Diane Moore, President of Paul Gauguin Cruises | Travel Research Online

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Diane Moore, President of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Diane MooreRecognized as a leading expert in the industry, Diane Moore joined Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2010. Although Diane originally had joined as Executive Vice President, she was quickly promoted to President. As a seasoned veteran of the cruise industry, Moore was previously the President of Windstar Cruises.

Moore began her career as a member of Royal Cruise Line, then run by her father, Richard Revnes. At Royal Cruise, she served as Senior Vice President of Passenger Services until 1996 to join forces with Holland American as Vice President of Passenger Programs. She spent four years handling guest services for Holland America Line before joining Crystal Cruises in Los Angeles as Senior Vice President of Guest Services. Moore also served as Executive Vice President of Supplier Relations at Vitruoso.

Travel Research Online: You have been in the industry for quite some time and have worked with some reputable companies. How has this transition been? How has it prepared you for Paul Gauguin Cruises?

Diane Moore: It has been great to take the experiences from my years in the travel industry and apply those here at Paul Gauguin Cruises. When it comes down to it, all the roles have the same thing in common – the guest experience with the brand and ensuring it meets or exceeds expectations. I feel very lucky here at Paul Gauguin Cruises and it is truly a pleasure to be here —we have a wonderful team and an exceptional product.

TRO: Paul Gauguin was a renowned artist, most notably recognized for his bold experimentation with coloring and his influence over other French artists, such as Picasso. How has his reputation transpired in the company’s brand, goals, and mission?

DM: Our line embraces the enchanting destinations, culture, and Polynesian hospitality of Tahiti, French Polynesia, & South Pacific which is what appealed to the artist, Paul Gauguin, as well. Through the name of ship, artwork aboard, marketing materials, and through expert lecturers who deliver talks on the artist at his gravesite in the Marquesas, we honor Paul Gauguin.

TRO: What do you enjoy most about your job?

DM: I love hearing from guests how much they enjoy our cruises on both of our ships, visiting our travel agent partners in the field, and working with a tremendously, talented staff aboard and ashore.

TRO: The m/s Paul Gauguin completed its largest renovation ($7 million) in the ship’s history. How does it feel? How do you think this will impact Paul Gauguin cruises, as a whole? What can travelers expect?

DM: The m/s Paul Gauguin is the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific. With our latest renovation, the ship is even more luxurious than ever before and guests love the new enhancements.

Aboard our sailings, we infuse the welcoming, hospitable spirit of French Polynesia in every sailing and offer a number of South Seas exclusives. Our troupe of  “Gauguines” and “Gauguins”—local Tahitians who serve as cruise staff, entertainers, and storytellers are a highlight for many guests along with local musicians and dancers who perform on board. We offer complimentary and exclusive access to Motu Mahana, a private islet where guests can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, Polynesian activities, a full-service bar, a floating lagoon bar, and a delicious barbecue. And, complimentary access to our private beach on a Motu in Bora Bora for guests to enjoy for the day.  Our enrichment program features a series of expert lecturers on topics ranging from history of the South Pacific to conservation, art, marine life, the wonders of coral reefs, and much more. We offer all-inclusive value with spacious ocean view suites and staterooms with nearly 70% of them featuring private balconies; gourmet dining in all venues; complimentary beverages including select wines and spirits, soft drinks, bottled water, and hot beverages served throughout the ship; an in-cabin refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer and bottled water; shipboard entertainment; and all onboard gratuities included. In select ports, our water sports marina is available to launch a kayak, windsurf, or paddle board from and we are the only luxury ship in French Polynesia to offer a PADI certification scuba diving program.

In December 2012, we christened our second ship in the fleet— the m/v Tere Moana. This ship sails Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean in 2014 and 2015. The Moana is perfect for those who are looking for a luxurious experience visiting enchanting locales. Since the ship is intimate in size, with only 88 guests and a staff of 62, it is more like yachting with friends.  We offer all-inclusive value on this ship as well with ocean view staterooms including eight with balconies; gourmet dining in all venues; spacious outdoor decks with a pool, whirl pool, and Balinese sun beds; complimentary beverages including select wines and spirits, soft drinks, bottled water, and hot beverages served throughout the ship; an in-cabin refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer and bottled water; shipboard entertainment; and all onboard gratuities included.

TRO: PG has also recently released a new itinerary its for 2014 and 2015 voyages, adding trips from Australia to South East Asia and departures to parts of Latin America and the Mediterranean. What is PG offering travelers to these destinations that other cruise lines aren’t?

DM: Paul Gauguin Cruises has enjoyed an exciting 2014 as we continue to expand our cruise offerings and deliver new itineraries that appeal to our loyal guests. With our small ships, we are able to visit ports that larger ships may not be able to access. The new itineraries for 2014 included 11- and 12-night Fiji & Australia voyages and two 14-night Australia & Southeast Asia voyages on The Gauguin. New itineraries on The Moana for 2014 featured a 7-night Roundtrip Puerto Caldera, a 7-night Roundtrip Rome, and a 7-night Nice to Rome. For 2015, we are offering a new 10-night Roundtrip Fiji voyage on The Gauguin and a 7-night Roundtrip Venice itinerary on The Moana.

TRO: Within the past year, the cruise line industry has been shaken up with a lot of negative media attention, causing a dip in bookings. What message do you have for travelers who are cautious of booking with a cruise line? What can agents do to reassure their clients?

DM: Twenty-one million people cruise each year and the cruise industry continues to expand globally.  Cruising makes for a great vacation at a tremendous value where guests can unpack once and enjoy multiple destinations and exciting shipboard amenities. Travel agents are important travel partners since they can help those interested in cruising by identifying the type of voyages or cruise lines that would be a great fit for them, offer itinerary recommendations, and suggestions based on interests and budget.

TRO: As a smaller cruise line, how does PG overcome the challenges of attracting travelers?

DM: Travel agents are key to our success at Paul Gauguin Cruises.  We offer a PEARL’s– Partners Earn Added Rewards and Learn to Sell – travel agent specialist training program that was conceived to provide travel professionals with a deeper understanding of Paul Gauguin Cruises and our cruise line’s destinations. The program is a self-paced specialist training program, providing a unique platform for agents to truly immerse themselves in the Paul Gauguin Cruises experience, enabling them to more accurately identify and connect with prospective clients and promote our line successfully.  PEARLS partners receive access to resources including exclusive sales and marketing trainings, advance notice of special promotions, shipboard credit offers, marketing tools, and bonus commissions. We also focus our advertising and marketing on very targeted audiences and we are fortunate to have a robust charter, incentive, and affinity group program.

TRO: Is there any aspect of PG Cruises you think more travel agents should be aware of?

DM: Travel agents and their clients that have cruised with us have been very impressed by our product. Not only are we the experts in French Polynesia and the South Pacific, but we have a great following with our newest ship in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Guests have a memorable time aboard our ships and we look forward to welcoming them back again and again.

TRO: As a seasoned veteran, how has the cruise line industry changed? What is it doing better today, than it was a decade ago? Thoughts on the future of the cruise line industry?

DM: The cruise industry continues to grow and showcase new, creative, and innovative ideas. For instance, new destinations are emerging, dining and onboard activities continue to raise the bar, and multigenerational and celebration cruising increases each year. Cruising is a great way to explore various destinations in a seamless way, at an incredible value.

For more information on destinations, rates and reservations:

Phone Numbers
(800) 848-6172 (inside the U.S. or Canada)
+1 (425) 440-6171 (International)

Fax number  (425)-440-6186

http://www.pgcruises.com/contact

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