Make an impression: Take a honeymoon cruise in the work of art that is French Polynesia

You can’t get much more paradisical than the Pacific islands of Polynesia. Even the names ooze romance — Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea. The crystal clear sea is more shades of dazzling blue than you can name. The lush, dormant volcanoes rising from the white sand beaches remain untouched by development or millionaire mansions.

The local people, with their tribal tattoos, shell jewelry, palm frond headdresses and colorful pareos, are genuinely welcoming, and the food (all that tropical fruit and fresh fish) has flair and flavor. In other words, the perfect place for a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon that’s well worth the 8-hour flight from the West Coast.

Be warned, though, that visitors to French Polynesia never want to go home. In 1789, hordes of grimy British sailors arrived in Tahiti, ending up in an infamous mutiny rather than going back to Blighty.

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Marlon Brando, filming the 1962 version of that very event, “Mutiny on The Bounty,” fell in love with one of the Tahitian actresses, Tarita Teriipaia, and also the country, snapping up the tiny atoll of Tetiaroa to make it his own.

In 1891, French impressionist painter Paul Gauguin was famously besotted and inspired by the islanders and the stunning landscapes, making famous the beautiful women and lazy street dogs. And many of the American GIs stationed in Bora Bora in WWII lived out their own “South Pacific” story.

There are 121 islands within 1,200 square miles in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, comprising five island groups: the Society Islands; Austral Islands; Marquesas Islands; Gambier Islands and the Tuamotus.

Much of the tourism centers around the Society Islands in the French territories — Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora and Huahine. The stunning region is famous for its thatched overwater bungalows and coral-fringed lagoons, but a cruise gives you more opportunities to visit the various islands, gaze at the bucolic views and swim with the wildlife. (Think shoals of colorful fish, sharks, stingrays, octopuses and manta rays).

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The Paul Gauguin cruise line, named for Tahiti’s adopted son, is one of only a few who ply their trade here. It has just one ship in its fleet, a 330-passenger, 165-cabin vessel, the Gauguin, launched in 1997 and designed specifically to cruise these shallow waters. It’s a job she does in style, winning travel awards and legions of repeat customers.

Acquired by French luxury cruise line Ponant in 2019, the ship underwent a multimillion-dollar dry dock partial renovation in spring 2025, part of “a thoughtful evolution,” said Ponant CEO Americas, Sam Chamberlain, who notes that as new owners they’ll be “enhancing the onboard experience without losing the easy elegance and destination focus that makes the Gauguin so special.”

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She’s certainly refined, with an air of tropical tastefulness. While there’s no doubt this is an older-style ship, it has charm and elegance, and the refreshed decor is classic and understated. Cabins are spacious and comfy in teal and taupe (although, ahem, they could lose the wall of mirrors and mitigate the lack of outlets). The newly renovated pool area is a big draw, ringed by super comfy loungers, shaded areas and attentive staff to ply you with the cocktail of the day.

In fact, it’s the staff that really stand out, notably the so-called “les Gauguines and Gauguins” — multitalented locals who fulfill multiple roles as ambassadors, advisors, ukelele instructors and performers (and yes, you will go onstage and try to imitate that Tahitian twerk, and then attempt to delete all videos afterward). They even man the water coolers in port.

This isn’t the cruise to go on if you want wall-to-wall entertainment. There are some of the usual offerings, like arts and crafts, bingo and (actually, not nearly enough) karaoke, as well as Polynesian nights, but the piano bar often rocks, and the back deck Le Palette bar featuring the house band is the place to be after dark.

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But with all that natural beauty to absorb during the day, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

All trips ashore are by tender, and excursions are mostly water based — take a boat from Raiatea to sister island Taha’a to visit a black pearl farm, see blind blue-eyed eels in Huahine or snorkel over a coral garden and paddle an outrigger canoe in Bora Bora.

Should you not want to leave the ship, you can kayak or paddleboard directly off the bottom deck instead. Or enjoy a spa package for couples, featuring scrubs and Taurumi massages.

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One of the highlights is a day spent on Paul Gauguin’s private motu (small coral-reefed island) Motu Mahana, where a big barbeque and loungers by the shore await, not to mention a floating bar serving up the obligatory drinks in coconuts.

Complimentary Polynesian wedding blessings or vow renewals can be held here, too. The loving couple will be ceremonially wrapped in a tifaifai (handwoven quilt) symbolizing love, royalty and acceptance.

Flavor is key on this cruise, being of French descent, and the onus is on curated food served in three restaurants. The newly upgraded Le Grill on the pool level now sports wood and bamboo accents, and signature dishes like the classic poisson au coco — fresh tuna in lime and coconut. La Veranda is the fine dining experience, while L’Etoile is the largest restaurant and the only one to offer open seating in the evenings. Wine, naturally, is French.

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And while there are no pop-up buffets or late-night snack offerings, there is 24-hour room service — all included in the fare, as are drinks, Wi-Fi, taxes and gratuities — a great way to relax and forget about the bill.

If you need to work all that off, head to the small gym or stretch out with yoga. The crack of dawn namastes are perfect for pondering the serenity. In fact, the cruise line is now leaning into wellness-focussed cruises with curated voyages featuring onboard experts. “French Polynesia is made for mindfulness, movement and restoration,” said Chamberlain.

Additionally, Ponant is now offering add-ons to the luxury private island resort the Brando (see story, left), which is not to be missed, and, in 2027, will launch a “boutique crossing collection” with extended voyages to Komodo Island, Darwin, Bali, Niue, Tonga and Fiji, among others.

“It’s an extraordinary way to experience the region’s untamed beauty,” said Chamberlain.

7-night sailings from ​​$4,760, all-inclusive; Paul Gauguin Cruises