The basing of new ships in French Polynesian waters is reinvigorating Tahiti Tourisme‘s efforts to attract travellers to the islands.
Speaking at an Atout France media event in Sydney yesterday, Tahiti Tourisme’s Australian representative Caroline Brunel highlighted the growing appeal of cruising in the region.
“We’ve got three amazing resident cruises in the Islands of Tahiti,” she said. “It’s a fantastic way, especially for Australian visitors, to discover a few islands at once.”
New cruise options are being introduced, including a vessel from luxury expedition line Ponant. “We’ve got Ponant launching an exploration ship in the islands of Tahiti, Le Jacques Cartier,” Brunel said. The vessel will be positioned in the archipelago from September 2026 to March 2027.
Another major development is the expansion of the iconic Aranui line. “Aranui, which is half freighter, half passenger, is launching another ship as well as the Aranui 5, which is going to discover a few other islands,” she said. 2027 will see the newly built Aranoa join Aranui 5, expanding the company’s reach across all five of French Polynesia’s archipelagos.
Windstar Cruises is also expanding in French Polynesia. “Windstar is introducing an extra ship, the Wind Star, in destination,” Brunel added, noting that the increased capacity will make island-hopping more accessible. Under the changes, the classic four-masted sailing yacht, which accommodates just 148 guests, will join Star Breeze in Tahiti to operate the seven-night Dreams of Tahiti itinerary with weekly Monday departures.
Cruise tourism is a key part of Tahiti’s broader strategy to offer immersive and sustainable travel experiences. “It is about making sure we are an inclusive destination,” Brunel said. “That we have less environmental impact but also make sure it’s a fantastic experience for the visitors.”
With 118 islands across French Polynesia, cruising provides a practical and scenic way to explore. As a result, cruise tourism in the destination is experiencing significant growth, with passenger numbers and ship calls steadily rising. In 2024, approximately 52,111 cruise passengers embarked from Tahiti, marking an 18.9% increase from 2023 numbers. Meanwhile, transit cruise arrivals reached around 62,000, up 45% year-on-year.
