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Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional

May 2011 Edition

Cruising on the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti

In April Diana and I had the opportunity to experience the Paul Gauguin now firmly operated by her new owners, who are also the owners of 4 Intercontinental Hotels in the islands.

I have to give the owner full credit for improving an already great product by retaining most of the polished and professional crew, improving the menus and quality of the food and adding more cultural and Polynesian aspects to the entire experience.

We got a sneak peak at some very exciting news that is not publically known at this stage. In January of 2012 the ship basically is getting an entirely new interior. While plans are not 100% formalize yet it appears that all public rooms, staterooms and the sun Deck will be completely re-done.

Looking at the various design boards for the refit, in my opinion the ship will have a new look of a Chic Boutique Hotel. The ship currently is in great condition however the new interior will certainly take the Paul Gauguin to the next level.

To sell and appreciate the Paul Gauguin you have to understand Tahiti. Tahiti is more than just another sun, sand and sea destination. First of all most people are not quite sure where Tahiti is. Papeete is a 7 hour and 15 minute flight from LAX. It is 5 time zones away from Chicago whereas Barcelona is 7 time zones away from Chicago or 8 to Athens. It is an island nation with a proud and long heritage, many traditions are proudly still in place today.

After more than a decade of calling in Raiatea on Sundays the dock side shops still don’t open. You won’t be pestered by street vendors like you find in many islands. The islands are not a chain of shopping malls in fact you’ll find more art galleries than T Shirt shops.

If your idea of paradise is emerald green mountains and aquamarine blue waters look no further than Tahiti. I have never seen waters this clear and blue as the waters inside of the lagoons of Tahiti. The people of Tahiti are shy but very gracious and full of beautiful and genuine smiles. English is spoken everywhere.

The Paul Gauguin carries only 332 passengers with the majority of staterooms and suites having a balcony. The ship was designed and built specifically for cruising in Tahiti and the surrounding islands.

From most public rooms you will be looking out at the beautiful views. There are plenty of outdoor dining options. The three different dining options for most meals is most unusual even in today’s market for a ship of this size, plus 24 hr room service.

The Cruise Director confirmed to me that the owners had indeed put more money into the food budget. For dinners you have three options the Veranda a gourmet French restaurant with a menu designed by a 2 Star Michelin Parisian chef, the Grill which serves Asian-Polynesian fare and the main dining room serving a not so traditional Continental inspired menu. The quality, menu selection and presentation at each one rate extremely top marks and are in the same league as top shore based restaurants anywhere in the world. The service is flawless!

The Paul Gauguin is basically all inclusive; gratuities, wines with meals, bar beverages, room service, a private Motu Beach party and BBQ and access to a private Motu on Bora Bora with beverage and snack service.

The private Motu used for the Beach party has received new furniture and other improvements by the new owners. If you think sitting on a private white sand beach or standing waist deep in crystal clear water with a coconut shell filled with your favorite drink is your idea of Paradise you need to sign up for this cruise.

The ship does offer good entertainment, if you need to be entertained. During the day they now offer a nice selection of lectures and presentations regarding Tahitian culture and events. Keep in mind these islands were the back drop for the South Pacific and Mutiny on the Bounty Movies among others.

You have the option of pre dinner cocktails with a piano player or sitting on the upper deck watching the sunset. There are shows, not big ones, after dinner or a good house band for dancing and then late night disco.

The Paul Gauguin is ideal for both groups and charters because of her size. For groups of 50 to 90 we can offer you private dining and cocktail party options, maybe more than one night for each. For charters the Showroom can handle the entire group comfortably. With the Intercontinental connection we can offer you private and unique land events for even larger groups. How about a one night stay in an over the water private bungalow in Bora Bora for a VIP with Bucket List request?

Tahiti is a great destination and the Paul Gauguin is the only way to see these islands in a 5 star atmosphere.

Please feel free to call me for more details. Steve Bloss

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Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc.

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