Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, is excited to announce the 2013 sailing schedule. Guests aboard The Gauguin will have the chance to experience exciting itineraries aboard a newly renovated ship.

2013 Sailing Schedule Highlights: 

• Island of Whales: Following 2012's inaugural 11-night sailing to the Australs & Society Islands, The Gauguin will return on September 21, 2013, to witness the majestic humpback whales cavorting en masse off the coast of Rurutu.
• The Society Islands: Throughout 2013, The Gauguin will visit the islands of French Polynesia for 7-, 10-, 11-, and 14-night sailings. Guests will travel through this spectacular collection of islands with stops including the breathtaking lagoons of Bora Bora and Moorea, plus access to Paul Gauguin Cruises' private Motu Mahana adjacent to the white-sand beaches of Taha'a.
• Special Guests: The launch of guest-host sailings proved so popular in 2012, Paul Gauguin Cruises will be continuing this program on select 2013 sailings. Among the guest hosts will be environmentalist and oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau, creator of The Gauguin's Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program.  Mr. Cousteau will offer lectures with videos of his work and accompany several dives from the ship.
• Fully Renovated Ship: Having completed a $7 million-dollar renovation, The Gauguin now features new flooring and carpeting, elegant new furniture, new window treatments and decorative wall panels, and new signage, providing a lighter, brighter feel. Additionally, all suites and staterooms have been updated with new teak railings and bathroom floors. Guests will also enjoy the newly expanded Le Casino and new built-in banquettes on the Promenade on Deck 5.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is also offering extraordinary value in luxury cruising with savings of 50% off standard cruise fares plus FREE airfare from Los Angeles.

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 m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. The Gauguin was built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship, 513 feet long and 71 feet wide, has a draft of 16.9 feet and can accommodate 332 guests with a staff of 217. 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 has undergone more than $25 million in enhancements, with an additional $7 million completed in January 2012. The Gauguin has been impressively named the 2011 Silver Magellan Award Winner in the Small Cruise Ship category by Travel Weekly and earned the "#1 ranking for Dining" in the Small Ship Category in Cruise Critic's 2011 Cruisers' Choice Awards. Paul Gauguin Cruises also recently announced the acquisition of a second ship, which will begin sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner in December 2012. With plans to sail to Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America, this ship will be christened m/v Tere Moana after completing a multifaceted renovation in December 2012.  The Moana features 45 staterooms accommodating 90 guests.