Paul Gauguin Cruises has unveiled its lineup of speakers, scientists and cultural experts who will host the line’s 2025 Boutique Crossing Collection, which includes three itineraries of 14, 16 and 20 nights sailing to Fiji, Bali, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
The 20-night “Crossing Oceania” itinerary from Lautoka, Fiji to Benoa, Bali departs January 19, 2025. Guest experts include Dr. David Keeling and John Hay. Dr. Keeling is a Distinguished Professor of Cultural Geography at Western Kentucky University and a recipient of the Alan Hay Award from the Royal Geographical Society. His conversational lectures delve into topics from ancient trade routes and WWII Pacific Island battles to Papua New Guinea’s post-colonial development, Timor Leste’s independence, Indonesia’s identity, and more.
John Hay, Nobel Peace Prize recipient for his work on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), offers a big-picture view of the Pacific, from its fisheries and land tenure systems to understanding the “garbage patch” and the responses to climate change. His wife, Helen Henry, author of "My Kotuku of the South Seas: Living and Loving in Rarotonga,” provides cultural insights while they both will share their personal stories on a range of South Pacific topics.
The 14-night “Immersive Indonesia” itinerary from Singapore to Darwin, Australia departs April 1, 2025. Guests include Bob Krist and Leslie McGuirk. Having explored all seven continents, photographer/filmmaker Krist has been stranded on an Icelandic glacier, charged by bulls in India, and knighted during a Trinidad voodoo ceremony. His lectures range from the informative—Bali’s unique culture; to the engaging—the misadventures of a National Geographic photographer, and how to travel authentically during the age of Instagram.
Professional astrologer and author, McGuirk is known for her holistic interdisciplinary approach to mental and spiritual growth. Her popular talk on astrology as human design (and not fortune-telling) makes her a sought-after corporate speaker and a frequent presenter at Mexico’s Rancho La Puerta, a destination spa.
The 16-night “Crossing Melanesia” itinerary from Darwin to Lautoka departs April 15, 2025. Guests on this sailing include Jad Davenport and Peter Heller. National Geographic photographer/filmmaker and Explorers Club member Davenport has been on assignment in more than 160 countries, from covering Middle East conflicts to studying Canadian Arctic polar bears and wolves. A true explorer, he’ll speak of his quests to find Eroni Kumana, the Solomon Islander who saved castaway John F. Kennedy.
Adventure writer Heller is the author of “The Dog Stars” and “The River,” among others, and his non-fiction books range from surfing to kayaking Tibet’s Tsangpo Gorge. His lectures include topics such as surviving a career as an adventure journalist, why we go into the wild, and talks on several of his novels.
The three crossings are part of The Gauguin’s 2025 full voyage schedule comprising 29 cruises offering 11 itineraries of seven- to 20-nights, including a new 10-night “More Tuamotus & the Society Islands” featuring another first for the line—an overnight stay in Fakarava, known for its UNESCO Marine Biosphere.
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