m/s Paul Gauguin Sails Under a New Umbrella

Originally completed in 1997 for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises (now Regent Seven Seas) the m/s Paul Gauguin was designed specifically to sail the shallow seas of Tahiti and French Polynesia.

In 2004, the m/s Paul Gauguin was bought by Paul Gauguin Shipping Limited, and now that Regent Seven Seas has completed its contract, the m/s Paul gauguin has set sail on its inaugral cruise under a new umbrella.

Executive Vice President, Paul Gauguin Shipping Limited, Roy Grimsland has promised to “continue to provide the same luxury product for which Paul Gauguin is known worldwide.”

The ship is 513 feet long, 71 feet wide and has a draft of 16.9 feet. She can accommodate 332 passengers with a staff of 215, one of the highest guest-per-staff ratios at sea (1.5:1). The m/s Paul Gauguin has undergone more than $25M in refurbishments since its inaugural sail in 1998.

For an experience of a cruise aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin, visit a Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine review at http://www.prowsedge.com/cruises-tahiti-regent-seven-seas.html

There are also details of the m/s Paul Gauguin inaugral cruise this week at www.prowsedge.com/cruises-news-110110-paul-gauguin-cruises.html

Drydock Journal shares Transformation of Tahitian Princess into Ocean Princess

For those of you who enjoy all the behind the scenes details of the cruise lines and their cruise ships, Princess Cruises is again offering an opportunity to follow a vessel through the renovation process.

In the newest installment of the Princess online drydock journal, the current Tahitian Princess will not only undergo a makeover, but also get a new name. The vessel, one of the small ships of Princess, will be transformed into Ocean Princess during the two-week process, giving her a new moniker reflecting her global range of fascinating itineraries.

The fifth in this unprecedented series, the Ocean Princess Drydock Journal will run through December 2 on www.princess.com, and will be updated regularly with photos as the ship progresses through its drydock at Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. Viewers can follow along as the ship’s name is removed and replaced on the bow and throughout the vessel – including on equipment such as the lifeboats. The journal will also chronicle changes as the ship is lifted from the water and receives a new coating of energy-efficient silicone paint, plus the interior refurbishments, with new upholstery, carpet and flooring.

“Response to our drydock journals has been remarkable – passengers love to see what’s done to the ship and how much work is involved in such a short time,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “This latest journal will give cruise fans yet another insiders’ peek behind the scenes, with the added interest in seeing the name change.”

The Ocean Princess Drydock Journal follows the enthusiastically received online journals chronicling work on Golden Princess, Dawn Princess, Sea Princess and Coral Princess. The journal can be found on the Ocean Princess page in the website’s “Ships” section, and it will be updated throughout the ship’s two-week drydock.

After the drydock the newly named Ocean Princess will set sail on a 16-day Treasures of Southeast Asia cruise from Singapore to Shanghai, beginning a season of unique Asia, India and Africa sailings, followed by a summer of European voyages.