During your time aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin, take advantage of their extensive selection of facilities and services. With a variety of luxurious amenities and unique activities, your days aboard ship are sure to match the splendor of your stunning French Polynesian surroundings. For the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation, discover their luxury spa. Then explore the ocean's surface via kayak or windsurfer from their onboard watersports marina, or experience Tahiti's underwater wonders with their optional SCUBA certification program—the only one of its kind on French Polynesian luxury cruises. Or experience the natural and cultural history of Tahiti through a lecture with one of their onboard naturalists. Enjoy your meals at your leisure at one of three stellar, onboard restaurants, and spend your evenings relaxing and enjoying entertainment at their Casino and Piano Bar, La Palette Lounge, or the Grand Salon. Whether you choose to indulge your body, mind, or spirit, you're sure to find an activity to match your passion on the m/s Paul Gauguin.

Activities

Watersports Marina

Watersports are a highlight of the Polynesian experience. The ship's small size allows it to navigate in shallow lagoons and narrow channels where larger ships may not sail. With the specially designed retractable watersports platform, guests may descend to sea level where they can conveniently hop aboard a windsurfer, launch a kayak or set out for a SCUBA diving expedition. A scuba certification program is offered on board.

Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program

Explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau is committed to the belief that the survival of the world's oceans depends on capturing the imagination at a young age. In order to ensure that conservation remains a priority among future generations, he created the Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program under the auspices of the Ocean Futures Society.

This unique, groundbreaking program introduces young travelers (ages 9 to 17) to the extraordinary natural wonders of French Polynesia through direct, hands-on, interactive experiences with marine and island ecosystems. Young Ambassadors explore coral reefs, hike rainforest trails, and visit marae (ancient Polynesian temples). They also learn how black pearls and vanilla are cultivated, how volcanic islands become coral atolls, and how to paddle an outrigger canoe. Parents are encouraged to join children on eco-excursions and other activities aboard and ashore. The Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program is available on select 2012 Holiday sailings and June through August 2012 sailings for a nominal fee of $299 per child. Mr. Cousteau will be aboard the May 23, July 11, November 20 and December 1, 2012 sailings. He will be aboard the ship the 2nd week only on the December 1, 2012 sailing.

Jean-Michel Cousteau

The son of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, whose television program "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" brought an awareness of marine life to millions, Jean-Michel Cousteau has achieved a distinguished career as a respected oceanographer and environmentalist in his own right.

Mr. Cousteau was introduced to the wonders of the deep at the age of seven, when he was thrown overboard wearing new diving apparatus his father had helped to develop: SCUBA gear. Instead of being afraid, the younger Cousteau was fascinated by the majesty and mystery of what he saw.

He has since devoted his life to sharing that wonder with others. In addition to serving for 20 years as executive vice president of the Cousteau Society, his father's nonprofit organization, Mr. Cousteau also struck out on his own to achieve these career milestones:

• 1973: An architect by training, he founded Living Design, an architectural firm that specialized in marine architecture.
• 1973: He established Project Ocean Search, an educational field-study program.
• 1977: He founded the nonprofit Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute, dedicated to oceanographic work.
• 1989: He began writing for the Los Angeles Times, a column that has since been syndicated in 60 newspapers around the world.
• 1993: Mr. Cousteau left the Cousteau Society to begin producing environmental films, a body of work that has since earned Emmy, Peabody, 7 d'Or, and the Cable Ace Awards.
• 1999: The Ocean Futures Society is established, with Mr. Cousteau as president and chairman of the board.

Join Mr. Cousteau on the May 23, July 11, November 20 and December 1, 2012 sailings. He will be aboard the ship the 2nd week only on the December 1, 2012 sailing. He will conduct lectures and will accompany several dives.

Ocean Futures Society Program

The thread running throughout his astonishing career has been Mr. Cousteau's passion for sharing with others an appreciation for the ocean and the importance of protecting it. In 1999, he founded the Ocean Futures Society, whose mission is to explore the world's oceans, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on their planet. Mr. Cousteau serves as president and chairman of the board.

Dining

Nowhere else is the French art de vivre – the art of living – more evident than in the sensory pleasures of their moveable feasts. Of course, at every meal select wines are generously poured, compliments of the house. All part of the legendary tasting and temptings that you'll encounter aboard their ship. Ask any former guest of Paul Gauguin . This is the finest food served in the South Seas.

L'Etoile

Enjoy fine French cuisine with a Polynesian accent amid the classic furnishings and fluted shell lighting reminiscent of one of the refined dining establishments in Paris. Here delectable cuisine is artfully presented and guests receive the most diligent attention.

Le Grill

Greet the sun with a buffet breakfast at Le Grill. Or enjoy lunch by the pool on a choice of grilled favorites, salads and fresh tropical fruits. At night Le Grill is transformed into a cozy indoor/outdoor restaurant serving grilled specialties in a more casual atmosphere. Dinner reservations are required at Le Grill.

La Veranda

La Veranda's floor to ceiling windows, indoor and al fresco seating, and refined atmosphere make it the perfect place to enjoy breakfast and lunch.

In both reality and the popular imagination no other country has approached France in terms of elevating its cuisine to a high art form. At dinner, La Veranda is transformed into an elegant French Bistro offering the finest in French cuisine, wine selections and ambiance. The Paul Gauguin chefs have created a menu for La Veranda not merely to explore the culinary highways and byways of France but to provide an extraordinary dining experience that captures the very essence of the country.

Dinner reservations are required in La Veranda.

Entertainment

Casino and Piano Bar

On any evening, pulses run high in the Le Casino. Or when refreshments are in order, the Piano Bar provides a warmly relaxing environment.

Le Grand Salon

Watch spectacular performances, such as an electrifying Polynesian show featuring the arts of the islands in the main lounge. One night it might be the soaring acappella harmonies of himene songs. Another might feature a thrilling performance of ote'a - a complex line dance accompanied by drums telling the ancestral legends of the Polynesian people. Later in your cruise, you'll have a chance to learn how to dance in true Polynesian style from their wonderful Gauguines performers.

La Palette Lounge

Sing along at the piano bar in this spectacular observation lounge atop the ship. At night it's transformed into a romantic nightclub where a chanteuse sings the Parisian blues and couples sway on the indoor/outdoor dance floor.

Ship Information

• Most luxurious ship to sail in Tahiti on a year-round basis
• Only 332 guests
• Crew to guest ratio of 1 to 1.5
• All oceanview accommodations, nearly 70% with balconies
• Space to guest ratio of nearly 58 to 1, one of the highest of any ship serving the North American market
• All onboard gratuities included
• Complimentary beverages including fine wines and premium spirits, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee and tea served throughout the ship
• Butler service in categories B and above, including in-suite bar setup and SoundDock® for iPod®
• In-suite mini-bar replenished daily with soft drinks, beer and bottled water
• State-of-the-art retractable Watersports Marina
• Onboard dive program
• Onboard lecture program
• Two elegant restaurants and one pool-side grill, all with open-seating dining
• Well-being and vegetarian selections and special dietetic menus upon request
• WiFi hotspots throughout the ship
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Complimentary in-room dining
• Complimentary in-room movie channels and movies available

Ship Statistics

• Overall Length: 513 feet (156.5 meters)
• Beam (width): 71 feet (21.6 meters)
• Draft: 16.9 feet (5.15 meters)
• Passengers: 332
• Crew: 217
• Passenger Decks: 7
• Shipyard: Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint Nazaire, France
• Gross Tonnage: 19,200
• Cruising Speed: 18 knots
• Ship's Registry: Bahamas
• Propulsion System: Diesel Electric