Papeete, Tahiti – Thursday, 21 March 2019 – Cruise to Pitcairn
Island
We have been looking forward to this special Aranui 5 voyage for over a year. Not only have we been looking forward to the epic stop of our cruise to Pitcairn Island, but we have also been looking forward to stops in three other island groups. The Tuamotus, Gambier and Austral Islands. Having travelled extensively throughout French Polynesia, this voyage includes the two southernmost island groups of French Polynesia which I have not yet seen.
Embarking on the Aranui 5 was like returning home to a place filled with staff who seem like old friends and family. We were greeted by Mila on the Pier, whom we met 10 years earlier on our first vo
yage on the Aranui 3. Upon boarding the ship, we ran into a few other longtime friends such as Lehi, Steven and Tino, the former freight deck worker turned tour guide.
We were quickly guided around the registration area to fill out a health declaration card, obtain our room keys and then escorted by one of the staff to our cabin. Although we have been on the ship before, it likely will take a day to reorient ourselves to where everything is located. For the newcomers and repeat passengers alike, a small map of the ship is provided to keep us from getting lost.
The first day onboard is very relaxing. We arrived at 8 am, had a welcome drink and reception at 9:15 followed by the mandatory Safety Meeting and then the lifeboat drill. We walked up to the bridge of the ship to say goodbye to the Papeete harbour as we set sail at noontime for our cruise around French Polynesia and cruise to Pitcairn Island.
By the time lunch was served a short while later, we were rather hungry due to not having had time to eat breakfast before embarking on the ship. I would highly recommend a good breakfast before boarding the Aranui.
After a delicious three-course lunch, I inadvertently fell asleep in my cabin and missed the 2:30 pm orientation meeting on our first island stop of Anaa in the Tuamotu island group. My wife and I had to catch up a few hours later by speaking to one of the guides on the ship and then signing up for an optional tour at the reception desk. We had the choice between an included atoll bus tour or optional paid excursions such as a bike tour or boat tour of the pristine blue lagoon of Anaa.
Having seen some photos of the island, I have been impressed to see the beautiful colors of the shallow waters in the interior of the atoll. As a result, we opted to take a lagoon tour with stops in two of the four villages on the atoll.
Dinner was another three-course meal of duck salad, shrimp and seafood on linguine noodles, topped off with a delicious strawberry cake. I was reminded of how I am going to have to be extremely careful over the next 13 days to ensure that the tempting meals don’t undo the fitness program I have worked hard to maintain until now.
Retiring to bed early is important on the Aranui 5 cruise to Pitcairn Island. The morning comes quickly and the last of the shuttles to shore will leave at 7:45 am.