Is Paul Gauguin a Luxury Cruise Line? What Qualifies

Yes. Paul Gauguin qualifies as a genuine luxury cruise line by every real industry criterion, not a marketing label. The m/s Paul Gauguin carries about 330 guests and has no inside (windowless) cabins. It runs a roughly 1 to 1.5 crew to guest ratio. Moreover, gratuities, meals, beverages, and entertainment are included in the fare. Those four things, space per guest, staff per guest, cabin type, and what the fare actually covers, are the real criteria that separate a luxury cruise ship from a premium mainstream one. This Paul Gauguin cruise ship clears all four.

What Actually Makes a Cruise Line "Luxury"?

"Luxury" gets used loosely in cruise marketing, so it helps to have real criteria. According to Mundy Cruising's own luxury cruise terminology guide, the honest markers are the space to passenger ratio (more space per guest, less crowding) and the staff to guest ratio (more staff generally means better service). Another marker is whether every cabin has a view, "on a luxury ship there will be no inside guest accommodation." A fourth marker most travelers care about just as much: whether the advertised fare actually includes gratuities, drinks, and excursions. Otherwise, those get added at checkout.

Does Paul Gauguin Meet the Luxury Criteria?

Measured against those four markers, this Paul Gauguin cruise ship checks every box. That matters for more than bragging rights. A higher space and staff ratio translates directly into shorter lines at the buffet. It also means more attentive dining service and a crew that can remember your name and your usual drink order by day two. That's the kind of experience that's genuinely hard to replicate on a ship carrying ten times as many guests.

Luxury criterion	What it means	m/s Paul Gauguin
Space ratio	Gross tonnage per guest, higher means less crowded	About 58 GT per guest (19,200 GT for 330 guests)
Staff ratio	Crew to guest, higher generally means better service	About 1 crew member per 1.5 guests (217 crew, 330 guests)
Cabin type	No inside, windowless cabins	Confirmed, every stateroom has a window, porthole, or balcony
Fare inclusions	Gratuities, drinks, meals included or extra	Gratuities, meals, beverages, and entertainment included

How Does It Compare to Mainstream Cruise Lines?

The space ratio number in the table above only means something in context, so here's the context. Passenger space ratio (gross tonnage divided by guest count) is generally graded as "very spacious" at 51 and above, "spacious" from 31 to 50, and "not so spacious" below that, according to About Luxury Cruising's own published ratio guide. That same source puts Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas at roughly 33.89. Moreover, MSC Seaside is at roughly 28.7, both solidly in mainstream territory. Recognized luxury and premium lines like Seabourn, Silversea, Regent, and Oceania typically run in the 55 to 75-plus range. Paul Gauguin's roughly 58 lands inside that luxury band, not the mainstream one.

Mainstream mega ships from lines like NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity carry several thousand guests on a single ship, which pushes both the space and staff ratios down even on their nicest ships. Gratuities, drinks, and shore excursions are almost always priced separately from the cruise fare. That's not a criticism, mainstream lines are built for a different trip: more onboard activities, more dining venues, lower entry prices. It's simply a different category, and it's the category Paul Gauguin is not competing in.

Is Paul Gauguin in the Same Tier as Regent, Silversea, or Seabourn?

Broadly, yes, on the criteria that actually matter: small ship, a space ratio in the same 55 to 75-plus band, no inside cabins, and inclusive pricing put Paul Gauguin in the same conversation as the ships travelers usually mean when they search for the best luxury cruise lines, rather than alongside premium mainstream lines. Where Paul Gauguin stands apart from that group isn't luxury level, it's specialization. This is the only ship in that tier built and permanently based to sail French Polynesia specifically. Most other small luxury ships split their season across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Alaska. That single-region focus is also why it can build a full day, sometimes two, into a single Bora Bora call. A repositioning itinerary from a bigger line typically allows only a single port day.

What's Actually Included in the Fare?

Gratuities for room stewards, dining, and bar staff, all meals, beverages including wine and spirits, and onboard entertainment are built into the cruise fare, not added at checkout. That's the all-inclusive pricing that separates this tier from mainstream cruising, where those same line items are usually optional add-ons that can add several hundred dollars per person by the end of the cruise. What's not automatically included: airfare to Tahiti, most standalone shore excursions beyond what's built into the itinerary, spa treatments, and travel insurance. So, budget for those separately when comparing a quoted fare against a mainstream line's advertised rate.

This page is intentionally focused on the luxury question itself, not a full walkthrough of the ship. For the full cabin category breakdown and what each suite type looks like, see our Paul Gauguin interior and cabin review. For what to pack and the ship's dress code, we cover that separately in our Paul Gauguin dress code guide. If you want the full fare breakdown by cabin category and season, our Paul Gauguin cruise cost guide has the numbers. If you're deciding between a Paul Gauguin sailing and a mainstream line's Bora Bora port stop, we compare both directly in our Tahiti and Bora Bora cruise comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Paul Gauguin cruises luxury?

Yes. The ship meets the standard industry criteria for luxury cruising: a high space and staff ratio, no inside cabins, and all-inclusive pricing that covers gratuities, meals, and beverages in the fare.

Why are Paul Gauguin cruises so expensive?

The fare reflects what's included rather than added on later. Gratuities, all dining and beverages, and entertainment are built in. The ship carries far fewer guests than a mainstream line, so operating costs are spread across a much smaller number of fares.

What is the most luxurious cruise line?

There's no single official answer, but ships judged most luxurious typically share the traits covered here: small guest counts, high staff ratios, no inside cabins, and inclusive pricing. Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, and Paul Gauguin are commonly named in that same conversation.

Are Paul Gauguin cruises all-inclusive?

Yes, for what's onboard. Gratuities, meals, beverages including alcohol, and entertainment are included in the fare. Airfare to Tahiti and most standalone shore excursions are priced separately, so confirm exactly what's covered when you book.

What makes a cruise line luxury in general, not just Paul Gauguin?

Four things: how much space each guest has (space ratio), how many staff serve each guest (staff ratio), whether every cabin has a view rather than an interior windowless room, and whether the advertised fare already includes gratuities and drinks or adds them later.