# French Polynesia Cruises: Small Ships, Lagoons and the Marquesas URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/cruises/french-polynesia-cruises Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Plan a French Polynesia cruise: the Paul Gauguin, the Aranui 5 to the Marquesas, small-ship lagoon routes, the best season and how to add resort nights. **Quick answer:** French Polynesia is best cruised on a small ship that can slip into shallow lagoons and anchor off motu. The m/s Paul Gauguin, a ship of about 330 guests owned by Ponant Explorations Group, sails from Papeete year-round, while the Aranui 5 passenger-freighter makes the long run to the Marquesas. Plan 7 to 14 nights, ideally followed by a few nights at a resort on land. - Home port: Papeete, Tahiti - Season: Year-round; drier May–October - Ship styles: Small luxury ship, passenger-freighter, expedition - Typical length: 7–14 nights - Pairs well with: A Bora Bora or Moorea resort stay ## Is a cruise a good way to see French Polynesia? Yes, especially in the Society Islands, where Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Moorea sit within a night’s sail of each other. You unpack once, skip inter-island flight check-ins and baggage limits, and wake to a new lagoon most mornings. The trade-off is depth. A ship gives you a day or two per island and evenings on board rather than on your own deck over the water. Many travelers do both: a week at sea, then three or four nights in an overwater bungalow. Our island-hopping guide shows how land-based routes compare. ## Which ships sail French Polynesia? Only a handful of ships are based here year-round, which keeps the experience intimate and the departures limited. - The Paul Gauguin: built with a shallow draft for these lagoons and based in Tahiti year-round, sailing 7- to 14-night voyages through the Society Islands, Tuamotus and Marquesas, with a fold-down marina for kayaks and paddleboards. - Aranui 5: a working passenger-freighter whose roughly 12-day round trips from Papeete call at all six inhabited Marquesas islands, with cabins from shared dormitory berths to balcony suites. - Windstar: a long-standing presence in Tahiti, with small-ship Society Islands sailings and longer voyages to the Tuamotus and Marquesas. - Ponant expedition ships: occasional seasonal voyages to remote groups such as the Australs and Gambiers. - Larger ocean ships: long round trips from Los Angeles, with many sea days and fewer hours in each port. ## What does a typical French Polynesia itinerary look like? The classic week is a Papeete round trip: Huahine, then Raiatea and Taha’a (which share one lagoon), two days at Bora Bora, and a final stop at Moorea before returning to Tahiti. Ten- and eleven-night voyages add Tuamotu atolls such as Rangiroa or Fakarava, where drift dives and snorkels through the reef passes are the highlight. The Marquesas are a different trip altogether: high, jagged islands with almost no lagoons, ancient tiki sites and the graves of Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel on Hiva Oa. It takes days at sea to get there, so choose it for culture and remoteness, not beaches. See our Marquesas guide. ## When is the best time to cruise French Polynesia? Ships sail all year. May to October is drier and less humid, with steady trade winds that can make open-water crossings a little livelier. November to April is warmer and wetter, with short, heavy showers and calmer spells between them; cyclones are uncommon but possible in this season. Humpback whales are usually around from roughly July to November, and July brings the Heiva festival in Papeete. Our month-by-month guide covers weather, events and demand in detail. ## Which cabin should you book, and how far ahead? Book a balcony if you can: lagoon sail-ins at dawn and sunsets over Bora Bora are the moments you came for. The Paul Gauguin’s fares have traditionally covered most drinks, gratuities and watersports, and the Aranui includes meals and many guided visits ashore; confirm current inclusions when you book. With few cabins and limited departures, book 9 to 12 months ahead for July, August and the holidays. Flights from Los Angeles take about 8 hours nonstop; plan a Tahiti hotel night before embarkation to absorb any delay. On Virtuoso partner sailings, amenities often include shipboard credit, and they vary by sailing. ## Ways to cruise French Polynesia - **Society Islands week** (7 nights · Papeete round trip): Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora and Moorea in one unpack. The best first cruise here and the easiest to pair with a resort stay. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/french-polynesia/bora-bora - **Tuamotus and Society Islands** (10–11 nights): Adds atolls such as Rangiroa or Fakarava for drift snorkels and dives in the reef passes. Ideal for travelers who rank marine life above beaches. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/french-polynesia/fakarava - **Marquesas by passenger-freighter** (About 12 days · Aranui 5): Watch cargo come ashore by day and visit tiki sites, carvers and villages with local guides. Remote, cultural and unlike any other cruise. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/french-polynesia/marquesas-islands - **Cruise plus overwater stay** (7 nights at sea + 3–4 on land): Sail the islands first, then slow down in an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora or Moorea. The most popular combination for honeymooners. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/travel-guides/overwater-bungalow-guide - **Private yacht or catamaran** (Crewed charter · 7+ nights): Your own boat, skipper and cook, moving on your schedule between Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora. Best for families and groups of friends. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/french-polynesia/experiences/sailing-and-yacht-charters ## Frequently asked questions **Q: What is the best cruise in French Polynesia?** A: For most first-time visitors, a 7-night Society Islands voyage on the Paul Gauguin is the best fit: it is based in Tahiti year-round, sized for the lagoons and fairly inclusive. Choose the Aranui 5 for the Marquesas and a working-ship atmosphere, or a crewed catamaran charter if you want privacy and a flexible route. **Q: What is the Aranui 5?** A: The Aranui 5 is a passenger-freighter that carries supplies to the Marquesas Islands while taking travelers along. Its roughly 12-day round trips from Papeete call at all six inhabited Marquesas islands, with Tuamotu stops on the way. Meals and many guided visits ashore are included, and cabins range from dormitory berths to balcony suites. **Q: Can you combine a cruise with an overwater bungalow stay?** A: Yes, and it is the most popular way to do it. Cruise the Society Islands for a week, then fly or ferry to a resort on Bora Bora or Moorea for three or four nights. Book the cruise first, since cabins are limited, then build the land stay, flights and transfers around the sailing dates. **Q: When should you book a French Polynesia cruise?** A: Book 9 to 12 months ahead for July, August and holiday sailings, and earlier for suites or the Aranui’s most popular cabins. Only a few ships are based in French Polynesia, so good cabins sell out sooner than on mainstream routes. Booking early also gives you better flight options from Los Angeles. ## Sources - [Tahiti Tourisme](https://www.tahititourisme.com/en-us/) - [Paul Gauguin Cruises](https://www.pgcruises.com/) - [Aranui Cruises](https://www.aranui.com/en/)