Frequently Asked Questions

A licensed and registered doctor and nurse is available for professional and emergency services, which are available at customary charges. The ship’s medical center is designed to provide medical care for certain temporary illnesses and accidents, and is not intended or capable of providing on-going treatment of pre-existing medical conditions. For guests requiring oxygen equipment, an oxygen concentrator is the only form of oxygen equipment allowed aboard ship and must be provided by the guest. Wheelchairs are for emergency purposes only.

Outbound mail service and postage are available on board the m/s Paul Gauguin at a nominal charge.

For disembarkation, guests should plan on vacating their staterooms and suites shortly after breakfast. Cruise-only guests should not schedule flights prior to four hours after disembarkation.

If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, renewal of vows, honeymoon, or other special occasion during your cruise, allow us to celebrate with you. Advise us of such occasions on your Guest Information Form between four and six weeks prior to departure. Paul Gauguin Cruises offers a blessing ceremony during every sailing of the m/s Paul Gauguin and optional packages for honeymoons, anniversaries, and renewals of vows are also available.

We recommend that you pack the following travel essentials for a cruise aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin: Comfortable cool clothing of natural fibers, elegant resort wear for evenings, sun hat, sunglasses, sun block, swimsuit, pool slippers, beach cover-ups, swimming t-shirt (or Lycra® top) preferably long sleeved, mosquito repellent, travel alarm, medication, personal medicine kit, and reef shoes (sturdy, closed-toe).

Gratuities for room stewards, dining and bar staff are included in your cruise fare. If you feel strongly about expressing your gratitude to the crew, you are encouraged to make a donation to the Crew Appreciation Fund at the Purser’s Office. This money is used for crew parties and events.

Embarkation starts at 3:00 p.m. local time at the m/s Paul Gauguin’s pier in Papeete, Tahiti. We ask that our embarking guests not present themselves to board the ship before the designated time, as early embarkation is not possible while the ship is being prepared for arrival.

Each stateroom or suite is equipped with a personal safe. Paul Gauguin Cruises is not responsible for any personal articles such as money, jewelry, cameras, binoculars, documents, or any other items that are retained personally or in your stateroom or suite.

The Gauguin normally sails at 11:55 p.m. from Papeete, Tahiti, although times may vary by departure date. Please consult your travel advisor to confirm sailing times for specific itineraries.

“Open seating” means you can dine whenever, wherever, and with whomever you choose during regular dining hours aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin. Reservations are required for dining in La Veranda and Le Grill in the evenings for dinner and can be made with the restaurant Maitre d’ aboard the ship.

The m/s Paul Gauguin arrives in Papeete at 7:30 pm. Guests may disembark at any time afterward by first checking out at the reception desk to finalize their own board account.

Country Club Casual, or elegant resort wear, is appropriate dress for all evenings aboard The Gauguin. A dress, or skirt or slacks with a blouse or sweater for ladies, and slacks and collared shirts for gentleman. No ties are required at any time, although gentlemen may opt to wear a jacket to the Captain’s Welcome Reception.

Local currencies on itineraries with Paul Gauguin Cruises are as follows: French Polynesia: French Pacific Franc (XPF); Fiji: Fijian Dollar (FJD); Cook Islands: New Zealand Dollar (NZD); and Tonga: Pa’anga (TOP).

Please advise the Paul Gauguin Cruises Reservations Department of any special dietary requirements at least 60 days prior to sailing. Ask for “special services” at 844.428.4846. Once aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin, the Matire d’ Hotel will review dietary requirements with guests. Vegetarian, vegan, low-sodium, and heart healthy dishes are served aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin.

Current legal requirements for conducting a muster of passengers are found in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and mandate that a muster for embarking passengers occur within 24 hours of their embarkation. The muster drill will take place at 5:30 pm on embarkation day. We ask that all guests who have arrived be on board for this drill. Guests arriving after the muster has been completed will be provided with individual or group safety briefings upon embarkation that meet the requirements for musters applicable under SOLAS.

The ship’s boutique offers a selection of fine Tahitian jewelry from Hinerava, designer fashions, perfumes and local items. Toiletries and convenience items are also available for purchase. The boutique may be closed occasionally while in port due to local government regulations.

For safety and security reasons, drones are not permitted to be brought aboard the ship.

Paul Gauguin Cruises offers a variety of Bon Voyage gifts, including red wine, white wine, Champagne, Godiva chocolates, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Shipboard credit, which can be used for excursion packages, spa services, and many other extras on board, also makes the perfect gift.

Paul Gauguin Cruises provides binoculars in the following cabin categories aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin: Category A Veranda Suites, Grand Suites, and Owner’s Suites.

Butler service is available in suite/stateroom categories B and above on the m/s Paul Gauguin. One to two butlers are always available to assist with unpacking, packing, arranging excursions, and delivering Petit Fours and canapés to your cabin daily.

Embarkation starts at 3:00 p.m. local time at the m/s Paul Gauguin’s pier in Papeete, Tahiti. We suggest guests who are not part of Paul Gauguin Cruises’ air/sea program arrive the m/s Paul Gauguin’s pier in downtown Papeete between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Paul Gauguin Cruises has an advanced cellular network installed onboard our ship, allowing guests to place and receive calls using their personal mobile phones when the ship is in international waters. For questions about services or about pricing and billing, guests should contact their mobile phone provider’s customer service department prior to sailing. Mobile phones must be able to roam internationally, and their provider must have a roaming agreement with Maritime Communications Partner AS (MCP).

Onboard laundry services, including pressing and eco-friendly cleaning services, are available for a per item cost and may be arranged through your stateroom/suite steward/stewardess.

Summer and holiday sailings of the m/s Paul Gauguin feature the Moana Explorer Program. Offered in partnership with Te mana o te moana, a South Pacific marine education and conservation foundation, this program invites guests to discover and value the natural wonders through hands-on, interactive learning. While it is designed for children and teens ages 7-15, all family members are welcome to participate. For more information, click here.

The ship is equipped with a state-of-the-art communication system. Internet access is complimentary throughout the ship for all guests.

The m/s Paul Gauguin underwent renovations during dry dock in Singapore February of 2021. The vision: elegant Polynesian bespoke style visualized through a chic, modern lens. This new décor enriches our guests’ experience while sailing through the multi-hued blue lagoons of Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji, and the South Pacific. A palette incorporating shades of blue, taupe, green, and pearl complements warm wood finishes, woven textiles, Polynesian motifs, and stylish gold accents. Also added to the “palette:” complimentary Wi-Fi is the new addition to an already extensive list of all-inclusives you will enjoy on a holiday in the South Pacific aboard The Gauguin.

In 2019 Paul Gauguin Cruises eliminated the use of heavy fuel oil on The Gauguin and began to offset 150% of her carbon emissions. In an ongoing effort to minimize impact on the environment, we have recently added water treatment, consumption optimization, and new energy-saving initiatives to her operations.

For safety reasons, irons, including travel irons, are not permitted on board the m/s Paul Gauguin. Pressing services are available aboard the ship for a nominal fee.

Children under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult over the age of 21. Paul Gauguin Cruises may restrict the number of children on board and is unable to accommodate infants less than one year of age. Summer and holiday sailings of the m/s Paul Gauguin feature the Moana Explorer Program.

For the comfort, convenience, and safety of all our guests, smoking and vaping is prohibited in public rooms, dining rooms, staterooms, suites, and private balconies aboard the ship, and pipe smoking is not allowed on board. Smoking and vaping is permitted only in specifically designated outdoor smoking areas including the forward outdoor areas on Deck 5 (starboard and port sides), La Palette (outside area, starboard side only), and Bar Du Soleil (starboard side only).

Smoking Safety Notice: Always use the ashtrays and never throw cigarettes overboard – they could be blown back into the ship and cause a fire.

For your convenience at the time of embarkation, Paul Gauguin Cruises will request a confidential registration of an accepted credit card. The night prior to your final disembarkation from the ship, a detailed statement of your shipboard charges for onboard services and products will be delivered to your suite or stateroom. All such charges must be paid in full by cash or accepted credit card (Visa®, Mastercard®, or American Express®).

The standard electrical voltage aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin is 220 volts. Both 220-volt and 110-volt outlets are available in staterooms and suites.

Guests must provide their own wheelchair for use during their cruise aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin. The wheelchairs aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin are exclusively for use in emergencies only.

Reservations are required for dining in La Veranda and Le Grill in the evenings for dinner and can be made with the restaurant Maitre d’ aboard the ship.