Australia neck ‘n’ neck with France as No. 2 source market for Paul Gauguin CruisesAustralia neck ‘n’ neck with France as No. 2 source market for Paul Gauguin Cruises

Abello, who has been with the company since day one when the custom-built boutique ship Paul Gauguin was completed for what was then Radisson Seven Seas Cruises in 1997, is on a sales mission to Australia and New Zealand with gsa Diane Patrick of Wiltrans International.

Patrick, who has also been representing Paul Gauguin Cruises, now owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., since day one, has hosted a series of cocktail parties for industry partners and their prospective passengers in Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney. They will be in Melbourne this evening.

Abello will now take part in the second annual ‘Virtuoso Travel Week on Tour Cruise Show’ in Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Sydney October 16-19 and will return to Seattle on October 20.

He said Tahiti and the 332-passenger Paul Gauguin, which has exceptional service on board with 215 crew, are perfect products for the Australian relaxed, informal lifestyle.

‘Our dress code has always been casually elegant, with no jacket or tie required, even in L’Etoile, the main dining room,’ he said.

‘We have an incredibly high number of repeat Australian passengers, some coming to the same ports year after year.

‘Tahiti is a place that touches the soul.’