Aranui Cruises started around 65 years ago operating a freighter service out of Tahiti carrying goods to Tuamotus and Gambiers Archipelagos in French Polynesia. Its early name was Wing Man Hing Line and it was established in 1954 by the Wong family. Their first combination liner carrying freight as well as passengers, the Aranui 1 (Aranui meaning ‘the great highway’) was taken into service in the 1970’s, a small vessel with a limited capacity for just 40 passengers. In 1989 she was replaced by Aranui 2, a much larger vessel (capacity 100 passengers), but accommodations were still very basic. Their Aranui 3, which debuted in 2003 was their first ship offering passengers cruise-standard luxury, she featured bars, a main lounge and even a pool. Since the creation of Aranui Cruises in 1984 60,000 international guests have cruised French Polynesian waters by one of their deluxe freighters admiring the stunning scenery and experiencing the culture of the region.
Especially the Marquesas Islands became known by the marvellous paintings of famous painter Paul Gauguin who spent his last years on the isle of Hiva Oa, but also by the novels written by Herman Melville and Robert Louis Stevenson which are based on their experiences on the islands and finally not to be left out is Belgian singer Jacques Brel who wrote some of his best songs here about life on the Marquesas.
And of course there is the story about the mutiny on His Majesty’s Vessel Bounty. After having cast adrift Commander Bligh in the ship’s boat, the crew sailed to an uninhabited island where they founded the Pitcairn community.
Aranui Cruises’ current ship, the Aranui 5 (the name Aranui 4 was skipped as the number 4 is considered to be an unlucky number in the local religion) sails for the company since 2015. She carrries 254 guests in 106 staterooms and dormitories. Although her interior is quite luxury, being decorated in vibrant colours, she -like her predecessors- is a working vessel supplying the Islands in French Polynesia with the goods they need for everyday life. There is, apart from performances by locals invited onboard and the crew, no entertainment, dining hours are limited, guests will look in vain for a casino, there are no facilities for children or teens (minimum age is 16 years) and there is just a small gymnasium and spa.
But those who sail on Aranui 5 are mostly experienced travellers who are interested in the culture of the region, meeting the locals and enjoying the magnificent scenery in one of the world’s most remote places very few get to see. The atmosphere on board is laid-back, the crew mingle with the passengers in the bars and dine together with the ship’s guests. Passengers cruising on Aranui 5 want an authentic Polynesian experience. When embarking, passengers are greeted by traditionally dressed crew handing out tiares’ (Polynesia’s national flower) to tuck behind their ears, and with ukelele music. Aranui 5 has a tattoo artist on board for those who want a permanent souvenir of their once in a lifetime journey to take home with them. Tattoos are very important to the inhabitants of Polynesia, as they relate to important milestones in their lives like birth and passing away.
During the cruise a diversity of excursions is offered like horseback riding, kayaking, exploring the islands by truck, tours with glass bottom boats etc. In every port free excursions are organized. Frequent port lectures on the region’s history, culture and wildlife provide guests with more in-depth knowledge of this incredibly beautiful region. Most of the crew are locals who are proud of their native ground, taking pride in showing it to the Aranui 5’s passengers. Most guests are in their fifties or sixties and are seasoned travellers. Those travelling solo pay a supplement of 50% if they want the privacy of their own cabin, but passengers not afraid of sharing their cabin or travelling in a group can choose to stay in one of the ship’s 4 guest cabins or even the small dormitories with capacity for 8 guests.
Aranui 5 cruises have no formal nights, so informal attire is permitted for the entire duration of the cruise. Languages spoken on board are French (the ships official language), English and German. The majority of guests come from France and Germany, but Australians, Americans and Canadians are also often found onboard. They can meet their fellow travellers in the main lounge or one of the three bars. The dining room on deck 4, the Upper Deck, serves French and Polynesian food (wine included) in an informal setting.
Aranui 5 was built in China by Huanghai Shipbuilding Co, Weihai, Shandong, China and departed on her maiden voyage from her homeport of Papeete in November 2015. Being a combination liner, she supplies the islands she calls at with literally everything they need, even livestock. Compared to her predecessor Aranui 3, she has two additional decks. Her length of 126 metres and her shallow draft of just 5.2 metres allow her to dock at the most remote sites. Passenger staterooms are scattered over all of her 8 decks. There are 8 cabin grades to choose from, the Presidential suites are the most luxurious accommodations available, consisting of 3 individual rooms (41m2).
Staterooms
In all Aranui 5 has 106 staterooms and dormitories: 29 suites (Royal Suites, and Premium Suites), 3 Junior Suites, 31 deluxe and superior balcony staterooms, 40 standard staterooms having a porthole for use by 1, 2 or 4 guests which are the smallest: 11m2 and finally 3 C-class dormitories for up to 8 passengers.
Aranui 5’s regular ports of call
Aranui 5 sails on 4 itineraries: Tahiti, port of Papeete, Fakarava, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka Ua Pou, Rangiroa and Bora Bora, departing Thursdays and Saturdays, is the well-known intinerary she sails around 20 times each year. New itineraries (for the first time Aranui 5 will be taken of her normal route!) visit both Tuamotu and Gambier archipelago’s and Pitcairn Islands, as well as Cook Islands en Austral archipelago. Finally there is the new trip to Society Archipelago and Tuamotu Archipelago called the High and Low Islands cruise All are 13 day trips except the High and Low Islands cruise which takes 12 days.
Prices start at USD 3200 for a basic stateroom, and 2500 USD for the C class dormitory for the “standard” route.
Aranui Cruises plans to expand to new sailing area’s and a newbuilding has been ordered from Huanghai Shipbuilding Co, China, the same yard that built Aranui 5 with delivery planned for the first half of 2022. She is the company’s first regular cruise ship, as she carries less freight (she is a ro-pax vessel) and does not have the combination liner profile with its forward located cargo holds. Part of AraMana‘s inaugural season she will sail out of Hong Kong and the remainder out of Papeete, Tahiti.
