Paul Gauguin Cruises christened its new ship, the m/v Tere Moana, in an official ceremony held dockside on December 29, 2012, in Marigot, St. Martin. Cruise guests, local dignitaries, and media were in attendance.
Mireille Bailey, The Moana’s godmother and wife of Richard Bailey, Chairman of Paul Gauguin Cruises and President and CEO of Pacific Beachcomber S.C., presided over the festivities, delivering a moving speech before christening the ship with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Champagne. Mr. Bailey along with Diane Moore, President of Paul Gauguin Cruises, and Captain Rajko Zupan, the ship’s Master, spoke during the ceremony, which included plaque presentations by St. Martin’s Vice President of the Collectivite, Port Chairman, Port Director, and Tourist Board. St. Martin’s Father Samson Dorival delivered the ship’s blessing, and ceremony attendees were serenaded by the festive music of a Caribbean steel drum band.
After the ceremony, a Champagne reception followed by a gala dinner was held aboard The Moana before the ship set sail on its inaugural 7-night Caribbean voyage to visit islands in the French West Indies, British Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts & Nevis. In January and February, The Moana embarks on 13- and 14-night Panama Canal cruises. From April through November, the ship operates a variety of 7-night European voyages. During spring and fall, 14-night transatlantic crossings are available between Europe and the Caribbean.
Like The Gauguin, The Moana offers an elegant yet casual ambiance, luxury accommodations, gourmet dining, trademark Polynesian hospitality, and all inclusive value. At 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, The Moana has a draft of 11.5 feet, and accommodates 90 guests with a staff of 60. The ship’s 45 oceanview staterooms, 8 of which offer private balconies, feature a king-size bed donned with fine linens and feather-down duvet; a flatscreen TV; DVD/CD player; iPod® docking station; in-stateroom refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water; robes and slippers; spacious closets; and a bathroom with sumptuous bath products.
The Moana offers two dining venues and incorporates regionally infused cuisine of destinations visited featuring fresh ingredients from local markets. Evenings feature live piano music in Le Salon, the perfect place to enjoy cocktails and unwind after a day of adventure. The ship’s Deep Nature Spa by Algotherm delivers signature spa treatments, and a fitness center is equipped with the latest cardio and weightlifting equipment. The ship’s outdoor decks feature a swimming pool, hot tub, chaise lounges, and Balinese beds. In select ports, kayaking and paddleboarding are available from the ship’s watersports marina. And the ship’s La Boutique features jewelry, apparel, sundries, and souvenirs.
Paul Gauguin Cruises, 800-848-6172, www.pgcruises.com