Save thousands on 2026 Polynesia cruises with Aranui early bird deal
Tahitian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is enticing New Zealanders to explore the most remote islands in French Polynesia in 2026 with an exclusive early bird offer.
The boutique cruise line is offering Australian and New Zealand residents 15 per cent off the first seven voyages in its 2026 program, including five Marquesas Islands departures and two to the southern Austral Islands.
On sale until June 8, 2025, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to the Marquesas Islands is discounted to NZ$7749* per person twin share in a stateroom, a saving of $2512 per cabin.
During Aranui’s traditional cargo cruise itinerary to French Polynesia’s northern Marquesas Islands, 125-metre mixed freight and passenger vessel Aranui 5 delivers freight to the six inhabited Marquesas Islands – Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva – and makes picturesque pitstops at Tuamotu atolls Fakarava, Rangiroa or Makatea, as well as Bora Bora in the Society Islands.
During the sale, Aranui’s new extended 13-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to the Austral Islands departing February 14 and March 28, 2026, is priced from NZ$8158* per person twin share in a stateroom, a saving of $2656 per cabin.
The special southern voyages are the only way to see all five inhabited Austral Islands – Tubuai, Rurutu, Rimatara, ‘Bora Bora of the south’ Raivavae, and Rapa Iti, which is only accessible by sea and Aranui 5 is currently the only local cruise ship allowed to visit – with calls at Raiatea and Bora Bora in the Society Islands on the return leg.
With five ‘Discovery Voyages’ in total in 2026 – four to the Austral Islands and one short cruise to the Tuamotus – Aranui is also offering a 15% discount when two continuous voyages (one Marquesas Islands and one Discovery voyage) are booked back-to-back.
With local crew, cuisine and culture, Aranui 5 is the most authentic way to explore French Polynesia. An Aranui 5 cruise includes thousands of dollars’ worth of shore excursions such as hikes, visits to archaeological sites and local feasts, a weekly laundry service, three meals per day and complimentary French wine with onboard lunches and dinners.
Aranui 5 features a restaurant, conference rooms, lounges, a library, a boutique, a swimming pool, a gym, a spa, the first tattoo studio at sea and bars including the panoramic Sky bar and popular Veranda bar.
For more information visit www.aranuicruises.co.nz
About Aranui Cruises
For 40 years, Aranui ships have been offering discerning travellers the adventure of a lifetime on one of the few remaining cargo cruise experiences in the world, as well as the only regular voyage to the far-flung Marquesas Islands, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Region in July 2024. Since its founding in 1954, Aranui has evolved from a commercial shipping line to offer cargo cruises to remote islands in French Polynesia. Today, the fully custom-built, dual-purpose passenger and freighter ship, Aranui 5, sails the remote islands of French Polynesia from Tahiti to the Marquesas, Australs, Tuamotus, Society Islands and beyond. From 2027, Aranoa will join the fleet, operating itineraries to the Austral Islands.
For more information visit www.aranuicruises.co.nz
