Paul Gauguin Cruises is a cruise line that was owned by Beachcomber Croisieres Limited until 2019, when it was purchased by French company Compagnie du Ponant. Paul Gauguin Cruises operates cruises with one ship, the Paul Gauguin, to Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific.
The cruise line is named after the 19th century painter Paul Gauguin, who spent ten years living with and painting the people and nature of the Polynesia area.
History
The Paul Gauguin and Paul Gauguin Cruises had been operating under Regent Seven Seas Cruises from 1998–2010 until Pacific Beachcomber took over Paul Gauguin Cruises and its ship in January 2010. The parent company, Beachcomber Croisieres Limited, had previously acquired the cruise line in 2009.[1] On September 30, 2011 the company announced the acquisition of a second ship. The ship was christened as Tere Moana in December 2012. In June 2015, the company announced the sale of the Tere Moana, leaving the Paul Gauguin as its only ship.[2]
In 2019 the cruise line was purchased by Compagnie du Ponant.[3] In late 2019, Ponant finalised a contract with Fincantieri's VARD yards to construct two hybrid vessels scheduled for delivery in 2022. The vessels will be of the same design as Ponant's current explorer class. However, they will feature batteries to support the ships' energy requirements during port visits and while visiting environmentally sensitive locations. The ships will have a gross tonnage of 11,000 and carry 230 passengers.[4][5]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Paul Gauguin did not sail for some time but resumed operations on July 18, 2020 for local residents and on July 29 for international guests, with reduced occupancy.[6]
Destination
Paul Gauguin sails year-round to Tahiti & Society Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Fiji, Marquesas, Tonga, Tuamotus, Australia & New Zealand.[7][8]
Fleet
Current fleet
Future fleet
Previous fleet
External links
References
- Paul Gauguin Luxury Cruise - News - News - News Paul Gauguin Cruises, retrieved October 8, 2011^
- Cruise News: Latest Cruise Line & Cruise Ship News - Cruise Critic www.cruisecritic.com^
- Monty Mathisen. Ponant Purchases Paul Gauguin www.cruiseindustrynews.com, August 8, 2019^
- C. I. N. Staff. Ponant to Build Two New Ships for Paul Gauguin at Fincantieri www.cruiseindustrynews.com, November 20, 2019^
- Oivind Mathisen. VARD Finalizes Contract for Two Explorer Class Ships for Ponant's Paul Gauguin Brand www.cruiseindustrynews.com, 2019-12-19, retrieved 2019-12-30^
- COVID-19 case on Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia Sea Trade, 2 August 2020, retrieved 2020-08-03^
- Paul Gauguin Luxury Cruise - Company Profile Paul Gauguin Cruises, retrieved October 8, 2011^
- Cruisemanic. Remote Tropical Islands You Can Visit on the m/s Paul Gauguin Cruise Ship Cruise Panorama, 10 December 2022^
- Paul Gauguin buys Le Levant, to branch out from South Pacific Cruise-community.com, September 30, 2011, retrieved October 8, 2011^