ARANUI CRUISES: New Passenger-Only Ship to be named AraMana - Bora Bora calls for large cruise ship ban 2022
c: Aranui
Aranui Cruises has revealed the first details of its new high-end cruise ship, set to join Aranui 5 in the South Pacific from mid 2022.
In a nod to its Polynesian roots, the ship has been named AraMana, meaning ‘path of the Polynesian spirit’, and will feature a vahine (Polynesian woman) on the funnel as well as a traditional tattoo design on the livery.
Aranui Cruises said the cruise line stepped away from naming the ship Aranui 6 (ie. the next ship number in the series) as it will not be a combi freight and passenger vessel like Aranui 5 and its predecessors.
With an observation lounge, a dance floor, a spa, two restaurants, an Amphitheatre, a swimming pool and 11 cabin categories including a new Grand Suite, the 10.000 GT, 280 guest AraMana has been designed solely with cruising in mind.
There are some similarities to Aranui 5 in terms of the layout of the ship but AraMana is the first foray into leisure cruising so the new ship will be all about comfort and relaxation. Opulent public spaces will include a striking staircase, plush booths in the restaurant and an elegant piano bar, while accommodation will be stylish and spacious with Aranui’s signature Polynesian flourishes.
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In line with Aranui’s aim to offer an authentic Polynesian experience, AraMana will have a tattoo room, Polynesian crew, and will visit islands which don’t appear on other cruise line’s itineraries.
While sister ship Aranui 5 continues its regular 13-day itinerary and cargo delivery to the remote Marquesas Islands, the 140-metre AraMana will explore French Polynesia’s Tuamotu, Gambier, Society and Austral Islands as well as Pitcairn and the Cook Islands.
Similar to Aranui’s freighter ships put the Marquesas Islands on the map, AraMana is set to shine a light on French Polynesia’s southernmost island group, the Australs, with regular calls to Raivavae, Rurutu and Rapa as part of a new Cook Islands itinerary.
Cruises to Pitcairn via Anaa, Amanu and Hikueru in the Tuamotus, and Mangareva and Aukena in the Gambiers, are expected to be popular as AraMana offers a new, modern way to visit the islands at the edge of the world.
AraMana’s Society Islands cruise will combine some of French Polynesia’s most cherished destinations including Bora Bora, Tahaa, Huahine, Moorea and Rangiroa, with less-trodden gems such as Makatea, a tiny tropical paradise just eight kilometres long and five kilometres wide with a population of less than 100.
Aranui Cruises had never had two ships in operation simultaneously and the extra capacity would provide endless possibilities to explore the region.
BORA BORA BANS LARGE CRUISE SHIPS ENTERING LAGOON FROM 2022
The mayor of Bora Bora Island (Society Islands, French Polynesia) is pushing for a ban of large cruise liners from entering the lagoon from 2022.
Tong Sang said he expected the government to understand that vessels carrying thousands of guests were too large for the lagoon and were "a shock to the established tourism sector." He added the large ships' engines stressed the environment, polluted the air, and disturbed marine life. Sang also said Bora Bora, which is with limited capacity, used to offer 1000 tourist beds but lost a total of 300 following the 2008 crisis.
However, the mayor revealed he was not opposed to voyages and praised plans by Ponan Cruises to use ships with passenger capacity around 300 and using electric motors after entering the lagoon.
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