Aranui III Offers Early Booking Discounts for First Four Sailings of 2013

Fatu Hiva is regarded as one of the most picturesque islands in the Marquesas (photo credit: Alain Marcouli)

The Aranui III “Freighter to Paradise” has released dates for its first four departures for 2013 – Jan. 12, Feb. 2, Feb. 23 and March 16, and offering travelers who book this exotic one of a kind journey through the French Polynesian Marquesas Islands by Dec. 31, 2011 a 10% discount on the published cruise fare (excluding taxes) for suites, deluxe and standard cabins.

The well-appointed passenger-cargo vessel provides a complete vacation experience following in the footsteps of famous figures such as Treasure Island-author Robert Louis Stevenson. Guests journey through 800 miles of the most spectacular and remote islands in exotic French Polynesia including Tahiti, the Tuamotu Islands and Marquesas Islands.

Highlights include Nuka Hiva, where 23-year-old Herman Melville jumped a whaling ship for an adventure which ultimately inspired highly regarded literary works such as Typee and Moby Dick, and Hiva Oa, where artist Paul Gauguin’s search for an unspoiled paradise came to an end. The ship also visits the Marquesan islands of Tahuata, Ua Pou, Ua Huka and Fatu Hiva, as well as Fakarava and Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Islands.

Prices start at $3,827 per person, based on double occupancy, for a standard cabin. Suites start at 4,982 per person. Rates do not include port tax, cruise tax and tourism tax, which may total up to $350 depending on stateroom category, and an $80 fuel surcharge. Rates are based on 2012 pricing and are subject to change at any time.

The cruise includes three meals with complimentary wine daily, guided excursions outlined in the itinerary, picnic and meals on shore. Optional excursions such as scuba diving, horseback riding, fishing and helicopter tours are additional.

Aranui III

The Aranui III is a mixed passenger-cargo vessel operating between Tahiti and the Marquesas, offering comfortable, air-conditioned accommodations for about two hundred passengers. The ship features 63 tastefully designed standard cabins, nine deluxe staterooms and 14 elegantly appointed private balcony suites.

Featuring a crew primarily composed of local inhabitants from French Polynesia and the Marquesas Islands, the Aranui III combines world class hospitality with top-notch amenities and mesmerizing scenery for an unforgettable sailing experience.

The cruise departs from the Tahitian island of Papeete, visiting the seldomly explored lush, tropical islands of Tahuata, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka and Fatu Hiva, as well as Fakarava and Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Islands, before returning to Papeete.

The on-shore experiences include awe-inspiring hikes past majestic waterfalls and translucent lagoons, jungle ruins and sacred ritual sites with enigmatic petroglyphs, and encounters with local artisans.

For more information, contact Aranui at 800-972-7268 or visit www.aranui.com.

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Tags: Aranui, Aranui III, freighter cruises, French Polynesia, Marquesas Islands