French Polynesia · Marquesas Islands

Aranui Cruises

Part passenger ship, part working freighter. Aranui offers one of the most unique cruise experiences on the planet – carrying both guests and vital supplies to the remote Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. This is adventure cruising with genuine purpose, blending Polynesian culture, dramatic volcanic landscapes, and warm local hospitality into a voyage you won’t find anywhere else.

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The World’s Last Passenger Freighter

Aranui is something different entirely. A family-owned Polynesian company operating since 1984, they run what’s widely considered the last mixed passenger-cargo vessel of its kind. The Aranui 5, their flagship, carries up to 254 passengers alongside essential cargo – food, building materials, vehicles – to some of the most isolated communities in the South Pacific. You’re not just a tourist here. You’re part of the lifeline that connects these islands to the wider world. The voyage itself is a 13-day round trip from Tahiti through the Tuamotu atolls and across the Marquesas archipelago, visiting islands that most cruise ships simply can’t reach.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Aranui Cruises – Passenger-Cargo Adventure Voyages, Family-Owned

Fleet: Aranui 5 – a purpose-built passenger-freighter accommodating up to 254 guests

Destinations: French Polynesia (Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Society Islands), with seasonal voyages to Pitcairn Islands and Cook Islands

Signature Feature: The world’s last mixed passenger-cargo vessel, delivering supplies to remote Marquesas communities while passengers explore ashore

Philosophy: “More than a cruise – a voyage of discovery to the most remote islands on Earth.”

  • Ship accommodations ranging from dormitory-style to premium suites
  • Three meals daily featuring French and Polynesian cuisine
  • Complimentary wine and beer with lunch and dinner
  • All guided shore excursions at every port of call
  • Cultural performances and Polynesian entertainment onboard
  • Lectures by onboard guides on Marquesan history, art, and culture
  • Use of ship facilities including pool, fitness room, lounge, and library
  • Tattoo artist demonstrations and Polynesian craft workshops
  • Beach barbecues on remote island shores

  • One-of-a-kind experience aboard the world’s last passenger-freighter
  • Access to remote Marquesas Islands unreachable by conventional cruise ships
  • Deep cultural immersion with authentic Polynesian experiences at every stop
  • Family-owned Polynesian company with genuine local connections spanning four decades
  • Intimate ship size fostering a close-knit community among travelers
  • Watch cargo operations unfold at each island – a fascinating experience in itself
  • Onboard experts sharing knowledge of Marquesan archaeology, tattoo art, and island ecology

Main Restaurant: Open-seating dining serving a mix of French-inspired and traditional Polynesian dishes at breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Polynesian Buffets: Special themed meals celebrating local ingredients and cooking traditions from the islands visited

Beach Barbecues: Unforgettable meals prepared on the shores of remote Marquesas beaches, surrounded by volcanic peaks and pristine lagoons

Complimentary Beverages: Wine and beer included with lunch and dinner daily

The cuisine reflects where you are. Expect fresh-caught fish, tropical fruits, and dishes prepared with a distinctly French-Polynesian flair that you genuinely won’t find on any other cruise ship.

The Aranui 5 offers several accommodation categories to suit different budgets and travel styles. At the top end, spacious Royal and Presidential Suites feature private balconies, separate living areas, and premium amenities. Standard cabins come with ocean-view windows or portholes and comfortable furnishings.

For budget-conscious adventurers, the ship also offers dormitory-style accommodations with shared facilities – a nod to the vessel’s freighter heritage. All cabin categories include air conditioning, storage space, and daily housekeeping.

The range of options means the Aranui experience is accessible whether you prefer suite-level comfort or a more adventurous, backpacker-friendly approach.

At a Glance

Adventure Cruising

All-Inclusive

Voyage to the Marquesas

  • 13-day round trip from Tahiti
  • All meals with French-Polynesian cuisine
  • Wine & beer with lunch and dinner
  • All guided shore excursions included
  • Cultural performances & lectures
  • Beach barbecues on remote islands
  • Unique cargo operations experience

Explore

Discover Aranui

A white cruise ship named Aranui 5 anchored near a densely forested mountainous coastline with green hills and tropical vegetation. The ship appears to be a specialized expedition or cargo-cruise vessel positioned in a scenic maritime setting.

A Voyage With Purpose

The Marquesas Islands sit roughly 900 miles northeast of Tahiti, scattered across one of the most remote stretches of ocean on the planet. No airport connects most of them. No regular ferry service. For many of these communities, the Aranui is the primary connection to the outside world. Watching the crew unload everything from cement bags to refrigerators while islanders gather at the dock – that’s not a scheduled excursion. It’s real life. And between those working stops, you’re hiking to archaeological sites, swimming in crystal-clear bays, visiting ancient tikis hidden in the jungle, and sitting down to beachside feasts prepared by locals who genuinely want to share their home with you.

French-Polynesian Cuisine at Sea

Food on the Aranui isn’t trying to be something it’s not. It’s honest, generous, and surprisingly good. The kitchen blends French culinary tradition with Polynesian ingredients – think poisson cru (the local take on ceviche), fresh mahi-mahi, tropical fruit that was probably picked that morning. Three meals a day, all included, with wine and beer at lunch and dinner. The standout moments happen off the ship though. Beach barbecues on uninhabited Marquesas shores, where the crew roasts whole fish and lays out spreads of island food while you sit on the sand watching the waves come in. There’s nothing performative about it. Just good food, beautiful scenery, and people who clearly love feeding you.

An aerial view of a cruise ship navigating through a stunning turquoise lagoon surrounded by lush green mountainous islands. The landscape features dramatic volcanic peaks and coral reefs visible beneath the crystal-clear waters.
A white research or supply vessel navigating through a picturesque bay with lush green mountainous coastline, accompanied by a small support boat or platform.

Deep Cultural Immersion

The Marquesas are where Polynesian culture runs deepest. These islands inspired Paul Gauguin’s most famous paintings and were home to one of the most sophisticated ancient civilizations in the Pacific. On every island stop, you’re welcomed by locals with traditional dance performances, flower garlands, and a warmth that feels completely genuine. Onboard, experts give lectures on Marquesan archaeology, traditional navigation techniques, and the history of tattoo art – which originated here. You can even watch a traditional tattoo artist at work on the ship. Between the village visits, the archaeological hikes, and the evenings spent with fellow passengers swapping stories on the upper deck, the Aranui creates a kind of travel experience that bigger ships simply cannot replicate.

Experience

The Aranui Difference

One-of-a-Kind Vessel

The Aranui 5 is the only passenger-freighter of its kind still operating. Watching cargo operations at each island port is a fascinating window into daily life in the remote Pacific. No other cruise line offers this blend of working ship and passenger comfort.

Truly Remote Destinations

The Marquesas Islands are among the most isolated inhabited places on Earth. You’ll visit islands with no airport, no hotel, and fewer than a hundred residents. These aren’t ports of call – they’re communities that welcome you as a guest in their home.

Authentic Polynesian Heritage

Aranui is Polynesian-owned and crewed by locals who grew up on these islands. The cultural connection is real. From the traditional welcome ceremonies to the onboard entertainment and lectures, every part of the experience comes from people who live this culture daily.

A white and blue cruise ship anchored in turquoise waters near a lush, mountainous tropical island with dramatic green and rocky terrain. The landscape features steep cliffs covered in verdant vegetation under a cloudy blue sky.

Comfortable Cabins for Every Traveler

The Aranui 5 was purpose-built in 2015 to combine cargo capacity with genuine passenger comfort. The suite categories offer spacious private balconies, king-size beds, and separate sitting areas – a far cry from what you might expect on a working freighter. Deluxe and standard cabins feature ocean-view windows, air conditioning, and the same warm Polynesian decor found throughout the ship. For travelers who prefer to keep things simple, shared dormitory-style cabins echo the adventurous spirit of the voyage itself. Common areas include a swimming pool, spa, fitness room, two lounges, a library, and a boutique. It’s not a mega-ship by any measure. But that’s rather the point.

Images

Gallery

An aerial view of a cruise ship navigating through a stunning turquoise lagoon surrounded by lush green mountainous islands. The landscape features dramatic volcanic peaks and coral reefs visible beneath the crystal-clear waters.
A white cruise ship named Aranui 5 anchored near a densely forested mountainous coastline with green hills and tropical vegetation. The ship appears to be a specialized expedition or cargo-cruise vessel positioned in a scenic maritime setting.
A white research or supply vessel navigating through a picturesque bay with lush green mountainous coastline, accompanied by a small support boat or platform.
A white cruise ship sailing near a lush, green mountainous island with dramatic coastal terrain. The turquoise and deep blue waters create a stunning contrast with the verdant landscape.
A white and blue cruise ship anchored in turquoise waters near a lush, mountainous tropical island with dramatic green and rocky terrain. The landscape features steep cliffs covered in verdant vegetation under a cloudy blue sky.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Aranui cruises are genuinely all-inclusive. Your fare covers accommodations, three meals daily featuring French-Polynesian cuisine, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, all guided shore excursions at every port of call, onboard cultural performances and entertainment, expert lectures on Marquesan history and culture, use of the swimming pool, fitness room, spa, lounges, and library. Beach barbecues on remote island shores are also included. About the only extras are spa treatments, the onboard boutique, and premium spirits at the bar.

There’s really nothing else like it. The Aranui 5 is the world’s last mixed passenger-cargo vessel, carrying both travelers and essential supplies to the remote Marquesas Islands. It’s family-owned, Polynesian-operated, and crewed largely by locals from the islands you visit. The destinations themselves are unreachable by conventional cruise ships – many of these islands have no airport and no hotel. You’re travelling alongside the cargo that keeps these communities connected, and that gives the whole experience a sense of purpose that a typical cruise simply doesn’t have.

The signature itinerary is a 13-day round trip from Papeete, Tahiti, sailing through the Tuamotu atolls and visiting six of the Marquesas Islands – Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Ua Pou, and Ua Huka. Aranui also offers seasonal voyages to the Pitcairn Islands (one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth), the Cook Islands, and the Austral Islands. Each route is designed to reach destinations that other cruise lines can’t access.

The Aranui 5 accommodates up to 254 passengers. In practice, most sailings carry fewer than that. The intimate size means you’ll quickly get to know fellow travelers and the crew – many passengers describe the atmosphere as more like a group expedition than a traditional cruise. The ship also carries a substantial cargo hold, which is part of what makes the whole experience so distinctive.

The ship offers a wide range of accommodations. At the premium end, the Royal Suites and Presidential Suites feature private balconies, separate living areas, and upgraded amenities. Deluxe cabins offer ocean-view windows with comfortable furnishings. Standard cabins provide a more modest but still comfortable option with portholes or windows. For budget-minded adventurers, shared dormitory-style accommodations are available – a unique option that echoes the ship’s freighter heritage and keeps the voyage accessible to a wider range of travelers.

The cuisine blends French culinary tradition with Polynesian flavors – fresh fish, tropical fruits, and locally inspired dishes served three times daily. Wine and beer are complimentary at lunch and dinner. Some of the best meals happen off the ship during beach barbecues on remote Marquesas shores, where the crew prepares whole grilled fish and spreads of island specialties right on the sand. Don’t expect a dozen specialty restaurants. Do expect surprisingly good food served with genuine warmth.

Aranui welcomes families, and many multi-generational groups find the cultural experiences particularly rewarding for older children and teenagers. The shore excursions involve hiking, swimming, and hands-on cultural activities that engage younger travelers. That said, there are no dedicated kids’ clubs or children’s programming onboard. Families with curious, adventure-minded kids tend to have a wonderful time. For very young children, the long sea days and expedition-style pace may be less suitable.

The Marquesas voyage includes several sea days as you cross open ocean between island groups. These are relaxed affairs – time by the pool, lectures from onboard experts, Polynesian craft workshops, tattoo demonstrations, and simply watching the Pacific roll by. Many passengers say the sea days are where the real community forms. You’ll have time to read, chat with fellow travelers, and decompress in a way that packed port schedules don’t allow. The ship also hosts cultural performances and movie screenings in the evenings.

Yes. All Aranui voyages depart from and return to Papeete, Tahiti. Most passengers fly into Faa’a International Airport, which is served by several airlines from the US West Coast, Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific destinations. We recommend arriving at least one day early to adjust to the time zone and explore Papeete. Our team can help arrange pre-cruise hotel stays and airport transfers to make the logistics seamless.

The Aranui 5 is a substantial vessel at over 126 meters in length, and it handles open ocean reasonably well. That said, the crossing between the Tuamotus and the Marquesas does involve open Pacific waters, and some motion is normal. If you’re prone to seasickness, it’s worth preparing with medication or patches. Most passengers find it manageable, and the crew is experienced at helping guests adjust. Once among the Marquesas Islands, the waters tend to be calmer.

Aranui sailings are a significant investment, and the voyage itself is unlike anything most travelers have experienced before. When you book through Cruise Help, you get a team of 23+ expert advisors who can walk you through the cabin categories, help you choose the right itinerary, and handle all the logistics around flights to Tahiti and pre-cruise arrangements. We offer access to exclusive group rates with savings up to 50% off published fares – even for a single cabin. We monitor your booking weekly and adjust the rate automatically if the price drops. And we never charge booking, consultation, or change fees. For a voyage this unique, it helps to have someone in your corner who knows the details.

Get Started

Ready for a Voyage Like No Other?

The Aranui isn’t for everyone. It’s for travelers who want something real – a voyage with purpose, to places most people will never see, aboard a ship that actually matters to the communities it visits. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, our expert advisors at Cruise Help are ready to help you plan it. With exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no fees – ever – your Marquesas voyage starts here.