Aranui

CRUISE ALL INCLUSIVE
An all-inclusive cruise to visit the Marquesas, all in a very Polynesian atmosphere.

Why you'll like this adventure cruise:

- Unique concept to visit all the islands of the Marquesas
- All inclusive cruise (all meals + activities included)
- Kindness of the local staff
- Unmatched beauty of the Marquesas islands

Experience a unique circuit of a far ranging region of islands that has captured the imagination of writers and artists from Paul Gauguin and Robert Louis Stevenson to Pierre Loti and Herman Melville.

An unforgettable South Pacific adventure, discovering the intoxicating beauty of these lush, untouched Marquesas islands.

THE VESSEL:

Aranui 5 is a new custom-built, dual-purpose passenger/freighter that sails from Tahiti to the Marquesas, Tuamotu and Society Islands in French Polynesia on a 14 day all-inclusive cruise. 
Designed to offer all of the comforts of a cruise liner, while operating as a supply ship, Aranui 5 is classified as a small vessel, accommodating approximately 254 passengers and 103 cabins.
With 8 different guest decks, the interior decor reflects the Polynesian heritage of her owners and crew.  The ship features a restaurant where all the meals onboard are served in a casual setting; 2 lounges; 2 conference rooms, where guest lecturers will offer presentations on various topics related to the Marquesas; 4 bars, including the Sky Bar with sweeping panoramic views; an outdoor pool; a boutique; a massage room and a gym.

Passenger accommodations range from Premium exterior staterooms, more than 90 percent with a private balcony; to Standard exterior staterooms with a picture window or porthole; to Class C, shared dormitory style cabins with occupancy for 4 or 8. Aranui 5’s registry is France and thus sails under French pavilion.
  
As such, she operates under the strictest building and safety guidelines, including the requirements of international SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations and the French Coast Guard (CCS).

THE MARQUESAS ISLANDS:

The first view of the Marquesas are the mountain spires of Ua Pou, "volcanic needles like the pinnacles of some ornate church," as Robert Louis Stevenson wrote in 1880. Whenever the Aranui III docks, villagers gather on the pier to greet you. As the muscular crew unloads supplies -- from cement to sugar -- and loads sacks of copra (dried coconut meat), the well-trained, multi-lingual guides bring you to meet traditional artists and take you on breathtaking hikes to hidden jungle ruins.

You'll never forget sailing into Nuku Hiva’s spectacular bay, a giant volcanic amphitheater dominated by towering cliffs streaked with majestic waterfalls. There are dramatic dive sites or heartstopping views by helicopter. A decade before he wrote Moby Dick, 23- year-old Herman Melville jumped his whaling ship here in 1842. You’ll retrace his escape route on a spectacular Jeep safari over the mountains to mysterious jungle river valley, still much the same as Melville described it in his autobiographical first novel -- Typee. Hidden amidst the bamboo and vanilla vines, you’ll see stone tiki gods, sacred ritual sites and enigmatic petroglyphs of birds, fish and sacred turtles and fish carved on boulders.

Hiva Oa is where Paul Gauguin’s search for an unspoiled island ended. This artist with a lust for life painted his final masterpieces here. In the hill top cemetery where Gauguin is buried is the gravestone of another European who also was seduced by these islands - singer-composer Jacques Brel. The guides will show you mysterious jungle ruins -- the largest tikis outside the Easter Islands. Once used for religious rites, these humanlike stone sculptures are reminders of that a great civilization flourished here before the Europeans invaded.

Even though Fatu Hiva is a center of Marquesian culture, Aranui passengers usually are the only visitors to this remote, verdant island. You’ll see artists painting ancient designs on tapa cloth, making pareos (sarongs) and monoi, coconut oil scented with tiare blossoms. You’ll see woodworkers carving intricate bowls and spears. After hiking past towering cliffs with dizzying views of majestic waterfalls, cool off with a plunge in a secluded river pool.

On Ua Huka, the wild horses outnumber the 300 residents. Explore by horse or by jeep -- either way, you'll have magnificent views. Along the way, you’ll enjoy bounteous Marquesan buffets: barbecued rock lobster, poisson cru (raw fish marinated in lime juice and soaked in coconut milk), curried goat, breadfruit, taro and sweet red bananas.

Contact your EASYTahiti Travel Consultant for custom itineraries & expert advices on the Aranui Cruises