Aranui 5

Aranui 5 is a cargo liner that entered service on 12 December 2015, operating between Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands for Aranui Cruises. Built in China and measuring 125 metres in length, she's a small ship carrying around 230 passengers across 103 staterooms.

Unlike conventional cruise ships, Aranui 5 serves a genuine working purpose, carrying cargo to and from six ports in the Marquesas Islands alongside her passenger service. Her shallow draft of 5.2 metres allows safe navigation into the shallow harbours and small ports of the South Pacific, reaching remote islands other ships simply cannot.

Life aboard stays unhurried and intimate. Most voyages run as 12-day round trips from Papeete, delivering cargo while passengers disembark to explore remote ports, with included shore excursions spanning hikes, archaeological site visits, and local feasts. Guests watch the ship's dual role play out in real time, stopping to load and unload goods at each island village.

She also visits Takapoto and Rangiroa in the Tuamotus, where passengers have the chance to receive traditional Polynesian tattoos from local artists, and most sailings take in the six inhabited Marquesas Islands, including Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, and Tahuata.

Accommodation stays comfortable without pretence. Cabins are straightforward staterooms spread across 8 decks, with some featuring private verandas. Onboard amenities include a spa and gym, alongside a bar and dining facilities, though the focus remains firmly on the islands themselves rather than onboard entertainment.

Aranui 5 suits curious travellers after something genuinely different, an off-the-beaten-path voyage where the ship stays an active cargo vessel throughout, and the remote islands and local encounters take centre stage. In 2024, she made international headlines when used to house Olympic surfers off Tahiti, becoming the first floating Olympic village and accommodating 28 athletes from 19 delegations.

Visited the remote islands of French Polynesia aboard Aranui 5? Log this South Pacific voyage on your account at The Cruise Globe to add it to your Passport and see your actual route!