Tahiti & the Society Islands aboard m/s Paul Gauguin

Papeete round trip | 26 June – 3 July 2027

8 days from $11,650 per person twin share

Price based on Category C, Deck 7 Balcony Stateroom, twin share. Single occupancy cabins are strictly limited. Please enquire for availability.

The islands of French Polynesia have a way of settling into memory long before you arrive. Tahiti and the Society Islands have drawn travellers for generations, and this is your chance to see why. Aboard the intimate m/s Paul Gauguin, this eight day voyage takes you to Huahine, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Moorea, sailing round trip from Papeete in the winter of 2027.

It is the kind of escape that rewards a slower pace, with warm water, beautiful island landscapes and time to simply enjoy where you are.

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Over AUD $1,000 pp bonus inclusions when booking this Selected Departure with Emma Whiting Travel

  • 200€ onboard credit per person

  • Onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $170 per person

  • Bonus AUD500 per person saving to be applied to bookings made before 23 October 2026

What’s Included

  • Full board from arrival to departure day

  • High end dining across all onboard restaurants

  • All beverages included throughout your voyage: champagne, wine, spirits, beer, cocktails, water, soft drinks and hot beverages

  • 24-hour room service

  • Unlimited internet access onboard

  • Evening entertainment, shows and events

  • Access to the fitness area and hammam or sauna

  • All port and security charges

  • Use of snorkel gear

  • A full day of activities, food and drinks on the private islet of Motu Mahana

  • Access to select private beach areas in Bora Bora

  • 200€ onboard credit per person

  • Onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $170 per person

  • Bonus AUD500 per person saving to be applied to bookings made before 23 October 2026

Tahiti and the Society Islands

There are 118 islands and atolls scattered across French Polynesia, and the five you will visit on this voyage, Tahiti, Huahine, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Moorea, are among its most beautiful. It is a part of the world that has captured the imagination of travellers for generations, with turquoise lagoons, volcanic peaks and islands that each have their own character and rhythm.

Sailing between five islands in seven nights, m/s Paul Gauguin reaches places larger ships simply cannot, from shallow lagoons to quiet anchorages. Each stop offers something different, from Bora Bora’s extraordinary lagoon to Moorea’s dramatic peaks and the quieter shores of Huahine.

There is time to experience the islands too, with overnight stays in Bora Bora and Moorea and a full day on the private islet of Motu Mahana. It is a journey that feels wonderfully connected to the place you have come all this way to see.

Why this Journey

We have selected this voyage for travellers who want to experience French Polynesia at a slower, more considered pace. Carrying just 330 guests, m/s Paul Gauguin is intimate enough to access the lagoons and anchorages that larger ships cannot, while life onboard is relaxed, personal and wonderfully suited to the islands.

The itinerary gives you time to linger, with overnight stays in Bora Bora and Moorea, a full day on Motu Mahana and the chance to experience five of the Society Islands across eight days.

Together with the additional benefits available through Emma Whiting Travel, we think it is a particularly rewarding way to experience this beautiful part of the world.

Through booking this Selected Departure with Emma Whiting Travel, guests also receive exclusive added value including €200 onboard credit per person, onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $170 per person and a bonus AUD $500 per person saving on bookings made before 23 October 2026

Inclusions

  • Eight day round trip voyage from Papeete, visiting five islands in the heart of the Society archipelago

  • Overnight stays in Bora Bora and Moorea, plus a final overnight in Papeete

  • A full day on Motu Mahana, a private islet in the Taha’a lagoon, for a traditional Polynesian barbecue

  • Evenings hosted by Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, a troupe of local Tahitians bringing music, dance and storytelling onboard

  • The chance to dive with an experienced instructor among Polynesia’s marine life, Level 1 or CMAS 1 star certification required

  • A retractable watersports marina that opens straight from the ship into the lagoon for kayaking and paddleboarding

  • Small ship access to shallow lagoons and anchorages the larger cruise ships cannot reach

  • Views of Mount Otemanu in Bora Bora and the volcanic peaks of Moorea from your own balcony

The Experience

Life aboard m/s Paul Gauguin feels less like a traditional cruise and more like settling into a small resort that happens to move between islands overnight. The pace is relaxed and unhurried, with an easy onboard style that feels perfectly at home in French Polynesia.

Every morning brings a different view from your balcony, whether it is the green peaks of Moorea or the turquoise lagoon of Bora Bora. The ship’s watersports marina folds out from the stern, allowing you to step directly from the ship into the water for kayaking and paddleboarding.

In the evenings, Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines bring the culture of the islands onboard through music, dance and storytelling, creating a genuine sense of place that continues long after you have sailed away from shore.

Itinerary

Day 1 | Papeete

Board m/s Paul Gauguin in Papeete, the relaxed capital of French Polynesia, where colonial architecture and a laid back Polynesian pace sit comfortably side by side.

Day 2 | Huahine

A quieter, less discovered island, Huahine rewards exploration with wild coastline, hidden coves and traces of its Polynesian archaeological past.

Day 3 | Motu Mahana, Taha’a

Spend the day on the private islet of Motu Mahana in the Taha’a lagoon, with your feet in the sand for a traditional Polynesian barbecue against a backdrop of every shade of turquoise imaginable.

Days 4 to 5 | Bora Bora

Two days to properly take in one of the world’s most photographed lagoons, framed by the volcanic silhouette of Mount Otemanu, with an overnight stay giving you an evening ashore as well.

Days 6 to 7 | Moorea

Moorea’s dramatic peaks and lush interior are best appreciated from the Belvedere lookout, with sweeping views over Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay. An overnight stay means time to properly settle in.

Day 8 | Papeete

Return to Papeete for a final overnight before disembarking, with time to explore the municipal market or the Vaipahi gardens before you go.

The Cruise

Your journey is aboard Le Jacques Cartier, part of PONANT’s elegant Explorer series.

Designed for refined expedition cruising, the ship offers contemporary staterooms and suites, French-inspired dining, panoramic lounges, outdoor deck spaces, wellness facilities and a relaxed onboard atmosphere.

Its smaller size allows access to remote Kimberley waterways, bays and coastal landscapes that larger ships simply cannot reach, while still offering the comfort and service expected of a luxury expedition voyage.

Why book this selected departure through Emma Whiting Travel

Booking this Selected Departure through Emma Whiting Travel includes a range of exclusive additional benefits, adding even more value to an already generous all inclusive voyage through French Polynesia.

Alongside the inclusions already offered aboard m/s Paul Gauguin, guests booking this departure through Emma Whiting Travel will receive:

  • €200 onboard credit per person to enjoy during your voyage

  • Onboard gratuities to the value of AUD $170 per person included

  • Bonus AUD $500 per person saving applied to bookings made before 23 October 2026

Together, these additional benefits make this an especially appealing opportunity to experience Tahiti and the Society Islands aboard a ship designed specifically for these waters, with added value available through Emma Whiting Travel.

Beyond the inclusions themselves, our team can help bring the entire journey together, from selecting the right stateroom to arranging flights and time in Tahiti before or after your cruise. With personalised service, cruise expertise and support before departure, we will make sure the details are taken care of so you can simply look forward to your time in French Polynesia.

Ready to discover Tahiti and the Society Islands?

We would be delighted to help you reserve your place on this beautiful voyage through French Polynesia.

Contact Emma Whiting Travel to find out more.

Please complete our booking form, or call us now on (03) 9481 1077.

  • A deposit of 25 per cent is due within 5 days of booking. An instalment of 50 per cent is due by 27 December 2026, with final payment due by 26 May 2027.

    Cancellations made up to 15 days after booking incur no fee. From 15 days after booking until 27 December 2026, a 25 per cent cancellation fee applies. From 27 December 2026 to 26 May 2027, a 75 per cent cancellation fee applies. From 26 May 2027, cancellations incur a 100 per cent fee.

    Itineraries may vary due to weather, tides and operational requirements. Cancellation and amendment fees apply. We strongly recommend travel insurance. Full terms and conditions apply and are available on request.