Tuamotu, the Marquesas Islands, & Bora Bora Cruise

Welcome aboard! Enjoy a Marquesan dance show and fruit punch by the pool before a morning departure.

Arrive in Fakarava this morning. Designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the second largest atoll in French Polynesia, you will have time to discover the small village of Rotoava, the church, built of coral and the local arts and crafts. Afterward, enjoy a refreshing swim and snorkel in the translucent lagoon among the colorful ballet of tropical fish. Optional excursions, such as snorkeling or diving in the various passes or an outing to an islet for bird watching, are available at an additional cost.  Return to the vessel by 12:00pm.

Enjoy time to explore the ship. After a relaxed breakfast, sunbathe on the deck or by the pool, or read or chat in the comfortable lounge. There is plenty of time to meet and talk with the lecturers and guides and encounter fellow passengers from around the world.

Sail into Taiohae’s spectacular bay, a giant volcanic amphitheater dominated by towering cliffs streaked with waterfalls. As the Aranui unloads, explore Taiohae, the administrative capital of the Marquesas. Taiohae Bay is where Herman Melville, then a 23-year-old sailor, and a shipmate jumped a whaling ship in 1842, which he later recounted in his novel Typee.

After a tour of the cathedral, follow their escape route by jeep along winding mountain roads to the village of Hatiheu to visit the archaeological site of Kamuihei. Lunch is at Yvonne’s Restaurant, one of the best in the Marquesas, where the specialty is Hima’a, pig cooked in a traditional underground oven.

After lunch, travel to the valley of Taipivai, an area dotted with stone tikis, me’ae (sacred ritual sites) and paepae, immense stone platforms on which the Taipi built their houses. Huge boulders in the area are carved with enigmatic petroglyphs of birds, sacred turtles, and fish. Hikers can take a steep trail to visit the Paeke site. Non-hikers can head back to the ship or relax on the beach. The Aranui anchors in Taipivai Bay and whaleboats come in for a wet boarding on the beach.

From the deck, observe the soaring mountain spires of Ua Pou. Whenever the Aranui stops, villages greet it. As the crew unloads supplies - from cement to sugar - and loads sacks of copra (dried coconut meat), explore the tiny town of Hakahau. Discover the beach stands and craft center in town to shop for carvings in the flower stone unique to this island. Visit the church to see its hand-carved wood dias. At Rosalie’s Restaurant, enjoy your first Marquesan lunch: breadfruit, an island staple, along with curried goat, poisson cru (raw fish marinated in lime and coconut milk), fei (red mountain bananas) and fruit poe. Take in an excellent dance performance including the Bird Dance, traditional to Ua Pou.

Early this morning, explore Atuona, the second largest village in the Marquesas, where Paul Gauguin lived and created some of his best work. Sweeping views of the harbor highlight a walk up the hill to the cemetery, where under a large frangipani tree, a tombstone with the simple words “Paul Gauguin 1903” marks his burial site. Nearby sits the grave of another European seduced by Hiva Oa, Belgian singer-composer Jacques Brel. Enjoy a lavish lunch at Hoa Nui Restaurant followed by free time to visit a replica of Gauguin’s infamous “House of Pleasure” and the museum dedicated to his paintings. The craft center at the far end of the village and the General Store are worth a visit. Or, hike to the scenic lookout.

In the afternoon, the ship anchors in front of the small leaf-shaped island Vaitahu, fragrant with Tiare Tahiti and frangipani. From the Spanish in 1595, who killed about 200, to the first missionaries in 1797 to the first French settlement in the Marquesas in 1842, the island’s history is especially rich. Their huge church, built by the Vatican, is decorated with beautiful carvings and a stained glass window featuring the Marquesan cross. The craft center features the amazing intricate carvings in bone and shell for which Tahuata is famous.

Travel by foot or by jeep to the most important archaeological sites for tikis (ancient, human-like religious sculptures) at Me’ae Ipona. Only Easter Island can boast more sculptures than here. Your knowledgeable guides show you through the mysterious ruins of Puamau and share stories of these haunting statues and an ancient civilization. Bring your camera. A swim at the local black sand beach depends on water conditions. During lunch, the ship makes its way to the village of Hanaiapa. In the afternoon, explore the quaint village of Hanaiapa that locals often refer to as the botanical garden, for its colorful flowers, and a large variety of plants and trees.

Fatu Hiva is the most lush and remote island of the Marquesas. It is also a center of Marquesan crafts. As your guides lead you through the village of Omoa, see village women demonstrating the making of tapa by hammering mulberry, banyan, or breadfruit bark on logs. It is dried and then painted with ancient traditional designs. Another demonstration shows the making of the kumuhei, an herbal bundle unique to this island used by the local women to perfume their hair. The arts and crafts center offers excellent tapa and carvings, and the monoi coconut oil from Fatu Hiva is one of the finest. Athletic passengers may choose to hike from Omoa to Hanavave, a 10-mile (16 km) trek offering spectacular views of towering cliffs and waterfalls. Lunch is served at the summit. Alternatively, sail on the Aranui to Hanavave on the Bay of Virgins, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Go ashore for a dance performance and to welcome the hikers.

In early morning, the ship executes a point-to-point turn in the notable “Invisible Bay” of Vaipaee — not to be missed. Options today include a tour by four-wheel drive vehicle or (at additional cost) on horseback. Visit a museum with exquisite replicas of Marquesan artifacts. Explore the arboretum’s gardens and enjoy a fruit tasting. After lunch, visit local woodcarvers’ studios. Considered some of the Island's finest carvers, look for the unusual carved black and white coconuts. Back on board, it is Polynesian Night - time to try out that new pareo and the dances and chants you have been learning throughout the cruise! A superb buffet dinner on the deck is followed by entertainment, music, and dancing.

Enjoy sun bathing on the deck and sipping exotic drinks while watching the crystal-blue waters en route to Rangiroa.

On lovely Rangiroa, the second largest atoll in the world, you can relax on a white sand beach or swim and snorkel in the translucent lagoon. “Rangi” is an underwater jewel box with colorful coral and clouds of tropical fish. Excellent snorkeling and scuba diving is available for all levels. Visit one of the finest pearl farms in the Tuamotus to learn about these rare gems and see how they are grown. This is a great opportunity to purchase an exquisite treasure. Shop with the “mamas” on the beach for unusual pearl and shell jewelry.

The Aranui anchors in the magnificent blue lagoon of Bora Bora as the watchful eye of castle-like Mt. Otemanu pierces the clear blue sky. Of all the islands of French Polynesia, Bora Bora the for the palette of blue and green lagoon studded by the ring of islets that make up its reef.

Relax on a beautiful white sand beach or snorkel the crystal waters accompanied by colorful reef fish. Enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by the faithful crew and augmented with Tahitian dishes. At an additional cost, optional excursions are available: scuba diving; island tours by outrigger or bus; swimming with the sharks and manta rays; or a helicopter joy ride over the lagoon.

Disembark this morning for your continued journey home.