Paul Gauguin Cruises has had its best year to date in the UK, up 18% year on year for 2016 departures.

Elaine Gillard, senior sales and marketing manager, put the increase down increased awareness of the product, both among trade and consumers.

‘It is partly a cumulative effect of the work we’ve done, since the Cruise Portfolio took over as GSA in 2009. It’s now sinking in who we are. And Tahiti Tourism is doing a great job on the destination side.’

‘We’re already well ahead for 2017,’ she added.

Last year the line’s first online training programme was launched, which doubles as an agent website. ‘Our training with Online Travel Training is a one-stop shop to learn about the product,’ she explained.

She also said that reruns of a Mighty Cruise Ships documentary filmed onboard the Paul Gauguin, first shown in the UK on Quest in early 2015, continued to have an impact: ‘The programme is repeated regularly and we see a spike of enquiries on the website every time.”

‘A cruise is the best value way to see multiple islands in the South Pacific in luxurious comfort, when compared with land-based alternatives.’