LUXURY CRUISING


e


Anna Selby samples the unique style and ambience of Paul Gauguin Cruises in the South Pacific


F


rench Polynesia is the same size as Europe – the difference being, of course, that it consists mostly of water. Across its tiny scattered


islands – a mixture of volcanic peaks and coral reefs – the heady smell of frangipani and gardenia blow on a tropical breeze. Mangoes and avocados, papaya and coconuts hang from the trees just waiting to be picked.


Warm lagoons shimmer emerald and sapphire in the sun, brimming with the kind of technicolour fish you would normally expect to find in an aquarium. When the first Europeans arrived here, they believed they had discovered Paradise. And, in truth, this is probably as close as it gets. The Paul Gauguin has been sailing these waters for 14 years and has just


come back from a major $7million renovation looking as good as new. The new – furniture, carpets, curtains, artworks – blend in well with the ship’s long-term reputation as the face of luxury small-scale cruising in the South Pacific. Don’t they say it’s the little things that count? Big bathrooms with a bath as well as a shower; a turn-down service every evening; canapes delivered to your


Winter 2012-13 I WORLD OF CRUISING  77


P


a


r


a u


d o


i s


F


n


d


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104