ARANUI Cruises

(Scroll down for sailing schedule)

The new Aranui III is a working freighter with 85 cabins. The Aranui is not a luxury cruise liner but is half-way between a modern-day cruise ship and an old island trader. It provides isolated villages in the Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands with all manner of meat, medicine, cement, lumber, fuel, beer and other staples. The freighter then brings back copra, pearl shells and other local products to the main islands. Watching the crew handle the movement of cargo is all part of the fascination of the voyage.

The name "Aranui" means "The Great Highway" in Maori, another great Polynesian culture. The current Aranui was originally built as a freighter for the Baltic trades, with unusually thick hull plates because of floating ice often found in that area. She was modified in Germany in 1990, when additional passenger cabins were added aft. With the additional passenger cabins, she was reclassified as a passenger vessel. To meet the strict requirements of international SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations, many additional safety features were added during the modification, including additional life boats and life rafts and enhanced fire safety systems.

The vessel is French registry, and crewed primarily by Marquesans. They are extremely skillful and very hospitable. It is often their custom to give an impromptu concert in the evenings, both for their own and our passengers pleasure.

The ship's large, family-style dining room offers French and Polynesian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. On board, you can enjoy the swimming pool and gym, cocktails in the two bars, and  a library. Special facilities are offered for fishing, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. You'll learn about Marquesan history, culture and art from the guest lecturers.

The ship features a small boutique where various sundries, clothing and souvenirs are available. There are washing machines and dryers aboard, but dry cleaning is not available. There is also a bar and video room, which has a television, VCR and a small collection of videotapes. 

The electrical current in the cabins is 220 volt 50 cycle AC, using French-style plugs. If you have any small appliances, please make sure you have voltage converters and plug adapters needed to use the ship's standard power.

The vessel accepts traveler's checks and credit cars for on-board purchases. Sorry, no personal checks. Lock boxes are available on board for passenger convenience. However, Aranui does not accept custody or responsibility for passenger valuables or money.

There are 10 suites aboard the Aranui.

These cabins are located on the Sun and Star deck. There are 10 Deluxe cabins, all of which outside cabins with a queen size bed,m private facilities including a bathtub, and a refrigerator. All cabins are air conditioned and have windows, 2 cabins without balcony and 8 cabins are with balcony.

There are 12 Deluxe Cabins aboard the Aranui.

These cabins are located on the Sun and Star deck. There are 12 Deluxe cabins, all of which are outside cabins with a queen size bed, private facilities including a bathtub, and a refrigerator. All cabins are air conditioned and have windows.

There are 63 Standard Class cabins aboard the Aranui.

The cabins are located on the main A & B decks. Standard are all outside cabins with two lower berths. Outside cabins have portholes. Each cabin has private facilities, including a shower. All cabins are air conditioned.
 

Class C
Dormitory style, upper and lower berths, air conditioned, share facilities, located on restaurant deck.
 

Itinerary:

Day 1 Departure from dock in Papeete, Tahiti at 7:00 P.M.

Day 2 Takapoto, Tuamotu Islands
The first port of call in your Polynesian voyage will be the tiny island of Takapoto.
Multi-lingual guides will take you on a tour of a picturesque village, past thick coconut groves. Swim and snorkel in the lagoon dense with exotic tropical fish and then enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach. Afterwards, local pearl farmers will show you how they harvest their famous black pearls from black lipped Polynesian oysters.

Day 3 At Sea

Day 4 Ua Pou (Hakahau-Hakahetau), Marquesas
Your first view of Ua Pou may be the clouds wreathing the peak of Oave. Oave is a gigantic volcanic plug that rises almost 4,000 feet above sea level. You can explore the little village of Hakahau where you will enjoy a Marquesan lunch-breadfruit, rock lobster, poisson cru (raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk) and other local delicacies. A short hike will take you to a vista point, which affords a lovely view of the sheer peaks and valleys of this beautiful island.

Day 5 Nuku Hiva (Taiohae)
The first call the Aranui makes in Nuku Hiva is Taiohae, the administrative center of the Marquesas. Taiohae Bay is a giant volcanic amphitheatre, the remnants of a volcanic crater. Around the bay are towering cliffs streaked by waterfalls. It was there that a young Herman Melville deserted his whaling ship and fled to the Taipivai Valley. His stay with the cannibal Taipi tribe was the basis for his famous novel Typee. You will be taken by jeep along a steep, winding dirt road to this secluded valley. Taipivai Valley contains a treasure grove of stone tiki gods, the remains of massive platforms on which the Taipi built their houses and sacred sites and enigmatic carvings of turtles, birds and fish on huge boulders. You will return on the Aranui's whaleboats to her anchorage in Taipivai Bay. There is excellent scuba diving in the area and the Centre de Plongee Marquises in Taiohae offers equipment for rent and certified instructors.

Day 6 Nuku Hiva (Taiohae-Taipivai)

Day 7 Hiva Oa (Atuona)

Day 8 Fatu Hiva (Omoa-Hanavave)
Lush and tropical, Fatu Hiva is a center of Marquesan crafts. You will visit both the villages of Omoa and Hanavave. Hanavave is located on the Bay of Virgins, one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

Day 9 Hiva Oa (Puamau-Hanaiapa)
You'll travel by foot or by jeep to the most important archaeological site for tiki (representing ancestors) other than Easter Island. Trained guides will show you these mysterious jungle ruins of Puamau and tell the stories of these haunting statues of an ancient civilization. Bring plenty of film!In Hiva Oa, explore Atuona, the 2nd largest village in Marquesas. This is where Paul Gauguin lived and did some of his best work. You can visit the colonial store where Gauguin shopped and go into a replica of the painter's infamous "House of Pleasure".

Day 10 Ua Huka (Haavei)
Ua Huka is the center for Marquesan handicrafts. This tiny island's five hundred or so inhabitants are outnumbered by the horses that wander freely about. You can explore the island by jeep, or saddle up one of the horses for a more leisurely tour. Be sure to visit the many workshops of the local artists, where they create beautiful pieces of Marquesan handicrafts.
A delicious lunch is provided at the local restaurant, and after your return to the Aranui, it is Polynesian night with dancing and a buffet dinner on deck.

Day 11 Ua Huka (Hane-Vaipaee-Hokatu)

Day 12 Nuku Hiva (Hatiheu-Anaho-Akapa)

Day 13 Nuku Hiva (taiohae), Ua Pou (Hakahau)

Day 14 At Sea

Day 15 Fakarava, Tuamotu Islands
Fakarava, a protected nature reserve, is an untouched world where nesting birds and marine life live in harmony with the land and water. The rich ecosystem is home to rare birds, plants and crustaceans and the dive sites are virtually undiscovered. Life along the shores is equally unique with quaint villages; old coral churches; and warm, welcoming people.

Day 16 Arrival back in Papeete at 9:00 A.M.

Arrival and departure times may vary. Please consult Papeete office for most accurate times.

***MATAVA'A ITI: Every four years, the Marquesas Islands organize the Art Festival with the participation of several delegations from the Polynesian triangle, such
as Hawaii, Easter Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, etc..

The last Art Festival was held in December 2003 on the island of Hiva Oa. The next one will be in 2007 in the island of Ua Pou. For the first time, the island of Tahuata will organize a mini festival gathering only the Marquesan population on March 6-8, 2006. The purpose of this Matava'a Iti is to preserve the Marquesan culture, to consolidate and to deepen the cultural relationship among the group of islands from the archipelago and the Marquesan population living in Tahiti.

The theme of this Matava'a Iti is the breadfruit (the Me'i), a symbol of the cultural link between the Marquesan with their past, which must be preserved in order to pass on to future generations.