Cruise ARANUI, a genuine Polynesian Mana

A cruise on board ARANUI 5 brings you to the Polynesian Mana 

by Earl of Cruise

ARANUI 5 sailing to Nuku Hiva - courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

One of the joys of taking a cruise on board the ARANUI 5 (Ger/DE - Eng), in Polynesian - the great highway, is the opportunity to become immersed in Polynesian culture and especially in the Marquesan culture as the ship docks at some of the most remote islands in the world.

ARANUI 5 is a working cargo ship, which is transporting passengers and vacationers, and sailing into the most remote group of islands in French Polynesia, the Tuamotu Atoll and the Marquesas. These voyages have become over the last decade more and more appealing. Therefore a new ship was ordered to replace in 2015 the rather young ARANUI 3 (2003).

ARANUI 5 sailing into the Bay of Virgins, Fatu Hiva, Marquesas - courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

Since Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville (Ger/DE - Eng),12 November 1729 – 31 August 1811, a French admiral and explorer, published 1771 his travel log from the expedition (a world circumnavigation 1766 till 1769) under the title Le Voyage autour du monde, par la frégate LA BOUDEUSE et la flûte L`ETOILE *, Tahiti and his Isles is known to the world as the paradise on earth, the new Cythera, `le jardin d´Eden´.

Polynesian men rowing a canoe, Marquesas - courtesy Tahiti Tourisme, photo © Raymond Sahuquet

The Marquesas had been rediscovered by captain James Cook in 1771. The Spanish had been first. But lost interest in the isles, as their policy in the Pacific was shifting to the north. It has been the Spanish navigator Alvaro de Mendaña de Neyra who discorvered the Marquesas isles in 1595. He named them, honoring the Viceroy of Peru, Las Islas Marquesas Don García Hurtado de Mendoza y Manrique y Canete. He landed July 21st 1595 on Fatu Hiva.

Later the magic of the Marquesas, their nature and inhabitants, was discovered, and got their attraction, by Paul Gauguin, Robert Louis Stevenson, Thor Heyerdahl and Jacques Brel.

Passengers board the ARANUI 5 in Papeete, Tahiti, for an awe-inspiring 14-day holiday, which stops in the Tuamotu (Takapotu) Archipelago, Rangiroa and Bora Bora in the Society Islands, on its way to and from the Marquesas.

ARANUI 5 routing, Marquesas - copy from broshure, courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

Passengers travelling on ARANUI 5, `The freighter to paradise´ ©, will be greeted in the traditional Polynesian way, with the warmest of welcomes and a fresh flower garland or lei, as they travel the 2,200 miles from Papeete in Tahiti to the stunningly beautiful Marquesas Islands.

ARANUI 5, Marquesas - courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

After ARANUI 3 the ARANUI 5? ... Why? The number `4´ is considered to be bad luck by the third generation Tahitian-Chinese family who own the cruise company.

The 14-night voyage on board ARANUI 5, which stops at each of the six inhabited Marquesas, gives travellers the opportunity to meet islanders, marvel at the amazing volcanic peaks soaring thousands of feet into the sky, hike to spectacular waterfalls, visit one of the many archaeological sites with their distinctive stone tiki statues, and learn more about the ancient traditions and artistic heritage of the Polynesian culture.

Onshore experiences include hikes, visits to sacred ritual sites, encounters with local artisans, a visit to renowned French artist Paul Gauguin’s grave, snorkelling in the truly translucent waters of the atolls, a trip to a pearl farm for the famed Tahitian Black Pearl and delicious picnics on white-sand beaches.

Polynesian men with tatau (tatoo), Marquesas - courtesy Tahiti Tourisme, photo © Ty Swayer

"The best holidays leave lasting impressions, but some of our passengers go a step further and opt to imprint a symbol of their experience directly on to their skin," says Jules Wong, Marketing Director for Aranui. "We aim for full cultural immersion and this is one of the ways travellers can take a piece of the Marquesas home with them."

Among the shore experiences, offered on a cruise on board ARANUI 5, which take this philosophy to the next level, is the chance to have a traditional Polynesian tattoo, carried out by a native artist in what is considered to be the birthplace of tattooing. In traditional Polynesian culture, tatau (tattoos) play an important role in society, symbolising major life events, rites of passage, social status, heroism, hunting and fishing prowess, family identity and religious power.

The Polynesian art was revived in the 1980s after a long prohibition period, enforced by Anglican and free-church missionaries, and has become increasingly popular worldwide due to its unique aesthetic and rich history.

ARANUI 5, the `freighter to paradise´ ©, arriving in Papeete, Tahiti in 2015 - courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

The inaugural cruise coincided with the Marquesas Art Festival - held in the far-flung archipelago once every four years - provided guests with a rare double thrill of local ceremonies at each maiden port as well as a spectacular celebration of Polynesian culture and tradition during the ship’s call to Hiva Oa.

ARANUI 5 passenger accomodations - copy from broshure, courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

With capacity for 254 passengers, ARANUI 5 offers a range of accommodation options, from the operator’s first single staterooms to new premium and deluxe categories, styled in a natural colour palette, with Polynesian flourishes including Marquesan-inspired décor and Paul Gauguin prints. 30 spacious Suites, 28 Deluxe and Superior Deluxe Staterooms, with balconies; two Junior Suites and three Superior Deluxe, without balconies; and 40 Staterooms, all beautifully appointed with your well-being in mind. For the more adventurous, the shared space in C Class will accommodate 24 passengers.

ARANUI 5 deck plan - copy from broshure, courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

To cater to the demand for balcony cabins, more than half of the ship’s rooms (60) feature a private balcony - five times more than offered on ARANUI 3.

The new cruise freighter also offers suites with king beds, airconditioned public spaces including a restaurant, two conference rooms, lounges, a library, a computer room, a boutique, a swimming pool with a whirlpool, a fitness room, a spa and four bars, including the Sky bar, popular since the days of ARANUI 3.

ARANUI 5 dining room - courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

The large, family-style dining room offers excellent French and Polynesian cuisine. Dress is island casual, no tux, just a fragrant tiare (flower) behind your ear. Air conditioning will keep you comfortable in the cabin and public areas.

There are two passenger elevators.

Popular ARANUI 5 crewman `Mahalo´ - courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime © R. Eime

ARANUI 5’s 14-day roundtrip cruises from Papeete visit Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Tahuata, Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka in the Marquesas, Takapoto and Rangiroa in the Tuamotus and the famed Society Island of Bora Bora.

ARANUI 5 serving the islands of the Marquesas - courtesy Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime ©

The freighter line, with ARANUI 5 as its vessel, dispenses a lifeline of food, fuel and other staples to remote island ports while passengers disembark and explore a range of complimentary excursions including hikes, 4WD tours, a visit to the Paul Gauguin museum and a picnic on a secluded beach in Bora Bora. Some island ports have still no landing fascilities, for which staples have to be tendered. Watching this is an experience in itself.

And do not be surprised by cowboys in the Marquesas.

Time passes quickly as you learn about the Marquesas from our guest lecturers, or, perfect your dance or hat-weaving skills. In the library, you can read how Melville, Stevenson and Heyerdahl describe these alluring islands as you experience them firsthand.

The prices for a ARANUI 5 voyage include all meals, excursions and wine with lunch and dinner onboard.

Polynesian dancer - courtesy Tahiti Tourisme ©

(the Polynesian Dance is the way of telling the stories of history, heros and religion and culture)

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In 1771, de Bougainville published his travel log from the expedition under the title Le voyage autour du monde, par la frégate LA BOUDEUSE, et la flûte L`ETOILE (a.k.a. Voyage autour du monde and A Voyage Around the World). The book describes the geography, biology and anthropology of Argentina (then a Spanish colony), Patagonia, Tahiti and Indonesia (then a Dutch colony).

The book was a sensation, especially the description of Tahitian society. De Bougainville described it as an earthly paradise where men and women lived in blissful innocence, far from the corruption of civilisation.

De Bougainville's descriptions powerfully expressed the concept of the noble savage, influencing the utopian thoughts of philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau before the advent of the French Revolution. Denis Diderot's book Supplément au voyage de Bougainville retells the story of de Bougainville's landing on Tahiti, narrated by an anonymous reader to one of his friends. Diderot used his fictional approach, including a description of the Tahitians as noble savages, to criticise Western, European, ways of living and thinking.

Source: Wikipedia

* despite the Anglo-Saxon (English) use of `female´ ship names, the French use to make and name each their ships `male´, le bateau, le bateau paque, le navire, etc., and therefore the article `le´ - which means: le LA BOUDEUSE, le L´ETOILE, le ARANUI 5, etc.

Polynesian outrigger canoe- courtesy © Tim McKenna

Luxurious discovery in French Polynesia with PAUL GAUGUIN