The atmosphere aboard radiates warmth and informality. And her beloved troupe of Gauguines - part cruise staff, part entertainers, part storytellers, add the unique personality of French Polynesia to every cruise.

Watch spectacular performances such as an electrifying Polynesian show featuring the arts of the islands in the main lounge. One night it might be the soaring cappella harmonies of himene songs. Another might feature a thrilling performance of ote’a - a complex line dance accompanied by drums telling the ancestral legends of the Polynesian people. Later on in your cruise, you’ll have a chance to learn how to dance in true Polynesian style from our wonderful Gauguines performers.

Sing along at the piano bar in this spectacular observation lounge atop the ship. At night it’s transformed into a romantic nightclub where a chanteuse sings the Parisian blues and couples sway on the indoor/outdoor dance floor.

On any evening, pulses run high in the Le Casino with its blackjack tables and roulette wheel. Or when Cognac and cigars are in order, the Connoisseur Club provides a warmly relaxing environment, much like a favorite private club in London. Have a glass of port at the bar or pick your favorite smoke from the humidor.

Paul Gauguin’s restaurants are designed to complement and enhance the dining experience, not overwhelm it. Dining is unhurried and relaxed - you may enjoy the pleasures of the table without the regimentation of assigned seating or having to rush through your dessert. Here, the constraints of formal wear, tuxedos and ties are forgotten and the only dress code is relaxed and country-club casual. Select wines and spirits are served with dinner, or you may select an alternative vintage available for purchase from the wine cellar. During normal dining hours, you may choose from the restaurants’ menus and enjoy dinner in your stateroom or suite. A special 24-hour room service menu is also available.

La Veranda on Paul Gauguin - The French Restaurant inspired by Le Cordon Bleu

In both reality and the popular imagination no other country has approached France in terms of elevating its cuisine to a high art form. In spite of new trends and dietary habits, tradition still plays a major role in the French kitchen.

Le Cordon Bleu Chefs have created a menu for La Veranda not merely to explore the culinary highways and byways of France but to provide you with an extraordinary dining experience that captures the very essence of the country. The menu is artfully assembled to take you on a culinary journey from Provence to the Normandy and from Alsace to the Valley of the Loire. To accommodate our guest’s taste buds and health concerns, Le Cordon Bleu created lighter sauces and vegetarian options.

In perhaps no other country in the world does food and wines complement each other as fittingly as they do in France. This symbiotic relationship between the culinary and oenological arts is no mere accident. As wine styles evolved in areas like Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Valley of the Loire, regional cuisine evolved to match them. As our chefs take you on a grand culinary tour of the best of contemporary French cuisine you will have an opportunity to try the complimentary wines that make such a harmonious match with dishes.

Dinner reservations are required in La Veranda.