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If any nook of the world is synonymous with paradise, it’s French Polynesia’s scattered, sparsely inhabited islands, buttercream palm-fringed seashores, and glass-clear waters.
The area is greatest visited by water, but, with regards to cruising, the islands round Tahiti stay surprisingly uncharted territory: the region welcomed 110,000 passengers in 2024—compare that to the Caribbean’s 15 million or the Mediterranean’s 5.8 million for a similar interval.
In excellent news for cruisers trying to get off the crushed observe, luxurious cruise line Ponant is doubling down on its presence in French Polynesia. As of winter 2026/27, the French line can have two ships primarily based there, with explorer-class vessel Le Jacques Cartier becoming a member of M/S Paul Gaugin, a ship that was purpose-built to cruise the shallow lagoons so attribute of the area.
Throughout the 5 archipelagos of French Polynesia—the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier, and Marquesas Islands, together with the Pitcairn Islands, a British Abroad Territory—the pair will supply two distinct experiences for vacationers.
M/S Paul Gaugin, which has been crusing these waters for greater than 27 years, will proceed its long-standing give attention to cultural immersion with 66 departure dates in the course of the 2026/27 season. The round-trip sailings from Papeete in Tahiti begin at seven nights and core itineraries name at basic locations like Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea. Some sailings go to Prepare dinner Islands, Fiji, and Tonga, and embrace prolonged stopovers.
The ship underwent a multi-million greenback refurbishment in 2025, together with a whole redesign of restaurant Le Grill and upgrades to the pool space, in addition to the addition of eight new connecting cabins for household and multigenerational teams.
With a smaller choice of simply 9 departures, Le Jacques Cartier will go to a few of the most distant archipelagos on three 14-night “Discovery” round-trip sailings from Papeete.
Julien Fabro/PONANT
These all-new itineraries have been crafted to open up the hardly ever visited facet of French Polynesia to vacationers, with fares ranging from $12,330.
On the “Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands” itinerary, friends will sail by way of the wild Gambier Islands and the Austral archipelago within the south of the area. Among the many highlights is an opportunity to set foot on the coral island of Rurutu, with troglodyte caves and mountain climbing routes.
The second itinerary, Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu, takes within the mesmerizing landscapes that impressed artists like Paul Gauguin, in addition to sacred archaeological websites scattered with Tiki statues.
“From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island” charts a blinding course by way of Tuamotu and the Gambier Islands all the best way to the fabled Pitcairn Island. Alongside the best way, vacationers will study ancestral practices and native cultures.
“Company who will embark aboard Le Jacques Cartier in French Polynesia are going to expertise the journey of a lifetime. One thing completely extraordinary awaits them. That’s what Ponant is all about. It’s about creating experiences and actions that nobody else has considered,” commented José Sarica, Ponant’s R&D Expedition Expertise Director.
Company may even guide the three new itineraries back-to-back to expertise a whole “Discovery” of the vacation spot. The mammoth journey is a complete of 42 nights, spent throughout six archipelagos and 23 islands, together with the Pitcairn Islands.
