In this episode, we talk about the kind of adventure travel that feels both remote and deeply connected to real life: freighter cruising in French Polynesia, with a look ahead to the upcoming Aranoa ship. Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com can help you plan this style of trip—where routing, timing, and pre/post logistics often matter as much as the sailing itself.

Normand Schafer speaks with Leo Colin from Aranui Cruises about Aranui 5 and the Aranoa project, focusing on what makes these voyages distinctive: they’re not just scenic—they’re functional. The ship isn’t simply a hotel that moves; it’s part of a supply chain that sustains island communities. That mission shapes the day-to-day onboard experience, because cargo operations, scheduling decisions, and island infrastructure are visible to passengers. For adventure-minded travelers, that visibility is part of the draw. It’s a front-row view of how remote places actually work.

Leo explains that Aranoa is intended to keep the same combined passenger-and-cargo spirit as Aranui 5, while scaling the ship to the needs of the Austral Islands. The Australs are less populated than the Marquesas, and that changes freight volume and ship size decisions. Leo also describes the intended onboard feel, including the way passenger-to-crew ratios can influence the sense of personal attention and the overall atmosphere. If you like adventure without giving up comfort, these are important considerations—not as promises, but as planning signals.

Where this episode really shines is in the operational details that most travelers never hear. Leo talks about stabilizers planned for Aranoa to reduce rolling in southern swells, which can materially affect comfort in the Australs depending on weather systems. He also describes dynamic positioning, a technology that can keep the ship on station without anchoring, helping reduce seabed impact. These features aren’t “adventure” in the Instagram sense, but they are the infrastructure of a better experience—safer, steadier, and more environmentally mindful where conditions allow.

The conversation includes moments that reveal why flexibility is part of any real expedition-style travel. Leo shares an example of leaving a bay during a tsunami alert after an earthquake near Kamchatka, following guidance from authorities and waiting at sea until conditions were cleared. We also hear a story about a diesel delivery and how a mechanical problem became urgent because communities depend on these shipments for power and daily needs.

If you’re looking for an adventure that combines culture, remoteness, and meaningful context, this episode lays out why freighter cruising stands apart. When you’re ready to turn the idea into a workable itinerary—right sailing, right pacing, right connections—Far and Away Adventures can design and book a plan that supports the adventure without letting logistics become the trip.

In this episode we talk about a side of adventure travel most people never see: the operational work that makes remote-island voyaging possible—and how Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com can help you choose the right sailing and prepare for a voyage where real logistics are part of the experience.
Normand interviews Charles, a second captain on the Aranui freighter cruise, and the conversation becomes a deep dive into what it takes to deliver freight to islands where the ocean decides the difficulty level.

Charles sets the stage by describing Aranui as something that isn’t purely a cruise ship and isn’t purely a cargo ship. It carries passengers—Normand mentions roughly 250—while also delivering goods that island communities depend on. That hybrid identity is why the voyage earns the “deluxe freighter” label: you experience a genuine working route, but with the passenger comfort that makes it feel like a vacation too. For adventure travelers, this is a rare combination. You aren’t just transported to destinations; you’re immersed in the system that connects those destinations.

Charles describes how the ship isn’t always able to go alongside a pier. In some places it anchors, then uses cranes to load barges, which move freight to shore. Add swell and tide, and suddenly the cargo operation becomes a technical challenge that demands precision and calm decision-making. Normand shares a vivid memory of seeing a car loaded onto a barge as swell moved everything up and down, illustrating exactly why guests find these moments unforgettable: it’s real-world maritime work happening right in front of you, in the middle of the South Pacific.

Charles also notes the ship’s independence. Unlike large commercial cargo ships that typically operate in major harbors with pilots, tugs, and shore support, he describes Aranui doing tricky maneuvers without those helpers. The ship has its own cranes, forklifts, and equipment, allowing the crew to discharge cargo in places that don’t have big-port infrastructure. This is the type of operational adventure you can’t replicate with a standard cruise: the route exists because the ship can function where others can’t.

Charles says the strangest shipments can be live animals—horses, cows, dogs—transported in special ventilated containers on deck, with crew members responsible for feeding and monitoring them. And the most memorable anecdote: a shipment of sheep where one gave birth onboard, turning a planned delivery of seven into a delivered total of eight. It’s an adventure story that’s also a reminder of the ship’s purpose: it serves communities, and that service includes the unexpected.

The episode also broadens to how exports move. Charles mentions that return freight from the Marquesas can be limited, but fruit exports are part of it—lemons and very large citrus (pamplemousse). Normand connects this to regional distribution, with mentions of places like Rangiroa and Bora Bora and how fruit can be delivered onward, including via refrigerated containers and transfers to smaller ships for wider distribution. For adventure-minded travelers, this adds depth: you’re not only seeing islands; you’re watching how goods circulate through an oceanic network.

Finally, there’s forward-looking curiosity in the conversation about the Aranoa and how operations may differ, especially around places with limited pier access and challenging conditions (as discussed in the episode). Nothing is presented as guaranteed, but the theme is clear: in this part of the world, seamanship and logistics are part of the journey.

If you want adventure that includes culture, remoteness, and the operational reality of getting to—and supplying—isolated islands, Episode 2 is a powerful listen. And if you want the trip built correctly with expert guidance, start with Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com so the planning supports the adventure instead of complicating it.

In this episode, we talk about the true adventure behind a deluxe freighter voyage: not just where the ship goes, but how the experience is built day by day through preparation, local partnerships, and adaptability. If you want expert help choosing the right Aranui 5 or Aranoa sailing and shaping a trip that fits your travel priorities, visit https://farandawayadventures.com. Normand interviews Spencer Hata Utuya, a guide onboard Aranui 5, to understand what happens behind the scenes when you’re visiting remote islands where the plan can change overnight.

Spencer’s story is a reminder that adventure often starts with a pivot. He studied business management and marketing and didn’t expect to work in tourism. After being turned down for leadership positions due to lack of experience, he found a guide position onboard the ship and began in September 2022. By late 2025, he had transformed into someone whose job is equal parts cultural ambassador, logistics coordinator, and calm presence when the unexpected happens.

What makes guiding on a remote-island voyage different from many other travel roles is the constant demand for preparation. Spencer shares that early on he realized some travelers arrived with strong knowledge of French Polynesia—sometimes stronger than his own—so he committed to learning deeply. He describes studying nightly and continuing to review his notes even after years onboard. For him, “keeping it fresh” isn’t a marketing phrase; it’s a nightly discipline. And it’s also practical: if a guide is sick or an assignment changes suddenly, the prepared guide can step into any role and keep the guest experience seamless.

The logistics side of the adventure is where the episode really shines. Spencer explains that the team prepares the next voyage’s program while still on the current voyage, often a few days before the trip ends. They can draft the structure far in advance, but they intentionally leave room for adjustments because changes may come from local communities, contractors, and tourism offices. He says it plainly: nothing is set in stone, and even the night before an arrival, something can change.

Two examples make this real. On a Marquesas sailing, a dance performance was planned but didn’t happen because a family situation affected the performers. The guide’s job becomes part storyteller and part emotional temperature controller—explaining the situation respectfully while helping guests stay engaged rather than disappointed. On an Australs sailing, a bus tour ran into multiple problems: a vehicle ran out of gas, a replacement required keys that were forgotten at home, and guests waited. Spencer describes how guides turn downtime into discovery by talking about the island’s land, trees, and flowers—adding context without inventing facts—and by keeping people moving so the day still feels like an adventure, not a delay.

Spencer explains that contracting and budgets are managed at higher levels, with set spending per island. Depending on costs and availability, different associations may be selected. For an adventure traveler, these details matter because they show how the voyage is interwoven with community realities—something that makes the experience more authentic, and also more dynamic.

Spencer closes with advice that fits the “passport to adventure” mindset: bring an open mind, set aside preconceived judgments, and be ready for warm Polynesian hospitality that may feel more physically friendly than what some visitors are used to. Pack thoughtfully too—good shoes, water shoes, repellent, and a raincoat. If you want an adventure that blends culture with unpredictability in the best way—where the stories you tell afterward often come from the moments you couldn’t have planned—this behind-the-scenes look at Aranui 5 and Aranoa delivers. When you’re ready to build your own voyage, connect with https://farandawayadventures.com.