Photo Courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises

The m/s Paul Gauguin cruise ship’s $7-million full renovation is complete. The luxury vessel is better than ever and ready for the 2013 sailing schedule, which the company announced this week. Highlights of the 2013 sailing schedule include an 11-night sail to the Australs and Society Islands of the Island of Whales; four cruises through the islands of French Polynesia with stops in the lagoons of Bora Bora and Moorea; and the second season of guest-host sailings. Oceanographer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau, the creator of The Gauguins Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program, will lecture and present videos of his work. Cousteau also will accompany several dives from the ship. The upgraded deluxe cruise ship looks brighter and lighter with new flooring and carpeting throughout as well as new furniture, window treatments, decorative wall panels, and signage. All suites and staterooms also were updated with new teak railings and flooring in the bathrooms.

More news: Paul Gauguin Cruises also announced the acquisition of a second ship, which will be christened m/v Tere Moana in December 2012. The new cruiser will accommodate up to 90 guests with 45 staterooms.