New Fast Ferry between Tahiti, Huahine, Raiatea, and Bora Bora

The King Tamatoa fast ferry began operation this week between Papeete, Huahine, Raiatea, and Bora Bora. The ferry trip takes about 8 hours to make the entire 165 mile run from Papeete to Bora Bora. Their current schedule is posted here: http://www.raromatai-ferry.pf/

This is a new option for anyone wishing to make a pre/post cruise stay in any of the islands listed above.

Here is a news article about the inaugural run: http://en.tahitipresse.pf/index.cfm?snav=see&presse=28578

Here is a more extensive article (in French) with pictures: http://www.tahitipresse.pf/2010/04/voyage-inaugural-du-raromatai-ferry-accueil-royal-pour-le-king/

If you want to read it in English, copy the address into Google translate: translate.google.com

The King Tamatoa fast ferry began operation this week between Papeete, Huahine, Raiatea, and Bora Bora. The ferry trip takes about 8 hours to make the entire 165 mile run from Papeete to Bora Bora. Their current schedule is posted here: http://www.raromatai-ferry.pf/

 

This is a new option for anyone wishing to make a pre/post cruise stay in any of the islands listed above.

 

Here is a news article about the inaugural run: http://en.tahitipresse.pf/index.cfm?snav=see&presse=28578

 

Here is a more extensive article (in French) with pictures: http://www.tahitipresse.pf/2010/04/voyage-inaugural-du-raromatai-ferry-accueil-royal-pour-le-king/

 

If you want to read it in English, copy the address into Google translate: translate.google.com

 

it looks as though this ferry doesn't run from Papeete on a sunday..which is such a shame for us.

it looks as though this ferry doesn't run from Papeete on a sunday..which is such a shame for us.

Yes, its schedule is a bit limited with only two round-trips per week. For some, it might work out to take Air Tahiti one way and the ferry the other way. According to David Stanely's South Pacific blog, ". . . it now costs over US$450 to fly from Papeete to Bora Bora and back with stops on Raiatea and Huahine. Fares on the King Tamatoa will be half that."

For some, the baggage allowance might be an advantage. The standard baggage allowance on Air Tahiti is 20 kg checked and 3 kg carry-on. I've never been on a ferry that weighed luggage. So I would guess you could bring anything on the ferry you can handle yourself.

From what I can tell, this ship is the former NGV Liamone, which was operating the routes Nice/Ajaccio/Nice and Nice/Bastia/Nice. Another interesting thing to read is the last paragraph of this Assessment Report. It says, in no uncertain terms, that he ship design is not economically viable for the Papeete to Bora Bora run, "In our opinion, it is highly unlikely a vessel of this size and cost can be viable operating between Papeete and Bora Bora." Time will tell.

The ferry owner is already threatening to pull the boat out of service. See this article:

http://en.tahitipresse.pf/2010/06/fast-ferry-operator-threatens-to-pull-out/