THE QUIET REVOLUTION ROLLING THROUGH OUR HOMES

We’ve quietly slipped into the age of automation. The robots haven’t taken over; they’ve just moved in. They clean our floors, make our coffee and lock our doors. They don’t argue, they don’t forget and the best of them don’t even need us at all.

That quiet efficiency is what struck me when I began testing the Ecovacs Deebot T80 Omni. It wasn’t the novelty of a robot vacuum (we’ve all seen them scuttle around in circles) but the sheer intelligence of it.

It moved through rooms like it knew them, mapping and memorising every contour, the furniture and the rugs. It vacuumed, mopped, rinsed itself clean, then returned to base to recharge – telling me where it was off to.

The first time I used it, I couldn’t find it. Turns out, it had taken itself out to the back deck. That’s taking cleaning seriously. And speaking of serious cleaning, one of my favourite things about it is seeing it happily clean under my teenagers’ beds. Believe me, no human would want to go there.

The Deebot T80 Omni doesn’t need gimmicks or noise to prove its worth. Its genius lies in its calm and capable nature. It doesn’t bump into walls, fall down stairs or get snagged on cables; it glides with purpose.

The machine’s AIVI 3D navigation system “sees” its environment and adjusts in real time, a low-key kind of intelligence that makes everything feel considered.

Its mopping system uses what Ecovacs calls OZMO Roller technology, applying 16 times the pressure of traditional mops. It scrubs rather than wipes, rinsing itself clean as it works, while the suction power quietly pulls out whatever the broom missed.

And it’s clever enough to lift its mop when it moves over carpet; no soggy rugs, no streaky patches. And it even washes and dries its own mop.

The design is as elegant as the engineering. The docking station, which in most robotic cleaners is an afterthought, has a clean, white aesthetic.

What makes it feel truly modern, though, isn’t the technology itself; it’s what that technology represents. Help is no longer about people doing more for us; it’s about systems that think for themselves and quietly removing friction from daily life.

That’s luxury now, not extravagance, but absence. Absence of effort, of noise, of time wasted.

I set the Deebot off every morning while I work. It hums softly in the background, unobtrusive and assured, then returns to its base like a butler excusing itself after service. There’s something wonderfully civilised about that.

I love hearing that low, steady hum. It’s not the sound of housework; it’s the sound of progress: calm, precise, and, if I’m honest, a little bit satisfying as it’s one less job I know I have to do.

The author tested the Ecovacs Deebot T80 Omni in her home for a fortnight. The model is available exclusively at Harvey Norman, RRP $2,299.

From late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.

The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.

Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.

THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE

Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.

Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.

A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.

The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.

Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE

Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.

The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.

In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.

Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.

Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.

Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.

THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES

The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:

– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.

SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES

In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.

José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.

Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.

SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED

New stopovers include:

– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings

A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION

By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.

For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.