Rocked Like a Baby by the South Pacific (Whether We Liked It or Not)
Location: Somewhere between Tubuai and Rapa
️ Voyage: Aranui 5 – Austral & Society Islands Expedition
** Day 6: November 6 – Day at Sea
️ A Night of Gentle… Acupuncture?
We spent most of the night being gently rocked by the South Pacific — although “gently” might depend on where your cabin is and how gracefully you flop around in bed.
Let’s just say the motion was “active” enough that Kirsten and I kept sliding toward the same side of the mattress — a bit romantic, until your nose gets mashed into someone’s elbow. Zakary slept like a rock. Teyauna insists the swaying “helps her dream more creatively.” So there you have it. Scientists take note.
☕ A Lecture, Some Layers of Vanilla, and Unexpected Downtime
We were up early again for breakfast — and by now, we’ve got the morning buffet system down to a science:
- Step 1: Grab the Crepes before Zak eats them all.
- Step 2: Watch Teyauna toast some bread and smush some fresh Avacado on it.
- Step 3: Load up on the day’s fresh fruits.
At 9 a.m., we joined another fascinating lecture with archaeologist Mark Eddowes, who has somehow become the unofficial MVP of sea days. Today’s talk was all about Rapa — the mysterious island we’re heading to — along with deep dives (pun intended) into Polynesian archaeology, surprising discoveries, and why people on remote islands are way more connected than you’d expect.
Mark tends to wander through rabbit holes of information, but honestly? That’s part of the charm. One moment you’re learning about early Polynesian voyaging, and the next he’s theorizing about how ancient people might’ve invented “underwater maps.” We didn’t fact-check him, but we did enjoy every minute.
Wandering the Ship and Spaghetti Salvation
The rest of the day was free time — which on a cruise like this means a chance to explore, relax, or just mildly bounce off the hallway walls as the ocean does its thing.
I made a visit to the ship’s bridge, where I got a bird’s eye view over the freight deck, which is fascinating in its own right. Being a sea day, I had to imagine watching forklifts, crates, and cargo being managed like a floating jigsaw puzzle.
We also popped into the lounge, caught up on some reading, and just enjoyed a day where the biggest decision was, “Should I nap in the sun or the shade?”
Then came lunch — and spaghetti so good that even Zakary gave it two thumbs up, with no leftovers. But the real star of the meal was dessert:
“Floating Island.”
It sounds like a place in a fantasy novel, but it’s actually a cloud of meringue gently drifting on a sea of chilled vanilla cream, speckled with real vanilla bean. It was creamy, light, and probably illegal in five countries. Even Teyauna (not usually a dessert person) declared it “Instagram-worthy.”
Weaving, Wiggling, and Polynesian Pride
In the afternoon, Zak joined a traditional weaving class, crafting something vaguely rectangular with full confidence. (“It’s a mat! Or a hat. Or maybe a fan!”)
Meanwhile, Kirsten and Zak teamed up for a Polynesian dance class, which I watched from a safe distance. The instructor had them doing hip movements that Zak could refer to as “controlled wiggling.” I called it cardio. Either way, they both had a blast — and it was honestly heartwarming to see how welcoming the crew is to passengers of all ages.
If there’s one thing this trip keeps teaching us, it’s that Polynesian culture isn’t something to observe — it’s something to join in on. And our kids? They’re soaking it up like sponges in the South Pacific sun.
️ Rapa Briefing & Family Movie Night
At 5 p.m., we attended the daily briefing about Rapa — which feels like the big finale of the Austral Islands. It’s remote, wild, and full of history, and yes, we’re planning to join the long hike to Fort Morongo Uta tomorrow. Wish our calves luck.
Dinner followed (don’t worry, there was dessert again), and then, instead of live music or dancing, we decided to do a quiet family movie night in the cabin.
The ocean was still rocking a bit, so we curled up under blankets, fired up a downloaded movie, and passed around snacks like it was our own little cinema at sea.
Family Reflections: Sometimes the Best Days Are the Still Ones
Today didn’t have whale chases or jungle hikes or colorful birds — but it had something just as important: togetherness.
A day at sea gave us space to rest, laugh, learn, and do little things together — whether it was watching a dance class, tasting vanilla dreams, or just sitting on deck as waves rolled by.
And yes, the ship rocked a little more than we’d hoped — but if you’re traveling as a family, a little rocking only makes the quiet moments sweeter.
Tomorrow we reach Rapa — the most remote of all the islands we’ll visit. But tonight, we’ve got our own little floating island… and that’s more than enough.