Cruise News - Paul Gauguin Cruises and Tahiti Hotels
January 3 - 2013 : Paul Gauguin Cruises and Their New Cruise Ship – the M/V Terre Moana
Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, christened its new luxurious ship, the m/v Tere Moana, in an official ceremony held dockside on December 29, 2012, in Marigot, St. Martin.
Mireille Bailey, The Moana’s godmother and wife of Richard Bailey, Chairman of Paul Gauguin Cruises and President and CEO of Pacific Beachcomber S.C., presided over the festivities, delivering a moving speech before christening the ship with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Champagne. Mr. Bailey along with Diane Moore, President of Paul Gauguin Cruises, and Captain Rajko Zupan, the ship’s Master, spoke during the ceremony, which included plaque presentations by St. Martin’s Vice President of the Collectivité, Port Chairman, Port Director, and Tourist Board. St. Martin’s Father Samson Dorival delivered the ship’s blessing, and ceremony attendees were serenaded by the festive music of a Caribbean steel drum band.
After the ceremony, a Champagne reception followed by a gala dinner was held aboard The Moana before the ship set sail on its inaugural 7-night Caribbean voyage to visit islands in the French West Indies, British Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts & Nevis. In January and February, The Moana embarks on 13- and 14-night Panama Canal cruises. From April through November, the ship operates a variety of 7-night European voyages. During spring and fall, 14-night transatlantic crossings are available between Europe and the Caribbean.
Like The Gauguin, The Moana offers an elegant yet casual ambiance, luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, trademark Polynesian hospitality, and extraordinary all-inclusive value. At 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, The Moana has a draft of 11.5 feet, and accommodates 90 guests with a staff of 60. The ship’s 45 oceanview staterooms, 8 which offer private balconies, feature a king-size bed donned with fine linens and feather-down duvet; a flatscreen TV; DVD/CD player; iPod® docking station; in-stateroom refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water; robes and slippers; spacious closets; and a bathroom with sumptuous bath products.
The Moana offers two elegant dining venues and incorporates regionally infused cuisine of destinations visited featuring fresh ingredients from local markets. Evenings feature live piano music in Le Salon, the perfect place to enjoy cocktails and unwind after a day of adventure. The ship’s Deep Nature Spa by Algotherm delivers signature spa treatments, and a fitness center is equipped with the latest cardio and weightlifting equipment. The ship’s outdoor decks feature a swimming pool, hot tub, chaise lounges, and Balinese beds. In select ports, kayaking and paddleboarding are available from the ship’s watersports marina. And the ship’s La Boutique features jewelry, apparel, sundries, and souvenirs.
For rates and reservations for Paul Gauguin Cruises, contact a Professional Travel Agent, call 800-848-6172 or visit www.pgcruises.com.
About Paul Gauguin Cruises
Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia’s leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. It is one of the top exclusive charter and incentive group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin’s 2012 accolades include a second place for small-ship cruise lines in Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Awards” and was recognized as one of the “Top 20 Small Cruise Ships” by readers of Condé Nast Traveler.
In December 2012, the 90-guest m/v Tere Moana began sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner after completing a multifaceted renovation and offers voyages in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
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