Atlas Ocean Voyages vs Paul Gauguin

The core difference

Atlas Ocean Voyages and Paul Gauguin Cruises share an intimate, casual approach to luxury cruising — and that is where the similarity ends. One explores the coldest, most remote coastlines on Earth. The other has called the warmest, most idyllic lagoons in the South Pacific home for over two decades.

Atlas operates three Portuguese-flagged polar-class expedition ships, each carrying approximately 196 guests, with Zodiac fleets for shore landings in Antarctica, the Arctic, the Mediterranean, and Central America. The fare includes roundtrip flights from North American gateways, premium drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and butler service in suites. The experience is expedition-driven — naturalist briefings, wildlife encounters, and kayaking in places with no pier and no town.

Paul Gauguin is a single purpose-built ship carrying 332 guests, sailing year-round from Papeete, Tahiti, through the islands and lagoons of French Polynesia. The shallow draft accesses lagoons and small harbours that no other cruise ship can enter. Itineraries span the Society Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Marquesas, and Tuamotus over 7 to 14 nights. Complimentary beverages, a watersports marina, and the private island Motu Mahana are included. Owned by Ponant since 2019, Paul Gauguin was refurbished in 2025 and carries French cuisine with Polynesian influences in a resort-casual atmosphere.

For Australian travellers, the geographic distinction matters enormously. Papeete is roughly eight hours from Sydney. Atlas’s embarkation ports — Ushuaia, Reykjavik, Lisbon — require substantially longer travel.

What is actually included

Both lines include more than standard cruise fares, though the packages differ.

Atlas includes roundtrip flights from North American gateways, premium drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, L’Occitane amenities, butler service in suites, all dining, and Zodiac excursions as part of the expedition programme. The inclusion model is among the most comprehensive in expedition cruising.

Paul Gauguin includes complimentary beverages (select wines, spirits, beer, soft drinks), watersports marina access (kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling, windsurfing), the Motu Mahana private island experience on most itineraries, and all dining aboard. Gratuities are discretionary. Wi-Fi is available but connectivity in French Polynesia’s remote atolls is naturally limited.

Atlas is more comprehensively all-inclusive, particularly with flights bundled. Paul Gauguin’s watersports marina and private island experience represent unique inclusions that no Atlas sailing can replicate. Both lines eliminate the feeling of nickel-and-diming that larger ships sometimes create.

Dining and culinary experience

Both lines offer quality dining in intimate settings, with distinct culinary identities.

Atlas provides six dining venues on its 196-guest ships with regionally inspired menus and no surcharges. Premium beverages are included at all hours. The cuisine draws on Portuguese and international influences with a resort-casual atmosphere.

Paul Gauguin offers French cuisine with Polynesian influences — fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and French culinary technique applied to South Pacific ingredients. The Algotherm spa products extend a French wellness ethos throughout the ship. Since the Ponant acquisition in 2019, Ducasse Influenced culinary standards have elevated the dining programme. The intimate 332-guest format allows quality ingredients and personalised service. The poolside grill and casual dining options suit the tropical setting.

Neither line competes with Oceania or Silversea on dining variety. Both deliver quality appropriate to their intimate format. Atlas’s cuisine reflects global expedition. Paul Gauguin’s cuisine reflects the South Pacific — and the freshness of ingredients sourced from Polynesian waters and gardens gives the food a vibrancy that landlocked galleys cannot match.

Suites and accommodation

The accommodation reflects different ship designs for different environments.

Atlas staterooms are modern (launched from 2021) with L’Occitane amenities, balconies in most categories, and butler service in suites. The expedition-focused design prioritises functionality and comfort for travellers who spend their active hours ashore.

Paul Gauguin staterooms are designed for the tropics — many feature private balconies with views of the Polynesian lagoons. The 2025 refurbishment has refreshed interiors throughout the ship. The largest suites offer generous space for the 332-guest format, and the balcony categories are the most popular — waking up to a lagoon visible from your pillow is a significant part of the Paul Gauguin experience.

Both lines offer comfortable, well-designed accommodation for their respective environments. Atlas cabins frame expedition landscapes; Paul Gauguin cabins frame tropical paradise. The difference is environmental rather than qualitative.

Pricing and value

The pricing reflects different markets and different included elements.

Atlas per-diems range from approximately AUD $800 to $1,500 per person per night, with Antarctic and Arctic voyages commanding the highest premiums. Included flights from North American gateways offset significant expedition travel costs.

Paul Gauguin per-diems range from approximately AUD $600 to $1,200 per person per night, depending on cabin category and itinerary length. A 7-night Society Islands voyage starts from roughly AUD $5,000 to $7,000 per person. The 14-night Marquesas voyage commands a premium for the extended exploration of one of the world’s most remote inhabited archipelagos.

Paul Gauguin is generally more accessible in pricing and proximity for Australian travellers. The Papeete embarkation — approximately eight hours from Sydney — significantly reduces the total cost compared to Atlas’s distant embarkation ports. When factoring flights, accommodation, and cruise fare, Paul Gauguin’s total cost from Australia is typically lower despite a comparable onboard quality.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer wellness facilities suited to their environments.

Atlas ships feature compact spas with L’Occitane products. The wellness experience centres on active expedition — kayaking, hiking, and Zodiac excursions.

Paul Gauguin features the Algotherm spa with treatments using marine-based French skincare products. The tropical setting allows outdoor relaxation on the pool deck and sun terrace. The watersports marina — snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing — provides active wellness in warm Polynesian waters. Swimming off the ship at Motu Mahana and snorkelling coral reefs are wellness experiences unique to Paul Gauguin.

Atlas offers cold-water active wellness through expedition. Paul Gauguin offers warm-water active wellness through watersports. Both connect wellness to the destination environment rather than relying solely on traditional spa treatments.

Entertainment and enrichment

The enrichment programmes reflect the destinations served.

Atlas delivers expedition enrichment. Naturalists, expedition leaders, and wildlife photographers lead daily briefings and shore activities focused on polar and remote destination ecology. Evenings are conversational and intimate.

Paul Gauguin delivers Polynesian cultural enrichment. Tahitian hosts — Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins — are cultural ambassadors who share traditional Polynesian dance, music, legends, and crafts with passengers. Performances of Polynesian dance are a signature feature. Guest lecturers cover Polynesian navigation, marine biology, and island ecology. Stargazing in the southern hemisphere — away from light pollution, anchored in a lagoon — is an unforgettable enrichment experience unique to Paul Gauguin’s routes.

Both lines make the destination the entertainment. Atlas through expedition science; Paul Gauguin through Polynesian culture. Neither produces conventional cruise ship shows, and both attract travellers who prefer authentic cultural engagement.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet comparison reveals two highly focused strategies.

Atlas operates three polar-class expedition ships (approximately 196 guests each) across Antarctica, the Arctic, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Paul Gauguin operates one purpose-built ship (332 guests) sailing year-round from Papeete, Tahiti. The itinerary range covers the Society Islands (Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a), Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, the Marquesas, and the Tuamotus. Seven-night and 14-night voyages depart throughout the year. The shallow draft allows access to lagoons and small harbours that no other cruise ship can enter.

Atlas covers multiple continents with expedition capability. Paul Gauguin covers the South Pacific with unmatched depth — year-round deployment, purpose-built access to small harbours, and a quarter-century of operational knowledge in Polynesian waters. There is zero itinerary overlap between the two lines.

Where each line excels

Atlas Ocean Voyages excels in:

• Polar expedition. Antarctica and Arctic voyages with Zodiac landings on remote beaches.
• Global reach. Three ships deployed across multiple continents.
• Comprehensive all-inclusive. Flights, drinks, dining, and gratuities bundled.

Paul Gauguin excels in:

• French Polynesia depth. Year-round sailings across six archipelagos with purpose-built harbour access.
• Polynesian cultural immersion. Tahitian hosts, cultural performances, and local enrichment unavailable on any other ship.
• Motu Mahana. Private island day in the Taha’a lagoon — a unique inclusion.
• Proximity to Australia. Papeete is approximately eight hours from Sydney, making this one of the most accessible luxury cruise destinations for Australians.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Antarctica Expedition (10–14 nights from Ushuaia) — The signature Atlas experience. Zodiac landings, penguin colonies, iceberg kayaking with included flights from North American gateways.

Mediterranean Expedition (7–12 nights) — Atlas’s most accessible itinerary, applying the intimate expedition format to European coastal destinations.

Paul Gauguin

Society Islands and Tuamotus (10 nights, roundtrip Papeete) — Bora Bora, Moorea, Rangiroa, and Fakarava. Turquoise lagoons, overwater dining, and the Motu Mahana private island. Eight hours from Sydney via Auckland.

Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands (14 nights, roundtrip Papeete) — Extended exploration including the remote Marquesas archipelago — Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva. The most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary available on any cruise ship. A bucket-list voyage for South Pacific enthusiasts.

Cook Islands, Tonga, and Fiji (11-14 nights) — Beyond French Polynesia into the broader South Pacific. Rarotonga, Vava’u, and Fijian islands on an intimate ship with Polynesian cultural programming throughout.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Atlas Ocean Voyages

World Navigator, World Traveller, or World Voyager (196 guests each) — Identical polar-class sister ships. Choose by itinerary and dates. Modern expedition vessels launched from 2021.

Paul Gauguin

m/s Paul Gauguin (332 guests, refurbished 2025) — The only ship in the fleet and the only purpose-built ship sailing French Polynesia year-round. The shallow draft accesses lagoons no other cruise ship can enter. Fresh from a 2025 refurbishment, the ship is in the best condition of its 27-year operating history. Choose your Paul Gauguin voyage based on itinerary and season rather than ship — there is only one.

For Australian travellers specifically

The accessibility gap strongly favours Paul Gauguin for Australian travellers.

Paul Gauguin sails from Papeete, Tahiti — approximately eight hours from Sydney via Auckland. Air Tahiti Nui and Air New Zealand provide connections from Australian east coast cities. The relatively short flight, minimal jet lag (Papeete is two hours behind Sydney), and year-round departures make Paul Gauguin one of the most accessible luxury cruise experiences for Australians.

Atlas requires substantially longer travel. Ushuaia (Antarctica departures) involves flights through Santiago or Buenos Aires — typically 18-plus hours of travel. European and Arctic embarkation ports require even longer journeys. The included flights from North American gateways help, but Australian travellers must still get to those gateways.

For Australians wanting an intimate luxury cruise with manageable travel, Paul Gauguin is hard to beat. For Australians committed to expedition and willing to invest in the journey, Atlas delivers experiences Paul Gauguin cannot replicate.

The Ponant connection is worth noting. Paul Gauguin’s ownership by Ponant means the Yacht Club loyalty programme extends across Ponant Explorations, Paul Gauguin, and Aqua Expeditions. Australians who sail Paul Gauguin and develop an appetite for further luxury cruising can build status that carries to Ponant’s expedition fleet — including Kimberley and Antarctic voyages.

The onboard atmosphere

The atmospheres share casualness and intimacy but differ in tone and energy.

Atlas feels like a private expedition yacht. One hundred and ninety-six guests in expedition gear, bonding through shared Zodiac landings and wildlife encounters. The atmosphere is purposeful and adventure-driven. Fellow passengers are well-travelled and drawn to remote destinations. Evenings are conversational and intimate.

Paul Gauguin feels like a floating Polynesian resort. Three hundred and thirty-two guests in tropical casual wear, returning from snorkelling excursions and beach days to evening Polynesian dance performances and cocktails on the pool deck. The atmosphere is warm, relaxed, and celebratory. Tahitian cultural hosts create an authentic Pacific warmth that no other cruise line replicates. The passenger mix includes honeymooners, anniversaries, and travellers fulfilling a Polynesian dream.

Both are casual, intimate, and free from the formality of larger luxury lines. Atlas’s casualness is rugged and adventurous. Paul Gauguin’s casualness is tropical and romantic. Both attract travellers who prefer authenticity over spectacle.

The bottom line

Atlas Ocean Voyages and Paul Gauguin represent two of cruising’s most focused, intimate experiences — one at the poles, one at the equator.

Choose Atlas for polar and global expedition on 196-guest ships with Zodiac landings, included flights, and an adventure-driven atmosphere. Choose it for Antarctica, the Arctic, and remote coastlines. Accept the long travel from Australia, the expedition-focused programming, and the compact fleet.

Choose Paul Gauguin for the definitive French Polynesian cruise experience — year-round sailings from Papeete, purpose-built lagoon access, Polynesian cultural immersion, the Motu Mahana private island, and a watersports marina. Choose it for the accessibility from Australia (eight hours to Papeete), the tropical casualness, and a ship that has spent a quarter-century perfecting one destination.

For Australian travellers, these lines offer two of the most distinctive and rewarding cruise experiences available — one cold, one warm, both intimate, both unforgettable.