Aranui Cruises Takes Delivery of Aranoa for Austral Islands Sailings
Aranoa, whose name means “great awakening” in Tahitian, will sail 13-day Tahiti roundtrips that include Bora Bora, with English-guided excursions on every itinerary.
Aranui Cruises has taken delivery of Aranoa, a new 198-guest passenger-cargo ship built by Huanghai Shipbuilding in Shandong, China. The vessel is heading to French Polynesia ahead of its first Austral Islands departures in March 2027.
The September 28, 2026, handover gives Aranui a second vessel for its passenger-freighter operation. Aranoa will sail from Papeete, Tahiti, alongside the company’s existing Aranui 5, whose principal route connects Tahiti with the Marquesas Islands.
The Austral Islands lie about 300 miles south of Tahiti. Aranoa’s main deployment will cover five islands in the archipelago: Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae and Rapa. Its signature itinerary will be a 13-day roundtrip from Tahiti, also calling at Bora Bora in the Society Islands.
The ship will have an entirely Polynesian crew, while guided excursions will be available in English on every itinerary. Its name means “great awakening” in Tahitian.
Built to carry cargo and cruise guests
Aranoa combines accommodation for cruise guests with capacity for 48 TEU of cargo. The 116-metre vessel has a reported gross tonnage of 11,141 and was designed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute, or SDARI, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
The operator lists 91 cabins, 62 of them with private balconies. Although Aranoa is presented as a 198-guest ship, the delivery specifications give a certified capacity of 197 passengers, together with 103 crew.
Onboard dining comprises two restaurants offering international dishes and cuisine inspired by French Polynesia. Passenger facilities also include two bars, whirlpools, a spa, a fitness centre, a boutique and a tattoo salon.
Aranui’s combined freight-and-passenger service has carried travelers to remote French Polynesian islands since November 1984. The business originated as a Wong family freight operation in 1954, initially supplying the Tuamotu and Gambier archipelagos before adding a Marquesas route in 1978.
Second Huanghai-built ship for Aranui
Aranoa is the second passenger-cargo cruise vessel Huanghai has delivered to Aranui operator CPTM, following Aranui 5 in 2015. That ship accommodates approximately 230 passengers in 103 cabins, making Aranoa the smaller of the two by passenger capacity.
The addition is Aranui’s first major fleet expansion. Earlier ships included Aranui 1, Aranui 2 and Aranui 3, with the latter operating until Aranui 5 entered service.
Beyond the principal Austral Islands program, Aranoa’s schedule will include special voyages to Pitcairn Island. A separate five-day itinerary will visit the Tuamotu Archipelago.
