The French Polynesian company Aranui Cruises (fleet) released its 2024 program which includes a return to Bora Bora Island (Society Islands) along with more Discovery voyages.
The program has 23x South Pacific voyages onboard the new Aranui 5 (125-m cargo and passenger ship) which provides one of the few remaining cargo-cruise experiences.
In line with the freight operations of the company, most (20x) of the sailings are 12-day roundtrips from Papeete to the 6 inhabited Marquesas Islands - Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, and Tahuata - where Aranui 5 delivers cargoes while tourists disembark and explore the remote ports on a range of included shore excursions like hikes, 4WD tours, visits to archaeological sites, and local feasts.
In 2024, Bora Bora is back due to popular demand. Aranui 5 will alternate between picturesque Tuamotu atolls Kauehi and Fakarava on the voyage north to the Marquesas, and Makatea and Rangiroa on the return leg. Fares start from A$8181 pp, twin share.
Following the strong demand for the inaugural Austral Islands voyage in 2023, Aranui is now offering 2 more cruises dedicated to the southern archipelago. The 11-day roundtrip itineraries from Papeete will depart on March 30th and November 2nd, 2024, and feature visits to all 5 Austral islands including overnights in Rapa, the little sister of Easter Island, as well as Raivava, popular as the Bora Bora of the south, along with Rurutu, Rimatara, and Tubuai, from A$8503 pp, twin share.
An 11-day "Pitcairn Cruise" is scheduled to depart on February 17th, 2024, including an overnight on Pitcairn Island as well as calls at Amanu and Anaa in the Tuamotus and Aukena and Mangareva in the Gambier Islands. The Pitcairn Discovery voyage is priced from A$9234 pp, twin share.