PONANT/Paul Gauguin Cruises welcomed a group of travel partners from around the country to Darwin earlier this week to a very rare ship visit of ms Paul Gauguin. The 330-passenger luxury ship was passing through the Northern Territory capital having just undergone its latest refurbishment in Singapore which was centred on sustainable engine enhancements to meet Ponant’s stringent green credentials.
The most distinctive change to the naked eye is the exhaust stack of the ship now sporting PONANT’s three-sail logo. ms Paul Gauguin is also the biggest vessel in PONANT’s fleet, nearly 100-passengers larger than the Icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, which has a capacity of 245 passengers (or only 200 in Antarctica).
LATTE was among a media contingent also invited onboard ms Paul Gauguin on Tuesday morning for a ship tour, hosted by Deb Corbett, PONANT APAC CEO and her team including Charles Boutet, Julie Rogers, Annabelle Brown, Kristina Sambaher, Janelle Ramsey and Sandra Cahill.
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Guests were welcomed to the bridge by Captain Michel Quioc, who explained the recent multi-million dollar enhancements that were carried out which include a new air conditioning system and environmentally friendly energy recovery engine that redistributes heat and steam to the ship’s galley and laundry.
Captain Quico has been with Paul Gauguin Cruises for more than two decades. The cruise brand itself is 28 years old.
The Darwin visit presented Corbett with her first opportunity to see the ship in person. Corbett told LATTE she was impressed with the hardware and how the brand has maintained its French Polynesian tradition, artwork and culture onboard, inter-twinned with an elevated, modern, and bright colour palette.
Corbett was impressed by the number of large indoor spaces the ms Paul Gauguin provides its guests, in addition to the large outdoor open deck spaces. The pool deck itself now features newly laid teak flooring around a new look pool accompanied by enhancements around Le Grill.
“This is relaxed luxury. Australian travellers are going to love it because it’s taking them immediately on a destination specialist ship, honouring French Polynesia with an extensive collection of memorabilia,” Corbett told LATTE.
“For guests, they’ll be learning about the French Polynesian culture when they’re at sea, in addition to firsthand encounters on shore excursions off the ship,” Corbett said.
Corbett said Paul Gauguin Cruises’ Australian guests tend to book longer cruises travelling beyond the core seven-night Society Islands itinerary that is ever popular with US travellers. Itineraries that include the likes of Tuamotus, Marquesas and the Cook Islands, and range from 10- to 14 nights.
Paul Gauguin Cruises is a leader in the market for solo travellers, with on average 200 departures available year-round with no single supplement across all destinations.
Until 30 April, Paul Gauguin is offering a $1,500 flight credit, available on a selection of 2025 and 2026 departures. Fore more details, see au.ponant.com/paul-gauguin-2025-flight-credit
MS Paul Gauguin is now making her way to Lautoka, Fiji after which she will sail further east to towards Tahiti and her permanent home ground. The ship will return to Darwin in 2027 en route to Singapore for another drydock, offering itineraries from Singapore to Darwin, Darwin to Lautoka and Lautoka to Papeete.
Lead image snapped by LATTE aboard ms Paul Gauguin, from left are Sandra Cahill, Kristina Sambaher, Annabelle Brown; Julie Rogers, Captain Michel Quioc, Deb Corbett, Charles Boutet and Janelle Ramsey.
