Paul Gauguin vs Ponant

The core difference

Paul Gauguin and Ponant are not competitors — they are siblings under the same corporate roof, and understanding their relationship is the key to choosing correctly between them.

Ponant acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019, and both brands now sit within the Ponant Explorations Group alongside Aqua Expeditions. The Ponant Yacht Club loyalty programme provides cross-brand recognition. But the products are deliberately distinct — same ownership, different purposes, complementary rather than overlapping.

Paul Gauguin is Polynesian immersion. One ship, 332 guests, purpose-built in 1998 with a shallow draft designed for French Polynesia’s lagoons and atolls. Refurbished in 2025. Year-round from Papeete — the Society Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Marquesas, and Tuamotus across seven to fourteen-night voyages. Tahitian and Polynesian cultural hosts — Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins — sail on every departure. Drinks are included. The private island of Motu Mahana offers barbecue, watersports, and cultural activities in an exclusive natural setting. The Algotherm spa uses marine-derived treatments. French-Polynesian cuisine blends local ingredients with French technique.

Ponant is global expedition. Thirteen ships spanning five classes — from the 32-guest sailing yacht Le Ponant to the 245-guest Le Commandant Charcot, the only luxury icebreaker afloat with PC2 ice class. Six Explorer-class ships carry Zodiac fleets and the Blue Eye underwater multi-sensory lounge. Ducasse Conseil cuisine across the fleet. Henri Abelé champagne included in the open bar. Expedition teams of naturalists, historians, and marine biologists. Deployments across the Mediterranean, Kimberley, Antarctica, the Arctic, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Amazon.

The shared ownership means Ponant is deploying Le Jacques Cartier to French Polynesia from late 2026 — not to replace Paul Gauguin but to complement it. Paul Gauguin covers the core Society Islands circuit. Le Jacques Cartier extends to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, and rarely visited archipelagos. The combined programme will be the most comprehensive luxury Polynesia offering from any cruise group.

What is actually included

Both brands include drinks — a shared philosophy under the Ponant Explorations Group — but the specifics and additional inclusions differ.

Paul Gauguin’s fare covers all dining, selected wines, beer, spirits, and soft drinks throughout the voyage, watersport equipment from the marina (kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling), access to Motu Mahana private island, and onboard entertainment including Tahitian cultural hosts. Gratuities are not included and remain at guests’ discretion. Shore excursions beyond the standard programme are additional. Wi-Fi is available but limited by South Pacific bandwidth.

Ponant’s fare covers all dining, an open bar available at all hours (beer, wine, spirits, Henri Abelé Brut Champagne, coffee, soft drinks), a daily-restocked minibar, unlimited Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service. On expedition sailings — including French Polynesia, the Kimberley, and Antarctica — one guided excursion per port per day is included. Gratuities are voluntary (suggested approximately EUR 10–12 per person per day). Shore excursions on non-expedition itineraries are additional. Spa treatments and premium wines beyond the standard bar are extra.

The practical comparison: Ponant’s open bar is slightly more generous — Henri Abelé champagne and a wider spirits selection available at all hours versus Paul Gauguin’s included but more curated beverage programme. Ponant’s daily expedition excursion inclusion adds significant value on Kimberley and polar itineraries. Paul Gauguin’s included watersport marina and private island access are unique to that ship. Both brands include more in the fare than most luxury cruise lines.

Dining and culinary experience

The culinary comparison between these sibling brands reveals two distinct approaches — regional authenticity versus French institutional excellence.

Paul Gauguin’s cuisine is Polynesian-French fusion. L’Etoile, the main restaurant, features locally sourced seafood, tropical fruits, and French technique — poisson cru with coconut milk, grilled mahi-mahi, vanilla from Taha’a, and fresh tropical fruit desserts. La Veranda offers casual poolside dining converting to an intimate evening venue. The galley is French-trained, and the integration of Polynesian ingredients gives every meal a sense of place. With 332 guests and a near 1:1 crew ratio, service is personal and unhurried. The cuisine is not attempting global breadth — it is rooted in the waters the ship sails, and that authenticity is its strength.

Ponant’s cuisine is Ducasse Conseil French excellence. The partnership with Alain Ducasse’s consulting arm since 2016 brings Michelin-star heritage across the fleet. Le Nautilus serves à la carte four-course dinners with amuse-bouche and regional French wines. Le Grill offers poolside casual fare. On Le Commandant Charcot, the Nuna restaurant is widely cited as one of the finest at sea — Bernardaud porcelain, Kaviari caviar, French cheeses rivalling any brasserie in Lyon. The bread across the fleet is boulangerie-quality. Pierre Hermé macarons appear at afternoon tea.

The verdict: if your Polynesian voyage is about eating where you sail — local fish, tropical ingredients, the flavours of the islands — Paul Gauguin delivers the more authentic experience. If you want focused French culinary excellence with institutional pedigree regardless of where the ship sails, Ponant’s Ducasse Conseil programme is the stronger offering. Both are excellent. They simply prioritise differently.

Suites and accommodation

Cabin sizes reflect each ship’s purpose — Paul Gauguin built for tropical lagoons, Ponant’s Explorer-class built for expedition versatility.

Paul Gauguin’s staterooms start at approximately 200 square feet for Porthole Staterooms, with Balcony Staterooms at roughly 249 square feet including a private balcony. Veranda Suites offer approximately 390 square feet. The Grand Suite reaches approximately 588 square feet. The 2025 refurbishment updated soft furnishings, bathrooms, and amenities throughout. The tropical design uses lighter colour palettes and natural materials reflecting the South Pacific setting. With 332 guests across 166 staterooms, the ship is sized for intimate Polynesian anchorages.

Ponant’s Explorer-class staterooms are compact by design — 161 square feet interior plus a 43-square-foot balcony for the standard Deluxe Balcony. Prestige Suites offer 291 square feet. The Owner’s Suite reaches 485 square feet interior with a 323-square-foot private terrace. On Le Commandant Charcot, Prestige Staterooms start at 300 square feet plus balcony, and the Owner’s Suite spans 1,240 square feet interior plus 2,000 square feet of private terrace.

Paul Gauguin offers moderately more space at entry level than Ponant’s Explorer-class, though neither ship prioritises cabin size. On both brands, the philosophy is the same: the destination is the attraction, and the cabin is where you sleep between experiences. Ponant’s Charcot is the exception — its generous accommodation reflects the reality that polar voyages involve significant time aboard during ice navigation.

Pricing and value

Both brands sit in the luxury segment, with pricing reflecting their different propositions and destinations.

Paul Gauguin’s per-diem runs approximately AUD $700 to $1,100 per person per night depending on season, cabin category, and itinerary length. A seven-night Society Islands voyage costs roughly AUD $6,000 to $9,000 per person with drinks, watersports, and the private island included. The fourteen-night Marquesas itinerary commands a premium. Promotional fares are periodic.

Ponant’s per-diem varies enormously by ship and destination. Explorer-class expedition cruises average roughly AUD $900 to $1,500 per person per night. The Kimberley Fly, Stay & Cruise package starts from approximately AUD $14,850 per person including flights and hotel. French Polynesia on Le Jacques Cartier (from late 2026) is expected to price comparably to Explorer-class Mediterranean sailings. Le Commandant Charcot voyages command significant premiums.

For a direct French Polynesia comparison — the one destination where these siblings overlap — Paul Gauguin typically offers a lower per-diem than Le Jacques Cartier for comparable Society Islands itineraries. Paul Gauguin is the more accessible entry point to luxury Polynesia. Ponant’s Explorer-class ship offers the Blue Eye underwater lounge, Zodiac excursions, and access to more remote archipelagos. The price gap narrows when Ponant’s more comprehensive bar inclusion and daily expedition excursion are factored in.

The value message for Australians: if French Polynesia is the destination, Paul Gauguin delivers the most competitive luxury option. If the Kimberley, Antarctica, or global expedition is the goal, Ponant is the only choice from this pairing.

Spa and wellness

Both brands offer spa facilities, but the real wellness comparison is experiential rather than facility-based.

Paul Gauguin’s Deep Nature Spa by Algotherm uses marine-derived ingredients suited to the tropical environment. Polynesian-inspired treatments feature monoi oil, coconut, and local vanilla. The spa is intimate and appropriate for 332 guests. The real wellness is the ocean itself — snorkelling in pristine lagoons, kayaking at dawn, paddleboarding across glassy bays from the marina platform. This active ocean wellness is included in the fare.

Ponant’s spa offering varies by ship. Explorer-class ships feature compact Sothys or Clarins spas with massage cabins and a hammam. The Blue Eye underwater multi-sensory lounge on Explorer-class ships — two whale-eye-shaped portholes below the waterline with hydrophones and Body Listening Sofas — offers meditative underwater immersion unique to the Ponant fleet. Le Commandant Charcot’s Nuan Wellness Lounge features Biologique Recherche treatments, the Blue Lagoon heated outdoor pool surrounded by polar ice, and the Siku snow room.

Paul Gauguin wins on active tropical wellness — swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding in warm lagoon waters. Ponant wins on experiential wellness innovation — the Blue Eye lounge and the extraordinary Blue Lagoon polar pool on Charcot.

Entertainment and enrichment

The enrichment philosophies reflect each brand’s reason for being — cultural immersion on Paul Gauguin, expedition science on Ponant.

Paul Gauguin’s enrichment is culturally immersive. Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins perform traditional dance, teach Polynesian arts, and serve as cultural ambassadors. Local musicians board in port. The Motu Mahana private island day integrates cultural activities. Ponant’s enrichment is expedition-driven. Naturalists and scientists deliver daily briefings. National Geographic, Smithsonian, and the Explorers Club place experts onboard. The Blue Eye lounge provides underwater perspective. Paul Gauguin immerses you in culture through people who live it. Ponant educates through scientists who study it.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet disparity is the single starkest comparison — one ship versus thirteen.

Paul Gauguin is one ship operating year-round from Papeete across six Polynesian archipelagos. The 332-guest vessel is purpose-built for the region’s shallow lagoons and intimate harbours. Itineraries range from seven-night Society Islands loops to fourteen-night Marquesas expeditions. The singular focus means unmatched regional expertise — the crew knows every anchorage, every reef, every harbour master.

Ponant operates thirteen ships across five classes, deploying simultaneously across the Mediterranean, Kimberley, French Polynesia, Antarctica, the Arctic, subantarctic islands, Papua New Guinea, the Great Lakes, and the Amazon (via Aqua Expeditions). Fleet breadth means more departure dates, more destinations, and more itinerary options across any given season. From late 2026, Ponant will complement Paul Gauguin with Le Jacques Cartier in French Polynesia, extending luxury coverage to the Gambier, Austral, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga.

For Australian travellers, the fleet question is simple: if French Polynesia is the destination, Paul Gauguin is the dedicated specialist and the natural first choice. If you want expedition access beyond Polynesia — the Kimberley from Broome, Antarctica from Ushuaia, the Mediterranean from multiple European ports — Ponant’s fleet offers the breadth Paul Gauguin cannot.

Where each line excels

Paul Gauguin excels in:

• French Polynesian immersion. Year-round from Papeete with twenty-five-plus years of continuous operation, purpose-built shallow draft, and Tahitian cultural hosts who bring the islands alive.
• Motu Mahana. The private island experience — barbecue, watersports, Polynesian cultural activities — is unique to Paul Gauguin and unavailable on any Ponant ship.
• Watersport access. Kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkelling from the ship’s marina in warm lagoon waters — included in the fare.
• Entry price point. The most accessible luxury Polynesia option, typically pricing below Ponant’s Explorer-class for comparable Society Islands itineraries.
• Proximity to Australia. Eight-hour direct flight from Sydney to Papeete. Among the shortest travel times to any luxury cruise.

Ponant excels in:

• Fleet breadth. Thirteen ships reaching every continent. The Kimberley, Antarctica, the Arctic, the Geographic North Pole, and Mediterranean simultaneously.
• Expedition capability. Zodiac fleets, ice-strengthened hulls, naturalist teams, and Le Commandant Charcot — the only luxury icebreaker afloat.
• The Blue Eye lounge. An underwater multi-sensory experience unique to the Explorer-class fleet and available on no other cruise line.
• Culinary pedigree. The Ducasse Conseil partnership brings Michelin-star heritage and boulangerie-quality bread fleet-wide.
• Open bar. Henri Abelé champagne, spirits, and cocktails at all hours — slightly more comprehensive than Paul Gauguin’s drink inclusion.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Paul Gauguin

Society Islands and Tuamotus (10 nights, year-round, roundtrip Papeete) — The signature itinerary with Moorea, Bora Bora, Taha’a, Rangiroa, and Motu Mahana. Direct Air Tahiti Nui from Sydney. The ideal introduction to Paul Gauguin.

Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands (14 nights, seasonal, roundtrip Papeete) — The deeper Polynesia voyage to Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Fakarava, and beyond. Remote, culturally rich, and visually stunning.

Cook Islands and Society Islands (11 nights, seasonal, roundtrip Papeete) — Extends to Aitutaki and Rarotonga alongside classic Society Islands stops.

Ponant

Le Jacques Cartier: Kimberley (10 nights, May–September, Broome to Darwin) — Sixteen sailings with Fly, Stay & Cruise packages from approximately AUD $14,850 including flights. Domestic only. The most accessible expedition from Australia.

Le Jacques Cartier: French Polynesia (7–14 nights, from late 2026, roundtrip Papeete) — The Explorer-class complement to Paul Gauguin, extending to Gambier, Austral, Fiji, and Tonga. Blue Eye lounge and daily Zodiac excursions included.

Le Commandant Charcot: Antarctica (various durations, from Ushuaia) — The only luxury icebreaker. For the most ambitious polar traveller.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin (332 guests, refurbished 2025) — There is one ship, and it is perfectly suited to its mission. The seven-night Society Islands itinerary is the ideal first voyage. The fourteen-night Marquesas is for the committed Polynesia enthusiast. Both are excellent.

Ponant

Le Jacques Cartier (184 guests) — The most versatile ship for Australian travellers, deployed to the Kimberley and French Polynesia across the annual calendar. Blue Eye, Zodiacs, Ducasse cuisine.

Le Commandant Charcot (245 guests) — For polar expedition. The only luxury icebreaker. Nuna restaurant. Commands a significant premium.

Le Soleal (264 guests) — Sistership-class Kimberley workhorse. Choose for the West Coast Odyssey or an alternative Kimberley departure date.

For Australian travellers specifically

Both brands are accessible from Australia, and the shared Ponant Explorations Group ownership creates a natural pathway between them.

Paul Gauguin’s proximity to Australia is a genuine advantage. Air Tahiti Nui flies direct from Sydney to Papeete in approximately eight hours. Every sailing departs from Papeete year-round. For east coast Australians, boarding Paul Gauguin is easier than reaching most European or polar embarkation ports. Auckland also connects to Papeete, offering a second gateway.

Ponant’s Australian operation is deeply established. The North Sydney office (1300 737 178), built under Sarina Bratton AM, serves a market that represents approximately twenty per cent of global Ponant revenue. Kimberley Fly, Stay & Cruise packages from five Australian capitals simplify booking. Discovery Sessions run in Australian cities with exclusive offers. The 2026 West Coast Odyssey is a uniquely Australian product.

The loyalty pathway is the strategic advantage of this sibling relationship. The Ponant Yacht Club programme provides lifetime status with cross-brand recognition across Ponant, Paul Gauguin, and Aqua Expeditions. An Australian traveller can build status on Paul Gauguin’s Tahiti voyages and carry it to a Ponant Kimberley expedition, then to an Aqua Expeditions Amazon or Mekong voyage. No other luxury cruise group offers this breadth of expedition and destination-specialist brands within a single loyalty ecosystem.

The onboard atmosphere

The atmospheres reflect each ship’s purpose and passenger base.

Paul Gauguin’s atmosphere is island resort afloat. International passenger mix — North American, Australian, European, and French travellers. Resort casual to barefoot. Les Gauguines dancing on the pool deck. Cocktails flowing from the included bar. The private island day sets a tone of tropical relaxation. Average age skews slightly younger with honeymooners alongside experienced couples. The pace is deliberately unhurried.

Ponant’s atmosphere is the French yacht. Approximately fifty per cent French passengers with significant Australian and European contingents. Announcements in French first, then English. Casual Chic dress with one or two gala evenings. The Soirée Blanche (White Party) on warm-climate sailings. Expedition briefings create intellectual rhythm. The Captain dines with guests. The cultural DNA is unmistakably Gallic.

The atmospheric difference matters: Paul Gauguin feels tropical, relaxed, and destination-focused. Ponant feels European, intellectual, and expedition-focused. Both suit their purpose perfectly.

The bottom line

Paul Gauguin and Ponant are siblings, not rivals — and the smartest Australian travellers treat them as complementary pieces of the same puzzle.

Choose Paul Gauguin for the definitive French Polynesian cruise — purpose-built lagoon access, Tahitian cultural hosts, a private island, included drinks, and the eight-hour direct flight from Sydney. Choose Ponant for expedition access beyond Polynesia — the Kimberley from Broome, Antarctica from Ushuaia, thirteen ships reaching destinations Paul Gauguin was never designed to visit, and the Ducasse Conseil culinary programme.

For Australians wanting the complete Ponant Explorations Group experience, the ideal sequence is a Paul Gauguin Society Islands voyage, a Ponant Kimberley for domestic expedition, and a Charcot polar voyage for the ultimate. The cross-brand Yacht Club loyalty programme rewards every step. These brands were designed to work together.