In this episode, we talk about practical travel tips you can actually use before an Aranui 5 or Aranoa voyage—straight from someone who guides these trips in real time. For expert help choosing the right sailing and building a smooth plan around it, visit Far and Away Adventures.com and https://farandawayadventures.com. Normand interviews Spencer Hata Utuya, an onboard guide on Aranui 5, to learn what happens behind the scenes, what changes at the last minute, and how travelers can prepare mentally and practically for remote-island cruising. Spencer’s background is a helpful reminder that “expert” often comes from effort, not from a perfect starting point. He studied business management and marketing and didn’t expect to work in tourism. After returning home, he applied for other roles and was rejected due to lack of experience, then found the guide position onboard Aranui 5 and started in September 2022. By late 2025, he had built his expertise through nightly study, repetition, and the lived reality of guiding guests through island visits where the plan may shift quickly. One major travel tip from the episode is about expectations: remote-island itineraries require flexibility. Spencer explains that the next voyage’s program begins being prepared during the current sailing—often a few days before the end—when the team drafts the daily layout, excursion structure, and connections. But the key detail is that they leave room for adjustments because changes may come from local organizations, contractors, tourism offices, or community events. His phrase is memorable: plans are “in pencil,” not “set in stone,” and even the night before arrival something can change. For travelers, the tip is simple: treat the program as a strong guide, not a rigid guarantee, and you’ll enjoy the trip more. Another travel tip is understanding what guides do when the unexpected happens. Spencer shares a Marquesas example where a planned dance performance didn’t occur due to a family matter affecting the performers. He describes how guides must explain what happened respectfully and manage guest mood while keeping the experience meaningful. He then shares an Australs example: a bus ran out of gas, a replacement required keys retrieved from home, and guests waited. In that moment, guides keep the group engaged—walking around, pointing out the landscape, and sharing island context without inventing information. For travelers, this is a reminder that your best “tour” may happen when the official tour pauses; a great guide can turn downtime into a cultural moment. Contracting and budgets are negotiated at higher levels, with set budgets per island. Associations and partners may change depending on cost and availability. He notes that religious schedules can affect who works on which days, meaning the ship may partner with different local groups across different voyages. The travel tip here is to approach each island day with curiosity rather than comparison: even if you’ve sailed before, the hosting community group or schedule may be different—and that’s part of the richness. For practical packing tips, Spencer suggests items that protect comfort and reduce stress: good shoes for hikes and safari-style outings, water shoes for coral areas, mosquito repellent, and a raincoat because rain can happen even when you came for sun. He also shares a mindset tip that matters just as much: arrive open and set aside preconceived judgments. Polynesian hospitality is warm and sometimes physically friendly (like a shoulder touch), and understanding that cultural norm helps visitors feel at ease. If you’re considering Aranui 5 or Aranoa, the best preparation is a mix of logistics and mindset: pack for changing conditions, expect occasional last-minute adjustments, and lean into the fact that this voyage is closely connected to real communities. When you want help selecting the right sailing, cabins, and pre/post trip flow, connect https://farandawayadventures.com.
