Aranui 5 Arrives in New Home Port of Papeete, Tahiti First Voyage Dec. 12, 2015 Through Marquesas Islands
The brand new 254-passenger Aranui 5 passenger-freighter ship, has arrived to its home port of Papeete, Tahiti and is scheduled for its inaugural sailing on Dec. 12, 2015. The new ship is a custom-built, dual-purpose vessel that sails from Tahiti to the Marquesas, Tuamotu and Society Islands in French Polynesia on a 14-day all-inclusive itinerary.
The Aranui 5 replaces the Aranui 3 which began service in 2003.
Aranui serves as a lifeline to the inhabitants of the Marquesas islands, bringing supplies to each principal village and several remote valleys 17 times per year.
On this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, passengers board the ship in Papeete, Tahiti, for a complete vacation experience sailing 800 miles north to some of most spectacular and remote islands in the world, where they will be fully immersed in the Polynesian culture.
The Aranui 5 visits Takapoto and Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago, Bora Bora in the Society Islands, as well as Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata and Ua Huka in the Marquesas Islands.
The ship features 103 cabins specially designed with added space for passengers’ comfort and pleasure while the ship’s interior decor reflects the Polynesian heritage.
Travelers sailing on the Aranui 5 can select from eight different cabin categories with accommodations ranging from Premium exterior staterooms (more than 90 percent with a private balcony) and Standard exterior staterooms with a picture window or porthole to Class C shared dormitory style cabins with occupancy for four to eight people.
Room categories are Presidential Suite, Royal Suite, Premium Suite, Junior Suite (without balcony), Superior Deluxe, Deluxe, Stateroom and Class C -providing a variety of room configurations.
Public areas on the Aranui 5 include a reception area, casual restaurant, four bars, including the Sky Bar with sweeping panoramic views, dancing room, two conference rooms, two lounges, library, video and computer room, boutique, outdoor swimming pool with a whirlpool, fitness room and massage room.
The decor features Marquesan designs, Paul Gauguin prints and original paintings by Erhard Lux, a German artist who lives part-time in Moorea. The ship also features air-conditioning in all passenger areas and indoor public spaces as well as two elevators.
The voyage includes shore experiences such as awe-inspiring hikes past waterfalls and sacred ritual sites, encounters with local artisans, a visit to French artist Paul Gauguin’s grave, snorkeling in the translucent waters of the atolls, on-island picnics and restaurant lunches featuring local food, a visit to a pearl farm and more.
The cruise includes three meals daily with complimentary wine for onboard lunches and dinners, guided excursions as outlined in the itinerary, picnics and meals on shore. Optional excursions such as scuba diving, horseback riding and fishing are available for an additional charge. Prices for an Aranui 5 vacation start at $2,781 per person and do not include port tax, cruise tax and tourism tax, which may total up to $243.
Featuring a primarily Polynesian crew composed of sailors from the Marquesas and throughout the Tahitian Islands, and with expert lecturers and guides, the Aranui 5 will provide a unique spin on hospitality which combines with mesmerizing scenery to create an unforgettable soft-adventure and cultural experience.
(Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime – Aranui)
