Mireille
Bailey, The Moana’s godmother and wife of Richard Bailey, Chairman
of Paul Gauguin Cruises and President and CEO of
Pacific Beachcomber S.C.,
presided over the festivities, delivering a moving speech before
christening the ship with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame
Champagne. Mr. Bailey along with Diane Moore, President of Paul
Gauguin Cruises, and Captain Rajko Zupan, the ship’s Master, spoke
during the ceremony, which included plaque presentations by St.
Martin’s Vice President of the Collectivité, Port Chairman, Port
Director, and Tourist Board. St. Martin’s Father Samson Dorival
delivered the ship’s blessing, and ceremony attendees were
serenaded by the festive music of a Caribbean steel drum band.
After
the ceremony, a Champagne reception followed by a gala dinner was
held aboard The Moana before the ship set sail on its inaugural
7-night Caribbean voyage to visit islands in the French West Indies,
British Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts & Nevis. In January and
February, The Moana embarks on 13- and 14-night Panama
Canal cruises. From April through November, the
ship operates a variety of 7-night European voyages. During spring
and fall, 14-night transatlantic crossings are available between
Europe and the Caribbean.
Like
The Gauguin, The Moana offers an elegant yet casual ambiance,
luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, trademark Polynesian
hospitality, and extraordinary all-inclusive value. At 330 feet long
and 46 feet wide, The Moana has a draft of 11.5 feet, and
accommodates 90 guests with a staff of 60. The ship’s 45 oceanview
staterooms, 8 which offer private balconies, feature a king-size bed
donned with fine
linens and feather-down duvet; a flatscreen
TV; DVD/CD player; iPod® docking station; in-stateroom refrigerator
replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water; robes
and slippers; spacious closets; and a bathroom with sumptuous bath
products.
The
Moana offers two elegant dining venues and incorporates regionally
infused cuisine of destinations visited featuring fresh ingredients
from local markets. Evenings feature live piano music in Le Salon,
the perfect place to enjoy cocktails and unwind after a day of
adventure. The ship’s Deep Nature Spa by Algotherm delivers
signature spa treatments, and a fitness center is equipped with the
latest cardio and weightlifting equipment. The ship’s outdoor decks
feature a swimming pool, hot
tub,
chaise lounges, and Balinese beds. In select ports, kayaking and
paddleboarding are available from the ship’s watersports marina.
And the ship’s La Boutique features jewelry, apparel, sundries, and
souvenirs
