French Polynesia is a place where the natural world feels almost mythic. Across a vast expanse of the South Pacific, volcanic peaks rise like green cathedrals from luminous lagoons, coral atolls shimmer in impossible shades of turquoise, and palm-fringed motu seem to float between sea and sky. Beneath the surface, reef fish move through gardens of coral, manta rays glide in slow, balletic arcs, and dolphins cut through the water with effortless grace. Above, frigatebirds wheel on warm currents, red-footed boobies nest along remote shores, and the islands unfold in a rhythm of wind, salt, sunlight and ancient Polynesian life.
It is into this extraordinary world that PONANT Explorations Group is deepening its presence. From the winter 2026-2027 season, the French cruise specialist will base two ships in French Polynesia, creating a diversified and complementary programme that reaches far beyond the region’s most familiar islands.
Building on more than 25 years of expertise in the destination with the m/s Paul Gauguin, the Group will now expand its offering with Le Jacques Cartier, introducing a new generation of exploration cruises focused on some of the South Pacific’s most remote and rarely visited places.
Together, the two ships will open routes through the five archipelagos of French Polynesia, the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands, as well as the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory. It is an ambitious invitation to discover a more secluded, elemental and culturally rich vision of Polynesia, from tiny inhabited atolls to wild island communities where life is still deeply shaped by the ocean.
Two Ships, Two Distinct Ways to Explore
PONANT Explorations Group’s approach to French Polynesia is built around two very different sailing experiences.
The m/s Paul Gauguin, the destination’s iconic ship for more than a quarter of a century, will continue to be based year-round in Polynesia. Intimate, immersive and deeply rooted in place, she offers guests a slower and more culturally connected way to experience the islands, with extended stopovers designed to reveal the rhythms of Polynesian life.
On board, guests are welcomed by the Gauguins and Gauguines, a team of Polynesian hosts who serve as cultural ambassadors throughout the voyage. Through music, dance, storytelling and hands-on workshops, from weaving hats and baskets to tying sarongs, they bring the warmth, creativity and living heritage of the islands into the heart of the journey.
By contrast, Le Jacques Cartier has been chosen for a more exploratory role. Designed for tropical discovery, she will sail deeper into the remote reaches of French Polynesia through three new “Discovery” itineraries. These routes will journey to rarely visited archipelagos, hidden lagoons and isolated communities, offering guests a more expeditionary encounter with the South Pacific.
For those seeking the most complete experience currently available, the three itineraries can be combined into one extraordinary 42-night voyage, spanning six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands.
Three New Discovery Itineraries
Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
Papeete to Papeete
Departures: 18 October 2026 and 13 December 2026
Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
From €10,060
This itinerary ventures into some of French Polynesia’s most secluded corners, where vast lagoons, coral atolls and island communities reveal a quieter, more mysterious side of the region.
From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
Papeete to Papeete
Departure: 15 November 2026
Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
From €10,060
A rare journey from French Polynesia towards Pitcairn Island, this voyage explores places defined by remoteness, maritime history and the immense beauty of the open Pacific.
Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu
Papeete to Papeete
Six departures from November 2026 to January 2027
Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
From €11,100
Combining the sculptural drama of the Marquesas with the dreamlike lagoons of the Tuamotu, this itinerary offers a powerful contrast between rugged volcanic landscapes and radiant coral atolls.
Scouting the Pacific
To prepare for these new Discovery itineraries, José Sarica, R&D Expedition Experience Director at PONANT Explorations Group, recently travelled to the Austral and Tuamotu Islands. His mission was to work directly with local communities to design immersive, respectful and culturally meaningful experiences for future guests.
These activities include welcome ceremonies, encounters with basket-makers and sculptors, and visits to marae, the sacred open-air temples that remain central to Polynesian spiritual and cultural history.
“The main challenge of this scouting trip was to gain acceptance from very isolated communities, each with their own unique culture from one island to the next, in order to work together to create a unique experience for future guests,” says Sarica. “We discovered hidden treasures, places of incredible beauty and a spirituality that is truly linked to the natural environment. The farewell ceremonies then took on their full meaning for me, signifying ‘see you soon’!”
Six New Ports of Call
Six brand-new stopovers have now been confirmed for PONANT Explorations, each offering a rare glimpse into a more remote and intimate version of French Polynesia.
In the Tuamotu archipelago, guests will discover Mataiva, known for its extraordinary mosaic lagoon, where the water appears patterned with shifting shades of blue and green. They will also visit Hikueru, with its vast lagoon and quiet sense of isolation, and Makemo, home to preserved wildlife including red-footed boobies and frigatebirds.
These are not the crowded postcard islands of the South Pacific. They are places of stillness, space and rare ecological beauty, where wildlife, lagoon life and local culture remain closely intertwined.
A More Complete Vision of Polynesia
With two ships based in the region, PONANT Explorations Group is offering travellers a broader and more layered way to experience French Polynesia. The m/s Paul Gauguin continues to embody the Group’s long relationship with the islands, offering cultural immersion, elegance and a deep sense of Polynesian hospitality. Le Jacques Cartier brings a spirit of discovery, opening routes to places few travellers ever reach.
Together, they create a powerful new proposition: French Polynesia not only as a destination of lagoons and beaches, but as a vast oceanic world of distinct archipelagos, living traditions, rare wildlife, sacred landscapes and remote island communities.
From the mosaic waters of Mataiva to the volcanic silhouettes of the Marquesas, from the preserved birdlife of Makemo to the cultural ceremonies of the Austral Islands, PONANT’s new programme invites guests to move beyond the familiar and into the deeper blue of the Pacific.
This is French Polynesia as few have seen it before: wilder, quieter and more spiritual. Two ships, five archipelagos, rare wildlife and a deeper way to discover the South Pacific. Book now.
