Live Cruise Update: First Impressions of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Note: This week I'm blogging and tweeting live from the Society Islands in French Polynesia. We're sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin from Paul Gauguin Cruises and will also enjoy overnight stays at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora.

First things first. When I first mentioned that Leonard and I would be sailing with Paul Gauguin Cruises, a lot of travelers emailed me to say they'd be very interested in hearing how the ship was faring now under new management. Many were loyal fans of the m/s Paul Gauguin when Regent Seven Seas managed the ship and were worried that somehow things would go downhill when new management—Paul Gauguin Cruises—came into the picture.

Stop worrying! The ship is in excellent condition (lots of money was recently invested to refurb the vessel), much of the crew remains the same (Siglo and Hal Fraser are both still onboard as are Les Gauguines), the vibe is a happy one and service has been very good. Our room stewardess Marivic is excellent, the bartenders are jovial and fast, and the waitstaff hasn't missed a thing.

This is Day Three of our seven-night Tahiti-to-Tahiti itinerary. We visited Raiatea yesterday and took the Faaroa River and Island Exploration tour that included river passage on a motorized outrigger canoe as well as a 4x4 off-road expedition. Excellent tour and the two Polynesian guides we had were both very good and conducted the tour in multiple languages.

Since that was an afternoon tour we were able to do a lot on the ship beforehand. Here are a few of the events that took place:

• Port Talk with cruise director Michael Shapiro and travel concierge Paulina Salinas
• Snorkeling gear pickup at the Marina
• A cooking demonstration from celebrity chef Dean James Max
• Shell bracelet craft session with Les Gauguines
• Moonfish carving demonstration with executive chef Mark Bishop

In the evening, we dined at L'Etoile with hotel manager Ferdinand Strohmeier. Excellent conversation and a nice way to cap off a perfect day in French Polynesia.

Today we're anchored off Taha'a and will spend most of the day at Moto Mahana. It's a beach/snorkel day with a BBQ lunch.

All in all, Paul Gauguin Cruises has—so far—exceeded my expectations. Despite the 21-hour journey to get here, I would do it all over again next week! And, right now, the value can't be beat. To be honest, I think a voyage with Paul Gauguin Cruises is the best luxury value available right now. (Check out special pricing for this summer and you'll see what I mean.)

Stay tuned for more blog posts and photos and visit my Twitter page for more French Poly messages and photos.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com