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Other pointers
For your cruise.
Getting there
 French
Polynesia is easy to reach today by air, thanks to the modern jet.
Air
Tahiti Nui offers the most direct and nonstop flights to Papeete, Tahiti, the
gateway city to French Polynesia. It flies from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New
York, Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, and Paris.
Other
international airlines flying to Papeete include Qantas, Air New Zealand, Air
France, Lan Chile, United, and Hawaiian Airlines. Inter-island airlines are Air
Tahiti and Air Moorea.
Book early
Air
- Fares increase and seat availability decreases the closer you get to the
sailing date.
Cruise
- Almost every Paul Gauguin cruise throughout the year is sold out because of
its high appeal and the limited cabin count. You may need to book 9 to 12
months ahead if you want the choice month of July.
The earlier you book, the lower the cruise fare will likely be. And, you may even
receive a bonus like free airfare and special pre- and post-cruise resort rates.
Shore
excursions - Make your reservations for them ahead of time from your travel
agent or on the Regent Seven Seas Cruises' website. If you arrive
without reservations, be in line at the ship's travel concierge desk at 9 p.m. on
embarkation day when it starts taking bookings.
Restaurants
- To secure dinner reservations for La Veranda and Le Grill for your preferred days and
times, see the maitre d' at the La Veranda restaurant between 3 and 5 p.m. on
embarkation day. That's when reservations are first taken.
What's free, what's not
Free
(partial list):
 Almost all
food and beverages, including those in the mini-bar.
Tips.
Onboard
entertainment.
Marina:
kayaking, water skiing and snorkeling - and the use of the nautical equipment.
Films for
your in-cabin DVD player.
Fee
(partial list):
Nearly all
shore excursions.
Scuba
diving.
Laundry &
dry cleaning.
Medical services.
Internet
access.
Ship-to-shore phone calls.
Money
Official
currency - On the ship, it's the US dollar. On the islands, it's the
French Pacific Franc (CPF). Most tourist-oriented outfits accept the dollar and
major credit cards. Still, I recommend carrying some CPFs, just in case. Please
note that the ship does not exchange currency.
Expensive
islands
- Be prepared. Practically everything you might want to buy in French
Polynesia is very expensive. That includes restaurants, resorts and taxis. Note:
This makes a cruise fare that includes bed, food, drink and entertainment in
Polynesia a good value.
Communications
Internet
Cafe - For a fee, you can email and surf the web - or use your own laptop in a wi-fi area.
Connection speed can be quite slow. An alternative is to visit an island
cyber cafe.
Phone
calls - You pay hefty rates when you call ship to shore. Some passengers use their cell phones
(if they work onboard) or call from an island pay phone.
Keeping
up with the news - Read the daily international news sheet or watch the satellite news on your cabin television.
How to pronounce
island names
Tip:
Do not run vowels together. Pronounce every one distinctly. Example: for "Moorea",
break it into four syllables - "mo-o-re-a".
Australs
ah-strols'
Bora Bora (tourists)
boh-rah' boh-rah'
Bora Bora (natives)
poh-rah' poh-rah' (roll the "r")
Fatu Hiva
fah-too' hee-vah'
Hiva Oa
hee-vuh' oh'-ah
Huahine
who-ah-hee'-neh
Marquesas
mahr-kay'-suhz
Moorea
moh'-oh-ray'-ah
Motu
moh'-too
Rangiroa
rahn-ghee'-roh-ah
Ra'iatea
ray' ee-ah-tee'-ah
Taha'a
tah-hah-ah
Tahiti
tah-hee'-tee
Tuamotus
too-ah-moh-toos
Ua Pou
wah-pooo
About the Paul Gauguin
Ship
statistics - The
ship was custom designed for sailing French Polynesia. Its shallow draft (5
meters or 17 feet) allows it to sail into shallow lagoons.
More ship statistics:
Built:
France (1998)
Last
Refurbishment: 2008
Length:
156 meters (513 feet)
Cruising
speed: 18 knots
Motion
stabilizers: Yes
Cabins: 165
Passengers: 330
Crew:
215
Passenger-to-crew
ratio: 1.5 to 1
Passenger demographics - Guests
come from all corners of the world. The vast majority is Americans, though
Canadians, French and the British are well represented. The typical
passenger is well traveled and educated.
Miscellaneous
Best
period - June to August has the least rain, lowest humidity, and the coolest
temperatures. The opposite occurs from November to February. However, downpours
are almost always brief, sometimes measured in minutes.
Children
facilities - The Paul Gauguin does not have dedicated facilities for
children. However, it has a special educational program for them run by Jean-Michel
Cousteau's organization from about mid-June to mid-August and during the Christmas
period.
Children-free
cruises - The ship is never overwhelmed by children, but
if it's important to you to have a child count at or near zero, avoid school
vacation and holiday periods.
Sun
protection - You are near the equator, so you may want to wear a brimmed hat and put on a
high-SPF sun screen when you are in the sun.
Smoking
policy - There's no smoking in cabins (including private decks) and public spaces
(except in the Connoisseurs Club and certain designated deck areas).
Dress
code - It's smart country-club casual, meaning no swim suits in restaurants
- and no jeans or shorts in public
areas after 6 p.m. This is the tropics, so jackets are
not necessary in the evening (a polo shirt or short-sleeve Hawaiian-style print shirt
worn with dress slacks will
do). However, you will probably want to wear a jacket for the Captain's Welcome Party (ties are
optional).
Click these buttons for
more of my photos, tips
and insights on a romantic
cruise on the Paul Gauguin
 
My "What it's Like"
cruise ship sections
 to
view
My general
cruise ship section
to
view
Click the button below for Regent's website for Paul Gauguin itineraries with maps, a list of
cruise-specialist travel agents near you, plus other useful trip-planning
information.
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