Aranui 5 sails ‘great highway to paradise’
Explore the majestic islands of the South Pacific on a half cruise ship, half cargo ship out of Tahiti
When I first started writing this column six years ago, one of the first cruise lines I wrote about was — and still is — one of the most unique experiences at sea.
Aranui Cruises specializes in supercool passenger-freighter cruises around the beautiful islands of French Polynesia. The company has been doing so since 1984 with a variety of vessels, most recently the Aranui 3, which sailed for the line from 2003 until late 2015.
Now, Aranui Cruises has a swanky new ship, the Aranui 5: a stunning vessel that is half cruise ship, half working freighter. At 126 metres in length, she can carry 254 guests in 103 cabins, most of which have private balconies. Her swept-back lines and arched superstructure certainly make her one of the most attractive cargo ships on the high seas, and her on-board amenities rival those of an expedition cruise ship. She’s even got a swimming pool.
The Aranui 5 sails a 14-day itinerary year-round to the Marquesas Islands, operating round trip from Papeete, Tahiti, which can be reached by air direct from Los Angeles and Honolulu.
Aranui calls its two-week run the “great highway to paradise” and its easy to see why: the ship offers 10 different ports of call, ranging from Bora Bora’s spectacular Society Islands to Nuku Hiva, Tahuata, and Rangiroa, which features some of the best scuba diving in the world.
But this journey is unique in that part of the fun is watching Aranui 5’s cargo operations. This ship serves as a vital link between cities and islands, delivering goods like Copra, citrus fruit, fish and barrels of Noni that are loaded throughout the journey, destined for Papeete.
On-board Aranui 5, guest lecturers join select departures to impart local history and culture on guests. Most lecturers for 2017 join sailings between July and October, but lecturers can be found on board throughout much of the year.
Staterooms rival those found on more traditional cruise ships, with all cabins featuring outside views. There are four suite categories (from the spacious Presidential Suites to the cosy Junior Suites), and four standard stateroom categories, two of which have private balconies.
If you’re looking for a big-ship cruise with distractions and Broadway-style shows, this one may not be for you. But if you’re a fan of small-ship cruisers where authentic experiences and education reign supreme, check Aranui out; it’s one of the most interesting ways to visit the South Pacific.
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