For the second year in a row, Paul Gauguin Cruises has been voted Best Small Cruise in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. French Polynesia’s destination expert received the top honor based on more than 750,000 votes by readers who rated their recent travel experiences across various categories.

The award underscores Paul Gauguin Cruises’ commitment to delivering culturally enriching experiences, all-inclusive luxury, and personalized service on m/s Paul Gauguin—a ship purpose-built to explore Tahiti and the South Pacific.

The intimate, 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin is an elegant yet relaxed ship, evoking the feel of an overwater “bungalow” that sails. Its sustainable design features a limited draft that allows it to explore the shallow waters and smaller isles of the Society Islands, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Cook Islands, and South Pacific. While the culture is palpable throughout the destination, it comes to life on board through the music, storytelling, and other activities led by Les Gauguines, a troupe of Tahitian hosts who live on the ship.

A recent multimillion-dollar refurbishment introduced an elevated design of Le Grill restaurant, a reimagined pool deck with shaded cabana areas, new connecting staterooms to accommodate the rise in multigenerational travel, an updated livery, and sustainable technology upgrades such as a new seawater filtration system. More than 70 percent of the ship’s staterooms feature private balconies, while select staterooms and all suites come with butler service.

Bringing guests even closer to the sea is the ship’s watersports marina, offering complimentary paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkel gear. The Gauguin is also the only passenger ship in French Polynesia with a PADI certification dive program onboard.

Families will appreciate the line’s complimentary children’s program for ages six to 15 on select summer and holiday voyages. In partnership with Te mana o te moana, the South Pacific’s leading marine education and conservation foundation, the Moana Explorer Program engages kids with the local environment and culture through crafts, excursions, and other hands-on activities.