TAHITI”S ARANUI CRUISES will introduce a second ship to its fleet for the first time, with construction of a new passenger/cargo ship vessel underway at Huanghai Shipbuilding facility in Shandong, China.
The 116-metre-long Aranoa will cruise French Polynesia’s south from 2027, carrying cargo and just under 200 guests on itineraries to the Austral Islands.
Like current vessel Aranui 5, Aranoa is designed as a mixed passenger-freighter vessel, equipped with all the latest mod cons and technology for passenger comfort and to minimise the ship’s environmental impact, the company says.
Aranoa, known in Tahitian as a “great awakening”, will accommodate 198 passengers across 93 cabins, most (62) with a private balcony. The ship will feature two restaurants, two bars, two spa pools, a boutique, a health spa, a fitness centre, and a tattoo salon in line with Aranui’s first tattoo parlour at sea.
While Aranui 5 will continue to sail the northern Marquesas Islands where Aranui has been offering cargo cruises for more than 40 years, Aranoa will head south offering cruises to the remote and untouched Austral Islands. The off-the-beaten-track archipelago is home to five inhabited islands – Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae and Rapa.
In line with the sustainable cruise model offered in the Marquesas, Aranui will work with the Austral communities to foster inclusive tourism with the aim of slowly developing the archipelago by offering a small and steady flow of tourists to create jobs and economic opportunities, while also promoting inter-island exchanges as cargo is carried back and forth, the company says.
Aranui Cruises Australia and New Zealand Representative Laurent Wong said it was an exciting time for the cruise line.
“Aranui Cruises’ new ship Aranoa will soon embark on its main mission: supplying the remote Austral Islands and its residents with provisions, while also offering our guests the chance to be among the first to discover the magnificent, untouched and breathtaking islands in French Polynesia’s south,” Mr Wong said.
“In building a brand-new ship that is dedicated to the Australs, we are the first to bring regular, sustainable tourist exploration to the southern islands, marking a significant investment for us and reinforcing our company’s commitment to help develop economies in the remote islands of French Polynesia. This is the first time we have operated more than one cruise ship, so this is a significant milestone for Aranui, not long after we marked our 40th anniversary of cargo cruising in the Marquesas Islands last year.”
Aranui Cruises will announce Aranoa’s 2027 sailing schedule later this year.
