Cunard Line and Paul Gauguin Cruises could hardly be more different — one is a grand British ocean liner company sailing 2,000-plus guests in formal dress across the world, the other a single intimate ship carrying 332 guests barefoot through French Polynesia's turquoise lagoons. Jake Hower compares these two wildly different luxury propositions for Australian travellers deciding between heritage grandeur and South Pacific escape.
| Cunard Line | Paul Gauguin | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Luxury | Luxury |
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Fleet size | 4 ships | 1 ships |
| Ship size | Mid to Large | Small (under 500) |
| Destinations | Global | French Polynesia, South Pacific |
| Dress code | Formal evenings | Resort casual |
| Best for | Tradition lovers | South Pacific luxury escape seekers |
These lines are not competitors — they are different holiday categories entirely. Cunard delivers grand ocean liner heritage on a global scale: Transatlantic Crossings, gala evenings, ballroom dancing, and the Grills butler service on ships carrying over 2,000 guests. Paul Gauguin delivers the definitive South Pacific luxury cruise: 332 guests, purpose-built for French Polynesian lagoons, included drinks and watersports, Polynesian cultural immersion, and a private island day on Motu Mahana. For Australian travellers, Gauguin's proximity — just eight hours from Sydney to Papeete — makes it the more accessible luxury escape. Cunard requires international flights to distant ports. Choose based on whether you dream of a ballroom or a lagoon.
The core difference
Cunard Line and Paul Gauguin Cruises represent two of the most distinctive propositions in luxury cruising — and they share almost nothing in common beyond floating on water and serving food. This is not a comparison of rivals. It is a comparison of entirely different dream holidays.
Cunard is the grand British ocean liner experience. Founded in 1840, the line carries 185 years of transatlantic heritage into four ships — Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Anne — sailing 2,061 to 2,996 guests across the world’s oceans. The identity is formal: Gala Evenings, ballroom dancing, white-gloved afternoon tea, a class-separated dining hierarchy, and the only scheduled Transatlantic Crossing in the world. The ship is the destination. The voyage is the event.
Paul Gauguin is the intimate South Pacific specialist. A single ship, purpose-built in 1998 to navigate the shallow lagoons and small harbours of French Polynesia, carrying just 332 guests. Acquired by Ponant in 2019 and comprehensively refurbished in 2025, the ship sails year-round from Papeete, Tahiti, through some of the most beautiful waters on earth — Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, the Tuamotus, and the Marquesas. The dress code is resort casual. The watersports marina deploys directly from the stern. The private island day on Motu Mahana is a barefoot beach barbecue under palm trees with Polynesian musicians. The destination is everything.
For Australian travellers, the geography alone shapes the comparison. Papeete is eight hours from Sydney. Southampton is at least twenty hours away with connections.
What is actually included
The inclusion models reflect their different philosophies and price positioning.
Paul Gauguin includes: all dining, complimentary beverages including wines, spirits, and cocktails, watersports from the retractable marina (kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling), the Motu Mahana private island day, entertainment, and all onboard activities. Shore excursions and spa treatments are additional. Gratuities are not expected but are discretionary.
Cunard’s Britannia fare includes: accommodation, main restaurant dining, buffet meals, afternoon tea, basic beverages, entertainment, and gym access. Alcoholic drinks, speciality dining surcharges, Wi-Fi, shore excursions, spa access, and gratuities are extra. Grills suites narrow the gap with exclusive dining and butler service but Wi-Fi and excursions remain additional.
Paul Gauguin’s inclusion of all drinks throughout the day — not just at meals — represents meaningful daily value in a tropical environment where cocktails and cold beverages flow freely. The watersports marina inclusion is unique to the Paul Gauguin experience.
Dining and culinary experience
The dining experiences reflect their vastly different scales and settings.
Cunard offers up to 15 dining venues on Queen Anne, from the grand Britannia Restaurant to speciality restaurants with surcharges. The dining hierarchy separates guests by cabin tier. The afternoon tea in the Queens Room is exceptional. The Queens Grill bespoke menus represent the pinnacle of Cunard dining.
Paul Gauguin has two main dining venues — L’Etoile and La Veranda — serving all guests at a single open seating. The cuisine reflects both French culinary tradition and Polynesian flavours, with fresh local seafood and tropical ingredients featuring prominently. With 332 guests, the galley delivers a more focused menu than Cunard’s variety but with regional authenticity that reflects the waters being sailed. The Motu Mahana beach barbecue is a dining experience that no ocean liner can replicate.
Cunard has vastly more dining choice. Paul Gauguin has more regional authenticity and the unique proposition of dining under palm trees on a private island.
Suites and accommodation
The accommodation comparison reflects the scale and purpose of each ship.
Cunard’s range spans Britannia Inside at approximately 152 square feet through to QM2’s Grand Duplex at 2,249 square feet. The Grills ship-within-a-ship offers butler service and exclusive venues.
Paul Gauguin’s staterooms and suites feature private balconies or verandas, with the entry-level Porthole Stateroom at approximately 200 square feet and the Grand Suite reaching approximately 588 square feet. The refurbishment in 2025 under Ponant ownership upgraded finishes throughout. Every morning view is turquoise water and volcanic peaks rather than open ocean.
Cunard offers wider range and larger top-tier suites. Paul Gauguin offers consistent quality with the daily reward of waking to some of the most beautiful scenery on earth.
Pricing and value
The pricing comparison requires acknowledging that these are fundamentally different holiday products.
Cunard’s per-diem for a Britannia Balcony on a 7-night Mediterranean voyage starts from approximately USD $196 per night. Grills suites command substantially higher fares.
Paul Gauguin’s per-diem for a 7-night Society Islands voyage typically runs approximately USD $500 to $800 per person per night, including all drinks and watersports. Peak-season voyages and longer itineraries covering the Marquesas or Cook Islands sit higher.
The headline gap is significant, but Paul Gauguin’s fare includes drinks, watersports, and the private island experience. Adding Cunard’s extras narrows the gap. The real value question is not which is cheaper per night but which holiday better delivers on your expectation — Cunard’s grand ocean voyaging or Gauguin’s intimate South Pacific immersion.
For Australian travellers, the flight cost difference matters. A return flight to Papeete costs roughly half what a return to Southampton costs — a saving of approximately AUD $1,000 to $2,000 per person that materially affects the total holiday budget.
Spa and wellness
Both lines offer spa facilities, but the wellness experiences differ fundamentally.
Cunard’s Mareel Wellness and Beauty spa features treatment rooms, thermal suites, saunas, and hydrotherapy pools. Queen Anne has cryo-therapy and micro-needling. Thermal suite access carries surcharges.
Paul Gauguin’s Algotherm spa offers treatments rooted in island botanicals. The spa is intimate rather than extensive. The real wellness experience on Gauguin is the environment itself — snorkelling in warm lagoons, paddleboarding at sunrise, swimming to shore from the ship’s marina.
Cunard wins on facility scale. Paul Gauguin wins on the fact that the entire South Pacific is your wellness programme.
Entertainment and enrichment
The entertainment philosophies reflect completely different holiday concepts.
Cunard’s programme is one of the most extensive in cruising — over 430 speakers, the RADA partnership, ballroom dancing, West End-style shows, the QM2 planetarium, and a casino. Sea days are filled with lectures and performances.
Paul Gauguin’s entertainment centres on Polynesian culture. Les Gauguines — a troupe of Tahitian hosts who serve as cultural ambassadors — perform traditional dance, teach Polynesian crafts, and create an authentic South Pacific atmosphere. Evening entertainment is intimate — live music, cultural performances, and the natural spectacle of South Pacific sunsets. There are no production shows, no casino, and no formal programme.
Cunard fills the ship with entertainment. Paul Gauguin fills the day with the destination.
Fleet and destination coverage
The fleet comparison illustrates completely different business models.
Cunard operates four ocean liners sailing globally across every major cruise region. QM2 is the only purpose-built ocean liner still in service. The fleet carries tens of thousands of guests per year.
Paul Gauguin operates one ship sailing year-round from Papeete, Tahiti. Itineraries cover the Society Islands, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga. The ship was purpose-built for French Polynesian waters, with a shallow draft that accesses lagoons and harbours larger ships cannot reach. Ponant plans to deploy a second ship to the region from late 2026.
Cunard goes everywhere. Paul Gauguin goes to one place — and knows it better than any other cruise line.
Where each line excels
Cunard excels in:
- The Transatlantic Crossing. QM2 Southampton to New York — irreplaceable.
- Global coverage. Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska, Northern Europe, and world voyages.
- Formal heritage. Gala evenings, ballroom dancing, and 185 years of tradition.
- The Grills experience. Butler service and bespoke dining at the highest level.
Paul Gauguin excels in:
- French Polynesia. Purpose-built for these waters, accessing lagoons and harbours no other cruise ship can reach.
- Motu Mahana. The private island beach day is one of cruising’s great experiences.
- Included drinks and watersports. Complimentary beverages and marina access create a genuinely resort-style experience.
- Proximity to Australia. Eight hours from Sydney — closer than most European or Caribbean embarkation ports.
Standout itineraries for Australian travellers
Cunard
QM2 Transatlantic Crossing (7 nights, Southampton to New York). The definitive Cunard experience. A bucket-list voyage requiring flights to Southampton.
QM2 World Voyage segments through Sydney. Join in Sydney for legs to Asia, Africa, or Europe.
Queen Anne Mediterranean (7-14 nights, various European ports). The newest Cunard ship with the broadest dining programme.
Paul Gauguin
Society Islands (7 nights, roundtrip Papeete). The signature itinerary — Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Taha’a, and Motu Mahana. Direct Air Tahiti Nui flights from Sydney.
Marquesas and Tuamotus (11-14 nights, roundtrip Papeete). The remote French Polynesian archipelagos — dramatic volcanic landscapes, traditional Polynesian culture, and some of the world’s finest snorkelling.
Cook Islands and Fiji (11-14 nights, Papeete to Lautoka or reverse). Extended Pacific voyaging connecting French Polynesia with the broader South Pacific.
Ship-by-ship recommendations
Cunard
Queen Mary 2 — For the Transatlantic Crossing and world voyages. The only purpose-built ocean liner still in service.
Queen Anne — The newest Cunard ship with 15 dining venues. Best for first-time Cunard travellers.
Paul Gauguin
m/s Paul Gauguin — There is only one ship, and she is the definitive South Pacific luxury cruise vessel. Purpose-built for these waters, recently refurbished under Ponant ownership, and carrying just 332 guests. Book for any itinerary that includes Bora Bora and Motu Mahana.
For Australian travellers specifically
The accessibility comparison strongly favours Paul Gauguin for Pacific-focused Australians.
Paul Gauguin sails from Papeete, Tahiti — approximately eight hours from Sydney on Air Tahiti Nui’s direct service. This makes French Polynesia closer than many Asian destinations and dramatically closer than any Cunard embarkation port. The ease of access is a genuine advantage for Australian travellers seeking a luxury escape without the fatigue of long-haul international routing.
Cunard has withdrawn from Australian homeporting. Most voyages require flying to Southampton, New York, Seattle, or Miami — journeys of 20 to 30 hours with connections. World voyage segments through Sydney offer limited annual opportunities.
For Australian couples wanting a luxury cruise holiday of seven to fourteen nights without exhausting long-haul flights, Paul Gauguin’s proximity is a compelling practical advantage.
The onboard atmosphere
The atmospheres could not be more different — and the contrast captures the essential choice.
Cunard’s atmosphere is grand and ceremonial. Art Deco interiors, crystal chandeliers, gala evenings in dinner jackets, ballroom dancing, and the measured pace of a British ocean liner. The passenger demographic is predominantly British and Commonwealth, averaging 60 to 65.
Paul Gauguin’s atmosphere is tropical, intimate, and barefoot. Polynesian decor, open-air dining, Les Gauguines cultural hosts, cocktails at sunset, and the sound of ukuleles drifting across warm water. The passenger mix is international — French, American, Australian, and European travellers drawn to the South Pacific. The pace is deliberately unhurried. The dress code is resort casual throughout.
The question is visceral: do you want to dress in black tie and dance in a ballroom, or stand barefoot on a deck watching the sun set over Bora Bora?
The bottom line
Cunard and Paul Gauguin are not competing products. They are different dreams that happen to take place at sea. One dreams of the golden age of ocean travel — grand staircases, live orchestras, and the romance of crossing the Atlantic. The other dreams of turquoise lagoons — palm-fringed beaches, warm water, and the sound of Polynesian music on a private island.
Choose Cunard for British maritime heritage, the Transatlantic Crossing, gala evenings, and the Grills ship-within-a-ship. Accept international flights to distant ports, formal dress requirements, and extras beyond the base fare.
Choose Paul Gauguin for the definitive South Pacific luxury cruise. Choose it for 332 guests in French Polynesia’s most beautiful waters, included drinks and watersports, the Motu Mahana private island, and an eight-hour direct flight from Sydney. Accept that the destination is French Polynesia only, the dining is focused rather than varied, and the entertainment is cultural rather than theatrical.
For many Australian travellers, these lines complement perfectly. A Paul Gauguin week in French Polynesia followed by a Cunard Transatlantic Crossing creates a holiday that spans the full spectrum of what luxury cruising can be — from the most intimate to the most grand.
