Le Paul Gauguin is an elegant luxury vessel, specially designed for navigation in Polynesian waters. Its shallow draft allows it to get in close to shallow lagoons and isolated islands, maximising stopover time. A true cocoon of comfort and elegance, the ship offers a warm and timeless atmosphere to its guests. Its 159 cabins and suites all have external views and are tastefully decorated. Quality materials such as precious woods, antique engravings and tiki details pay homage to Polynesian culture and contribute to the charm of life on board, making each trip unique.

The Marina

Various nautical leisure activities, such as kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing or scuba diving, are available from the marina access point.

Reception

In addition to the reception, Deck 4 also hosts the excursion and diving desk.

The Grand Salon

The spacious Grand Salon theatre is home to the sound of percussion and guitars, the traditional shows of Polynesian dancers and singers.

The Piano Bar

With its calm atmosphere, the piano bar is ideal for a relax time at the reading nook or a board game accompanied by music.

The Spa and Fitness Room

The Algotherm spa offers a wide range of treatments and massages using marine cosmetics, as well as hairdressing services for moments of sheer relaxation. Keen athletes have everything they need to keep up their regime in the fitness centre.

The Boutique

Tahitian black pearl jewellery, fashionable clothing, beachwear, souvenirs, toiletries… The boutique offers a wide range of products to give as gifts or as a treat for yourself.

La Palette

La Palette lounge bar, which opens up to the outside, is perfect for socialising with its friendly atmosphere, grand piano and variety of different artists who play there. Feel free to join in when the dancing starts!

The Pool and Pool Bar

With its water blending into the surrounding panoramas, the pool is perfect for a moment of relaxation in the sun. Its bar offers refreshments throughout the day.

Sun bar - Solarium

Take advantage of Deck 9 to relax in the sun with a book and a cocktail, or watch the evening sunset.

Pool & Sun Deck

The spacious, comfortable outdoor areas of our ships offer superb ocean panoramas. A heated seawater pool and solarium are located on the uppermost deck of our sisterships (Le Boreal, L'Austral, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial) and on the deck 3 of our PONANT EXPLORERS.

Shop

On board all our ships, our shop is open during sailing. It features a selection of gifts and souvenirs: clothing, jewelry, beauty treatments, postcards and accessories.

Theatre

The Theatre* is the most unique meeting space on board. It's the largest space on the ship and regularly accommodates all the passengers. It plays host to shows and entertainment as well as conferences from our experts, naturalist guides and guests of honours. The Theatre makes every cruise unique and enriching thanks to its constant and very accessible events.

Leisure Areas

A choice of books and board games is available on board our fleet. The library on Deck 6 on Le Boreal, L'Austral, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial is also equipped with computers with Wi-Fi. On Deck 5, you will find an image and photo corner, as well as our Kids Club offering various games and a Wii console. All staterooms and suites on our ships are equipped with direct access to video on demand.

Lounges and Bars

The various different lounges allow passengers to meet up and share quality time together. The main lounge is the ideal place to relax with a drink and enjoy the various activities that have been organised such as dancing classes or theme evenings.The cosy piano bar is a panorama lounge with breathtaking views of the horizon.The outside bar is a great space for relaxing and is handy for accessing the swimming pool* and its solarium.

Onboard events

There are performers on board all of our ships. Recruited for their talent in Paris and Rome, they star in multiple shows at the Theatre, after dinner. Throughout your voyage, they host the various entertainment events in the Grand Salon, with the support of our on-board musicians.

During Tea Time or before dinner, our musical duosconsisting of a singer and an accompanying musician play classical repertoires for you. In the evening, they play in concert at the Theatere or invite you to show off your dance moves. Dance evenings are thus co-led by performance dancers who know just how to keep you in step, under the direction of the Cruise Director.

There's plenty of themed entertainment to enjoy in the evenings. Both a soirée blanche (dress-in-white party) and an officers' evening are held on all long cruises. Other types of parties or evening events may also be on the programme, such as karaoke parties, a Casino parties or games evenings.

Films are regularly shown at the Theatre on giant screens. National Geographic features, documentaries related to our expedition route and feature films contribute to the cultural enrichment that is part of our cruise philosophy.

Excursion Reception and Office

On board the sisterships (Le Boreal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial) and PONANT EXPLORERS, the reception desk and the excursion desk are arranged side by side to facilitate all your requests. 

Reception: our receptionists can accommodate you 24 hours a day on all our ships (from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Le Ponant) to answer all your needs, such as room service, etc.

The excursion office: the excursion team is available at all times to tell you about the onshore programmes, organise group or private excursions and to manage transfers at the start or end of the cruise. 

On Le Ponant, the receptionist will answer all your questions about excursions.

The Blue Eye

Every ship** in the PONANT EXPLORERS series features the Blue Eye. Located in the hull, below the waterline, this unique multi-sensory lounge that is unique to Ponant cruises plunges you into the heart of underwater life. Sight, hearing, and sensations... With digital screens, hydrophones and Body Listening sofas, you can experience the complete and unprecedented spectacle offered by the seabed. 

5 Star Service

Whatever your tastes, our attentive and professional staff are at your service to ensure your cruise will be one to be remembered. Even under the most extreme climatic conditions, you can be sure of great comfort and an exceptional service which are the hallmark of our line.

The French Way of Life

We want to make sure the French way of life voyages across all of the world's oceans. As part of our ongoing search for excellence we associate with partners who share the same policy.  

In terms of gastronomy take advantage of a sweet snack with Ladurée macaroons, taste Lenôtre's selection of bread, baguettes and Vienese bread and clink glasses of Charles Heidsieck or Veuve Clicquot champagne at gala dinners. Hermès bath products embalm the cabins while Fragonard environment scents diffuse a pleasant fragrance around the ship.

Butler Service

Our butler service is reserved for passengers travelling in one of the suites situated on Deck 6 aboard Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal or Le Lyrial, as well as all the Owner suites, Deluxe Suites, Privilege Suites and the Prestige Suites situated on Deck 6 aboard the PONANT EXPLORERS.

Attentive and discreet, your butler will provide a fully personalized service. Throughout your 5-star cruise, he will be at your service. You will benefit in this way from a bespoke, carefree voyage.

Laundry service

For optimal comfort, a laundry service* is offered on each of our ships. You will find laundry pricing, bags and slips inside your stateroom. During your entire cruise, your steward or stewardess will be available to take care of washing and ironing** your clothing within 48 hours.

*Dry cleaning is not available.

**These are paid-for services and will be directly charged to your stateroom's account.

Room service

Whether you wish to have breakfast in the privacy of your stateroom, savour a snack in the middle of the day or enjoy your dinner in an intimate setting, our Room Service is available for you. Have a gourmet interlude and treat yourself from a varied menu at any time of day or night*.

*Except on Le Ponant

Pillow Menu

All of our teams are available to help ensure your ultimate comfort onboard. That means paying attention to the smallest details. That’s why, you can select the pillow that best suits you from our "special menu".

Open Bar

From the moment you board and throughout your cruise, your unlimited drinks are included*, at any time of the day. A drink with friends at the bar, refreshments on your return from an excursion or in the calm of your Stateroom’s balcony: enjoy a large selection of beverages (mineral waters, cold drinks, cruise wines, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee, tea).
 A selection of premium alcoholic drinks is also available "à la carte". 

*It doesn't include premium alcoholic drinks indicated in the Bar Menu. It is valid only for individual personal consumption, without limitations.

Free & Unlimited Wifi

Whatever their cabin class, all our passengers have access to Wi-Fi free of chargeeverywhere on board and on all the vessels in our fleet. By means of a satellite link, Wi-Fi is accessible in most of the regions we sail to, even the most isolated.

Postal Service

You can send family and friends your news at any time during your cruise. Thanks to our onboard postal service you can dispatch your mail by handing it to reception*. Postal cards are on sale in the boutique and in every cabin there are writing pads and envelopes placed at your disposal. 

*The cost of stamps will be debited from the cabin account.

Gastronomic Restaurant

Open only for dinner, L'Etoile provides a culinary experience worthy of the finest gastronomic standards, and in a refined atmosphere. Its kitchens are managed by chef Jean-Pierre Vigato.

La Veranda

La Veranda awaits you for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a more sophisticated alternative to the Grill. For dinner, it transforms into an elegant French bistro and serves the culinary creations of Michelin-starred chef Jean-Pierre Vigato with a signature menu specially created for Paul Gauguin cruises.

The Grill

Located by the pool, the Grill is the ideal restaurant for an open-air breakfast, a buffet lunch (grills, salads and fresh tropical fruits) or a casual dinner with reservation.

The Spa

All our ships feature an onboard spa. Equipped with massage cabins and a Turkish bath (Sisterships) or a sauna (Explorers), the spa offers a wide choice of top-of-the-range treatments provided in association with SOTHYS™ or CLARINS (Le Bellot and Le Jacques-Cartier only), leading French spa and wellness centre brands.

Discover a range of facial treatments, aromatic baths, exfoliation and body massage treatments designed to provide moments of complete relaxation. You can also supplement your beauty ritual with additional services such as hair-removal, makeovers, manicures and pedicures.

The Hairdressing Salon

Provided in partnership with KÉRASTASE® and L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL®, the hairdressing salon offers a complete range of top quality treatments designed to strengthen, nourish and reinvigorate hair's shine and brilliance. Our stylists are available to serve all your styling, highlighting, colouring, cutting and tailored hair advice needs.

The Gym

The gyms on our ships are equipped with the very latest Technogym© equipment and machines. Treadmills, exercise bikes, Kinesis Wall© strength training machines and many other types of equipment are all provided in a laid-back relaxing environment. The wide floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the sea add undeniable charm to the exercise sessions.

Each day also begins with organised morning workout sessions, either out in the open air or in the theatre. These are supplemented by water aerobics in the pool, or in the sea off the beach for PONANT passengers, when the situation allows it.