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.

In this episode, we talk about the part of Aranui travel that feels most “real”: the freight and cargo operations happening alongside the passenger experience—and how Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com can help you plan a voyage that embraces this authenticity without stress. Start here:
https://farandawayadventures.com
Normand sits with Charles, a second captain, to explore what makes this voyage different from a typical cruise: it’s not a floating resort that occasionally stops at islands. It’s a working ship that connects remote communities, and you get a front-row seat.

Charles shares that he came to Aranui after years on other cruise ships around the world. He wanted a change—something closer to home and something different—and chose French Polynesia specifically because he didn’t know it well. That curiosity is part of what makes the conversation land: he isn’t selling a fantasy. He’s describing the daily reality of a ship that has to be both safe for passengers and effective for cargo. Normand notes the “family atmosphere” onboard, and Charles confirms that the crew functions like a close team—barmen, seamen, engineers—everyone connected. That matters because on a working route, teamwork isn’t just culture; it’s how you get freight delivered in difficult conditions.

The most compelling detail is how the ship delivers cargo when there’s no convenient pier. Charles explains that sometimes deliveries happen into bays or valleys: the ship anchors, cranes lift freight, and barges carry goods to shore. If you’ve ever watched swell roll through a calm-looking harbor, you can imagine how quickly things get complex when heavy cargo is moving between platforms. Normand shares a vivid memory of seeing a car loaded onto a barge in moving swell, with the timing and precision required to get wheels down while everything rises and falls. It’s a moment many guests remember because it’s pure “just travel”: you’re witnessing how island life is supplied, not just snapping photos.

Charles also distinguishes Aranui from a traditional cargo ship. Yes, you can travel on cargo ships, but the onboard experience is different—cabins, dining, and social spaces aren’t designed around passenger comfort in the same way. Here, Charles agrees, guests can “live the cargo experience” while still enjoying the hospitality and comfort that make it vacation-worthy. That blend is the secret sauce: authenticity without giving up comfort.

Another “just travel” highlight is the cargo that surprises you. Charles says they sometimes transport large animals—horses, cows, dogs—using special ventilated containers placed on deck, with crew members feeding and monitoring them through the voyage. Then comes the unforgettable twist: a shipment of sheep where one gave birth onboard, turning a planned delivery of seven into a delivery of eight. It’s funny, sure, but it’s also a reminder that this isn’t a staged experience; it’s real logistics serving real communities.

The conversation also touches on what comes back from the islands. Charles mentions limited freight on the return, but fruit exports from the Marquesas—lemons and very large citrus (pamplemousse)—and Normand connects that to broader distribution across the region, including mentions of Rangiroa, Bora Bora, and onward shipping via smaller vessels. Charles notes refrigerated containers for perishables. This context transforms how you experience the itinerary: the ship isn’t only moving people; it’s moving supplies and exports that keep island economies functioning.

If you want travel that feels alive—where the ship’s operations are part of the story, not hidden behind a curtain—Episode 2 delivers that feeling. And if you want the experience planned well, with the right sailing dates and trip flow so you can enjoy the voyage instead of worrying about details, begin with Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com.

In this episode, we talk about the kind of travel experience that doesn’t feel manufactured: a deluxe freighter voyage where culture, community, and real life shape every day. If you want help planning an Aranui 5 or Aranoa trip that fits your travel style and flows smoothly, visit https://farandawayadventures.com. Normand sits down with Spencer Hata Utuya, an onboard guide on Aranui 5, to explore what “behind the scenes” really means when you’re traveling to remote islands and working with local communities.

Spencer’s path into guiding starts with a twist—he wasn’t trained in hospitality. He studied business management and marketing and initially aimed for leadership roles on land, but without experience, those opportunities didn’t open. Instead, he found a guide position on board the ship and began in September 2022. By November 2025, he had years of sailings behind him, and he speaks candidly about what it took to become confident in a job that requires both knowledge and emotional steadiness.

A central theme of the episode is preparation as a daily practice. Spencer describes discovering that some travelers arrived with deep knowledge of French Polynesia—sometimes more than he had at first—and how that realization motivated him to study hard. He talks about reading and reviewing his notes every evening, not because he doubts himself, but because he wants to show up fully for guests who traveled far to be there. It’s also part of how he stays ready when guide assignments change on short notice due to sickness, accidents, or personal matters within the team. The guests may never notice the switch, but the quality stays high because the guides take preparation seriously.

Then the conversation shifts to the real heart of “just travel”: the day doesn’t always go the way the program says it will. Spencer explains that the team begins preparing programs for the next voyage while still on the current voyage, often in the final days. They lay out the structure—excursions and connections—but keep room for adjustments because changes can come from local organizations. The important part is the attitude: plans are “in pencil,” not in stone, because remote-island travel is a collaboration with communities and realities that can change quickly.

Two stories capture this perfectly. On a Marquesas sailing, a dance performance was expected, listed, and then didn’t happen because something arose in the performers’ family. Spencer explains that guides must manage logistics and guest mood, delivering the truth with respect while helping guests still feel the day is rich and worthwhile. On an Australs sailing, a bus tour experienced a chain of disruptions: a vehicle ran out of gas, a replacement required keys that were forgotten at home, and guests waited. In that moment, the guide becomes the experience—socializing, walking, pointing out the landscape, and turning dead time into a story the guests will remember.

Spencer also describes how shore experiences are built through local partnerships and budgets handled at higher levels. Different associations may be chosen based on cost and availability, and religious calendars can influence which groups can work certain days. These are the small realities that make “just travel” feel human: it isn’t a theme park, it’s a set of relationships across islands where people have their own schedules, obligations, and events.

The episode ends with refreshingly practical first-timer advice: pack good shoes for hikes, water shoes for coral areas, repellent, and a raincoat because the weather can change. If you want travel that feels alive—where the best moments sometimes happen because something unexpected occurred and a great guide turned it into a connection—this Aranui 5 behind-the-scenes conversation delivers. When you’re ready to plan your own voyage with expert support, connect with Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com.