South Pacific Island Cruising: Tahiti, Fiji and Beyond on a Small Ship

The South Pacific is made for small ships. French Polynesia's islands are scattered across an ocean the size of Europe, with no roads between them, so the only way to see more than one is by sea. A small ship anchors in Bora Bora's lagoon, sails overnight to a remote atoll, and reaches villages no flight can. This guide covers why small ships suit these islands, where they sail, when to go, and the voyages we book.

Why the South Pacific Suits Small Ships

French Polynesia spreads across a stretch of ocean roughly the size of Europe. Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, the Marquesas, and the Tuamotu atolls are linked by nothing but water and air, settled long ago by Polynesian voyagers who crossed the sea in great canoes. There are no roads between the islands. To see more than one, you fly or you sail, and sailing is the better way.

A small ship changes the whole feel of the trip. Anchoring in Bora Bora's lagoon, sailing overnight to the Marquesas, arriving at a Tuamotu atoll whose people number in the hundreds, is a different experience from hopping between islands by plane. The smaller the ship, the more remote the places it can reach, and the more complete the journey becomes.

The Islands

Bora Bora is the famous one, a turquoise lagoon ringed by reef beneath the green spire of Mont Otemanu. Moorea, close to Tahiti, has jagged peaks that many travelers find even more dramatic. The Marquesas are the wild islands of the far north, steep and lush, with a culture all their own. The Tuamotu atolls are low rings of coral and water, unlike anywhere else in the group, and a snorkeler's dream.

The pleasure of a cruise here is being able to compare them. Few places make the question of which island is most beautiful so genuinely hard to answer, and only a ship lets you weigh them one against the next on a single trip.

When to Go

The islands are warm all year, with water temperatures that barely change. The drier season, from May to October, is the most comfortable time to sail, with lower humidity, less rain, and steady trade winds. The wetter months from November to April are hotter and bring passing tropical showers, though the islands are still beautiful and the seas often calm. There is no truly bad time, but the dry season is the easy choice.

Recommended South Pacific Voyages

Each fare is a starting per-person price, and live dates sit on the itinerary page. Paul Gauguin, owned by Ponant, is the long-standing specialist in these waters.

• The classic: the Tahiti and the Society Islands on Paul Gauguin, from around $2,990.
• The lagoons: the Pearls of the Society Islands on Paul Gauguin, from around $2,990.
• The remote atolls: the Society Islands and the Tuamotus on Paul Gauguin, from around $5,740.
• Further afield: the Cook Islands and Society Islands on Paul Gauguin, from around $6,430.

Why Book Your South Pacific Cruise with Us

The South Pacific is a long way to travel, so the trip is worth getting right. The choice between a shorter Society Islands loop and a longer voyage out to the Tuamotus or the Marquesas changes the whole character of the holiday. We book the island specialists and can match you to the right route, the right cabin, and the right season, and help with the flights and stopovers that make the journey easier.

Booking through us, you can also join the Small Ship Travel Loyalty Program, a four-tier program that pays members 2 to 5 percent back per booking, plus perks like cabin upgrades and concierge access. The credit builds across every cruise line we book.

Related Reading

• Best Small Ships for Wildlife: Overall Ranking: the vessels that reach the remote places.
• River Cruising vs Ocean Cruising: how ocean and river trips differ.
• Small Ship Cruise Cabin Selection Guide: how to choose the right cabin.
• Small Ship Cruises for First-Time International Travelers: planning a long-haul first trip.

Sources

Island geography and culture come from the official tourism records, and the sailing details from the operators' published itineraries.

• Tahiti Tourisme.