LUXURY CRUISING


French Polynesia seep into the very mar- row and linger, quite possibly forever. The beaches had to be seen to be


believed. The sand everywhere was of such rich, brilliant beige hues that it was almost blinding. We waded through clear, calm seas on to the sand of Motu Mahana, the company’s private island, to be greeted by those gorgeous Gauguines handing out cool towels, while others strummed guitars.


doing their own graceful dance against an endless, petrol blue sky. Strolling in the vivid azure hue of the sea while nursing a cold beer seemed like the most natural thing to do. Our trip was on the cusp of the rainy season, and when it fell, that rain came in vengeful torrents that drummed down on everything in sight. But these incom- ing showers were easy to spot – a great


R 76 WORLD OF CRUISING I Spring 2011


ow after row of gaunt, spindly palm trees swayed beyond the kayaks, beach huts and frolicking divers,


grey cloud against a turquoise canvas – and they never lasted long. In truth, they provided some relief from the searing heat that Polynesia served up around the clock. And never anywhere have I witnessed sunrises and sunsets of such awesome perfection. Great, grey clouds faded to black before floating like ghostly galleons across a sky that morphed from dark blue to what looked like a shade of burning straw. At dawn, the rising sun filled the mist-shrouded valleys of the mountainsides and turned them into dazzling tracts of wild, rolling greenery that changed shade every few minutes. Polynesia needs no other diversions; it is a stunning natural theme park in its own right. Also, because of its remote loca- tion, it is one blissfully devoid of snakes anywhere.


Paul Gauguin FACTFILE


Built: 1997, refurbished, 2008 Tonnage: 19,200 Length: 513ft


Beam: 71ft Draft: 16.9ft Speed: 18 knots Passengers: 332


Crew: 215


Passenger decks: 7 Registry: Bahamas


ITINERARIES: year-round 7, 10, 11 and 14-night cruises in South Polynesia, from Tahiti.


MORE INFO: in the UK, call 020 7434 0089; in the US, 1800 848 6172; or www.pgcruises.com.


Leaving this waking dream behind was


almost physically painful but, like the outward travel arrangements, that leaving was subtle, even sympathetically done. Never have I been so happy to have been proved wrong about a journey as this. Knowing what I do now, I would return in a heartbeat. 


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