Caption: Anne Kalosh and Peter Knego attend “Hidden Tahiti”
Peter Greenberg’s “Hidden Tahiti” Features Paul Gauguin Cruises
By Peter Knego
On September 15, along with fellow QuirkyCruise reporter Anne Kalosh, I donned a Polynesian shirt and attended the world premiere of “Hidden Tahiti,” the latest in Peter Greenberg’s “Hidden” travel series for PBS. Hosted by Paul Gauguin Cruises, Ponant Cruises (parent company to Paul Gauguin), Tahiti Tourisme and Air Tahiti Nui, the event was held at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles.
Prior to the screening of the 57-minute feature, we were treated to some special Polynesian-themed cocktails and a percussive dance serenade by the Nonosina Dance Company, which is based in Anaheim. We also had an opportunity to interview Bud Gilroy of Tahiti Tourisme, who shared that cruise travel to Tahiti has tripled in the past 10 years from almost 500 calls to nearly 1,400 annually.
Nonosina, a local Polynesian dance troupe delighted and gyrated prior to the screening. * Photo: Peter Knego
Forty percent of those visiting French Polynesia are from North America and 25% of all tourism revenue is generated by cruise ships. Gilroy also shared that more air lift from Air Tahiti Nui and UA is providing additional access from North America and that an Australia to Tahiti air connection is slated to begin in 2028.
Among the 145 attendees was soap and primetime TV actress Donna Mills.
Veteran TV star Donna Mills enjoyed a photo with Nonosina. * Photo: Peter Knego
The Paul Gauguin
The 19,200 gross ton Paul Gauguin was built in 1997 specifically for cruising in Tahitian waters with a shallow draft to avoid damaging sensitive reefs and a wide beam to help in navigating open seas.
Originally commissioned by Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, the ship was purchased by French luxury and expedition line Ponant in 2019. The Paul Gauguin has been upgraded several times and given a new livery since and continues to receive upgrades when it is drydocked every two years in Singapore. The ship carries a max of 330 passengers.
The 330-pax Paul Gauguin was built in 1997. * Photo: Paul Gauguin Cruises
What hasn’t changed is the cultural immersion guests enjoy on board with locally sourced cuisine and events hosted by Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, who hail from local villages and literally live on board the ship.
Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines are Paul Gauguin’s live aboard ambassadors to all things Polynesian. Photo courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises. * Photo: Peter Knego
LEARN MORE: Please click here to see Peter Knego’s latest MidShipCinema video with highlights from his Paul Gauguin Cruise in 2013 and a special exclusive interview with Peter Greenberg.
READ MORE ABOUT QUIRKY CRUISING IN FRENCH POLY: Here are some more reviews and stories about small-ship cruising in French Polynesia.
Paul Gauguin Cruises has been operating seven-night itineraries from Papeete to Huahine and Taha’a (for a private call at Motu Mahana) with overnight stays in Bora Bora and Moorea for almost three decades. This classic itinerary gives guests a chance to sample some of the more well-traveled parts of the Society Islands but longer itineraries of up to 20 nights go as far as Bali and include stops in Fiji, the Tuamotus, Indonesia and other parts of the South Pacific.
“Hidden Tahiti” captures some of these destinations but also includes parts of French Polynesia, which is large enough to contain the entire continent of Europe in its perimeter, that few visitors get to see. Greenberg takes us to pristine islands with small villages to sample the local cuisine, engage in tribal dances, swim in teal waters and even participate in a canoeing marathon. It is a heartfelt, often amusing, beautifully filmed and produced celebration of Tahiti and will be coming to a PBS channel near you, as well as Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
Peter Greenberg presents “Hidden Tahiti” at the Director’s Guild of America. * Photo: Peter Knego
Greenberg first visited Tahiti in 1981 and after some 30 visits has finally achieved his goal of creating a moving and at times spiritual tribute to the region. In a world filled with shallow influencers and YouTube click bait, it is so nice to still be able to enjoy poignant documentaries like this.
Paul Gauguin Cruises was named Best Small Cruise in Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards in 2024 and 2025 and has earned numerous accolades, including Travel + Leisure's Top 5 Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines (2026) and Seatrade's 2024 Sustainability
Initiative of the Year award for its “Taote (doctor) Gauguin” healthcare partnership with the French Polynesian government.
For more info, please go to petergreenberg.com
For more info on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please go to pgcruises.com
HEIDI SARNA
