Ponant

Daily Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Papeete

   Depart 17:00

   French Polynesia

   

   Papeete is the spirited, slightly ragged capital of French Polynesia — not the languorous paradise of travel-poster imagination, but a working harbour city of fresh produce markets, baguette bakeries, and Tahitian outrigger canoe clubs that provides an authentic counterpoint to the pearl-still lagoons of Bora Bora and Moorea nearby. The daily Marché de Papeete is the city's essential experience, its stalls piling high with vanilla pods, monoi-scented oils, black pearls, and the most exuberant floral arrangements in the Pacific. Moorea, visible across the Sea of the Moon and just 30 minutes by fast ferry, offers a dramatically quieter alternative. The dry season, May through October, brings the finest weather.

2. Day 2

   Rangiroa

   French Polynesia

   

   Rangiroa is the world's second-largest coral atoll, a ring of palm-fringed islets in French Polynesia's Tuamotus encircling a lagoon vast enough to contain Tahiti. Visitors must drift-dive or snorkel Tiputa Pass for sharks and dolphins, visit the surreal Blue Lagoon and Pink Sands beach, and savour poisson cru in a Polynesian pension. May through October offers calm diving conditions, while January-March brings hammerhead sharks.

3. Day 3

   At Sea

   

4. Day 4

   Atuona, Hiva Oa

   French Polynesia

   

   Atuona, Hiva Oa, French Polynesia is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Paul Gauguin Cruises. Must-do experiences include exploring the vibrant local markets for regional specialties and fresh seafood, and discovering the waterfront quarter where maritime heritage meets contemporary energy. The optimal time to visit is November through April, when dry season brings clear skies and calm seas.

5. Day 5

   Omoa

   French Polynesia

   

   Omoa, French Polynesia, epitomizes the Pacific island dream—pristine waters, vibrant coral reefs, and a Polynesian or Melanesian culture that welcomes visitors with authentic warmth. Essential experiences include snorkeling the surrounding reefs and participating in traditional community gatherings. Best visited May through September, when drier conditions prevail and temperatures remain pleasant. Cruise lines including Paul Gauguin Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

6. Day 6

   Hakahau, Ua Pou Island

   French Polynesia

   

   Ua Pou is a Marquesas Island crowned by twelve volcanic pinnacles — the "Cathedral of the Marquesas" — reaching over 1,200 metres, with the village of Hakahau at its base. Must-dos include admiring unique flower-stone carvings found nowhere else on Earth, watching traditional Marquesan dance performances, and diving the volcanic drop-offs. July through December offers the driest conditions for visiting this dramatic, uncommercialised Polynesian island.

7. Day 7

   Taiohae

   French Polynesia

   

   Taiohae, French Polynesia, epitomizes the Pacific island dream—pristine waters, vibrant coral reefs, and a Polynesian or Melanesian culture that welcomes visitors with authentic warmth. Essential experiences include snorkeling the surrounding reefs and participating in traditional community gatherings. Best visited year-round, though the drier months from May to October tend to offer the most comfortable conditions. Cruise lines including Holland America Line feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

8. Day 8

   At Sea

   

9. Day 9

   Fakarava, French Polynesia

   French Polynesia

   

   Fakarava is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve atoll in French Polynesia's Tuamotu Archipelago, offering some of the world's most spectacular diving — including drift dives through shark-filled passes — and pristine pink-sand beaches. Must-dos include diving the Garuae "wall of sharks," visiting a black pearl farm, and stargazing from an uninhabited motu. April through November brings the driest weather, with June and July featuring the legendary grouper spawning.

10. Day 10

    At Sea

    

11. Day 11

    Bora Bora

    French Polynesia

    

    Bora Bora rises from the South Pacific like the platonic ideal of a tropical island — a volcanic peak ringed by a lagoon of impossible turquoise clarity whose beauty has made it the benchmark against which all other island destinations are measured. The overwater bungalow was effectively invented here, and the island's luxury resorts remain the definitive expression of that sublime form of hospitality. Snorkel or dive the outer reef's extraordinary coral gardens, or simply watch the shifting light transform Mount Otemanu's basalt silhouette through the long Pacific afternoon. Visit April through October for the calmest, driest conditions. Tahiti's Faa'a International Airport is a forty-five-minute flight away.

12. Day 12

    Taha’a (Motu Mahana)

    French Polynesia

    

    Taha'a, accessible only by boat within its shared lagoon with Raiatea, is French Polynesia's vanilla island — a roadless, airportless sanctuary where family plantations produce eighty percent of the territory's prized vanilla. Visitors should explore a working vanilla farm to witness hand-pollination and sun-curing techniques, then taste *poisson cru* dressed in fresh coconut milk at a waterside pension. The dry season from May through October offers the clearest skies and calmest lagoon conditions, ideal for small-ship circumnavigation of the island aboard Paul Gauguin Cruises, Windstar, or Silversea.

13. Day 13

    Huahine

    French Polynesia

    

    Huahine, often called the "Garden of Eden" of French Polynesia, is a lush twin-island paradise between Moorea and Bora Bora where ancient Polynesian marae temples stand among jungle-covered hills and turquoise lagoons remain blissfully uncrowded. Visitors should not miss the thousand-year-old archaeological complex at Maeva and a lagoon snorkeling excursion through pristine coral gardens. The ideal season spans May through October — the austral dry season — when skies are clear, humidity is gentle, and the southeast trade winds carry the scent of vanilla and tiare flowers across the water.

14. Day 14

    Moorea

    French Polynesia

    

    Moorea is a volcanic island in French Polynesia, separated from Tahiti by a narrow channel known as the Sea of the Moon, celebrated for its twin cathedral-like bays, jagged emerald peaks, and lagoons of almost surreal turquoise clarity. Visitors should not miss savouring authentic *poisson cru* at a beachside roulotte and exploring Ōpūnohu Bay by outrigger canoe or guided hiking trail. The ideal season to visit is May through October — the dry, austral winter — when skies are reliably clear, humidity is gentle, and humpback whales pass through the surrounding waters on their annual migration.

15. Day 15

    Papeete

    Arrive 08:00

    French Polynesia

    

    Papeete is the spirited, slightly ragged capital of French Polynesia — not the languorous paradise of travel-poster imagination, but a working harbour city of fresh produce markets, baguette bakeries, and Tahitian outrigger canoe clubs that provides an authentic counterpoint to the pearl-still lagoons of Bora Bora and Moorea nearby. The daily Marché de Papeete is the city's essential experience, its stalls piling high with vanilla pods, monoi-scented oils, black pearls, and the most exuberant floral arrangements in the Pacific. Moorea, visible across the Sea of the Moon and just 30 minutes by fast ferry, offers a dramatically quieter alternative. The dry season, May through October, brings the finest weather.

Cabin Categories

Balcony Stateroom C – Deck 7

balcony

3

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: A king-size (180 x 200 cm), queen-size bed (160 x 200), or two single beds (90 x 200 cm or 80 x 200 cm) A lounge area with sofa bed A bathroom with shower or bath A panoramic sliding bay window A private 3 m² balcony

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Balcony Stateroom D – Deck 6

balcony

5

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: One queen-size (160 x 200 cm) A lounge area with sofa bed (75 x 200 cm) A bathroom with bath A panoramic sliding bay window A private 3 m² balcony

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Veranda Stateroom B - Deck 7 and 8

balcony

2

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Fruit plate upon arrival A king-size (180 x 200 cm), queen-size bed (160 x 200), or two single beds (90 x 200 cm or 80 x 200 cm) A lounge area with sofa bed (180 x 130 cm) and armchair A bathroom with shower or bath A panoramic sliding bay window A private 5 m² balcony

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Porthole Stateroom F – Deck 3

outside

8

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: One queen-size (160 x 200 cm) or two single beds (80 x 200 cm) A lounge area with sofa A bathroom with bath Two round portholes

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Window Stateroom E – Deck 4

outside

7

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Floral arrangement upon arrival One queen-size (160 x 200 cm) or two single beds (80 x 200 cm) A lounge area with sofa bed A bathroom with bath A panoramic window

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Grand Suite GS – Deck 8

suite

GS

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Butler service Champagne, fruit plate, and floral arrangement upon arrival An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A lounge area with sofa bed (180 x 130 cm), two armchairs, and a second TV A bathroom with bath A one-hour spa treatments per person (for 2 people) in the well-being space, chosen from the facial and body treatments on offer A panoramic sliding bay window A private 18 m² balcony

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Owner's Suite – Deck 7

suite

OS

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Private return transfer Butler service Champagne, fruit plate, and floral arrangement upon arrival An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day A bedroom with one queen-size bed (160 x 200 cm) or two single beds (80 x 200 cm) and TV A lounge with sofa bed (180 x 130 cm), two armchairs, and a second TV A four-seater dining table and bar A bathroom with bath A one-hour spa treatments per person (for 2 people) in the well-being space, chosen from the facial and body treatments on offer Two panoramic sliding bay windows A private 7 m² balcony

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Veranda Suite A – Deck 7

suite

1

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Butler service Fruit plate and floral arrangement upon arrival A king-size (180 x 200 cm), queen-size bed (160 x 200), or two single beds (90 x 200 cm or 80 x 200 cm) A lounge area with sofa bed (180 x 130 cm) and armchair A bathroom with bathtub A panoramic sliding bay window A private 5 m² balcony

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