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In this video you’ll hear from Vaima Devimeux, Aranui Cruises’ sales and marketing representative for Europe.
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Environmental impact front of mind
In the video above we cover the main aspects of an Aranui cruise. Further discussion included the environment – a topic the line takes very seriously.
Devimeux explains that steps have been taken to ensure Aranui keeps its environmental impact to a minimum.
Its new ship will be part diesel-part electric and make less noise. The line is also part of various programmes to safeguard biodiversity.
“For example, in the Marquesas Islands, we are part of a programme to fight against rats in smaller islands, as these rats would eat the eggs of endemic birds.
“As a cargo ship there is a risk of us bringing unwanted guests, which are not good for the islands – so we take special measures to deliver only the cargo!”
Video transcript
Jennifer: Welcome to our In The Spotlight video with Aranui Cruises. So Vaima, tell us a little bit about Aranui Cruises for agents who aren’t familiar with the product. Where do you operate, and how many ships do you have?
Vaima: Aranui Cruises is now undergoing a very exciting moment because it’s the first time we’re going to receive a second ship [Aranoa].
The company has existed for 40 years, but we have only had one ship, and now for the first time, we’re going to sail two ships at the same time.
The company belongs to a Polynesian family based in Tahiti. We operate cruises that depart from Tahiti and go to some very remote islands, like the Marquesas Islands, which are part of French Polynesia.
And also, the Austral Islands for the second ship, which also belong to French Polynesia. These islands are pretty far away – 1,700 kilometers from Tahiti – so what is very interesting with Aranui Cruises is that onboard you will have only Polynesian staff, and when we arrive in the bay we’ll deliver supplies to the population at the same time.
People will be able to be in contact with the local population too, because it’s obviously a mixed freighter and passenger ship. So it’s a very unique concept and that’s also a way to have a very authentic trip because when you go onboard, you have the feeling of really being useful to the locals, and that’s something that our passengers really appreciate.
Jennifer: How exciting to hear you’re expanding your fleet in 2027. What can agents’ customers expect to find onboard [new ship] Aranoa?
Vaima: We are very excited about this new ship coming. The new ship will start operating in 2027. But we’ll start taking the bookings, July 2025. So in fact the new ship is the same concept as the Aranui 5. The name will be Aranoa, and the role of this ship will be also to deliver supplies in some very remote islands, but not to the Marquesas. It will go to the Austral Islands.
And [these] beautiful islands are so very isolated: no hotels, no nothing, and [these is] a close link with the local population too. So we are very excited about that. The ship will be a little bit smaller than the Aranui 5. Aranui 5 has 103 cabins. The Aranoa will have only 91 cabins, and the setting will be like a four-star hotel, with all the modern technology onboard.
Most of our cabins have balconies and are very comfortable. We will also have some stabilisers (a system to reduce a ship’s rolling motion), so that the customers are really, really comfortable.
Jennifer: So what’s the lead-in price for a sailing onboard Aranoa, and what’s included in the cost?
Vaima: For the sailing onboard the Aranoa, the lead-in price will be approximately €5,770.
That would include the full cruise of 13 days. On top of full-board, all the activities included, taxes, tips, so in other words, once you’ve paid that, you don’t have to pay anything extra once you’re on, except if you want to have a cocktail at the bar, or if you want to go to the boutique and buy something else.
But it’s an all-inclusive, package and it’s very good value for money considering the prices in French Polynesia.
The best way to make a reservation for travel agencies is to contact our office in Tahiti. The central reservation is based in Tahiti.
We work on the basis of public rates, on which we give a commission to our partners. And also there’s a possibility to buy it through a couple of tour operators with which we are partnering.
But basically the idea is to contact our office in Tahiti.
We now have a new website also, that would enable any travel agent to see availabilities online, because the first ship, the Aranui 5, is very often fully booked. So it’s a good way for travel agents to have a first look at availability before asking our office to do the bookings.
Jennifer: Thank you so much for sharing all this news Vaima, and thank you to everyone who’s watched for tuning in to our In The Spotlight video with Aranui Cruises. Take care.
