Paul Gauguin Cruises

What Paul Gauguin Cruises does

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates a single-asset luxury small-ship cruise business centered on the m/s Paul Gauguin, a 330-guest vessel built in 1997 at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, France, and sailing continuously in French Polynesia since 1998. The company serves luxury travelers — primarily couples/honeymooners, families/multi-generational groups, and discerning small-ship cruise guests — through 7- to 20-night itineraries spanning Tahiti, the Society Islands, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, and new crossings into Indonesia and Australia. The core technical platform is the ship itself: 70% of staterooms have private balconies, three restaurants, a retractable watersports marina, and an onboard PADI-certified diving program, all supported by a 1:1.5 crew-to-guest ratio that the company positions as the highest level of personal attention in luxury cruising. Authentic Polynesian hospitality is delivered through Les Gauguines, a local Tahitian host troupe living aboard.

The revenue model combines base cruise fares (all-inclusive of accommodations, meals, select beverages, gratuities, and onboard activities; per-person pricing from $5,380 for 7 nights to $9,820 for 14 nights under double occupancy) with multiple ancillary streams: shore excursions, premium dining and beverages, spa services (Deep Nature Spa), Air/Sea packages, and pre/post-cruise land programs. Pricing mechanics include a 25% deposit within 72 hours of booking, final payment 90 days prior to departure, third-berth rules (children sail free), and variable single supplements. Go-to-market is a hybrid direct-to-consumer model (website, phone, email) combined with an extensive certified travel advisor network through the PEARLS training program and a Charters, Meetings & Incentives channel for full-ship group bookings. The company is a brand under PONANT Explorations Group following its September 2019 acquisition by PONANT, and the underlying legal entity is CDP: Compagnie du Ponant, a French simplified joint-stock company headquartered in Marseille. A seven-week Singapore drydock refurbishment was completed in April 2025, adding eight new connecting staterooms, guest amenity upgrades, and sustainability enhancements.

Name

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Legal name

CDP: Compagnie du Ponant

Website

https://pgcruises.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates a single 330-guest luxury small ship offering all-inclusive 7- to 20-night cruises in French Polynesia and broader Oceania, serving couples, families, and luxury travelers under the PONANT Explorations Group brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Cruise Line

NAICS

Deep Sea Passenger Transportation (483112), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (Under ~500 Guests) (THAEADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure Expedition Cruise Lines (Warm-Water & Remote Islands) (THAEABAE), Luxury Cruise Charters & Private Expeditions (THAEABAG)

Keywords

• Luxury cruise vacations
• Small ship cruising
• French Polynesia cruises
• South Pacific voyages
• All-inclusive cruises

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Cruise Fares: Per-person cruise fares based on double occupancy. Fares include accommodations, meals, gratuities for room stewards and dining staff, select beverages, and onboard activities. Excludes airfare, shore excursions, spa, premium liquor, laundry services.
2. Shore Excursions: Pre-reservable and onboard shore excursions available for purchase. Includes guided tours, pearl farm visits, cultural experiences.
3. Spa and Wellness Services: Deep Nature Spa services available at additional cost. Spa and beauty shop gratuities not included in cruise fare.
4. Premium Dining and Beverages: Premium liquor and wine, specialty dining options available at additional charge beyond included select beverages.
5. Air/Sea Packages: Air transportation packages from various gateway cities, including economy/coach or upgraded classes. Subject to availability and additional charges.
6. Land Programs and Hotel Stays: Pre and post-cruise hotel accommodations and land programs in French Polynesia and other destinations. Includes transfers, breakfast, taxes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates a single 330-guest luxury small ship (m/s Paul Gauguin) sailing 7-20 night all-inclusive itineraries throughout French Polynesia and the South Pacific. The cruise fare covers accommodations (70% with private balconies), meals across three restaurants, select beverages, gratuities for room stewards and dining staff, and onboard activities. Guests can purchase additional shore excursions, PADI-certified scuba diving, spa services, premium liquor, Air/Sea packages, pre/post-cruise land programs, and full-ship charters. The Les Gauguines onboard Tahitian host troupe and exclusive Motu Mahana private beach access anchor the brand's authentic Polynesian hospitality positioning.

Product overview

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates as a luxury cruise company offering voyages aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin, a 330-guest small ship specifically designed for South Pacific exploration. The core product is the cruise experience itself, which combines all-inclusive luxury accommodations (suites and staterooms with 70% featuring private balconies), dining across three restaurants with complimentary beverages and spirits, and gratuities included. The company provides authentic Polynesian hospitality through Les Gauguines, a local host troupe living aboard the ship. Supporting products include Shore Excursions for guided tours at ports, Private Beaches (including Motu Mahana), SCUBA Diving via onboard PADI program, and the Moana Explorer Program for family travelers. Additional offerings encompass land program extensions, the Ponant Yacht Club loyalty program, charter services for groups, and the PEARLS advisor training program. Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT's family in September 2019 and has received numerous cruise industry awards recognizing excellence in luxury small-ship cruising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moana Explorer Program: Family program that involves children in the cruise experience through educational and cultural activities.
• Ponant Yacht Club
• Les Gauguines
• PEARLS Program

Products and services

• m/s Paul Gauguin Cruise Voyages All-inclusive 7-20 night small-ship luxury cruise itineraries throughout French Polynesia and the South Pacific (Tahiti, Society Islands, Tuamotus, Cook Islands, Marquesas, Fiji, Tonga, Indonesia, Australia), aboard the 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, with accommodations, meals, select beverages, gratuities, and onboard activities included.
• Shore Excursions Pre-reservable and onboard guided tours at ports of call, including cultural experiences, snorkeling, diving, pearl farm visits, and island explorations, available for additional purchase beyond the cruise fare.
• Private Beaches Exclusive beach access including Motu Mahana off the coast of Taha'a with a floating bar and amenities, providing private island experiences unavailable to larger ships.
• Onboard PADI SCUBA Diving Program PADI-certified scuba diving experiences in the lagoons and reefs of French Polynesia, including UNESCO Biosphere Reserves such as Fakarava, with access enabled by the retractable watersports marina.
• Extend Your Trip (Pre/Post-Cruise Land Programs and Hotel Stays) Pre- and post-cruise hotel accommodations and land programs in French Polynesia and other destinations, including transfers, breakfast, and taxes, allowing guests to extend their South Pacific experience.
• Charters, Meetings & Incentives Full ship charters of the m/s Paul Gauguin (capacity 330 guests) for corporate events, meetings, weddings, and incentive travel programs, with dedicated planning support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Voted 'Winner: Best Small Cruise' by Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards in 2024 and 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Te o mana te o moanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Pacific marine preservation organization partnered with to provide enrichment programming through the Moana Explorer Program. Supports environmental education and marine conservation awareness for young guests aboard the ship.
• PONANT Explorations GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company that acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises in September 2019. PONANT designs inspiring voyages on board small exploration ships. Paul Gauguin Cruises is a member of the PONANT Explorations Group family. The group provides operational support, fleet synergies, and brand positioning for the luxury cruise line.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PONANT: Parent company and sister brand operating small luxury exploration ships worldwide. PONANT's small-ship expedition cruising model, French brand heritage, and premium positioning make it the closest comparable operator to Paul Gauguin Cruises.
• Windstar Cruises: Operates a small fleet of luxury yacht-style cruise ships (148-310 guests) focused on intimate, all-inclusive experiences in unique ports. Closely comparable to Paul Gauguin's small-ship, high-crew-to-guest-ratio model.
• Seabourn: Ultra-luxury cruise line operating small all-suite ships (264-604 guests) with inclusive fares, gratuities, and beverages — directly comparable to Paul Gauguin's all-inclusive luxury positioning and small-ship intimacy.
• Silversea Cruises: Luxury and expedition small-ship cruise operator (100-728 guests) with butler service, all-inclusive fares, and expedition itineraries to remote destinations — directly comparable to Paul Gauguin on both luxury service and remote-destination expedition positioning.
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Operates mid-size luxury cruise ships (490-750 guests) with all-inclusive fares covering flights, excursions, beverages, and gratuities. Comparable to Paul Gauguin on luxury, all-inclusive pricing, and small-to-mid-ship scale.
• Crystal Cruises: Luxury cruise brand reborn under new ownership in 2023, operating ocean and expedition yachts. Competes with Paul Gauguin for affluent luxury travelers seeking small-ship, all-inclusive experiences and expedition itineraries.
• Azamara Cruises: Small-ship premium cruise line (684-702 guests) focused on longer stays in port and destination-immersive itineraries — comparable to Paul Gauguin's destination-led, intimate-experience positioning.

Emerging players

• Lindblad Expeditions: Expedition cruise operator partnering with National Geographic, focused on small-ship discovery voyages with strong educational and natural-history content — comparable to Paul Gauguin's expedition-style itineraries and small-ship scale, though less luxury.

Broad incumbents

• Viking Ocean Cruises: Operates a large fleet of identical small ocean ships (930 guests) with included shore excursions and Scandinavian-luxury positioning. Competitor for Paul Gauguin's luxury small-ship customer base but with much greater scale.

Regional players

• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: German-language luxury and expedition cruise brand operating small ships with premium service. Comparable to Paul Gauguin on luxury small-ship and expedition positioning, but primarily serves German-speaking and European markets rather than North American / French Polynesia guests.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/paulgauguin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/paulgauguincruises
• Facebookfacebook.com/pgcruises
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paul-gauguin-cruises
• Instagraminstagram.com/paulgauguincruises

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paul Gauguin Cruises