Aranui's new ship Aranoa arrives in Tahiti ahead of its first Austral Islands season
The 198-guest passenger freighter reached Papeete on Nov. 2 after about 25 days at sea from China. Its inauguration is Nov. 19, and the grand inaugural voyage sails March 6, 2027.
French Polynesia has a new ship. Aranoa, the second vessel from Aranui Cruises, sailed into Papeete, Tahiti, on the morning of Monday, Nov. 2, after about 25 days at sea from China, Polynésie la 1ère reported. The crossing included a fuel stop in South Korea.
Aranui CEO Philippe Wong called it "un jour exceptionnel," an exceptional day, for the company. Cruise & Ferry also reported the delivery on Nov. 3.
A cargo ship with cabins
Like the company's famous Aranui 5, Aranoa is a working freighter that also carries guests. It will bring supplies to some of the most remote islands in the South Pacific, and passengers ride along. Its main route is the Austral Islands, south of Tahiti, which see very few visitors.
The ship was built by Huanghai Shipbuilding in Shandong, China. According to Aranui Cruises, it has 91 cabins for up to 198 guests, and 62 of those cabins have balconies. The crew of up to 103 is Polynesian, and shore excursions are guided in English.
Here is the ship at a glance.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Builder | Huanghai Shipbuilding, China |
| Cabins | 91, including 62 with balconies |
| Guests | Up to 198 |
| Crew | Up to 103 |
On board there are two restaurants and two bars, hot tubs, a spa and a fitness center, plus a boutique. There is also a tattoo salon, a nod to the long history of tattoo art in Polynesia. The name Aranoa means "great awakening" in Tahitian.
The road to the first cruise
Aranoa won't take paying cruise guests right away. First it has a run of events and cargo trips, according to Polynésie la 1ère.
- Nov. 2, 2026Ship arrives in Papeete from China
- Nov. 19, 2026Official inauguration
- Dec. 2-3, 2026Tahiti Tourisme event on board
- Dec. 7, 2026First cargo voyage to the Austral Islands
- Dec. 29, 2026Five-day Tuamotu launch cruise, through Jan. 3
- March 6, 2027Grand inaugural voyage
Source: Polynésie la 1ère
A second cargo run to the Australs is also planned in December. Cruise & Ferry says the ship's first full Austral season starts in March 2027.
Where Aranoa will sail
The ship's signature trip is a 13-day round trip from Tahiti. It calls at five Austral Islands: Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae and Rapa. Aranui says the route also includes stops at Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora.
Aranui also plans special voyages to Pitcairn, home of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers, plus a shorter five-day trip to the Tuamotu atolls.
For the people who live on these islands, the ship's cargo matters as much as its guests. Aranui describes Aranoa as a lifeline for the Austral Islands, carrying supplies alongside travelers.
Why it matters
The Austral Islands have stayed off most cruise maps. Most cruises in French Polynesia focus on the Society Islands, such as Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. Aranoa gives travelers a regular way to reach islands that few ships visit.
It also lets Aranui grow beyond its single ship. Its first ship, Aranui 5, is known for its voyages to the Marquesas Islands, while Aranoa takes the southern route.
What we don't know yet
Aranui has not shared fares for the 2027 season in its arrival news. We also don't know how often the ship will sail to Pitcairn or how cabin categories will be priced. Sources differ slightly on the guest count, with figures of 197 and 198, and Polynésie la 1ère describes about 90 cabins.
For more on the ship's home port, see our Papeete port guide. We will follow up after the Nov. 19 inauguration.