Aerial view of the Paul Gauguin cruise liner in Moorea
La Oraana! My name is Kim McDonald and I’m an artist from the island of Maui. My focus and subject matter have been primarily painting the majestic landscapes of the islands of the North and South Pacific while highlighting the beauty and grace of the Polynesian culture.
Recently I had the great pleasure to have been chosen to be one of the guest lecturers on Paul Gauguin Cruises. I spoke about my life's work as an artist of the post-impressionist genre. Needless to say, one of my biggest inspirations is the work by Paul Gauguin, particularly the body of work he did while living in French Polynesia, so this was an opportunity to revisit my favorite place on earth and share my love for the South Pacific (while on board a luxurious vessel dedicated to exploring every aspect of this paradise!).
Kim McDonald on board the Gauguin
Map of our trip through French Polynesia
Why Paul Gauguin Cruises? What makes Paul Gauguin Cruises so special?
The Ship-MS Paul Gauguin
From an artist’s perspective, the ship is a marvel—it reflects a deep understanding of the aesthetic of Paul Gauguin, the Pacific atolls and the lush tropical islands. The interiors are bathed in ocean color palettes– almost an extension of what you see when you look out your window. Onboard, you are immersed in Gauguin’s world. The fabrics could have emanated out of a Gauguin painting. In the gallery, there are eye-catching red-orange chairs whose color could have come right out of his “When Will You Marry?”. As if that weren’t enough in the gallery there are three actual original Gauguin’s art pieces! The cabins are sumptuous and spotless, and each one has a panoramic view of the most endless scenery in the Pacific.
Original Paul Gauguin wood carving
Original Paul Gauguin wood engraving
PGC piano bar
PGC art gallery
What are the excursions like on the Paul Gauguin cruises?
I’ll get back to the ship in a second, but before I do, it’s time to enumerate all of the amazing adventures, shopping opportunities, delicious discoveries, and must-see experiences on our Odyssey.
PGC private beach
What is the experience like on the private island of Paul Gauguin cruises?
Between Bora-Bora and Moorea, we slipped off into our own private island, where we were greeted by the spirits of the island, “The Gauguines & the Gauguins”, an exuberant, talented group of local dancers, musicians, guides, and masters of all things Polynesian
Mo'orea
Mo'orea is my all-time favorite island—my spirit animal! Besides the spectacular scenery, we were able to get up close and personal with bottlenose and spinner dolphins, sharks, rays, and constellations of bright colorful tropical reef fish.
The view that inspired Moonrise over Mo’orea
O Tahiti E
These Moorean natives are described as “The Fabulous professional folkloric dance group of Tahiti''. That description does not do this Broadway–worthy extravaganza justice. It is soulful and spiritual, and perhaps I imagined it, but I could feel the bone-deep spirit of the islands in the rhythm and joy of this group.
O Tahiti E dance group
The Cook Islands
PGC will shuttle you across the unbelievably clear water to untouched, uninhabited islands where you can spend the day snorkeling, shell-collecting, or perfecting your tan in Paradise.
On the way to Cook Island
Bora Bora
Wow! This barrier reef journey offers (amazingly inexpensive) helicopter tours, wave-runners (great for thrill-seekers), lunchtime jaunts to secluded islands, scuba diving, and crystal clear lagoons. Bora Bora and Moorea were my greatest sources of artistic inspiration.
The mountain range that inspired the painting “Bora Bora”
OK, full disclosure – I am obsessed with pearls. And in my many years of admiring, bargaining for, and collecting pearls, I have discovered two favorites. One is the on-board gallery at PGC, and the other is the fabulous family-owned “Pearl Romance” with 2 shops on Mo’orea.
Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian Pearls on a Palestinian women
Island Flowers
Paddle boarders leave directly from the Gauguin
What is the most memorable aspect of Paul Gauguin cruises?
Whether dining, exploring, or just relaxing on board, the defining essence of an experience, the thing that makes it memorable, is the grace and manners of the staff. Every experience is part theater—if you are dining and have a surly and dismissive waiter, the whole evening is ruined, you are just eating food.
On the other hand, a knowledgeable, heartfelt, genuine, delightful waiter elevates the whole experience to something transcendent: one-of-a-kind and memorable. The waitstaff on PGC are almost too good to be true—by the second day, they know where you like to sit, whether you take cream in your coffee, your favorite wine choice with fish—it’s indescribable. I have been to many 5-star hotels, 3-star restaurants, etc. and none came close. Honestly, one of the things I will remember the most, among the islands, activities, and perfect sunsets, is how exceptional the staff (including Captain Renè Paul Boucher and Cruise Director Gaëlle Pichon) was. Simply brilliant.
Guests aboard the Gauguin for dinner
Kim McDonald presenting to the cruise
Kim McDonald with Cruise Director Gaëlle Pichon
What else separates Paul Gauguin Cruises from other cruise lines?
Unless you are on Harvard Alumni Cruise lines, I doubt that you could match the caliber of presentations given in the Paul Gauguin state-of-the-art lecture hall. Pascal Erhel is a renowned cultural anthropologist who makes the origin story of the South Pacific come to life with encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiasm. Estelle Davies is a world-traveled and world-renowned marine biologist with a daunting resume-I won’t even try to list her degrees. She gave a mesmerizing presentation on the formation of the islands, the aquatic ecosystem, phylum chondrichthyes (sharks and rays), and her work with Jacques Cousteau, among other topics. In my presentation, I dove into my 30 years as a successful post-impressionist oil painter, my love for the islands, my inspirations (Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keefe, Paul Gaugin, Vincent Van Gogh) and the process Post-Impressionism: depicting not what you see, but what you feel.
What do I wear to dinner on the Paul Gauguin cruises?
I love to dress up for dinner- who doesn’t? Paul Gauguin Cruise’s three elegant restaurants provide the perfect setting for showing off your fun tropical elegant attire. The dress code says "Country club casual, no jeans or shorts “, But remember, this is a French cruise line, and the French know how to dress. So take this as a perfect opportunity to wear those colorful, exotic dresses worthy of Moana — after all, we’re on a magical voyage through the most dream-like islands in the world. Why not dress for it?
Mo'orea ocean excursion
What are some of the best activities to do on Paul Gauguin Cruises?
You should definitely check out the PGC website—my head is still spinning from the banquet of activities we were offered every day (and night), but I enjoyed all of these immensely:
Lei-making
Piano Bar
Fitness Center
Deep Massage /Spa
Disco (La Palette)
Island jaunts
Scuba
Snorkeling (photo from the website)
Shark swims
Stand-Up Paddling
What are the best Hotels in Papeete, Tahiti?
(While these choices look like generic recommendations, they’re not. I’ve stayed in everything from tree houses to houseboats, and these 2 hotels are exceptional–luxurious without losing the special local Tahitian touches that let you know you’re deep in French Polynesia.)
Hilton Hotel Tahiti, Papeete (800 293 0718) This hotel would be my number one choice. It’s state-of-the-art and has incredible views of Mo’orea at sunset. The rooms are opulent, and the morning breakfast was delicious.
Intercontinental, Tahiti, resort and spa (689 40 86 51 10) This would be my second choice. It’s very Polynesian, and it has huts out over the water. Great rooms, good food, friendly staff, local vibe—what more could you ask?
The view from Papeete
What is there to do in Papeete, Tahiti?
I’ve been to French Polynesia over a dozen times now and I spent a couple of months in Papeete over 25 years ago. I know this town pretty well and have found many hidden treasures here.
Are there any museums in Papeete, Tahiti?
Yes! I visited the new museum just outside of Papeete, called Tahiti and Island’s Museum. This is a must-see, well worth experiencing. Very Polynesian modern. It’s a small museum, but it has remarkable historical findings. I would highly suggest spending two hours so you can take the fascinating headset-guided tour. The museum features Tikkis, cultural iconography, early Polynesian canoes, different formats of paddles, and a comprehensive history of the origins of the Polynesian peoples.
Historical carvings inside the Tahiti and Island’s Museum
Downtown Papeete:
What is the best bookstore in downtown Papeete, Tahiti?
Odyssey Tahiti Bookstore: Directly across from Notre Dame Cathedral is my favorite bookstore in the whole world – it has a wealth of information. The Odyssey never fails to provide me with an incredible source of inspiration for my current works, with picturesque Polynesian coffee table books, historical and vintage photography books of French Polynesia. It also has souvenirs and a handsome selection of art supplies.
Are there pearl stores in Papeete, Tahiti?
Is the sky blue? There are dozens of Pearl shops in Papeete to wander through and get familiar with what you like, but I would recommend saving your pearl BUYING for the on-board boutique, which features an exquisite line of Grade A designer pearl jewelry, created specifically for the discerning clientele of PGC.
What is the name of the iconic yellow church in downtown Papeete?
Paris isn't the only capital that boasts a Notre Dame Cathedral. It is also the name of one of Papeete’s most popular landmarks. The interior of this charming cathedral features both European and Polynesian design elements.
Tahitian Pearls
Notre Dame Cathedral in Papeete
Are there Ferries to Mo'orea?
Catching the ferry to Mo'orea is a great outing for the day.
The two commercial fairies are called Aremiti and Tervau. It is a quick jump over to Mo’orea – about a half-hour ferry ride. It is a great way to steal an extra day on this wonderful island!
What is the name of the market in downtown Papeete?
One block from Notre Dame church is a fabulous local market called "Municipal Market”. This extensive marketplace is full of fresh fruits, fresh seafood and meats, as well as fresh tropical flowers, souvenirs, and Polynesian handcrafted goods.
Downtown Papeete market
How would you sum up a Paul Gauguin Cruise Vacation?
You know how in some movies the person is looking at a painting and then magically steps into it, and the whole world depicted by the painting unfolds in real life? I felt that way on the PGC ship—it was a portal, a magic carpet to the world that Gauguin depicted, (complete with friendly guides and wave-runners!) I can only hope that you get to share this experience!
–Mauruuru!!
The Gauguin Experience
World’s Best Luxury Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji and South Pacific Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the award-winning luxury small-ship the
m/s Paul Gauguin, providing an exceptional cruise experience. Discover the difference of cruising with purpose and allow us to introduce you to authentic Polynesia.
