Aranui Cruises has updated its 2027 program, with some exciting new island destinations added to Aranoa’s maiden season.
New-build Aranoa, which is due to commence sailing for the boutique cruise line in early 2027, will now visit Society Islands gems Maupiti, with its Bora Bora-like blue lagoon, and lush ‘Garden of Eden’ Huahine, as part of her Austral Islands voyages without Rapa Iti. Rapa is only included in a limited number of voyages as the untouched southern island, home to a tiny community of 500 residents, works closely with the cruise line to create a small, sustainable flow of tourism.
Aranoa’s new 13-day itinerary will now offer a call to Maupiti or Huahine as well as Raiatea and Bora Bora – all in the Society Islands – and four picturesque Austral Islands in the south of French Polynesia.
The 198-guest Aranoa will offer eight departures of the revamped Austral Island cruises throughout 2027, four featuring a call to Maupiti and four with Huahine.
To launch the new itinerary, Aranui is offering 15 per cent off Aranoa’s Austral Islands cruises with Maupiti or Huahine, with the discounted voyages priced from A$7768* per person twin share, a saving of A$1262.
The 116-metre-long mixed passenger-freighter vessel will also offer six Austral Islands cruises to all five inhabited islands including Rapa.
Aranoa’s 13-day Austral Islands voyages with Rapa are currently 15 per cent off, priced from A$8049*per person twin share, a saving of A$1311.
The discounted crises are on sale until May 31, 2026, for new bookings only.
Aranoa will offer a total of 18 cruises in her maiden season, mostly delivering cargo to the southern Austral Islands, as well as a series of cruises without freight delivery including a five-day short cruise to Makatea, Mataiva and Anaa in the Tuamotus, a special trip to the Marquesas Islands in December 2027 for the biennial Arts Festival, plus two 12-day voyages to Pitcairn and the Gambiers, which include an overnight stay at Pitcairn.
When Aranoa joins Aranui 5 cruising the South Pacific next year, it will be the first time the French Polynesian cruise line has operated two ships simultaneously.
While Aranui’s brand new ship, Aranoa, cruises to all five archipelagoes in her maiden season, 125-metre mixed freight and passenger vessel Aranui 5 will continue to service the Marquesas Islands with 20 voyages to the far-flung northern islands.
Just as an Aranui passenger-freighter has been doing for more than 40 years, Aranui 5 will continue to deliver cargo to the six inhabited Marquesas Islands – Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva – allowing guests to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed region while the Polynesian crew unloads goods for locals. This itinerary also features calls at Tuamotu atolls Rangiroa and Fakarava, as well as the famed Bora Bora, to break up the journey to and from the Marquesas.
Aranui Cruises Australia and New Zealand Representative Laurent Wong said it was an exciting time for the boutique cruise line.
“As we look ahead to our first two-ship program in 2027, and count down the days until our beautiful new ship Aranoa arrives, we are making final preparations and have refined some details of her schedule. Now that we have added the pristine Society Islands of Huahine and Maupiti to Aranoa’s Austral Islands itinerary sans Rapa, we have created an even more appealing voyage that takes guests to no less than seven of the most beautiful islands in the world in one very special voyage,” Laurent said.
“From Rapa and Raivavae to Huahine and Hiva Oa, Aranoa will sail all around the South Pacific in her maiden season, and we can’t wait to welcome Australian guests onboard to see the very best of French Polynesia from the stylish decks of our new ship.”
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.
Aranoa, known in Tahitian as a “great awakening”, will accommodate 198 guests 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.
The 230-guest 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.
