Compagnie Polynesienne de Transporte Maritime c/o UC Unlimited Cruises

Compagnie Polynésienne de Transport Maritime (CPTM) is a Tahitian shipping company and the operator of Aranui Cruises. Its profile differs from that of a pure cruise line: Aranui ships carry both passengers and supplies to remote islands in French Polynesia. While cargo is unloaded in the Marquesas, guests can go ashore. Freight transport and island visits are therefore part of the same voyage.

From supply route to passenger voyage

CPTM was founded in 1954 by the Tahitian Wong family. Its ships initially supplied the Tuamotu and Gambier Islands and linked them to Tahiti through trade. In 1978, a commercial route to the Marquesas was added. Six years later, the Aranui I was converted to carry passengers, marking the start of Aranui Cruises. Organised passenger travel was added to the supply service. According to the company, for a long time Aranui was the only ship to bring tourists to the Marquesas.

Aranui 5: supply service and passenger voyage

The Aranui 5 entered service in December 2015. The company describes it as a combined passenger and cargo ship, with room for up to 230 guests in 103 cabins. Its 12-day voyage begins in Papeete and travels to the Marquesas. At the six inhabited islands, the ship unloads goods for local communities and, on the return journey, takes on board copra, lemons, fish and barrels of noni, among other products. The changing cargoes reflect the ship’s role in supplying the islands, while passengers visit those same destinations and learn about their history.

According to the operator, the travel package includes meals and scheduled shore excursions. The crew is predominantly Polynesian, with many employees from the island groups visited by Aranui. Multilingual lecturers and guides share insights into French Polynesian culture. The connection to the region is thus created not only through the freight service and port calls, but also through the onboard staff and programme.

For 2027, CPTM has announced the Aranoa, which will carry up to 198 passengers on voyages to the Austral Islands. This is a planned additional service alongside the established Marquesas route. The sailing area is part of the South Pacific; Aranui voyages depart from Papeete on Tahiti. More ship profiles offer comparisons with other combined passenger and cargo ships.