny kiosk during dinner hours

A very small fitness room adjacent to the spa

Deck 8 La Pallette Lounge, Le Grill and Pool

The outdoor seating area at La Pallette

Les Gauguinnes perform during the anniversary and honeymoon celebration at la Palette

The piano player performing at La Pallette

Outdoor seating area near Le Grille 

Le Grille Buffet

Seating are near the pool

The band performing on the pool deck

View from the pool deck

Deck 9 Sun Deck

View from the sun deck

View of Moorea from the sun deck

A motu at sunset in the South Pacific enroute to Bora Bora