Paul Gauguin Cruises Receives A 2012 Travel Weekly Magellan Award

Silver Winner in the Small Cruise Ship Category

BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, and the newly acquired m/v Tere Moana, won a 2012 Silver Magellan Award in the Small Cruise Ship category from Travel Weekly.

Travel Weekly is recognized as one of the most important and influential sources of news, data, and commentary to the travel industry. The publication's Magellan Awards is its premier awards program and represents the best in the industry, honoring a broad range of industry segments including hotels and resorts, travel destinations, cruise lines, online travel services, airlines and airports, travel agents and agencies, tour operators, and car rental companies.

A judging panel comprised of top travel professionals including Peter Greenberg, Rudy Maxa, Burt Wolf, Patricia Schultz, Johnny Jet, Bob Dickinson, Lalia Rach, and others selected the winners from more than 550 entries. The full list of winners is available at www.travelweeklyawards.com and is featured in the October 15, 2012, issue of Travel Weekly magazine.

Earlier this year, The Gauguin completed a $7 million renovation. The ship was thoroughly updated and redecorated for even greater luxury and comfort, reflecting the cruise line's commitment to excellence and providing guests with the most luxurious and enriching vacation experience possible.  On December 29, 2012, Paul Gauguin Cruises launches its second ship, the 90-guest m/vTere Moana, which will offer enchanting voyages in Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia's leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific.The Gauguin was built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship, 513 feet long and 71 feet wide, has a draft of 16.9 feet, and can accommodate 332 guests with a staff of 217. It is one of the top Exclusive Charter and Incentive Group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin has undergone more than $25 million in enhancements, with an additional $7 million completed in January 2012. The Gauguin received second place for small-ship cruise lines in Travel + Leisure's "2012 World's Best Awards" and was recognized as one of the "Top 20 Small Cruise Ships" by readers of Conde Nast Traveler in 2012.

The cruise line's second ship, the m/v Tere Moana, will begin sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises' banner in December 2012 after completing a multifaceted renovation. The ship, which will sail Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America, is 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, has a draft of 11.5 feet, and can accommodate 90 guests with a staff of 60.

For additional information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please visit www.pgcruises.com.

Media Contact:Paul Gauguin Cruises
Vanessa Bloy, Director of Public Relations
(425) 440-6255
vbloy@pgcruises.com