Luxury Cruise Bible

Things to Know about Paul Gauguin Cruises

Note: The m/s Paul Gauguin, sailing year-round in French Polynesia, left the Regent fleet as in January 2010. Paul Gauguin Cruises took over management and marketing of the ship, but Regent Seven Seas Society members will still enjoy discounts and other benefits aboard the PG in the future.

Air Add-on

Paul Gauguin Cruises offers an air/sea program that includes economy flights from various gateways in the United States. (Business-class flights may be available for the international portion of your itinerary.) Depending on flight schedules and your initial point of departure, you may need to book PGC’s optional hotel program and overnight in Los Angeles.

Alcohol Policies

It’s not yet clear if Paul Gauguin Cruises will allow guests to bring wine and champagne onboard and if a corkage fee will be charged if those bottles are enjoyed in one of the restaurants.

All-Inclusive Policy

The cruise fares includes all non-alcoholic beverages, select wines, and spirits; 24-hour room service; in-suite minibar replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water; butler service in Category B suites and above; in-suite bar setup in butler suites; and all gratuities.

Beauty Salon

The spa offers hair cuts and styling, manicures and pedicures, facials, body exfoliations, body wraps, and skin care therapies.

Bon Voyage Gifts

As we approach 2010, Paul Gauguin Cruises will announce its options for bon voyage gifts.

Butler / Concierge Service

Butler service is included in Category B Veranda Staterooms or higher.

Cancellation Policies

Cancellation penalties are assessed as follows:

• 120+ days prior to sailing date: $100 administration fee per person
• 120–91 days prior to sailing date: 10 percent of fare per person
• 90–61 days prior to sailing date: 20 percent of fare per person
• 60–31 days prior to sailing date: 50 percent of fare per person
• 30–0 days prior to sailing date: 100 percent of fare per person

Cash / Credit Cards / Foreign Currency

American Express, Mastercard, and Visa are accepted aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin. Foreign currency exchange is sometimes available onboard at certain ports of call.

Children’s Program

If you’ll be sailing with children aged 9–17, consider enrolling them in the Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program. Developed by Jean-Michel Cousteau and focusing on marine and island ecosystems, participants will hike rainforests, visit island temples, see how vanilla is grown, how black pearls develop, and how volcanic islands become coral atolls. They’ll also learn how to paddle an outrigger canoe. Parents are invited to join their kids on eco-excursions and other activities both aboard and on shore. The program operates on all itineraries June through August and on some holiday itineraries. The cost is $269 per child.

Cruise Documents

Your cruise documents will arrive about 25 days prior to your voyage.

Dining

There are three open-seating restaurants onboard the m/s Paul Gauguin:

• Enjoy casual poolside dining at Le Grill. At breakfast, you’ll find a buffet here. Lunch focuses on grilled specialties, salads, and tropical fruit. Grilled entrees are also featured at dinner and may include baby lamb chops, wok-seared beef with Chinese Five spices, or shrimp Polynesian-style marinated in coconut milk and lime juice. Just be sure to leave room for the Tahitian vanilla crème brulée.
• When you’re in the mood for French, head to La Veranda. Le Cordon Bleu chefs have designed the menu to reflect the traditional foods of Provence, Normandy, Alsace, and the Loire Valley. However, you’ll be pleased to know that the recipes have been updated to include lighter sauces and more vegetarian options. Dinner reservations are required.
• L’Etoile presents inventive Continental with a Polynesian bent. Don’t miss the Tahitian sea scallops in a coconut sauce or grilled New Zealand salmon with Béarnaise sauce.
• And, when you don’t feel like going out for dinner, you may select from an extensive, complimentary room service menu.

Disabled Guest Services

Wheelchairs are not available onboard. If you are disabled, you are requested to bring your wheelchair or ECV/scooter from home. The following is the only wheelchair-accessible suite on the PG: Suite 415 (Category E, Window Stateroom). Please note that the Marina is not accessible via elevator.

Dress Code

As you can imagine, the dress code board the m/s Paul Gauguin is much more relaxed than other luxury ships sailing different itineraries. Beachwear and active wear are your best bets during the day and you’ll want to change into “country club casual” resort wear in the evenings. For men, slacks and a button-down shirt will do. No ties are needed. Women lean toward informal cocktail outfits and pantsuits. Jeans, shorts, and T-shirts are off-limits at dinner.

Electrical Outlets

All staterooms are equipped with 110-volt electrical outlets.

Fellow Passengers

Since the m/s Paul Gauguin is one of the other cruise ships sailing French Polynesia year-round, the passenger mix can be quite varied. One thing’s for certain though: You’re bound to meet honeymooners, those celebrating a special anniversary, retirees, and families.

Formal Nights

There are no formal nights aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin.

Gratuities

All gratuities are included in your cruise fare.

In-Suite Bar Setup

There are in-suite refrigerators filled with water, soft drinks, and beer. In categories B and above, staterooms are replenished with a selection of wines and liquors.

In-Suite Safe

There is a safe in each stateroom.

In-Suite Television

Paul Gauguin staterooms are fitted with televisions and CD players. Owner’s Suites, Grand Suites, and Category A suites also offer DVD players.

In-Suite Toiletries

Time will tell which brand of toiletries Paul Gauguin Cruises selects for its staterooms.

Laundry, Pressing, and Dry Cleaning

There are no self-service laundry facilities onboard the m/s Paul Gauguin. Full laundry and dry cleaning services are available for a fee.

Library: Books, CDs, and DVDs

The ship maintains a well-stocked library of books, DVDs, and games.

Luggage Delivery Service

At this time, Paul Gauguin Cruises is not referring guests to any home-to-port luggage delivery services.

Medical Facilities

A doctor and nurse are onboard each ship for emergency services, which are available at customary charges. The ships’ medical centers are designed to provide medical care for temporary illnesses and accidents and are not intended or capable of providing on-going treatment of pre-existing medical conditions.

Newspapers

Daily news is transmitted to the ship each day and a summary is distributed to all guest suites.

Past Guest Program

Past guests of all of the following cruises lines are automatically members of the m/s Paul Gauguin Society and will receive a 5 percent discount on PG voyages: Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, The Yachts of Seabourn, Crystal Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club, and Windstar Cruises.

Pets

Your pet will need to forgo this French Polynesian holiday; Paul Gauguin Cruises does not allow pets onboard the PG.

Room Service

Twenty-four hour complimentary room service is available in all stateroom categories.

Ship-to-Shore Communications

Telephone calls may be made directly from your suite. The ships also utilizes the Wireless Maritime Service (WMS) mobile network, Cellular at Sea. Most GMS and CDMA cell phones should be able to access this service. Call your cellular service provider for more information. Fax service is also available. As for Internet access, each Regent ship offers several computer stations for your convenience. You can pay as you go and access the Internet for $0.35 per minute or purchase a package: 100 minutes for $25 or 250 minutes for $50. Wireless Internet access is also available in certain areas of most Regent vessels.

Single Supplement Policy

Single supplements for categories OS, GS, A, B, C, and D are 100 percent of the cruise fare. The single supplement for staterooms 763 and 764 and E and F staterooms ranges between $1,295–$2,565 in addition to the cruise fare.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is prohibited in the staterooms, suites, and on balconies. No smoking is allowed in any of the interior dining areas and most public areas. You may smoke at the Pool Bar, the outside area of La Palette, and the specified area of Le Grill

Spa Services

A variety of health and revitalization treatments, massages, body wraps, thalassotherapy, reflexology, and massage are available in the spa.

Transfers

Ground transfers are included in PGC’s air/sea and hotel packages. If you booked your own airfare and made your own hotel arrangements, you may still be able to book a PGC transfer. Contract your travel agent or Paul Gauguin Cruises for more information.

Travel Insurance

Paul Gauguin Cruises offers a Guest Protection Program through TripMate. Full details are sent to you with your invoice or you may contact TripMate at 1-800-888-7292.