Passenger facilities are spread across
five decks. There’s a Grand Salon and Piano Bar; L’Etoile Restaurant; Verandah Restaurant; pool bar; small spa and gym; library and internet centre; boutique; swimming pool; and plenty of sunloungers with umbrellas across two open decks. A lift accesses all levels except the top
deck. The elegant accommodation includes 37 ocean view staterooms (194sq ft) and eight balcony staterooms (298sq ft). Each has king-size bed; spacious wardrobe; flat-screen television; DVD/CD player; Sony personal
docking system; and figure-of-eight bath- room with shower and L’Occitane unguents.
t became immediately obvious that parent company Paul Gauguin Cruises is a line that eschews the norm and offers its guests an entirely new modus vivendi. Just three hours after setting sail, we approached the Corinth Canal as the sun began its descent. On the top deck, a welcome cocktail party segued into a barbecue of fresh lobster, grilled Sea Bream and succulent
I
steaks. The sheer-sided walls of the canal provided a surreal backdrop as the sky darkened from glowing shades of rose to tangerine and then deep red. It was a per- fect precursor to a week of enlightenment. I was dubious about what to expect aboard this eclectic vessel that Paul Gauguin introduced at the end of 2012. The forums of Cruise Critic had been almost damming in their condemnation of the food as well as highlighting many technical issues, particularly the air-condi- tioning system.
Autumn 2013 I WORLD OF CRUISING
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