In January 2018, we traveled to French Polynesia to sail on the m/s Paul Gauguin for an 11 night voyage to the Cook and Society Islands. This series is a journal of our experiences and observations so that you, our reader, can see what it's like to experience Tahiti/French Polynesia. We hope this inspires you to travel to this and other destinations.
Day 6: Sea
Another relaxing day at sea began with a scrumptious breakfast on deck outside of La Veranda. The corned beef hash became a new favorite of my wife as she said it was super yummy. We had a cool morning sea breeze and the beautiful blue ocean making our breakfast so wonderful.
After our meal, we joined Les Gaugine and Le Gauguin in La Palette on deck 8 for a lesson in Tahitian dancing. Liz learned two dances the Faka Lufi Lufi and the O Piwi. See below for some video of Liz showing off her dance skills. Once the dancing session finished up we learned to play traditional Tahitian drums and provided the rhythm for the dancing of Les Gauguines/Le Gauguin. It was a great time and gave us a new perspective on the traditional dancing and music of the islands. I was even offered a job as a Gauguin.
Later we enjoyed a fabulous lunch as it was Italian themed selections. The pasta, meatballs, chicken cacciatore, and lasagna were all top notch. The desserts were also lovely as I sampled what looked like a cannoli as well as some chocolate cake. The food is always so good on the m/s Paul Gauguin, I’d recommend not worrying about gaining weight until after you come home. You really don't want to miss out on all of the deliciousness.
Right around sunset, we met up with some fellow cruisers and admired the beautiful sunset while enjoying some of our favorite cocktails. One of the best parts about sailing on the Gauguin is the small ship atmosphere. We hadn't been on the ship for that long but we were already making lots of friends. For dinner, we joined some of our newfound friends in L’Etoile. The entrees never fail to amaze as I had some the best chicken courdon bleu ever. For dessert I enjoyed a fabulous strawberry mousse that was so light and flavorful but not overly sweet.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in our voyage. Have any favorite memories of the Cook Islands, Tahiti, French Polynesia, or Paul Gauguin Cruises? Leave a comment and share your story. If you would like some additional information, or to reserve your trip to the Cook Islands or French Polynesia, contact us here.