In this episode, we talk about the new Aranoa ship planned for French Polynesia and why freighter cruising can be one of the most eye-opening ways to explore remote islands. Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com are essential resources if you want an expert to help you decide whether a small ship, a freighter cruise, or a more traditional island itinerary fits your travel style and comfort level.

Normand Schafer welcomes Leo Colin from Aranui Cruises to discuss what’s behind the company’s next big step: operating two sister ships in French Polynesia, with Aranui 5 continuing its legacy and Aranoa focusing heavily on the Austral Islands. The conversation keeps things refreshingly practical. Instead of glossy marketing language, Leo talks about what it actually takes to serve remote islands and travelers at the same time—how freight works, how the sea behaves in different regions, and why ships sometimes have to adjust plans for safety and comfort.

A major theme is authenticity. In many destinations, travelers are insulated from the systems that make daily life possible. Here, the system is part of the experience. Leo explains why passengers are fascinated by cargo operations: seeing what gets carried, how it’s handled, and how important these deliveries are for island communities. It reframes “cruising” into something more meaningful—especially in places where supplies aren’t a quick truck ride away. We hear a story about a diesel delivery and the urgency of keeping an island’s power generation supported, which highlights the stakes behind what might look like routine ship work.

Leo also shares what’s planned to change with Aranoa. He describes a ship that is intended to be smaller than Aranui 5, with a capacity shaped by the realities of the Australs. He talks about stabilizers to reduce rolling in southern swells—an important detail for travelers who are nervous about motion. He also explains dynamic positioning, a system that can hold a ship in place without anchoring, potentially reducing seabed impact in sensitive areas. These are the kinds of details that help travelers understand not just where a ship goes, but how it behaves once it arrives.

We round out the conversation with the human side of shipbuilding: reviewing drawings, validating systems, and catching small issues early so the crew isn’t forced to improvise fixes later. If you’ve ever wondered how a ship becomes “real” before it ever carries a passenger, this episode gives a rare peek behind the curtain. And if you’re dreaming about the Australs or the next era of French Polynesia small-ship travel, it’s a great way to ground that dream in the realities that make it possible. When you’re ready to plan and book, Far and Away Adventures can help you choose the right sailing and shape the whole journey for maximum ease and impact.