THE team at Paul Gauguin Cruises is
preparing to welcome its second baby into the
fleet, the 45-cabin Tere Moana.
Chatting to CW during a whirlwind trip to
Australia, Paul Gauguin’s VP, Product Planning
and Revenue Management, Oscar Abello
described the 14-year old vessel as “yachtlike”,
adding that the company is “very excited
to branch out and offer a wide variety of
itineraries”.
The company will take delivery of the vessel
in October this year, after which she will go
into drydock in Lisbon for a multimillion dollar
makeover which will involve a total
redecoration including a new colour scheme,
redoing the woodwork in all her cabins, laying
new carpets shipwide, new decor, new
furniture, new bedding, and the addition of
balconies to eight staterooms.
Following her refit the vessel will sail out of
St Martin on 29 December for her inaugural
seven-night Caribbean voyage.
Moana’s itineraries will be a departure from
the company’s usual fare of highly popular
Tahitian sailings onboard Paul Gauguin, and
will include seven-night Caribbean cruises and
13- and 14-night Panama Canal voyages out of
St Martin; as well as two 14-night Transatlantic
crossings; seven-night sailings between
Barcelona/Rome, Rome/Venice, Venice/
Athens, Athens/Istanbul, Athens/Rome,
Lisbon/Barcelona, and Barcelona/Malaga, as
well as several seven-night roundtrips from
Rome and Istanbul.
“We constantly have guests asking us for
other destinations and so we are doing
itineraries that we believe will be appealing to
our clientele,” Abello said.
According to Abello, part of the attraction of
Moana will be the fact that she can call into
the smaller ports, giving guests the opportunity
to visit rarely explored areas, as well as the
larger, more popular destinations.
Featuring all outside cabins, spacious public
areas, two restaurants, including L’Etoile and
La Veranda, and meals designed by a two-star
Michelin chef Jean Pierre Vigato, Moana will
offer an all-inclusive cruising product, meaning
its upfront cost will include all meals, activities,
entertainment and an open bar, (shore
excursions, boutique shopping and spa
services however are not included).
“We are very excited about the product, it’s a
beautiful ship, and we can’t wait to see her
after her renovations,” said Abello.
And it seems its not just the cruise line that is
excited about Moana’s impending launch, with
Paul Gauguin’s Australian representative
Wiltrans confirming that Australian cruisers
are already lining up to get onboard.
Interestingly, in terms of demographics,
Australians currently make up the second
largest market for the company’s Paul Gauguin
(7-8%), behind North America (70%).
For more details see your local travel agent,
or visit www.wiltrans.com.au.
