Tahiti & Polynesia
Christmas Luxury All-Gay Cruise 2028

11 nights from/to Papeete, Tahiti(French Polynesia)

December 16 – 27, 2028
Paul Gauguin Cruises Paul Gauguin

Some Christmases happen around a tree. This one happens under palm trees! From December 16-27, 2028, VACAYA is taking over the beautiful m/s Paul Gauguin for an 11-night luxury all-gay cruise journey through the Cook Islands and Society Islands, sailing roundtrip from Papeete, Tahiti. Along the way, we’ll discover Huahine, Aitutaki, Rarotonga, Bora Bora, Taha’a, and Moorea, with two blissful days at sea and leisurely overnights in both Bora Bora and Moorea. It's time to make the yuletide GAY with VACAYA!

But the real magic of this adventure isn’t simply where we’re going. It’s who we’re sharing it with. For so many in our community, family is something we build with intention. It’s the people who see us clearly, love us completely, show up consistently, and somehow know exactly when we need another cocktail. They’re our partners, best friends, exes who became family, neighbors who became siblings, and wonderful new people we haven’t even met yet.

ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS… YOU!

This Christmas, we’re bringing that entire idea of family together in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Come with your partner. Bring your besties. Rally the whole chosen-family group chat. Make it a true family affair and bring Mom, Pop, your brothers, sisters, or the relatives who’ve always shown up for you. Or arrive completely solo and let the VACAYA family welcome you in. Because once every restaurant, lounge, pool deck, and dance floor belongs to us, no one has to shrink themselves to fit the room. Whether it’s the family you were born into, the family you’ve chosen, or the family you’re about to find onboard, every version of family belongs here.

And just look at where we’ll be celebrating…

On Christmas Eve, we’ll spend the day on Motu Mahana, Paul Gauguin’s private islet off Taha’a, where warm lagoons, a beach barbecue, watersports, Polynesian music, and cocktails from a floating bar replace the usual holiday hustle. Then, on Christmas Day, Moorea welcomes us with its soaring green peaks, brilliant blue lagoons, palm-fringed beaches, and an overnight stay that gives us all the time we need to soak it all in.

No cooking. No cleaning. No winter coat. No schedule you didn’t choose.

Just sunshine, saltwater, laughter, music, beautiful meals, festive surprises, and eleven unforgettable nights with the people who make life brighter.

Santa can keep the sleigh. We’ve got The Gauguin!

We’re releasing this extraordinary holiday adventure more than two years in advance for one very important reason – to make paradise easier to reach. With extra time to spread the cost across VACAYA’s interest-free monthly payment plan, your payments can be smaller and more manageable, giving more Vacayans the opportunity to experience a truly luxurious Christmas in French Polynesia. It’s more time to plan, more time to save, and more time to get excited about celebrating the holidays with your chosen family.

THE BEST GIFT? HAVING ALMOST EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF.

A holiday this extraordinary should feel wonderfully easy. The m/s Paul Gauguin offers an unusually inclusive luxury experience, so once you step aboard, you can spend far less time thinking about what everything costs and far more time deciding which lagoon, restaurant, cocktail, or cute new friend deserves your attention next.

With only 330 Vacayans aboard, m/s Paul Gauguin offers the warm, attentive service that’s harder to find on larger ships. With just 165 staterooms and suites and a substantial crew, faces quickly become familiar and personal preferences remembered. By Day 3, don’t be surprised when someone knows your favorite cocktail. By Day 5, half the ship might.

INCLUDED IN YOUR VACAYA CHRISTMAS CRUISE:

• Eleven nights aboard m/s Paul Gauguin

• All standard shipboard meals

• Dining at L’Etoile, La Veranda, and Le Grill

• Complimentary 24-hour room service

• Select wines and spirits, beers, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, and tea

• In-room refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water

• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship

• Polynesian entertainment and live evening music

• Presentations and enrichment from onboard experts

• Complimentary snorkel equipment for use throughout the voyage

• Kayaking and paddleboarding from the marina or destination beaches where available

• Use of Paul Gauguin Cruises’ secluded Bora Bora beach

• Christmas Eve at Motu Mahana, including watersports, a beach barbecue, full bar service, and the famous floating bar

THE VACAYA TOUCH:

• A full-ship, adults-only LGBTQ+ charter

• Your friendly V Team Hosts

• Customized VACAYA entertainment

• Festive holiday celebrations

• Themed cocktail parties

• Welcoming social activities

• Solo-traveler meetups and opportunities to connect

• A community where everyone is invited to show up fully, freely, and proudly

THREE RESTAURANTS. ZERO SPECIALTY-DINING UPCHARGES.

Dining aboard m/s Paul Gauguin is included across three distinctive venues. Enjoy ocean-view breakfasts and lunches at La Veranda, casual poolside fare and Polynesian specialties at Le Grill, and elegant dinners with complimentary wines at L’Etoile. Some nights call for a celebratory dinner with friends. Others call for room service in a robe. Both are excellent choices.

YOUR BAR TAB CAN RELAX, TOO.

Select wines and spirits, beer, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, and tea are served throughout the ship at no additional charge. Your in-room refrigerator is also replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and water. Premium bottles from the Connoisseur Wine List are available for purchase, but there are plenty of included options for raising a glass to paradise.

YOUR OWN ISLAND FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

Motu Mahana is Paul Gauguin’s private islet in the Taha’a lagoon, reserved exclusively for Vacayans and filled with unforgettable South Pacific experiences: warm turquoise water, colorful coral, kayaking, snorkeling, live music, a beach barbecue, tropical cocktails, and a floating bar just offshore. Best of all, your VACAYA family will spend Christmas Eve together in this extraordinary island paradise.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Airfare to/from Papeete, Tahiti

• Pre- and post-cruise hotels

• Airport transfers

• Optional shore excursions

• Spa and salon services

• PADI diving and certification

• Premium wines

• Medical services

• Onboard shop purchases

OUR SHIP WAS BUILT FOR PARADISE

The m/s Paul Gauguin wasn’t merely sent to the South Pacific. She was designed for it.

Purpose-built to navigate the shallow seas and intimate ports of French Polynesia, The Gauguin can sail closer to the islands and access places larger cruise ships simply can’t. Her shallow draft brings the landscape into view, turning the ship into something that feels less like a floating city and more like a beautiful overwater boutique hotel that changes islands while you sleep.

Refurbished in 2025, the ship welcomes 330 guests across 165 oceanview staterooms and suites. Nearly 70% feature private balconies, allowing most Vacayans to step outside and begin every morning with warm air, blue water, and the growing suspicion that real life’s been doing mornings incorrectly.

She’s luxurious without feeling stiff. Intimate without feeling sleepy. Elegant without asking you to pack a tuxedo. And for eleven nights, she’s all ours!

SHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
• Maximum of 330 guests
• 165 oceanview staterooms and suites
• Nearly 70% with private balconies
• Refurbished in 2025
• Three included dining venues
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Select beverages included
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Outdoor Pool and Pool Bar
• Algotherm Dermo Ocean Spa
• Fitness Center
• Watersports Marina
• Complimentary snorkel equipment
• Optional onboard PADI diving program
• Butler service in Category B and above
• Polynesian hosts, performers, and enrichment
• Private Motu Mahana experience
• Exclusive Bora Bora beach access when conditions permit

SMALL SHIP. BIG VACAYA ENERGY.
With only 330 Vacayans aboard, connections happen naturally. Familiar faces quickly become new friends, poolside conversations turn into excursion plans, and breakfast companions may be dancing beside you that night. Yet there’s plenty of space to create the holiday you want. Turn it up. Slow it down. Join the fun. Disappear with a book. This is your holiday!

AN OVERWATER BUNGALOW THAT MOVES
Accommodations range from comfortable 200-square-foot Porthole and Window Staterooms to spacious Owner’s Suites measuring up to 588 square feet, including verandas. Every room faces the water and includes thoughtful comforts like individually controlled air conditioning, a minibar, 24-hour room service, complimentary Wi-Fi, bath products, a personal safe, and both American and European electrical outlets. And with every room facing the water, paradise is always in view.

EAT BEAUTIFULLY
The Gauguin’s cuisine blends French technique with the fresh flavors and traditions of the islands. Dine elegantly at L’Etoile, enjoy ocean views at La Veranda, or keep things relaxed poolside at Le Grill. All three venues are included, with open seating that makes it easy to dine with old friends, new friends, or whoever made your day unforgettable. No specialty-restaurant surcharge. Christmas miracles do happen.

STEP STRAIGHT INTO THE SEA
The Gauguin’s signature watersports marina lowers to sea level, making the South Pacific your playground. In select ports and conditions, head out by kayak or paddleboard, with complimentary snorkel gear provided throughout the cruise. Optional PADI diving adventures take you even deeper into the extraordinary marine world below. This isn’t paradise viewed from afar. It’s paradise you can jump into.

POLYNESIAN FROM THE INSIDE OUT
The Gauguin’s connection to Polynesia extends far beyond the itinerary. Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, the ship’s Tahitian hosts and entertainers, bring island traditions to life through music, dance, storytelling, crafts, and hands-on experiences. Joined by local performers, they connect Vacayans more deeply to the people, heritage, warmth, and spirit of the South Pacific.

POOL. SPA. REPEAT.
The Deck 8 pool and surrounding lounge area put the South Pacific center stage. Grab a lounger, order something cold from the Pool Bar, and let volcanic peaks and turquoise lagoons provide the scenery. For a deeper reset, the Algotherm Dermo Ocean Spa offers marine-inspired treatments and massages, complemented by salon services and a well-equipped fitness center.

DRESS UP. DON’T STRESS OUT.
Evenings aboard The Gauguin are casually elegant. Think polished resort wear, not black-tie obligation. Slacks and a collared shirt, a dress, skirt, blouse, light sweater, or whatever elevated island look makes you feel fantastic will fit right in. Festive? Absolutely. Formal? Only if you feel like it.

BUTLER? YES, PLEASE.
Butler service is included in Category B Veranda Staterooms and all higher suite categories. Butlers can assist with unpacking, packing, excursion arrangements, and the small details that make a luxury holiday feel truly effortless. Sometimes the greatest Christmas gift is someone else dealing with the suitcase.