Aranui Cruises has released its 2026 program featuring more voyages to French Polynesia’s southern Austral Islands and a short Tuamotus cruise.
In the newly released 2026 program, 125-metre mixed freight and passenger vessel Aranui 5 will offer a bumper 25 voyages, including an expanded program in the south of French Polynesia with four Austral Islands cruises offering the only way to see all five inhabited islands in the stunning southern archipelago. The 13-day Australs voyages call at Tubuai, Rurutu, Rimatara, Raivavae, known as the Bora Bora of the south, and Rapa Iti, which is only accessible by sea, with visits to Raiatea and Bora Bora on the return leg.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our program in the south of French Polynesia with four Austral Islands itineraries in 2026, more than ever before. With 250-guest Aranui 5 calling a few times a year, it’s a sustainable way to introduce these remote islands to tourism, while also offering avid Aranui fans a new itinerary to entice them back onboard to see their Aranui family,” Aranui Cruises Regional Representative Australia New Zealand Laurent Wong said.
In addition to its expanded Australs program in 2026, Aranui 5 will offer a short five-day cruise to picturesque Tuamotu atolls Mataiva, Makatea and Anaa, for those wanting to further immerse in the Tuamotus after a Marquesas Islands voyage or add a short cruise to a land-based French Polynesian itinerary.
Anaa- credit Lionel Gouverneur
After celebrating its 40th anniversary of cargo cruising in the Marquesas this year, the cruise line will continue to offer its beloved itinerary to French Polynesia’s remote Marquesas Islands with 20 12-day roundtrip cruises from Papeete delivering freight to the six inhabited Marquesas Islands – Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva – plus picturesque pitstops at Tuamotu atolls Fakarava, Rangiroa and Makatea, as well as Bora Bora.
To launch the new program, the boutique cruise line is offering a 15 per cent earlybird discount on Austral Islands voyages booked before December 31, 2024. The 13-day Austral Islands voyages depart February 14, March 28, September 12 and October 24, 2026, with discounted staterooms priced from A$7412* per person twin share.
As part of the earlybird sale, all 2026 Marquesas Islands and Tuamotu voyages are discounted by 10 per cent when booked by December 31, 2024, starting from A$7420* per person twin share in a stateroom on a Marquesas voyage. The discounted five-day Tuamotu cruise departing May 22, 2026, is priced from A$3364* per person twin share in a stateroom.
For the first time, Aranui is also offering a discount for back-to-back cruises, after seeing increased interest in guests booking consecutive voyages. The cruise line is offering a 15 per cent discount when any Marquesas voyage is booked before or after a discovery voyage to the Australs or Tuamotus.
With cargo delivery, as well as local crew, cuisine and culture, Aranui is the most authentic way to explore French Polynesia. An Aranui cruise includes thousands of dollars’ worth of shore excursions such as hikes, visits to archaeological sites and local feasts, a weekly laundry service, three meals per day and complimentary French wine with onboard lunches and dinners.
Aranui 5 features a restaurant, conference room, lounge, library, boutique, swimming pool, gym, spa, the first tattoo studio at sea and bars including the panoramic Sky bar and popular Veranda bar.
For more information visit www.aranuicruises.com.au
*Subject to availability, conditions apply. Discounts are only for new bookings and are available across all levels of accommodation (except the dormitory).
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