Paul Gauguin to Hawaii

It's quite a slog to get to the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti, but the journey was ultimately well worth it. At just 19,000 tons and carrying a maximum of 330 passengers this small, fully inclusive boutique ship is by far the best way to see the beautiful islands of French Polynesia.

With three fantastic, open seating restaurants, the Paul Gauguin is low key, highly styled luxury. The food and service- lamb chops and waffles with chocolate sauce for breakfast, anyone?- was never less than exemplary. The colour tones throughout the public areas were beautifully restrained.

I especially loved La Palette, the aft facing, upper deck lounge. On some nights, the back walls would slide open, and we could enjoy an indoor/outdoor nightclub under the stars. For many at sunset, this was the ultimate gathering spot on board.

We spent little time actually at sea, as the islands are so close together. I did love my balcony room, with its tea and coffee maker, though the balcony was actually little more than an actual ledge; you could only sit sideways on it. Still, it was a great spot for a cup of coffee at sunrise.

One big plus for the ship was a group pf lovely local ladies- the Gauguines- that accompany the ship on every sailing. They can be found strumming guitars both ashore and on board, or even holding arts and crafts classes in the evenings. Collectively, they give the ship a very warm, welcoming vibe.

Polynesia is magical; utterly addictive as a destination. One night, I came on deck to find that we had anchored in the shade of Mount Otemanu- the famous 'Bali Hai' from South Pacific. With a huge, silver moon hanging directly above it, Otemanu made for one of the most jaw dropping spectacles I have ever seen in my life.

Naturally, the Paul Gauguin attracts a lot of honeymooners. There are no late night parties to speak of on board, but the whole Paul Gauguin experience itself is, indeed, something truly magical.