Paul Gauguin vs Tauck

The core difference

Paul Gauguin and Tauck occupy such different corners of the luxury travel market that comparing them reveals more about the traveller’s priorities than about the products themselves. One is a cruise line; the other is fundamentally a touring company that happens to use ships. Understanding that distinction is the key to choosing correctly.

Paul Gauguin is Polynesian immersion. One ship, 332 guests, purpose-built in 1998 with a shallow draft for French Polynesia’s lagoons. Refurbished in 2025 under Ponant ownership. Year-round from Papeete across the Society Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Marquesas, and Tuamotus. Tahitian cultural hosts, a private island at Motu Mahana, watersport marina, drinks included. French-Polynesian cuisine. This is a destination-specialist cruise — the ship exists to serve the region, not the reverse.

Tauck is totally managed travel. Family-owned since Arthur Tauck Sr. led his first New England motor tour in 1925. The company operates its own Inspiration-class river ships (130 guests) and Jewel-class vessels (98 guests) on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and Douro. For ocean and expedition voyages, Tauck charters Ponant Explorer-class ships (184 guests) — adding Tauck Directors and its all-inclusive excursion programme to Ponant’s hardware and crew. Two new riverboats join the French fleet in 2026. Every excursion, every gratuity, every airport transfer, drinks at meals — all included. No art auctions. No bill at the end. A Tauck Director manages every detail from embarkation to disembarkation.

These products serve entirely different purposes. Paul Gauguin is the holiday where you float in a warm lagoon and watch the sunset with a cocktail. Tauck is the holiday where you tour European capitals with every museum entry pre-arranged and a Director ensuring you miss nothing. Neither is better. They are answers to different questions.

What is actually included

Both lines include more than most competitors, but the inclusion models reflect their different philosophies.

Paul Gauguin’s fare covers all dining, selected wines, beer, spirits, and soft drinks throughout the voyage, watersport equipment from the marina, access to Motu Mahana private island, and cultural entertainment. Gratuities are discretionary. Shore excursions beyond the standard programme, spa treatments, and premium beverages are additional.

Tauck’s fare covers every excursion — every single one — all gratuities including shipboard crew, onshore guides, drivers, and hotel staff, airport transfers on arrival and departure days, wine, beer, and spirits at meals, and the Tauck Director’s services throughout. On ocean charters, Ponant’s open bar and daily expedition excursions are folded into the Tauck fare. No onboard account, no bill at the end.

The practical difference: Tauck’s total inclusion eliminates every financial decision during the voyage. Paul Gauguin’s drink inclusion is more generous throughout the day but leaves gratuities and excursions as individual decisions. For travellers who want to forget about money entirely once they board, Tauck’s model is superior. For travellers who prioritise all-day drinks and tropical watersports, Paul Gauguin’s model is more relevant.

Dining and culinary experience

The dining comparison spans three different product types — and none of them directly compete.

Paul Gauguin serves French-Polynesian fusion. L’Etoile features locally sourced seafood and tropical ingredients with French technique. La Veranda offers casual poolside dining converting to an intimate evening venue. Two restaurants for 332 guests. The cuisine reflects the destination — poisson cru, mahi-mahi, vanilla from Taha’a. Regional authenticity is the strength.

Tauck’s dining varies by product. On river ships, cuisine is well-executed European fare with regional ingredients, wine pairings at dinner, and themed evenings reflecting the itinerary. On chartered Ponant ships, guests enjoy the Ducasse Conseil programme — Le Nautilus for four-course dinners and Le Grill for casual fare, with boulangerie-quality bread and Pierre Hermé macarons. Neither product positions dining as its centrepiece — on river ships, the excursions define the experience; on ocean charters, the Director-managed programme does.

The verdict: Paul Gauguin delivers the most destination-authentic cuisine from this pairing. Tauck’s ocean charter dining via Ponant is more refined in French technique. Tauck’s river dining is well-regarded but not the reason guests choose the product. None of these dining experiences is comparable to a dedicated culinary cruise line — if dining variety is paramount, neither line is the right choice.

Suites and accommodation

Accommodation spans three ship types, making direct comparison complex.

Paul Gauguin’s staterooms start at approximately 200 square feet for Porthole Staterooms, with Balcony Staterooms at roughly 249 square feet. The Grand Suite reaches approximately 588 square feet. Refreshed in 2025. Tropical design with lighter palettes and natural materials.

Tauck’s Inspiration-class river ships feature twenty-two Tauck Suites at 300 square feet — the largest standard accommodation on Rhine and Danube river ships. Entry-level Category 7 staterooms are 150 square feet. The ms Andorinha on the Douro carries 84 guests.

Tauck’s chartered Ponant ships carry standard Explorer-class accommodation — Deluxe Balcony at 161 square feet interior plus 43-square-foot balcony.

The comparison favours Tauck’s river suites at the top (300 square feet) and Paul Gauguin in the mid-range (249 square feet versus Ponant’s 204 total). Neither line offers the largest accommodation in their respective segments, but both are well-appointed and suited to their purpose.

Pricing and value

The pricing comparison requires understanding that these are fundamentally different holiday types.

Paul Gauguin’s per-diem runs approximately AUD $700 to $1,100 per person per night. A seven-night Society Islands voyage costs roughly AUD $6,000 to $9,000 per person with drinks, watersports, and Motu Mahana included. Add approximately AUD $1,500 to $2,500 per person for return flights from Sydney.

Tauck’s per-diem for river voyages runs approximately AUD $800 to $1,200 per person per night all-inclusive. A fourteen-night Rhine and Danube voyage costs roughly AUD $15,000 to $20,000 per person. Airport transfers in Europe are included. Tauck’s ocean charter per-diem runs approximately AUD $1,200 to $1,800 per person per night.

Total holiday cost comparison is instructive. A Paul Gauguin seven-night Tahiti holiday with flights costs roughly AUD $8,000 to $12,000 per person. A Tauck fourteen-night European river voyage with flights costs roughly AUD $18,000 to $25,000 per person. These are not comparable products — one is a week in the tropics, the other is a fortnight of European cultural touring. Each represents fair value for what it delivers.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer spa facilities at scales appropriate to their ships.

Paul Gauguin’s Deep Nature Spa by Algotherm provides marine-derived tropical treatments. The real wellness is the ocean — snorkelling, kayaking, and paddleboarding in warm lagoons from the included watersport marina.

Tauck’s spa access depends on the product. River ships offer modest facilities — a small fitness room and massage services. Chartered Ponant ships provide the standard Sothys or Clarins spa with hammam. Tauck does not market wellness as a core offering.

Paul Gauguin wins on wellness through its active ocean programme. Neither line offers a spa experience that would rival a dedicated wellness cruise.

Entertainment and enrichment

The enrichment philosophies are fundamentally different — one immerses you in a living culture, the other immerses you in historical destinations through managed touring.

Paul Gauguin’s enrichment is culturally immersive. Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins — Tahitian cultural hosts — perform traditional dance, teach Polynesian arts, and serve as cultural ambassadors. Local musicians. Guest lecturers on Polynesian navigation and ecology. The Motu Mahana private island day integrates cultural activities.

Tauck’s enrichment is the excursion programme itself. Tauck Directors arrange private museum openings after hours, concerts in historic churches, exclusive access to castles and vineyards. On ocean charters, Ponant’s naturalist teams deliver expedition briefings while Tauck Directors manage logistics. The Director model means a knowledgeable guide is always managing the day’s programme.

The distinction is philosophical. Paul Gauguin brings culture to you — hosts performing and teaching aboard the ship. Tauck brings you to culture — Directors taking you to museums, churches, and historic sites ashore.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet comparison underscores totally different business models.

Paul Gauguin is one ship in one region — year-round French Polynesia from Papeete. Singular focus. Unmatched regional expertise.

Tauck operates eleven river ships across the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro, and French waterways, plus charters Ponant Explorer-class ships for ocean and expedition voyages in the Mediterranean, Antarctica, the Arctic, Asia, and Latin America. Two new riverboats join in 2026. The breadth of product — river, ocean, expedition — is Tauck’s defining structural advantage.

There is negligible destination overlap. The choice is about which type of travel experience you want.

Where each line excels

Paul Gauguin excels in:

• French Polynesian immersion. Year-round from Papeete with purpose-built shallow draft, Tahitian cultural hosts, and twenty-five-plus years of continuous regional operation.
• Proximity to Australia. Eight-hour direct flight from Sydney. The most accessible luxury cruise destination from Australia.
• Included drinks. Wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails flowing throughout the voyage without signing.
• Watersport access. Kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkelling from the marina — included in the fare.
• Motu Mahana. Private island with barbecue, watersports, and cultural activities.

Tauck excels in:

• Total inclusion. Every excursion, every gratuity, every transfer, drinks at meals. No bill at the end.
• The Director model. A dedicated Tauck employee managing every detail from embarkation to disembarkation.
• European rivers. Purpose-built Inspiration-class ships with 300-square-foot suites on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and Douro.
• Expedition access. Chartered Ponant ships with Zodiac capability for Antarctica, the Arctic, and remote destinations.
• No upselling. Genuine absence of art auctions, photography packages, and spa hard-sells.

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.

Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands (14 nights, seasonal) — Remote Marquesas islands including Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. The deeper Polynesia.

Tauck

Rhine and Danube: Budapest to Amsterdam (14 nights, Inspiration-class) — The flagship Tauck river voyage. All-inclusive with airport transfers. Twenty-two Tauck Suites at 300 square feet.

Douro: Porto and the Douro Valley (8 nights, ms Andorinha, 84 guests) — The most intimate Tauck river experience. Portuguese wine country.

Antarctica Expedition (approximately 14 nights, chartered Ponant ship) — Tauck Directors and all-inclusive excursions added to Ponant Explorer-class hardware.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin (332 guests, refurbished 2025) — One ship, one mission. Seven-night Society Islands for the introduction, fourteen-night Marquesas for the enthusiast.

Tauck

Inspiration-class river ships (130 guests) — The flagship river product. Twenty-two Tauck Suites at 300 square feet.

ms Andorinha (84 guests) — Ultra-intimate Douro specialist.

Chartered Ponant Explorer-class (184 guests) — For ocean and expedition voyages with Tauck Director overlay.

For Australian travellers specifically

Both products are accessible from Australia but require different travel planning.

Paul Gauguin’s proximity advantage is significant. Direct Air Tahiti Nui flights from Sydney to Papeete take approximately eight hours. Year-round departures. No complex routing. For east coast Australians, this is among the easiest luxury cruise bookings possible. Booked through Ponant’s North Sydney office (1300 737 178) with Ponant Yacht Club loyalty.

Tauck’s Australian presence is more limited. No dedicated Australian office — bookings through specialist advisors or direct through Tauck. European river departures require flights from Australia via Gulf carriers or Singapore Airlines (twenty-plus hours). Tauck’s included airport transfers simplify European arrival logistics. The all-inclusive pricing model means budgeting is straightforward despite the distance.

The decision for Australians reduces to travel purpose. Want a short-haul tropical escape with drinks and lagoons? Paul Gauguin. Want a completely managed European cultural touring experience where a Director handles everything? Tauck. These are not competing products — they are different answers to “what kind of holiday do you want?”

The onboard atmosphere

The atmospheres are as different as the destinations.

Paul Gauguin’s atmosphere is tropical resort. International passenger mix, resort casual dress, Tahitian cultural hosts, cocktails flowing, private island days. Romantic, sun-drenched, deliberately unhurried. Slightly younger average age with honeymooners alongside experienced travellers.

Tauck’s atmosphere is refined American touring. Well-travelled couples, often repeat guests, aged 55–75. The Director creates communal rhythm — morning briefings, group excursions, evening recaps. More structured than Paul Gauguin. Smart casual on river, casual chic on ocean charters. No formal nights. The atmosphere values intellectual curiosity and cultural engagement.

The bottom line

Paul Gauguin and Tauck serve different travel motivations so completely that the choice between them is among the simplest in luxury travel — once you know what you want.

Choose Paul Gauguin for the definitive French Polynesian cruise. Choose it for purpose-built lagoon access, Tahitian cultural hosts, a private island, included drinks and watersports, and an eight-hour flight from Sydney. Choose it for tropical relaxation that begins the moment you board and continues without interruption.

Choose Tauck for completely managed luxury travel where every excursion, every gratuity, and every transfer is included and a Director manages every detail. Choose it for European river cruising on purpose-built ships, or for expedition voyages on chartered Ponant vessels. Choose it for the peace of knowing there is no bill at the end and no decision to make beyond which included experience to enjoy.

For Australian travellers wanting both — a Paul Gauguin Tahiti week for tropical immersion, then a Tauck Danube fortnight for European cultural touring — the combination delivers two of the finest travel experiences available, each excelling at exactly what it was designed to do.