We've not been active on here for a while as our last few cruises have all been on SeaDream. My job has now taken us to Sydney for the next 2 years and so we are looking at cruises in the Pacific. One option is the Paul Gauguin Tahiti cruise - but the only time we could do this is next Feb, when it is no longer a Regent ship. Any views?

Many of us are guardedly optimistic, since the line claims they will be carrying on as before. You could be pioneers and come back and tell all of us about it!

Andrea posted this on a separate thread but there is news about an imminent sale of the Paul Gaugin:

http://www.cruisecommunity.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=910:topstories&layout=blog&Itemid=69

We disembarked PG on Saturday after a ten night sail. It was our second time and we wanted one last chance to enjoy French Polynesia under the Regent banner. What makes this cruise to special is the crew and those with whom I spoke had not yet signed on under the new management. This was in stark contrast to the statements made by the Captain at the SSS Cocktail party. This led us to conclude that there is a varnish being painted upon the transition. They were passing out Paul Gauguin Cruise Line books that looked just about identical to Regent's and they are offering 5% to "return guests" of RSSC, Seabourn, SilverSea and some other lines. Marilyn Conroy is pondering a management role and is leaning towards giving it a try. If I knew my favorite crew members were returning I would be glad to give the new line a try. I want them to succeed if it means that continued employment under a fair contract was in place for these loyal employees who have worked onthe vessel for many years and consider a second home.

Oh. Can you tell us names of staff who have not yet signed on? Is this because they have not been asked?

And I see the news that the ship might be sold--I guess this impacts on all the crew contracts!

This is one rumor that I do believe and I have been hearing for sometime. I think this one will come to pass.

Flights to tahiti go via New Zealand which makes it an 11 hour trip - and they are not cheap, so i would want a bit more certainty around the product before we book. the other option is a tahiti to hawaii itinerary.

what we really need is seadream to do some sailings in this area.......the caribbean is just too far for us to fly

I don't think the crew has seen the new contracts. I have not heard of anyone not being invited back, but there is major concern that they have not seen the contracts. The new line is saying 98% will be back, implying they have signed. I cannot think of anyone I spoke to who had yet signed, so it seemed misleading. I am speaking of Elmo and Ivan, in particular. To me, it is not the PG without them (and it goes without saying, Dominique!)

Well I hope they are both on in November as well as some other favourites....

Was Dion still on?

My wife and I Honeymooned on the PG in 2006 and when we were there said that we wanted to come back for our 5 year anniversary. I would still like to go back and I look forward to hearing (hopefully) good things about the new management.

Ia Laksman still there? We will sail on the PG on November 22nd of this year.