Thanks

Sandy

https://fr.calameo.com/read/000132423cf461dcaf716?authid=BIZNrwBnxZY5&fbclid=IwAR3rbqUhzDlQCmgPPNqFR7XPgxyQNMA3yoB8CiTr_rOIHdgLr1mt8lyU0AE

I spent some time [during a Zoom meeting – there is a benefit to Covid lockdowns after all!] analyzing the Ponant document, and came up with this version that only shows the confirmed and possible sailings for Tahiti.  [I also changed the dates to the US format of mm/dd/yy – if you prefer the other format you will find it in the sailing numbers.]

Paul Gauguin Revised Schedule 2020.pdf

The full schedule is available here:

Live From Ponant: Sailing on An Expedition Ship In France -- Masks And All

We booked our cruise in February 2020 for a November 2020 sailing. We made deposits of 20%--thankfully not much compared to what some people had already paid before cancellation. We eventually decided to cancel on August 3, given the challenges of getting into FP and the potential for a cruise having to stop mid-trip because of a positive test from anyone on board. We will be out the $100/person administrative/cancellation fee, but that's fine. We were initially told by our TA that refunds might take up to 90 days. 90 days came and went. Our TA was told by PG that the refunds may take up to 120 days. That came and went yesterday. I emailed PG customer service myself this morning, and their response was:

• We hope you are well and staying healthy.  When the pandemic arrived in the U.S. in late February, everyone in our industry thought we would be back to normal within 6 months and we all know now that the virus is still raging which has impacted not just our cruise line but many others.  Our parent company Ponant is committed to refunding all our guests who requested a refund however it will take time.  On a weekly basis we are refunding based on the sailing date and the date the guests or Paul Gauguin canceled the voyage.   Please rest assured your clients will be refunded but we cannot advise you of a date.   

   

  We sincerely appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time.

120 days from cancellation is more than enough time for them to process a refund, IMO, even in this unusual times. What are other people's experiences with the refund timeline? Are people really getting refunds without having to resort to chargebacks, threats of lawsuits, etc.?

Does anybody have a named contact at PG who might be able to help get our refund processed immediately as opposed to us having to continue waiting for some unknowable future date?  (DM if you aren't comfortable sharing publicly) We have some home maintenance that we had planned this month, expecting to have the refund by now. It's not going to break us to do the maintenance without the refund, but it's less comfortable than we want.

In the past 15 years, my husband and I have sailed on the PG 5 different times, totaling 59 nights onboard. They have all been wonderful experiences. We were scheduled for our 6th voyage on her in late March. Two weeks before our departure, PG canceled our cruise and offered a 100% future cruise credit. Only a credit.

Since we've already experienced her other routes (Cook Islands and Marquesas Islands) and our missed voyage was an unusual itinerary (Papeete to Fiji), we did not want a FCC. We wanted a refund.

We contacted our travel agent, who has sailed on PG 40+ times. We asked that he request a refund on our behalf. He did and was denied, although the PG did add to their offer...up from 100% to 120% future cruise credit. Again, not what we wanted.

Our TA was trying to both maintain his status with the PG and keep us happy as well. It did not work. This was a BIG trip. A special birthday trip for my husband. Through our TA, the PG had handled everything. Our entire travel package...

Business Class flights on Air Tahiti Nui from LA to Papeete.

3 nights hotel pre-cruise in Papeete.

13 night voyage in a category B stateroom.

2 nights hotel post-cruise in Fiji.

Business Class flights on Air Fiji returning to LA.

This was a $37k vacation and we wanted our money back! Still, PG Cruises refused. For 2 months they refused, although eventually they told our TA that we were "on a list for refund" but nothing was in writing. At this point we lost all faith in our TA as well as the PG. Finally we called out credit card company to inquire about a chargeback. They were very helpful and ready to file at that moment but we decided to give our TA and the PG some more time. More refusals. As the days wound down we realized our opportunity to file a chargeback was closing. We were told we needed to file within 60 days of the canceled trip. We called the CC and our 3 chargebacks were filed. 3 separate chargebacks...1 for our initial deposit, 1 for the 1st installment, 1 for our final payment. Our CC could not have been more helpful but they warned it could take up to 120 days. It took almost 120 days but we did get every penny back.

My advice is to carefully consider doing business with the PG, now owned by Ponant. Also carefully consider who you book your trip with. Your TA is supposed to be your advocate. Plus, don't underestimate your credit card company. They can help you. We had no idea what a chargeback even was and they helped us through every step.

French Polynesia is our favorite place in earth and we hope to return sooner rather than later. We just won't be sailing on the PG as long as she's owned by Ponant.

but the link goes to a brochure for March to November  2021 so it may not be the revised version yet:

https://en.calameo.com/read/00013242395d18c8ace3d

Paul Gauguin cruises are shown in the calendar (pp 5-7) and in detail on pp 126-128 & 131;  the ship is shown on pp 38-39 and 160-164; prices are on p 173.

Note that the name of the PG ship is now listed as 'The Gauguin,' not 'Paul Gauguin' and not even 'Le Gauguin' [except in the Terms & Conditions sections, and we all know that they don't actually apply...]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/united-airlines-to-offer-rapid-coronavirus-tests-for-some-passengers

The article suggests that other airlines and airports could adopt this, which if coordinated with French Polynesia could solve the problem that many posters here are having in finding timely tests on their way to airport.

Lets keep out fingers crossed or give a prayer that all goes well over the 14 day cruise to the Society Islands  ... Fakarava and the Marquesas.

However,  if I decide to not cancel, what is the possibility of an upgrade to a balcony when there is about a 50% or more balcony vacancy rate.  I have looked at several of the earlier cruises and they too are more than 50% vacant - some catagories are 75% vacant.  

This situation has never been encountered before, so do you who have cruised PG before,  think upgrades would be given to all if there was availability? 

Also, would it be wise for new passangers to book a low priced cabin and hope for an upgrade because of the above current facts. 

Thank, Rick    

So crowded 

Snorkel stop along the way

Swimming/Snorkeling at the Blue Lagoon

Just beautiful  .... and blue

3rd stop was for a BBQ lunch ... afterwards it was time to veg in the water

Plenty of shade to find your special spot

I would like to hear from any of the passengers who were onboard and what they have gone through - both healthy and ill.  I find it a little odd that not one person has posted.  Unless PG has made them sign some sort of non-disclosure.  And I would like to hear about that too.

The active case onboard is from the USA.

The article below is in French:

https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/tahiti/cas-positif-covid-ete-detecte-paquebot-croisiere-paul-gauguin-858438.html?fbclid=IwAR0JlWoq-DoE7fDOAxW_n9nNVgV-x-fADmOMwkTgi5aaJZHibJfrln_qR6s