winter 2013 - 2014 october - aPril cruises
SOUTH AMERICA • caribbean & central america asiA • antarctica & south georgia • west africa
Reach the Treasures of the Land via the Sea For more than 25 years we have been offering our passengers intimate and authentic travel experiences. Our philosophy? To show you the Treasures of the Land via the Sea, coupled with the excellent service, comfort and elegance that has become our signature. This season we invite you to encounter the vast South American continent, with its dense history and its varied and fascinating landscapes. Machu Picchu in Peru, the Atacama Desert in Chile, the Andean landscapes of the Tierra del Fuego, and the mythical passage around Cape Horn. This is much more than just a sail along the coast; we are inviting you to discover the very essence of Latin America. Join us and combine the joys of a Cruise with the passion of a Voyage. Even further south, on the edges of the Antarctic, enjoy the privilege of a five-star expedition: The Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia will offer you their iridescent lands within an immense expanse of water and ice. Extreme destinations offering moving and majestic landscapes. Other latitudes, other atmospheres: Our next destination will be eternal Asia, the mysterious and enchanting continent that will reveal its secrets at each port of call, a blend of new empires and ancient kingdoms, precious guardians of millennial civilisations. Whether you are taking the trip of a lifetime, an intimate escape or a family break, cruising with La Compagnie du Ponant allows you the freedom to tailor your “Odyssey” according to your desires. We hope that this new edition will allow you to choose the Voyage that best resembles you, the one that will allow you to satisfy your wanderlust.
Jean Emmanuel Sauvée General Manager
Véronique Saadé Deputy General Manager
Edito
See you on board very soon.
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SUMMARY calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 destinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 yacht cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 LIFE ON BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 gastronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 spa on board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 RESPECT of the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 le boréal & l’austral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 le soléal & le ponant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 cruises CARIBBEAN & CENTRAL AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 SOUTH AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ANTARCTICA & SOUTH GEORGIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 AsiA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 afriCa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 your ships L’AUSTRAL, LE BORÉAL & le soléal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 le ponant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 informations your AdVANTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 PONANT YACHT CLUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
TERMS AND CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Summary
GENERAL AND SPECIFIC INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
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calendar DEPARTURE
ship
ITINERARY
nights
areas
Page
Oct 15, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Otaru / Osaka
7
ASIA
70
Oct 22, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Osaka / Hong Kong
8
ASIA
70
Oct 23, 2013
LE BORÉAL
Colon / Callao-Lima
11
SOUTH AMERICA
42
Oct 30, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Hong Kong / Singapore
11
ASIA
85
Nov 03, 2013
LE BORÉAL
Callao-Lima / Valparaiso
6
SOUTH AMERICA
42
Nov 09, 2013
LE BORÉAL
Valparaiso / Ushuaia
13
SOUTH AMERICA
43
Nov 10, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Singapore / Hong Kong
11
ASIA
72
Nov 20, 2013
L'AUSTRAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
10
ANTARCTICA
61
Nov 21, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Hong Kong / Singapore
11
ASIA
71
Dec 02, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Singapore / Singapore
8
ASIA
72
Dec 07, 2013
LE PONANT Praia / Praia
7
WESTERN AFRICA
88
Dec 10, 2013
L'AUSTRAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
10
ANTARCTICA
61
Dec 10, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Singapore / Bali
12
ASIA
73
Dec 20, 2013
L'AUSTRAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
15
ANTARCTICA
62
Dec 22, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Bali / Bali
13
ASIA
74
Dec 23, 2013
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
6
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
28
Dec 29, 2013
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
6
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
28
Jan 04, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
7
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
32
Jan 04, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Bali / Singapore
13
ASIA
74
Jan 04, 2014
L'AUSTRAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
15
ANTARCTICA
62
Jan 11, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
29
Jan 17, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
ASIA
72
Jan 18, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / St Martin • Golf
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
30
Jan 19, 2014
L'AUSTRAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
15
ANTARCTICA
62
Jan 21, 2014
LE BORÉAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
10
ANTARCTICA
61
OCTOBEr
November
December
CALENDar
January
6
Singapore / Hong Kong
7 11 7
DEPARTURE
ship
ITINERARY
nights
areas
Page
january Jan 25, 2014
LE PONANT St Martin / Fort de France • Golf
Jan 28, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Hong Kong / Singapore
Jan 31, 2014
LE BORÉAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
31
11
ASIA
71
10
ANTARCTICA
61
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FEBRUARY Feb 01, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
7
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
32
Feb 08, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
7
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
29
Feb 08, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Singapore / Hong Kong
11
ASIA
72
Feb 10, 2014
LE BORÉAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
10
ANTARCTICA
61
Feb 12, 2014
L'AUSTRAL
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
10
ANTARCTICA
61
Feb 15, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
32
Feb 19, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Hong Kong / Ho Chi Minh
10
ASIA
75
Feb 22, 2014
L'AUSTRAL
Ushuaia / Montevideo
15
ANTARCTICA
63
Feb 22, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
7
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
29
Mar 01, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
7
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
32
Mar 01, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Ho Chi Minh / Kuala Lumpur
13
ASIA
76
Mar 02, 2014
LE BORÉAL
Ushuaia / Valparaiso
13
SOUTH AMERICA
44
Mar 08, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
29
Mar 09, 2014
L'AUSTRAL
Montevideo / Recife
14
SOUTH AMERICA
45
Mar 14, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Kuala Lumpur / Colombo
13
ASIA
76
Mar 15, 2014
LE BORÉAL
Valparaiso / Guayaquil
12
SOUTH AMERICA
46
Mar 15, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
7
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
32
Mar 22, 2014
LE PONANT Fort de France / Fort de France
7
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
29
Mar 23, 2014
L'AUSTRAL
Recife / Cayenne
14
SOUTH AMERICA
47
Mar 27, 2014
LE boréal
Guayaquil / Cartagena
14
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
32
Mar 27, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Colombo / Muscat
17
ASIA
77
LE BORÉAL
Cartagena / Fort de France
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AMERICA
33
7
7
CALENDar
March
April 10, Avr 2014
7
7
Set sail for exceptional destinations Visit exceptional sites combining dreams as well as totally authentic experience and new cultures, and enjoy new encounters that bring you even closer to Nature - these are the privileges that the smaller size and state-ofthe-art technology of our ships offer you. Coastal navigation within preserved archipelagos, sailing to the gateways of Asia, “unexpected” outings among the majestic glaciers in Antarctica, mooring secret inlets… but also, visiting Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Japan, Indonesia… Loads of mythic landscapes that are to be visited thanks to Compagnie du Ponant cruises. A unique experience that blends travel and emotion.
Caribbean & central america page 24
south america
destinations
page 38
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antarctica & south Georgia page 54
asia
page 66
Africa
destinations
page 86
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Another way of Cruising...
YACHT cruises
Sailing aboard one of La Compagnie du Ponant ships means more than just travelling. It means living a different and privileged version of a cruise, discovering a concept of travel that is simultaneously intimate, luxurious and authentic.
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YACHT cruises Once upon a time The only French cruise ship line, Compagnie du Ponant is an integral part of France’s great shipping tradition. Ships of character, flying the French flag and symbolizing the “Style of Cruising” as we conceive it.
Yacht Cruises: more than a cruise, it’s a privilege
From exceptional moments to delightful breaks: a unique experience of travel and emotion.
YACHT cruises
Going to sea on a Compagnie du Ponant ship is: To experience the unrivalled pleasure of a “private cruise”. On board, each guest is free to go at his own pace, to savor the joys of being alone or to share enjoyable moments with others during the many activities on offer. To offer legendary destinations and the world most secretive ports, only accessible to small capacity ships. To offer the delights of a French-inspired high cuisine in an intimate environment – a discreet service where no attention to detail is spared – and unforgettable moments of relaxation aboard elegant yachts of character. To combine sophistication and conviviality favoring emotion and discovery, and an ongoing quest for excellence.
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An intimate and refined atmosphere
life on BOARD
As soon as you board the ship, you will sense that very special atmosphere that is unique to La Compagnie du Ponant: the privileged feeling of being aboard your own yacht, a real impression of intimacy that we do our utmost to maintain, respecting the Compagnie du Ponant philosophy.
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life on BOARD The French Touch Whichever cruise you choose, you will always find the same exceptional conditions of comfort, service and elegance that are the signature of La Compagnie du Ponant. From the moment you set foot aboard your ship, you will appreciate the elegant authenticity of its atmosphere. Welcomed into a refined and friendly environment where the emphasis is firmly on the sea, your cruise will allow you to experience the French way of living, that subtle blend of relaxed elegance and conviviality that is our trademark. Discreet but attentive service and excellent cuisine are naturally at the heart of this, as our French chefs will prove to you day after day.
A Butler service specially reserved for the Suites Our Butler is exclusively dedicated to passengers travelling in one of the 13 Suites on Deck 6, and will offer you the privilege of a tailor-made and trouble-free cruise. Attentive and discreet, your Butler will be your primary contact, providing personalised daily service and meeting all your desires efficiently and discreetly.
The Open-Bar* option is now available when you make your booking. It will allow you to enjoy a “Liberté” package covering all your drinks from the bar during your cruise. We will get to know you better during your time aboard, and anticipate your desires, your expectations and your tastes, to ensure that your cruise is a period of total relaxation. Your time on board will be made unique and memorable thanks to the thoughtful attention to detail of our staff. * For more information please refer to page 98
life on BOARD
Open Bar Package
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GASTRONOMy
GASTRONOMY Journey to the Land of Flavors on a Gourmet’s Odyssey Breakfast among friends with the horizon as your guest; followed by lunch in the sunshine on one of our decks; ending with a sumptuous dinner in the elegantly intimate surroundings of our gourmet restaurants. Take advantage of your cruise to appreciate the French approach to the culinary arts at any time of the day.
Haute cuisine with the French touch We invite you to discover an inspired, sophisticated and varied cuisine, based on carefully selected products, discreetly elegant service, and talented Chefs who each offer their own highly innovative specialties. Travelling with us means experiencing the gracious art of living and enjoying life “à la française”. Faithful to tradition, the excellent meals on board are accompanied by a selection of wines from a list chosen by our experienced sommeliers and worthy of the finest restaurants.
“Because each one of you is unique, we offer you a new voyage of the senses every day.”
GASTRONOMY
Haute cuisine in an intimate environment, with discreet and professional service where no attention to detail is spared.
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Between Sky and Sea
SPA on board
Aboard our yachts, in an intimate and luxurious environment, with the ocean as the only backdrop, discover a new way of experiencing a Spa.
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SPA & WELLBEING Wellness is going with the Flow... Make the most of your cruise to relax and take care of yourself in our wellbeing centre. Let our beauticians pamper you and experience this moment of tranquillity to the full. Your cruise is the ideal moment for treating yourself, and that is why La Compagnie du Ponant has joined forces with the leading French cosmetic house, SOTHYS™ to offer you a series of expert, top-of-the-range treatments. The on board spa invites you to experience total relaxation under the expert hands of our knowledgeable therapists. A veritable interlude of wellbeing. Soothing massages, cocooning, expert, tailored beauty treatments (firming, anti-age and slimming) and unique moments of total relaxation for both men and women. The wellbeing centre also includes a fitness room with huge plate-glass windows opening onto the horizon as well as a hair salon.
Let your senses run free In association with the French beauty house of expert treatments for face and body.
, we invite you to enjoy a beauty interlude with a selection
In order to secure your Spa treatments, please make your SPA reservation at time of cruise booking. For further details about Spa treatments, please consult our ‘’Ponant Yacht Spa’’ and available on www.ponant.com.
SPA on board
Enjoy the serenity of the open sea and the toning sea spray; let the wind and the movement of the sea transport you.
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Environment
Respect
of the Environment Reducing our impact on the environment is a priority: from the thoughtfully selected itineraries, to cruising under sail with LE PONANT or using eco-friendly hull coatings, to respecting local communities and raising awareness among passengers and crew. It is a tradition that LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL & LE SOLÉAL will carry forward with eco-friendly features such as: • Dynamic positioning, so there is no need to drop anchor hence protecting the seabed optical underwater detection system to avoid collisions with whales and other cetacean, • Electric propulsion system: quiet and economic • Diesel engines using MDO (Marine Diesel Oil): not so heavy and less polluting • Waste and sewage treatment on board • Low energy bulbs for lighting • Reduced exhaust emissions, etc.
Nature puts on a spectacular show. Compagnie du Ponant is committed to respecting it and giving you a front row seat.
Environment
LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL and LE SOLÉAL will be eligible for the international “Green Ship” label. Compagnie du Ponant itself is a member of La Charte Bleue d’Armateurs de France, requiring ship owners to protect marine and coastal environments. It also belongs to the IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) which is committed to responsible behavior to safeguard the flora and fauna.
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LE Boréal An exceptional yacht with 132 staterooms and Suites.
Le boréal
Quality materials, discreet elegance and nuanced harmonies, her exterior and interior lines reflect a nautical mood which has been subtly revisited. Soothing neutral tones are brought to life with splashes of cheerful red, like a thread running through an interior that blends tradition with innovation. LE BORÉAL remains faithful to Compagnie du Ponant’s Yacht Cruises philosophy in offering a unique ambiance combining luxury, intimacy and wellbeing. The SPA on board has the latest equipment, and in partnership with the famous beauty brand SOTHYS Paris™ welcomes passengers for unforgettable moments of total relaxation.
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LE BORÉAL, launched in April 2010, a human-size ship with a decor that is both contemporary and welcoming.
L’austral An exceptional yacht with 132 staterooms and Suites.
L’AUSTRAL, launched in May 2011, a sophisticated yacht but where an air of informal relaxation reigns.
l’austral
With her grey hull, tapered prow and sleek profile, L’AUSTRAL is the sistership of LE BORÉAL. In the purity of her lines and subtle sophistication of her décor, this jewel in Compagnie du Ponant’s fleet revisits the spirit of cruising in a “yachting” version. Shades of grey, taupe, white and ivory, with hints of cinnamon and caramel running through, give L’AUSTRAL her own personality. And because a cruise provides an ideal setting in which to pamper yourself, L’AUSTRAL has partnered with a beauty brand SOTHYS Paris™ to design an intimate SPA offering a selection of exclusive treatments.
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LE soléal An exceptional yacht with 132 staterooms and Suites.
Le soléal
Fluid lines, a gentle color palette, drawing on natural wood, grey and shades of whites create a unique atmosphere that is both clean and welcoming, thanks to a judicious choice of materials and discreet and subtly updated references to the nautical theme. Thus, the white Corian® of the counters in the lobby brings to mind the hulls of ships and contrasts with the warmth of the leather. The central, transversal sculpture is made from enameled pieces and was directly inspired by the sea. In partnership with the famous French skincare company, SOTHYS Paris™, SOLÉAL’s spa offers a selection of expert treatments. Unique moments for a perfect balance between body and soul.
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LE SOLÉAL, launched in July 2013 is the last jewel of our fleet.
LE PONANT A majestic three-mast 88-metre yacht with 32 staterooms: an alliance of nautical tradition and great elegance.
Le Ponant will captivate you by her beauty and personality: all the charm of a sail boat with the intimacy and comforts of a super yacht.
le ponant
Sleek low lines, decks extending the full 88 meters, her three masts reaching for the sky and her sails ready to take flight‌ There is no need to be an experienced sailor to embark aboard this beauty: while you may not participate in the manoeuvres, the crew is always delighted to answer your questions. As on a private yacht, we sail with a small group of people who really love being at sea.
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Caribbean & Central America
The Caribbean & Central America Southern pearls and lands of contrast... The Grenadines, Antigua, Saint Bart’s, the Virgin Islands, Tobago: evocative, spicy, colorful, sunny names, a journey in themselves.
An idyllic world opens to you. Allow you to fall under the spell of the Caribbean islands and set off in the footsteps of Christopher COLUMBUS to discover hidden treasures. Nearby, Costa Rica and Nicaragua keep their promises of a journey back to nature with their immense natural parks and ecological reserves, their active volcanoes and their fast-flowing rivers.
Set sail aboard LE PONANT and LE BORÉAL and discover the most delightful landscapes.
Caribbean & Central America
It is impossible to resist the charm of these islands with their golden beaches and indigo and turquoise seas where time appears to stand still. Between coral reefs and soaring hills, between the peaceful turtles and the surrounding flora, this part of the world is home to many natural treasures and the marine and terrestrial ecosystems are exceptional. Come and experience the emotions felt by the look-outs of old who first spotted land on the horizon and watched as an island appeared...with its volcanic pitons, forests and the coast line identifiable by the spray of waves breaking on the coral reefs, its golden beaches and their coconut palms, its hidden coves and sheltered harbors.
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Idyllic island chains,
Ribbons of golden sands, a turquoise sea… Aboard LE BORÉAL and LE PONANT, set sail for the treasures of the Caribbean and discover the idyllic islands of the West Indies that have successfully preserved the traces of Robinson CRUSOE. . Each port of call is more beautiful than the last – reinforcing the impression of being “a world away”, where luxurious landscapes and golden sandy beaches lie side by side with a rich historical heritage. Further on is Costa Rica, given the name “Rich Coast” by Christopher COLUMBUS, and remarkable for the beauty of its lands. Next you will sail through the famous Panama Canal, one of the most impressive engineering achievements in the world, linking the Pacific to the Caribbean; then Central America will offer itself to you. Firstly Panama, a land of contrast, a bridge between the Americas, and a blend of modernism and tradition. Then you will encounter a harmonious blend of colonial cities, wild nature, beaches and hospitality - you are in Nicaragua, a country with a rich colonial heritage. Lastly, sailing with LE BORÉAL will take you to Ecuador, a country that is about half the size of France, lying between Colombia and Peru, extending from the Pacific Ocean to the depths of the Amazon, crossing over a stretch of the Andes cordillera.
Caribbean & Central America
Destinations synonymous with escape and rich colors.
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Caribbean Central America LE ponant
LE boréal
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
CARTAGena of the indies
FORT DE FRANCE
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
CARTAGENA OF THE INDIES
FORT DE FRANCE
You are in the heart of the Virgin Islands. These are sublime islands with a rich heritage. Discovered and named by Christopher COLUMBUS, inhabited for a time by fierce Caribbean Indians, they are mostly sparsely populated today. They include Tortola, the nature island with its mangrove forest and Virgin Gorda with its enchanting natural basins of emerald water. Discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493, this extraordinary archipelago comprises more than 60 islands surrounded by coral reefs. Volcanic isles with majestic scenery, they were the inspiration for the famous novel “Treasure Island”. You will be especially enchanted by the chaos of gigantic boulders, sandy beaches and natural pools in the Baths of Virgin Gorda.
In the south- western corner of the Caribbean Sea, a group of low-lying islands, canals and lagoons will lead you to the mythical city of Cartagena, an old colonial town that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Founded in 1522 on the West Indies trade route, it was the main trading port at the time of the conquistadors, and quickly became a hub for the trading of gold and goods. The magic of Cartagena comes from the foundations of its city walls, its warm citizens and the richness of its architecture. The town exudes romanticism; fascinating anecdotes emerge from the corner of a street or a square and all along the city walls, which wait patiently until sunset to evoke the battles of the past. You will visit the narrow streets with their colorful façades.
This city, lying on the Caribbean coast of Martinique, a French overseas department, is a major hub in the Lesser Antilles. At dawn, Fort de France will surprise you with its effervescent glow. At sunrise, the markets come alive as the aroma of spices, fruit and vegetables fill the streets. From district to district and street to street, each rich with historical monuments, the city can be read like a book of West Indian literature: incandescent, generous, warm, Creole….An amazing blend of modern architecture and colorful Creole villas, the city’s colonial past has preserved a number of monuments worthy of interest, like the St Louis Cathedral with its magnificent stained glass windows.
Caribbean & Central America
P O RT S O F CALL . . .
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Marigot & Soufrière Located at the heart of the Caribbean, Saint Lucia, with its lush and untamed vegetation lies like a jewel in the turquoise seas of the island chain. Hilly and covered with tropical rainforest, the island is home to two volcanic peaks which loom over the sea like two sugar loaves, near Soufrière. You will be able to see them in the distance as soon as you arrive, twin peaks proudly clad in an emerald coat. The bay and the lush rainforest have earned it classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. The island is renowned for its exceptional marine and terrestrial ecosystems and offers explorers a very colorful show.
LE ponant
LE ponant St Barts
FORT DE France
Carribean Sea
Les Saintes
Marie Galante
Caribbean & Central America
Bequia
Dominica
vi n g di
St. Lucia
Carribean Sea vi n g di
Hillsborough
FORT DE France
Tobago Cays Sandy Island
FORT DE FRANCE • FORT DE FRANCE
FORT DE FRANCE • FORT DE FRANCE
departure: DeC 23rd 2013
departure: DeC 29th 2013
cruise: 7 days / 6 nights
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Anses d’Arlet
Antigua
cruise: 7 days / 6 nights
DAY
ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
DAY
ITINERARY
1
Fort de France (Martinique) Embarkation from 16.30 to 17.30
1
Fort de France (Martinique) Embarkation from 16.30 to 17.30
2
Cabrits (Dominica)
19.00
2
Soufrière (St. Lucia)
12.00
3
Les Saintes (Guadeloupe)
09.00
12.00
18.00
18.00
3
Bequia (St Vincent & Grenadines) 09.00
20.00
4
St Barts (French Antilles)
5
Nelson’s Dockyard (Antigua)
12.00
23.00
4
21.00
18.00
5
08.00
19.00
Marie Galante (Guadeloupe)
08.00
18.00
6
Tobago Cays (Grenadines) Hillsborough/Sandy Island (Grenada) Anses d’Arlet (Martinique)
09.00
09.30
6
12.00
18.00
Fort de France (Martinique) Disembarkation
08.00
7
21.00
7
Fort de France (Martinique) Disembarkation
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
21.00
08.00
vi n g di
DIVING IN THE CARIBBEAN * For more details about your shore excursions and formalities, please refer to pages 34 to 37. For more information, please consult
w w w. p o n a n t . c o m
The Virgin Islands and the Grenadines are dream destinations for divers. Aboard LE PONANT cruises in the Caribbean, a qualified diving instructor will be present to suggest scuba diving or snorkelling outing. The snorkelling or scuba diving trips are varied and will suit divers of all levels. As you dive, you will be accompanied by a professional and will explore the underwater world of the Caribbean, observing at the extraordinary flora and fauna on the reefs, discovering a number of varieties of coral and fish. * For more information, please refer to the general and specific conditions, p.102.
LE ponant OM ZO
Anses d’Arlet
St. Lucia Carribean Sea Bequia vi n g di
St Georges
Tobago Cays Carriacou
FORT DE FRANCE • FORT DE FRANCE departures: jan 11st 2014 • feb 08th & 22th 2014 mar 08th & 22th 2014 Cruise: 8 days / 7 nights DAY
ITINERARY
2
20.00 18.00
3
Bequia (St Vincent & Grenadines) 09.00
20.00
4
St Georges (Grenada)
08.00
20.00
5
Carriacou (Grenada)
08.00
20.00
6
Tobago Cays (Grenadines)
08.00
18.00
7
Anses d’Arlet (Martinique) Fort de France (Martinique) Disembarkation
12.00 08.00
20.00
8
One of the jewels of the Caribbean, the Grenadines extends their string of islands over the turquoise water. A break in the Grenadines means lazing on beaches and flirting with the wind from island to island. Explore the depths, the silence and the slow pace of sub-aquatic life where chiselled caves and immobile wrecks are visited by their giant princesses, the Manta Rays with their undulating capes. An underwater paradise that is a delight for divers, these islands are also attractive for their vigorous vegetation and the joie de vivre of the islanders. Amongst these islands, the Tobago Keys National Park will offer you its harbors protected by the coral reef and the kaleidoscope of its aquatic treasures. A dream for explorers who like to gaze at picture-postcard beaches and the limpid waters of the coast, complete with resident sea turtles. Bound together by the most beautiful coral reef in the West Indies, these rocky outcrops, will provide the mooring for LE PONANT, allowing you to feast your eyes on the beauty all around you.
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
Fort de France (Martinique) Embarkation from 16.30 to 17.30 Soufrière (St. Lucia) 12.00
1
TOBAGO KEYS – THE GRENADINES
OM ZO
SAINT GEORGE’S All the islands of the West Indies are attractive but some truly stand out. Grenada is a small, hilly island forged by volcanic activity, with crater lakes and mountain slopes covered with dense tropical rainforest. A real Garden of Eden where waterfalls thunder to the ground and where Golden Apples and Nutmeg trees grow in abundance. Its elegant capital, St George’s, lies in a horseshoe-shaped harbor on the west coast and was founded on the orders of Richelieu in 1650. It is a particularly picturesque town, built around the port, and it has preserved its colonial architecture with its red-tiled roofs and pastel colors. Its tropical forests with their wild beauty, immaculate beaches and countless waterfalls make this a particularly enchanting destination. In addition, the many inlets, cliffs, old plantations, mangroves and the network of national parks, both terrestrial and marine will incite you to explore.
Caribbean & Central America
FORT DE France
29
St Barts Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, in the North of the West Indies, St Bart’s is a small island of 25 km² that is a happy blend of modernism and tradition. You will be enchanted by the magic and undeniable charm of St Bart’s. Coves and inlets of white sand and turquoise sea coupled with the colorful and exuberant vegetation make this island a true paradise. Its white houses with their colorful roofs are testament to the century it spent under Swedish influence. It has successfully conserved the charm of its unspoiled nature and its precious environment.
LE ponant saint martin
Anguilla
GOLF package
St Barts Nevis
St. Kitts
For golf fans, La Compagnie du Ponant offers you the chance to tee off on exceptional courses during the Fort de France – Saint Martin and Saint Martin – Fort de France cruises leaving on 18th and 25th January 2014.
Antigua
vi n g di
Dominica
FORT DE France
FORT DE FRANCE • Saint martin Departure: jan 18th 2014 Cruise: 8 days / 7 nights ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
ST. KITTS - ROYAL ST. KITTS • 18 Holes - Par 72 The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club lies in a valley bordered by mountains to the west and the ocean to the east, offering a varied and picturesque backdrop to the course. The course offers golfers the unique opportunity of playing on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea in the same round.
DAY
ITINERARY
1
Fort de France (Martinique) Embarkation from 16.30 to 17.30
2
Roseau (Dominica)
11.30
19.00
3
Jolly Harbour (Antigua)
08.00
19.00
4
St Kitt’s (St. Kitts & Nevis)
07.30
18.00
5
Nevis (St. Kitts & Nevis)
07.30
18.00
ANGUILLA - CUISINART GOLF CLUB • 18 Holes - Par 71
6
Anguilla (British Overseas Territory) 07.30
18.00
7
St Barts (French Antilles)
11.30
23.00
8
St Martin - Marigot (French Antilles) 07.30 Disembarkation
Designed by Greg Norman, this course offers superb panoramic views over the Caribbean Sea. The opening hole in particular is very spectacular. The uneven terrain provides interesting changes in level and natural aquatic obstacles.
21.00
NEVIS - FOUR SEASONS • 18 Holes - Par 71 Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., this is one of the most popular golfing destinations in the Caribbean. Nevis Peak, a dormant volcano, brings many changes in level to the course as well as panoramic views. The rounds offer a number of challenges with aquatic obstacles and more than 70 bunkers scattered throughout the green.
Caribbean & Central America
ANTIGUA - JOLLY HARBOUR GOLF • 18 Holes - PAR 71
30
Designed by leading golf course architect Karl Litton of Florida, this is an established par 71, 18-hole championship golf course, one of the Caribbean’s premier golfing venues. Adjacent to the Jolly Harbour Marina and surrounded by excellent shopping and beaches, it is set in lush tropical parkland. Easterly breezes cool you on the fairways that have been sculpted into green hilly landscape, with seven lakes to make this 5 587 yards golf course more challenging.
For more details about your shore excursions and formalities, please refer to pages 34 to 37. For more information, please consult
w w w. p o n a n t . c o m
Your golf package includes: The golf package: 545 € (3) •Four green fees on internationally renowned golf courses with the shared use of a golf cart. • Shared return transfers to the golf courses • Caddying of golf bags on board and during disembarking (3) Per person on the basis of two players. Booking and prepayment are required at least 45 days prior to departure. Golfers must present updated handicap records that are less than one year old. Golfers must bring their own equipment.
LE ponant saint martin
OM ZO
Anguilla
St Barts Nevis
St. Kitts
Antigua
vi n g di
Dominica
FORT DE France
ANTIGUA
A close neighbor of the French island of Guadeloupe, Antigua is a peaceful haven, predominately coral pink in color and reputed for its reserves of exotic birds. Its picturepostcard white sandy beaches are some of the most beautiful in the West Indies, making this a truly idyllic destination. Do not miss the former colonial plantations dating from the 18th century, scattered throughout the island, today transformed into delightful restaurants. With its countless beaches, this little paradise on earth will allow you to visit a different one each day.
SAINT MARTIN • FORT DE FRANCE departure: jan 25th 2014 cruise: 8 days / 7 nights DAY
ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
1
St Martin - Marigot (French Antilles) Embarkation from 16.30 to 17.30
2
St Barts (French Antilles)
08.00
23.00
3
Anguilla (British Overseas Territory) 07.30
18.00
4
Nevis (St. Kitts & Nevis)
07.30
18.00
5
St Kitt’s (St. Kitts & Nevis)
07.30
18.00
6
Jolly Harbour (Antigua)
07.30
19.00
7
Roseau (Dominica)
08.00
18.00
8
Fort de France (Martinique) Disembarkation
07.30
Extract from the Captain’s Log Captain Mickaël DEBIEN - 28 December 2012 “What a pleasure to be back in the Caribbean. Sunshine, a turquoise sea, the trade winds. Our first port of call is Les Saintes with its rugged coast, once a hotbed for pirates. We moored in the superb harbor in front of the village of Bourg. We then left the French West Indies to head for the British Virgin Islands. We landed on a beach. Passengers wanted to photograph the ship so I made some manoeuvres near the beach. We are in contact with the Cruise Director and I called to shore to ask if the photos had come out all right... Now we are heading south to Antigua, the island with 365 beaches. A sheltered port which welcomes the most beautiful ships on the planet.”
Caribbean & Central America
21.00
31
Tikal
LE ponant
LE boréal Puerto Quetzal Guatemala Colombia Corinto Nicaragua San Juan del Sur CARTAGena Puerto Caldera Quepos Holandes Cayes Fuerte Amador Costa Rica panama
Prickly Pear Spanish Town / Virgin Gorda St Barts St. Kitts Antigua
Pacific Ocean
Les Saintes
vi n g di
CTURE LE
Dominica
R
From the port of Puerto Quetzal, discover one of the major sites of Mayan civilization: the pyramids of Tikal. After an hour’s flight, you will reach the heart of the jungle a jewel embedded in the luxuriant vegetation. Tikal was a ceremonial center. From this edifice (the highest in pre-Columbian America), Mayan priests dominated the virgin forest below, and lifted their eyes to the stars to study their movements. The imposing vestiges of a vanished culture coupled with the mystery of the jungle make a real impression on the traveller. In this very dense jungle, the forest seems to emerge from the mist.
FORT DE France
Guayaquil
Ecuador
FORT DE FRANCE • FORT DE FRANCE
guayaquil • cartagena
departures: jan 04th 2014 • feb 01st & 15th 2014 mar 01st & 15th 2014
departure: 27th mar 2014
cruise: 8 days / 7 nights DAY
ITINERARY
1
Fort de France (Martinique) Embarkation from 16.30 to 17.30
2
Les Saintes (Guadeloupe)
10.00
19.00
3
Nelson’s Dockyard (Antigua)
08.00
4
Spanish Town/Virgin Gorda Prickly Pear (British Virgin Islands)
5
St Barts (French Antilles)
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
09.00 13.00 09.00
cruise: 15 days / 14 nights DAY
ITINERARY
2,3 4
Quepos (Costa Rica)
5
San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua)
13.00
6
At Sea
10.00 20.00
7
Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala)
8
Corinto (Nicaragua)
9
At Sea
23.00
10
Puerto Caldera (Costa Rica) At Sea
21.00
1
6
Basseterre Friars Bay (St. Kitts & Nevis)
07.00 14.30
12.00 17.30
11 12
Fuerte Amador (Panama)
7
Roseau (Dominica)
09.00
15.00
13
Crossing the Panama Canal
8
Fort de France (Martinique) Disembarkation
23.00
14
Holandes Cayes (Panama) Cartagena (Colombia) Disembarkation
15
: extension Tikal, see page 34
Caribbean & Central America
OM ZO
32
La antigua de guatemala
For more details about your shore excursions and formalities, please refer to pages 34 to 37. For more information, please consult
w w w. p o n a n t . c o m
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
Guayaquil (Ecuador) Embarkation from 16.00 to 17.00 At Sea -
From Puerto Quetzal, discover Antigua Guatemala, located at 1500 m altitude and often considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The city has something to offer for everyone and if culture is what you crave, there is no better place. Famous for its Spanish Baroque and Renaissance style of architecture, it lives to the rhythm of its colonial past. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua is dominated by the silhouettes of its majestic volcanoes and has a unique charm. From Markets held beneath towering volcanoes to ancient temples, this charming city resonates through the ages. Offering a welcoming break, it has become the country’s foremost traveler’s destination for a soothing escape and to have a rest.
07.30 08.00 07.00 12.00 07.00 11.00 08.00 07.00
18.00 17.00 18.00 18.00 21.30 19.00 24.00 13.00
LE boréal OM ZO
St. Lucia Bequia
Curaçao
St Georges
Los Roques
CARTAGeNa colombia
cartagena • Fort de France departure: apr 10th 2014 cruise: 8 days / 7 nights DAY
ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
1
Cartagena (Colombia) Embarkation from 16.00 to 17.00
2
At Sea
3
19.00 -
-
Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles)
08.00
19.00
4
Los Roques (Venezuela)
12.00
15.00
5
St Georges (Grenada)
09.00
20.00
6
Bequia (St Vincent & Grenadines) 08.00
21.00
7
Marigot Soufrière (St. Lucia)
07.00 14.00
12.00 21.00
8
Fort de France (Martinique) Disembarkation
07.00
LOS ROQUES An idyllic island chain made up of sparsely inhabited islets and long strips of golden sand, each island surrounded by the turquoise sea, Los Roques is a marine oasis of remarkable diversity. Lying off the coast of Venezuela, the site is considered to be the third best coral reef in the world. Colors take pride of place here, from the dazzling white sand to the green, blue and turquoise of the deep lagoons. A favourite refuge of pirates in the 18th century, it became a national ecological park in 1972, a unique natural sanctuary home to many species of birds.
OM ZO
The Panama Canal celebrates its centenary Aboard LE BORÉAL, experience something unique: sailing through the Panama Canal, which will celebrate its centenary in 2014. Construction of the canal started in 1880 under the direction of Ferdinand de LESSEPS. The canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama and links the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It includes three levels of locks and by raising ships to the level of Lake Gatun, almost as if the water was a lift, it allows them to avoid having to round Cape Horn. From the observation centre, you will admire the impressive movement of cargo ships.
Caribbean & Central America
FORT DE France
33
extensions TIKAL by AIR You will take an hour-long flight from Puerto Quetzal to reach the northern region of Petén, the gateway to the famous Tikal ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the heart of the jungle, surrounded like a jewel by the lush vegetation, Tikal is one of the major sites of Mayan civilization. Its ceremonial centre includes superb examples of temples, palaces, steles and sacrificial alters; you will visit the most remarkable buildings such as the Temple of the Great Jaguar, the Temple of the Masks and the Great Plaza. From this structure, the highest altitude in Pre-Colombian America, Mayan priests dominated the green expanse of virgin forest and raised their eyes to the stars to study the movements.
Caribbean & Central America
A magical moment combining culture and nature, the Tikal site will allow you to relive some original legends.
34
LE BORéAL : GUAYAQUIL • CARTAGena MARS 27th 2014 / page 32 Price per person: 575 € Must be booked at the time of booking the cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
FORMALITIES for all cruises The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Compagnie du Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
SPECIFIC FORMALITIES LE BORÉAL : GUAYAQUIL • CARTAGENA / MAR 27th to apr 10th 2014 - PAGE 32 • Costa Rica : Territory exit tax charged on board (25€) • Nicaragua : Entrance and territory exit taxes charged on board (35€)
LE BORÉAL : CARTAGENA • FORT DE FRANCE / APR 10th 2014 - PAGE 33 • Venezuela : Los Roques National Park Fee charged on board (25€)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Caribbean & Central America
• Panama Canal: The schedules depend on several factors and despite our best efforts, crossing the Panama Canal during the day is not guaranteed.
35
EXCURSIONS Please find below samples of the optional shore excursions for each port of call in Caribbean & Central America. PORT
country
excursion name
Anses d'Arlet
Martinique
Time at leisure on the beach
Anguilla
British Overseas Territory
Anguilla Heritage Tour
3H
59 €
Safari Adventure & Beach Break
4H
49 €
Caribbean & Central America
(Nelson Dockyard) Antigua & Barbuda Antigua
36
duration
price
Cariacou
Grenada
Time at leisure on the beach
Cartagena
Colombia
Cartagena of the Indies
4H
55 €
Corinto
Nicaragua
Colonial Leon
4H
65 €
Curacao
Netherlands Antilles
Curacao Landhouse tour
5H
59 €
Friar's Bay
St. Kitts & Nevis
Time at leisure on the beach
Fuerte Amador
Panama
Time at leisure
6H30
79 €
Guayaquil
Ecuador
Scenic Guayaquil & Historic Park
5H
45 €
Los Roques
Venezuela
Time at leisure on the beach
Marigot
St. Lucia
St. Lucia by Land and Sea
7H
89 €
Nevis
St. Kitts & Nevis
A village experience
3H30
65 €
PORT
country
excursion name
duration
price
Puerto Caldera
Costa Rica
Poas Volcano National Park
8H30
85 €
Puerto Quetzal
Guatemala
La Antigua de Guatemala
8H00
85 €
Quepos
Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park
4H
69 €
Roseau
Dominica
Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls
4H30
45 €
San Juan del Sur
Nicaragua
Colonial Granada
8H
85 €
Soufrière
St. Lucia
Magical Soufrière
3H
35 €
St. Georges
Grenada
Spices and Falls
4H
45 €
St Bart’s
French Antilles
Submarine Adventure
1H
39 €
St. Kitts
St. Kitts & Nevis
Essential St. Kitts
4H
45 €
Tobago Cays
Grenadines
Time at leisure on the beach
Virgin Gorda
British Virgin Islands
The Baths
3H30
35 €
Caribbean & Central America
Shore excursions are sold onboard only. Pricing, tour titles and duration are subject to changes. You will find the complete tour program on www.ponant.com 5 months prior to your cruise. Final tour program will be sent with your cruise documents.
37
38
SOUTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA Brazil, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia… If the tales of the first conquistadors bring to your mind distant lands and ancient civilizations, if the names of MAGELLAN, CORTES or VELAZQUEZ have fired your imagination in the past, then our cruise-tours are made for you. It is almost impossible to paint a portrait of this continent overflowing with a thousand and one riches! There are so many treasures in store for you, from the Patagonia wilderness to the Chilean fjords or the ruined temples of the Incas in Peru. Sail in the wake of Christopher COLUMBUS and the conquistadors and set off to encounter ancient civilizations that have fired the imaginations of so many adventurers!
“Ending a journey in Latin America, feels like you are, in fact, just at the beginning of it…”. Stefan ZWEIG during his exile in Brazil.
A vast territory, an ancient cultural heritage and a natural wilderness…
SOUTH AMERICA
The vast multi-cultural continent of South America offers a stunning variety of sceneries, from sparkling waterfalls to arid deserts, volcanoes and tropical forests, not to mention the extraordinary flora and fauna: sea lions, multi-colored parrots, pink dolphins, guavas, rubber trees and mangroves…
39
Set sail for Southern Seas LE BORÉAL takes you along the Pacific Coast of South America, a land steeped in history and fabulous scenery from the snow-capped peaks of the Patagonia volcanoes to the arid deserts of the high Andean plateaus. The Peruvian coast is home to many treasures, Machu Picchu is hidden away in its own Sacred Valley or the enigmatic and mysterious Nazca lines. Further to the South, before reaching the far end of Argentina and the mythic city of Ushuaia, discover the Patagonia channels and Puerto Natales. An ideal point from which to cross the Andes, the town is in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park and the Andean scenery here is breathtaking. On the other side of this vast continent, L’AUSTRAL continues her journey, and this time it is Brazil which appears on your horizon, the famous Sugar Loaf dominating the magical bay of Rio de Janeiro. Then, as she slips through these mysterious waterways, join us in penetrating the Amazon. Sailing through the Breves Narrows, you will discover one of the Amazon’s narrow “green corridors” where locals in dug-out canoes come out to greet you. They come from Belem, also called the “City of Mango Trees”.
SOUTH AMERICA
And South America is at its best…
40
South America
LE BORéal
L’austral
calLao - LIMA
TORES DEL PAINE
ATACAMA DESERT
callao - lima
TORES DEL PAINE - PATAGONIE
ATACAMA DESERT
Callao is the port of call for Lima. Founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco PIZARO and known as the City of Kings, it stands proudly facing the Pacific Ocean. Its role in the New World was incomparable because, in 1542 Charles V established the Viceroyalty of Peru, the old and most imposing of the Spanish colonies on this continent. Colonial Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a magnificent historical center which testifies to this prestigious past. The main sights are to be found in the heart of the city: the majestic Cathedral with its adjoining chapel and two bell towers dominates the unmissable Plaza De Armas, and the Governor’s Palace. The Gold Museum, National Museum of Archaeology and the private collections of Pre-Columbian Art will offer you the best introductions to the Peruvian capital.
On the southern tip of Chile, well beyond the 42nd parallel stretch the wild open spaces of Patagonia a fascinating destination where reality lives up to the legend. All the beauty of this region can be summed up in the Torres del Paine National Park, which is arguably one of South America’s finest. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is surely one of the most beautiful places on earth where untouched nature competes with the intense colors of an immense sky. Do not miss the huemul, currently an endangered species, and 126 species of birds including the Condor in flight with its impressive wingspan. But this is not all, as this discreet but extraordinary natural environment is also home to a very rich collection of 270 species of plants. Nature lovers will delight in a spectacle where flora and fauna can be seen in their original and unspoiled format.
World-renowned as being the driest salt flat in the world, the Salar d’Atacama offers a truly lunar landscape, scattered with lagoons, lakes, valleys, craters and hot springs. This vast area, with its abundance of colorful birds, such as the famous flamingos, holds an unending fascination for travellers. You can discover the Valley of the Moon, sculpted by the wind into unusual rock formations, which will be seen in its best light and its best colors as the sun sets. Weather permitting, you will be able to spend an evening stargazing; the clarity of the night sky makes this one of the best places for astronomy. A little further on, a faint perfume of mineral dust will lead you to the Tatio geysers and their surreal atmosphere, coupled with pleasant thermal springs. Here the desert looks up at the purest sky on Earth, a world of silence, and it gradually climbs to the heart of the Andes at some 4 500 m altitude.
SOUTH AMERICA
P O RT S O F CA L L . . .
41
Puerto Montt
LE borÉAL Puerto Limon COSTA RICA Panama canal Pacific Ocean
LE borÉAL Callao - LIMA
Colon San Blas PANAMA
Matarani Arica
Ecuador Quito Manta/Quito Isla de la Plata Peru Salaverry Machu Picchu
Pacific Ocean Chile CTURE LE
Valparaiso
Callao - LIMA
Colon • Lima
Lima • Valparaiso
Departure: OCT 23rd 2013
Departure: NOV 03rd 2013
Cruise: 12 DAYS / 11 NIGHTS DAY
Itinerary
Cruise: 7 DAYs / 6 NIGHTs Arrival Departure
2
Colon (Panama) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00 San Blas (Panama) 08.00
3
Puerto limon (Costa Rica)
4
Crossing the Panama canal
5, 6
At Sea
7
Manta/Quito (Ecuador)
8
Isla de La Plata (Ecuador)
9
At Sea
10
Salaverry (Peru)
11
Callao - Lima (Peru) Callao - Lima (Peru) Disembarkation
1
12
08.30 05.30 07.00 06.30 10.30
: overland Quito, see page 48 : overland Machu Picchu, see page 48 & 49
SOUTH AMERICA
2 à 59. pages 5
For more details about your shore excursions, overlands & formalities, please refer to pages 48 to 53. For more information, please consult
42
www.ponant.com
Peru
R
CTURE LE
R
Capital of the Lake District, at a latitude of almost 40 degrees south, the port of Puerte Montt reveals what can only be described as a natural garden, where the beauty of the landscapes will enchant the painter that slumbers inside you. In this entrancing landscape, the villa and its bay appear before your gaze. Further on, on the fringe of the Reloncavi Sound, opening onto neighboring Patagonia, you will find the greatest concentration of volcanic cones such as the spectacular and famous Osorno volcano with its snow-topped peaks. The region is rich in treasures such as the remarkable spectacle of the Petrohue Falls, or the succession of volcanoes where certain craters have been transformed into lakes: unique and rare nature.
21.00 12.30 19.00 23.00 14.00 14.00
DAY Itinerary
Arrival Departure
1
Callao - Lima (Peru) Embarkation from 16.30 to 17.30
2
At Sea
3
18.00 -
-
Matarani (Peru)
06.00
17.00
4
Arica (Chile)
07.00
14.00
5, 6
At Sea
-
-
7
Valparaiso (Chile) Disembarkation
OM ZO
08.00
CHILOE ISLAND - CASTRO
At the heart of the Lake District, just a stone’s throw from Puerto Montt, LE BORÉAL will slip through the calm waters of an archipelago of 40 islands, scattered off the coast of Chile. Chiloé is a lush green island with remarkable architecture and a proliferation of wildlife. Before reaching Castro it is highly likely that you will have witnessed a truly authentic aquatic ballet, where seals and porpoises accompany travellers on their journey, swimming nose-to-nose with our ship. The island boasts some 150 churches, built under the influence of the Jesuits in the 17th century, and the capital, Castro, is home to 16 that are listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. But this city has plenty of other charms, including its colorful craft market or its brightly painted wooden cathedral. You can also admire the multicolored houses with their very special name: Palafitos, which were often built on stilts.
LE borÉAL Valparaiso
Puerto Montt
Puerto Natales
Atlantic Ocean Argentina
R
CTURE LE
Tortel
Chile
Ushuaia Cape Horn
Valparaiso • Ushuaia
colon • Ushuaia - from oct 23RD to nov 22ND 2013
Departure: NOV 09th 2013 Cruise: 14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTS DAY
Itinerary
1
Valparaiso (Chile) Embarkation from 15.30 to 16.30
2
At Sea
-
17.00 -
3
Castro (Chile)
14.30
20.00
4
Puerto Montt (Chile)
07.00
20.00
5
At Sea
6
Tortel (Chile)
7, 8, 9
Cruising in the heart of chilean fjords
10
Arrival Departure
Puerto Natales (Chile)
-
-
08.00
12.00
07.00
22.00
11, 12, 13 Cruising round Cape Horn and in the Beagle Channel 14
Ushuaia (Argentina) Disembarkation.
From the Panama Canal to Cape Horn
07.00
Set sail aboard LE BORÉAL for an unforgettable cruise from the warm waters of Central America to the pearly ice floes at the end of the world. We invite you to cross some of the most mythical passages: from the famous Panama Canal which will celebrate its centenary in 2014, to the tempestuous Cape Horn. Following in the wake of orca whales and dolphins, you will sail along the coast of Peru to discover the mysterious cities of the Incas, sumptuous Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines. Even further south, you will be captivated by the unique beauty of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes cordillera and the incandescence of the Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia. 30 days aboard le BOréal From 6 075 €
Colon Canal de Panama
PANAMA Ecuador Peru
Pacific Ocean Chile
Argentina
Ushuaia Cape Horn
3 FREE excursions Salaverry, Arica, Puerto Natales.
THE TREASURES OF EASTER ISLAND If you would like to personalise your trip, we can offer you an exceptional itinerary leaving from Lima: The discovery of the mysterious Moai of Easter Island. You will get back to the ship at Valparaiso to continue your journey south.
SOUTH AMERICA
Castro Pacific Ocean
An e xceptional 3 consecuti offer ve cruisesof
43
Valparaiso You will be aboard LE BORÉAL when you catch your first glimpse of this legendary city, located 115 km to the west of Santiago de Chile. Valparaiso developed around a very attractive bay, surrounded by an amphitheater of sheer hills. Considered to be one of the most picturesque sites in the central region of Chile, this “Valley of Paradise”, whose city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, deploys all its charm to seduce lovers of urban poetry. Immortalized in the works of Pablo NERUDA, Valparaiso is today one of the most charismatic and historic ports of South America, dominated by the cable cars that connected the hillsides and the colorful houses, a rainbow of colors.
LE boréal OM ZO
Valparaiso Argentina Castro/Chiloe Pacific Ocean
R
CTURE LE
Puerto Montt Chile
Tortel
Atlantic Ocean
Puerto Natales
Ushuaia Cape Horn
ushuaia • valparaiso Departure: mar 02nd 2014 Cruise: 14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTs DAY
Itinerary
1
Ushuaia (Argentina) Embarkation from 17.30 à 18.30
Arrival Departure
21.00
2, 3, 4 Cruising round Cape Horn and in the Beagle Channel
SOUTH AMERICA
2 à 59. pages 5
For more details about your shore excursions, overlands & formalities, please refer to pages 48 to 53. For more information, please consult
44
www.ponant.com
06.00
20.00
5
Puerto Natales (Chile)
6, 7
Cruising in the heart of chilean fjords
8
Tortel (Chile)
9
At Sea
-
-
10
Puerto Montt (Chile)
07.30
19.00
11
Castro / Chiloe (Chile)
07.00
13.00
12
At Sea
-
-
13
Valparaiso (Chile)
14
Valparaiso (Chile) Disembarkation
08.00
Cape Horn THE CHILEAN FJORDS
On the southern tip of the American continent, Cape Horn has earned the respect of even the most seasoned sailor. The most southerly headland of South America, Cape Horn marks the northern boundary of the Drake Passage. For many years the headland, nicknamed “the Horn” by seafarers, was a major milestone on shipping routes between Europe and Asia. You will be cruising up the Beagle Channel to admire the magnificent scenery and beautiful Tierra del Fuego National Park. You will then spend two breathtaking days weaving your way through the Chilean Channels at the foot of the Darwin Cordillera mountain range, and venturing into the maze of fjords at the end of which glaciers appear to tumble into the sea. Sea lions, seals and dolphins are completely at home in this untouched, grandiose setting that you will be exploring aboard LE BORÉAL.
13.30
14.00
OM ZO
TORTEL
Caleta Tortel is a little Patagonian village at the end of the world clinging to a hillside, and is unique for both its unrivalled architecture and its geographical location. Isolated at the end of the Gulf of Penas, between fjords, glaciers, lakes, forests and mountains, Caleta Tortel can be found at the mouth of one of the most beautiful rivers in Chile: the Baker River. Its unique architecture, consisting of houses on stilts, bridges which invite you to stroll around endless staircases, form a village that is unique in the world, where the “streets” follow the coastline. The village has only recently become accessible from land, via a dense forest where you can encounter rich wildlife, including hummingbirds drinking in the nectar of the many colorful flowers.
L’austral R
CTURE LE
RECIFE Brazil
Salvador
Paraty Ilhabela Rio Grande do Sul
Rio de Janeiro
Porto Belo
Uruguay
Atlantic Ocean
MONTEVIDéO
Montevidéo • recife Departure: mar 09th 2014 Cruise: 15 DAYS / 14 NIGHTs DAY
Itinerary
1
Montevidéo (Uruguay) Embarkation from 17.00 à 18.00
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11,12 13 14 15
OM ZO
At Sea Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) At Sea Porto Belo (Brazil) At Sea Ilhabela (Brazil) Paraty (Brazil) Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) At Sea Salvador (Brazil) At Sea Recife (Brazil) Disembarkation
08.00 08.00 08.00 08.00 07.00 07.30 07.00
20.00 14.00 14.30 18.00 20.00 23.00 23.00 -
OM ZO
RIO DE JANEIRO
The largest country in South America, Brazil has for centuries never ceased to amaze and astonish travellers. It is particularly true for Rio de Janeiro, a city where Nature seems to thrive on excess. At the heart of this land of contrasts, between tropical forest and deep blue oceans, let yourself be carried away by the rhythms of the samba music. The famous Sugar Loaf, a 1 300 feet high rocky sentinel offers fabulous views of endless white sandy beaches bordered by a mountain range; indeed the beauty of this region with its fabulous bays and impressive relief is hard to imagine. Watching over the Cariocas, Rio’s inhabitants, is the giant statue of Christ on the Corcovado peak which dominates the winding cobbled streets of one of the world’s most beautiful metropolises.
ILHABELA
L’AUSTRAL will have sailed beyond the Tropic of Capricorn when it reaches the Atlantic coast of the state of Sao Paulo from where emerges Ilhabela Island. In keeping with its former Indian name of Ciribai, meaning “peaceful place”, the island is very well known for its beaches and sailing. Here, the most experienced sailors participate in July’s Sailing Week and in international regattas. A coastal tropical rainforest on the Atlantic side in addition to a UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve await visitors and adventurous explorers who can admire the snow-capped peaks and the more than 400 freshwater falls that tumble into the ocean. Diving is very popular and shipwrecks are often explored to the theme of the legends of pirate treasures. Discover this grandiose nature, a peaceful place where we can communicate with paradise.
SOUTH AMERICA
2
Arrival Departure
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Arequipa
LE boréal CTURE LE
R
Matarani is an isolated little fishing port between the desert and the mountains, and will be your gateway to the ancient city of Arequipa, founded in 1540 and dominated by three volcanoes. Arequipa lies in a fertile valley at the foot of the conical silhouette of the majestic El Misti volcano. The beautiful buildings of the colonial period, built from sillar, a white volcanic rock that sparkles in the sun, have earned it the nickname of the “white city”. With their rich heritage of legends and myths, the Arequipenos sometime say, rather poetically, that the moon forgot to take their town when it was separated from the earth! The imposing Plaza de Armas, dominated by a gigantic cathedral, reflects a particularly unique architecture.
Guayaquil
OM ZO
Ecuador Guayas River
Salaverry / Trujillo Callao / Lima San Juan Marcona Matarani
Machu Picchu Peru Lignes Nazca
Pacific Ocean
Arica Iquique Chile
Valparaiso
valparaiso • guayaquil Departure: mar 15th 2014 Cruise: 13 DAYS / 12 NIGHTs DAY
Itinerary
1
Valparaiso (Chile) Embarkation from 17.00 à 18.00
2,3
At Sea
4
Iquique (Chile)
5
Arica (Chile)
6
Matarani (Peru)
7
San Juan Marcona / Nazca (Peru)
8, 9
Callao - Lima (Peru)
10
Salaverry / Trujillo (Peru)
11
At Sea
12 13
Cruising Guayas River Guayaquil (Ecuador) Guayaquil (Ecuador) Disembarkation
Arrival Departure
08.00 07.00 06.00 08.30 08.30 09.00 -
19.00 20.00 19.00 16.00 14.00 12.30 21.00 -
13.00
: overland lignes de Nazca, see page 49 : overland Machu Picchu, see page 48 & 49 OM ZO
SOUTH AMERICA
2 à 59. pages 5
For more details about your shore excursions, overlands & formalities, please refer to pages 48 to 53. For more information, please consult
46
www.ponant.com
ARICA
The “City of Eternal Spring” where a temperate and sunny climate reigns all year round, Arica is very popular for its beautiful beaches and its rich historical sites. On the border between Peru and Chile, the city was the theatre for one of the most famous episodes of the War of the Pacific: the capture of the Morro de Arica in 1880. It was at this time that Chile took possession of this paradise, where the magic of the Andes and the Pacific combine to make this port town an unmissable destination. There is a certain atmosphere of France here - the cathedral and the former customs building were both produced in the workshops of Gustave EIFFEL and reserve you a warm welcome.
SALAVERRY - TRUJILO
The Peruvian port of Salaverry will be your point of entry to a superb coastal expanse which has Trujillo as its capital. In the middle of the 17th century, the city was surrounded by powerful walls to protect it from the onslaught of pirates who were still numerous at the time. Trujillo has managed to maintain its charm, with its colonial homes, the Palacio Iturregui (Iturregui palace) and its Plaza de Armas. Nearby you will discover the Temple of the Dragon and the former capital of the Chimù empire, known as Chan Chan. Built in 1300 and covering 28 km², this is the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas; at the height of its splendor it was home to vast quantities of gold, silver and precious potteries and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or, if you prefer, you can set off to discover the Temples of the Sun and Moon and admire the largest pyramid in Peru, La Huaca del Sol. The interior of these huge structures is decorated with superb frescos and multicolored bas reliefs.
guyanA
cayenne
Devil’s Island
Macapa Amazon Breves Belem Narrows
LIS RA T G
Atlantic Ocean
Itaqui / Sao Luis Fortaleza
Brazil
OM ZO
E UID
NATU
L’AUSTRAL
Recife
Recife • Cayenne Departure: mar 23rd 2014 Cruise: 15 DAYS / 14 NIGHTs DAY
Itinerary
1
Recife (Brazil) Embarkation from 17.00 à 18.00
Arrival Departure
2
At Sea
3
Fortaleza (Brazil)
4
At Sea (Brazil)
5
Itaqui / Sao Luis (Brazil)
6
At Sea
7
Belem (Brazil)
8
Cruising Breves Narrows (Brazil)
9
Cruising the Amazon - Guajara/Curua (*)
10
Cruising the Amazon - Alter do Chao/Santarem (*)
11
Cruising the Amazon - Almeirim/Mojuizim (*)
12
Macapa (technical stop) (**)
-
-
13
At Sea
-
-
14
Devil’s Island (French Guyana) Cayenne (French Guyana) Disembarkation
08.00 06.00
19.00
15
21.00 -
-
08.00
18.00
-
-
06.00
18.00
-
-
06.00
18.00
AMAZON RIVER: At the Heart of a Green Paradise
One can well imagine this to be impenetrable territory, for the mighty Amazon merely tolerates being explored even by the less experienced adventurer. On board LE BORÉAL as she slips through these mysterious waterways, join us in penetrating this green paradise. A wild symphony of luscious vegetation, a place where nature rhymes with excess, where giant trees reach for the sky in search of light, where the density and variety of green hues never fails to amaze, where a river constantly changes from wide calm stretches to narrow, sinuous bends. Tune in your ears, open your eyes for you are in the heart of the Amazon forest where villages on stilts line the banks, and locals in dug-out canoes come out to greet you. A unique universe accompanied by a chorus of sounds and bird song, rising to a crescendo towards sunset and breaking the unexpected silence of the dense forest. The awesome beauty of the river, the magic of the skies and the nights, the discovery of unusual fauna and extravagant flora, all will transform you into the explorer you have always dreamed of being. Your outings in the Zodiac®, by day or night, accompanied by one of our experienced nature guides, will leave you with an intoxicating sense of freedom, unleashing emotions you may not even have been aware of.
OM ZO
BELEM
A gateway to the Amazon, Belem is also known by the name ‘’City of Mango Trees” as so many giant specimens have invaded the town center. The Para State capital is a seductive town with Baroque-style colonial architecture, colorful markets and pretty cobblestone streets, some leading to the very edge of the jungle. It is impossible not to be won over by the charms of Belem which was once populated by the Tupinambas Indians. Cultural center of Brazil’s northern region Belem is home to the federal university of Para and the Goeldi Museum which houses invaluable ethnological and zoological collections.
SOUTH AMERICA
(*) On the Amazon, call can be changed, final route will be confirm depending of the weather conditions. (**) Technical stop for formalities.
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overlands CUZCO, MACHU PICCHU & AREQUIPA (4 days / 3 nights) Machu Picchu is the crowning jewel of Inca architecture, a sacred site representing the ultimate expression of how man can live in harmony with his environment. The famous Lost city of the Incas is perched in the heights of the Andean Cordillera at an altitude of 2 350 m / 7700 ft. above the Urubamba (meaning sacred) Valley in Peru. You will also visit Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire that the Spanish conquistadores discovered in 1533 and was home to 100 000 people. The most striking aspect of Cuzco is the architecture and the vast stone walls, so perfectly constructed without mortar and testimony to the artistic and technical genius of these people. A visit to the impressive Sacsayhuamán fortress is also included. In Arequipa visit Convent of Santa Catalina, built in 1579, it only opened to the public in 1970 after four centuries of strict religious seclusion. The walls of this remarkable convent, the largest in the world with a surface area of over two hectares, used to shelter 450 reclusive Carmelite nuns who were shut away from the outside world. Classified today as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is one of Peru’s real treasures.
LE Boréal : COLON • LIMA OCT 23rd 2013 / page 46
Price per person (1): 1 695 € Single room supplement: 415 € (1): Based on double occupancy, full board, flights Lima/ Cuzco and Cuzco/Arequipa. Vista-dome train OllantaAguas Calientes-Ollanta. Entrance fees, transfers and services of a local guide. Reservations must be made when booking your cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
QUITo, capital of Ecuador (by plane, 1 day)
SOUTH AMERICA
At a breath-taking 2 850 m above sea level (9,348 feet), Quito is the world’s second highest capital city. At the “Mitad del Mundo” (the Middle of the World), you will be able to straddle both hemisphere at once! Visit the Inti Ñan Museum, located on the Equator, which offers captivating insights into the wonders of 0 degrees latitudes as well as Ecuador’s fascinating cultures. Experience Quito like the locals by taking an electric trolley for the city center. Once in Plaza del Teatro, you will be in the center of the old town. It will not be difficult to understand why Quito was the first city to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1978. During your walking tour soak up the beautiful splendor of one of the largest and best-preserved historical centers in Latin America. Pass by the grand cathedral and the Presidential Palace before a visit to La Compañía, Jesuit temple dubbed by many as the most beautiful church in Latin America due to its awe-inspiring gold-leaf interior and painted ceiling. Also view the beautiful Plaza San Francisco and the San Francisco Convent, Ecuador’s oldest church.
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LE Boréal : COLON • LIMA OCT 23rd 2013 / page 46 Price per person (1): 385 €
(1): Airline used for roundtrip flight Manta/Quito/ Manta: Tame Airlines (subject to change). Reservations must be made when booking the cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Numbers of seats limited.
CUZCO & MACHU PICCHU (3 days / 2 nights) Machu Picchu is the crowning jewel of Inca architecture, a sacred site representing the ultimate expression of how man can live in harmony with his environment. The famous Lost city of the Incas is perched in the heights of the Andean Cordillera at an altitude of 2 350 m / 7700 ft. above the Urubamba (meaning sacred) Valley in Peru. You will also visit Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire that the Spanish conquistadores discovered in 1533 and was home to 100 000 people. The most striking aspect of Cuzco is the architecture and the vast stone walls, so perfectly constructed without mortar and testimony to the artistic and technical genius of these people. A visit to the impressive Sacsayhuamán fortress is also included.
LE BORÉAL : VALPARAISO • GUAYAQUIL MAR 15th 2014 / PAGE 46
Price per person (1) : 1 495 € Single room supplement: 315 € (1): Based on double occupancy, full board, flights Lima/ Cuzco and Cuzco/Trujillo. Vista-dome train Ollanta-Aguas Calientes-Ollanta. Entrance fees, transfers and services of a local guide. Reservations must be made when booking your cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
FLIGHT OVER THE NAZCA LINES (5H including 30 mn flight) LE Boréal : VALPARAISO • GUAYAQUIL MAR 15th 2014 / PAGE 46 Flight of 30 minutes Price per person (1): 265 € (1): The planes used for the over flight of the Nazca lines have a capacity ranging from 5 to 19 seats. Reservations must be made when booking the cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Numbers of seats limited.
SOUTH AMERICA
From San Juan Marcona you can choose to visit these enigmatic and mysterious lines which were discovered by the American Paul Kosok. Interlaced between the gigantic geometric lines one can identify 18 animal figures drawn on the ground. The existence of the Nazca Lines poses more than one question, but the first that comes to mind is how and why were they drawn so many centuries ago.
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EXCURSIONS
SOUTH AMERICA
Please find below samples of the optional shore excursions for each port of call in South America.
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PORT
country
excursion name
duration
price
Arica
Chile
Chincorro Culture
4H15
75 €
Callao
Peru
Colonial Lima
4H30
59 €
Castro
Chile
Castro and its Churches
3H30
65 €
Colon
Panama
Embera Indian Village
6H30
79 €
Fortaleza
Brazil
Fortaleza Highlights
4H
49 €
Guayaquil
Ecuador
Panoramic Guayaquil and Historical Park
5H
45 €
Devil's Island
French Guyana
Ile Royale at leisure
Ilhabela
Brazil
Schooner Cruise
4H
55 €
Iquique
Chile
Santa Laura & Humberstone
4H30
65 €
Isla de la Plata
Ecuador
Natural wonders of Isla de la Plata
3H30
65 €
Itaqui
Brazil
French past of Sao Luis
4H
59 €
Manta
Ecuador
Montecristi by Chiva bus
2H
59 €
Matarani
Peru
Arequipa & St. Catherine's Convent
8H45
139 €
Paraty
Brazil
Scenic Schooner Cruising
2H30
45 €
Porto Belo
Brazil
Camboriu Cable Car and Beaches
4H
55 €
Praia
Cape Verde Islands
Praia and Cidade Velha
4H
59 €
Puerto Limon
Costa Rica
Tortuguero National Park
4H30
79 €
Puerto Montt
Chile
Petrohue Falls and Todos Los Santos Lake
8H
135 €
Puerto Natales
Chile
Torres del Paine National Park
10H
175 €
Recife
Brazil
Olinda
4H
55 €
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Panoramic Rio and Sugarloaf
4H
59 €
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Botanical Gardens
3H
39 €
PORT
country
excursion name
duration
price
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Samba and Glitter
4H
95 €
Rio Grande
Brazil
Discover Rio Grande
3H
Free
Salaverry
Peru
Huacas, Trujillo and Chan Chan
5H30
69 €
Salvador de Bahia
Brazil
Best of Salvador de Bahia
8H
99 €
San Juan Marcona
Peru
Pre-Inca cemetery of Chauchilla
3H
85 €
Valparaiso
Chile
Vina del Mar by horse carriage & Fonk Museum
3H30
59 €
SOUTH AMERICA
Shore excursions are sold onboard only. Pricing, tour titles and duration are subject to changes. You will find the complete tour program on www.ponant.com 5 months prior to your cruise. Final tour program will be sent with your cruise documents.
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FORMALITIES FOR ALL CRUISES The below information is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably Compagnie du Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
SPECIFIC FORMALITIES L’AUSTRAL : RECIFE • CAYENNE / MAR 23rd 2014 - page 47 Should you need a visa for Brazil, we strongly recommend you start the necessary application process early. • Yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for this cruise sailing Amazon region. You will need to bring with you the original proof of international Yellow fever vaccination. A vaccination certificate copy will have to be transmitted to Compagnie du Ponant no later than 45 days prior departure.
SOUTH AMERICA
• Anti-malarial tablets are highly recommended (see your doctor)
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION • High altitudes and Machu Picchu advice: Before choosing this program, we advise you to see your doctor. A medical certificate is recommended for people with breathing or heart problems. The city of Cuzco’s altitude is around 3 350 meters / 11700 ft. • Chilean Fjords: During this cruise, Zodiac® outings and/or landings may be organized to bring you closer to the hidden wonders of these spectacular fjords and glaciers. • Ecuador Program: Before choosing this program, we advise you to see your doctor. A medical certificate is recommended for people with breathing or heart problems. In Ecuador, the city of Quito is at an altitude of around 2 850 meters / 9 348 ft.
LE BORÉAL : LIMA • VALPARAISO / NOV 03rd 2013 - page 42 LE BORÉAL : VALPARAISO • USHUAIA / NOV 09th 2013 - page 43 LE BORÉAL: USHUAIA • VALPARAISO / MAR 02nd 2014 - page 44 LE BORÉAL: VALPARAISO • GUAYAQUIL / MAR 15th 2014 - page 46 • Chile - Entry/Exit requirements : Australian, Canadian, Mexican and U.S. citizens entering/exiting Chile must have a valid passport and pay a RECIPROCITY TAX that will be issued for a stay of up to 90 days upon payment. Currently, the fee is only charged at the Santiago International Airport. Payment can be made in U.S. currency or by credit card. At time of print, the fees were as follow (subject to change without notice) - Australia; US$90 - Canada: US$132 - Mexico: US$26 - USA: US$140 • Argentina - Entry/Exit requirements : Australian, Canadian, and U.S. citizens entering Argentina must have a valid passport and pay a RECIPROCITY TAX. Currently, the fee is only charged at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). Fee may be paid in US dollars or by credit card. At time of print, the fees were as follow (subject to change without notice) - Australia: US$ 100 (multiple entries valid for one year) - Canada: US$ 75 (one entry or US$ 15 (multiple entries valid for 5 year from first entry) - USA: US$ 140 (one entry)
L’AUSTRAL: RECIFE • CAYENNE / MAR 23rd 2014 - page 47
SOUTH AMERICA
• Amazon: The ports of call scheduled in the Amazon River are considered part of an expeditions Itinerary and timings are given as an indication only. The itinerary will be confirmed on board by the Captain. At every mooring there is usually an opportunity for a Zodiac® outing or landing, escorted by naturalist guides. These Zodiac® outings, which could occur during the day and/or at night, will give you a chance to observe the endemic fauna and flora at close range, and also to meet the local people. We advise you to wear clothes made from natural fabrics as this is, along with applying mosquito repellent spray, one of the best ways to avoid insect bites. Do not forget your binoculars.
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ANTARCTIca
Antarctica The Trip of a Lifetime… There are cruises that change our outlook on the world forever. They are strong in emotions, rich in sensations and enhanced by exceptional encounters. Who has never dreamed of following in the footsteps of the great explorers, whose tales fired the imagination of whole generations? Who has never dreamt of discovering the mysterious “White Continent”, that extreme land on the edge of the world, that majestic polar desert, that was a ghost on the map of the world for so long? For centuries the Antarctic remained like a ghost on the map of the world, yet today the “White Continent” exerts a powerful fascination. Explored by man since only 1820, this vast icy continent offers spectacular mountain scenery, the world’s biggest icebergs and an extraordinary array of wildlife: fur seals, penguins, albatrosses, sea elephants, orcas and whales in large numbers live side by side in this grandiose landscape.
A fascinating experience to the heart of Antarctica.
ANTARCTIca
Aboard L’AUSTRAL or LE BORéAL, come and enjoy a unique cruise with us, a personal odyssey, the promise of an exceptional destination, a meeting with another land – one from which we return changed forever.
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FIVE-STAR EXPEDITION
five-star expedition
COMPAGNIE DU PONANT OFFERS THE PROMISE OF RARE AND PRIVILEGED MOMENTS: A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE INTENSITY OF AN EXPEDITION IN FIVE-STAR COMFORT.
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DREAMS OF ADVENTURE Have the tales of Jean-Baptiste CHARCOT and Jean-Louis ETIENNE inspired you to embark on an adventure? Then, hesitate no longer, come aboard one of our ships, L’AUSTRAL, LE BORÉAL or LE SOLéAL and explore the frontiers of the South Pole on the Antarctic Peninsula, the mysterious White Continent or the majestic North Pole: the Arctic. Zodiac® outings will bring you as close as possible to get to nature’s marvels and to approach the wildlife which is as diverse as it is exceptional. A team of experts (naturalist-guides and speakers) who are passionate about nature will accompany you, sharing their experiences, expertise and passion for these polar regions. And to take your adventure even further, access to the bridge will be possible on all our ships. You will always be welcome here.
A SOPHISTICATED ADVENTURE Whichever cruise you choose, you will always find the exceptional conditions of comfort, service and elegance that are the hallmarks of Compagnie du Ponant. Designed with the polar destinations in mind, L’AUSTRAL, LE BORÉAL and LE SOLéAL achieved the Comfort 1 Class allowing them to navigate in the most extreme regions in total safety, while passengers enjoy a five-star environment and service. These human-size ships with their elegantly stylish decor, attentive service and gourmet cuisine offer our idea of luxury, one that allows you to experience another way of cruising.
“We gathered in the Grand Salon Ispahan around the team of naturalists who were going to lead us to the mythical White Continent. Each passenger was feverishly busy, checking equipment and making sure camera, video camera and binoculars were ready. Like real explorers, dressed in our red parkas, we headed for our Zodiac®. It’s time; we’re off, boarding in small groups. We sailed to meet our first icebergs and fell immediately under the charm of these blue-tinged giants. On the shore, the Weddell Seals were lazily allowing us to watch them, alongside a colony of Gentoo penguins that includes both adults and fledglings learning to live independently.”
five-star expedition
EXTRACT FROM A PASSENGER’S DIARY – Marc P. January 2012 aboard L’AUSTRAL
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The awe-inspiring white hues of the polar region ... To reach the mythical “White Continent” aboard LE BORéAL and L’AUSTRAL, you will cross the notorious Drake Passage and you will traverse the Polar Front which marks the area where waters from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans meet. The magic continues when you arrive in Neko Harbor: mountains, snow, ice and nature in the wild combine to create a unique landscape. Even further south in the heart of this glacial universe the high cliffs of Booth Island and Cape Renard mark the entrance to the Lemaire Channel, a paradise renowned throughout the world for its spectacular beauty. At Deception Island you will marvel at one of the largest colonies of Chinstrap penguins (more than 120 000 couples!). On board L’AUSTRAL you can combine in one single voyage the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. This subAntarctic region is a peak which emerges from the Scotia Arc, a vast submarine mountain chain extending from the Andes to Antarctica Peninsula. All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there. You will go ashore at the splendid sites of Gold Harbour or Fortuna Bay, but the highlight will come at Salisbury Plain which is home to more than 250 000 King Penguins with their orange-yellow crowns. L’AUSTRAL then charts a course north, heading for the Falkland Islands which are home to a fantastic range of wildlife, the last sanctuary of the elegant albatross soaring graciously against the blue sky. “There is no place in Polar life for make-up or subterfuge. We show ourselves as we really are: the person who lies in your deepest being, that you didn’t even know existed”.
ANTARCTIca
Paul-Emile VICTOR
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L’AUSTRAL
le boréal
Antarctica
neko harbor
salisbury plain
NEKO harbor
SALISBURY PLAIN – south GeORGIa
THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
Deep in Andvord Bay, we find this little corner of paradise at the foot of an immense glacier. Neko Harbor is without doubt one of the most beautiful sights of the Antarctic Peninsula. It was discovered by the Belgian explorer Adrien de GERLACHE during his 1897-99 Antarctic expedition. Mountains, snow, ice and unspoiled nature combine to offer a unique landscape. Wildlife is as abundant as it is exceptional: sea birds such as gulls, Cape petrels and Antarctic Shags, as well as marine mammals like seals, orcas and whales. Excursions aboard our ZodiacÂŽ dinghies allow you to sail close to blue-tinged icebergs or disembark near colonies of penguins, observe leopard seals basking on the shore or watch the Antarctic Terns flying overhead.
South Georgia is an unmissable destination within Antarctica. This subAntarctic region is a peak emerging from the Scotia Arc, an underwater mountain chain that extends the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. Salisbury Plain will be the arena for the most memorable and the most authentic display of Nature. Formed by the withdrawal of the Grace Glacier, high mountains dominate time and space; the blue-tinged landscape demonstrates all the strength and beauty of the unspoiled nature all around. At the heart of this haven of peace, on the beaches of the bay, a colony of 250 000 King penguins has taken residence. In the midst of all these orange-headed couples, Fur seals try to beat a path to feed with their young. Under the weak southern sun that lights this glacial plain, clouds of birds fly on the wind, enchanting the traveller.
Not far from Cape Horn, located to the South-East of South America, the Falkland Islands, which are renowned for their wildness, were discovered by a Spanish expedition at the beginning of the 16th century. More than two hundred years later, sailors from Saint-Malo, known as Malouins, occupied the island and gave it the name used until the British conquered these lands at the edge of the world in 1833. Scattered with tufts of grass, surrounded by a grey and often wild sea, the Islands are a small country of moors and rugged coastlines carved by the South Atlantic, where the wildlife and plant life form a link between Patagonia and Antarctica. Take the time to observe and photograph the abundant wildlife of these wild and very attractive islands.
ANTARCTIca
P O RT S O F CA L L . . .
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Deception Island Nestled at the heart of the South Shetland Islands, in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula, Deception Island is easy to recognize for its horseshoe shape. Which was then flooded by the sea creating a natural port. Entrance to the caldera is via a narrow channel called Neptune’s Bellow. For a long time this was an important whaling station and the intensity of this activity has left traces that have withstood time. On the black sand of the volcanic beaches, the extraordinary wildlife is the treasure that Nature offers us there. It is on these beaches of ash that the largest colony of Chinstrap Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula has taken up residence. Excursions aboard our Zodiac® dinghies will allow you to set foot on this expanse of land where more than 100 000 pairs of penguins.
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GOLD HARBOUR In the words of a passenger - January 2012
“For our second day in South Georgia, our on-shore program was packed. Around 8am, in the brilliant morning sunshine, we headed in the Zodiac® dinghies to a silent place: Gold Harbour Island. Everything you would expect to see is present at this site: The magical landscape of a majestic blue-tinged glacier, sat on a rocky base of an intense grey, waterfalls sparkling in the sun, pouring down but not always reaching the ground depending on the wind. The beach here is made of volcanic black sand, heading out towards a milky blue sea. What is there to say about the wildlife that swarms over this beach to the rhythm of the sun? The dark forms of Fur Seals and Elephant Seals are like tiny nuggets and the colonies of King Penguins like an unreal coating all around them“.
QUOTE FROM JEAN-LOUIS ETIENNE
ANTARCTIca
“The Antarctic has the attraction of those inaccessible things that inspire Man to passion. No-one comes back from a long trip to the white continent unchanged. In this world without landmarks, where the only colours are white and blue, with no other sound than the wind, the only solution for the visitor is to learn selfcontrol. When you have managed to forget that it is cold, that the silence is infinite, when you have freed yourself from the agitation of the world, you feel the happiness of harmony swelling inside, this pleasant sensation of calmly realising that you feel good and you are where you dreamt of being.” Jean - Louis ETIENNE
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For more details about your shore excursions and formalities, please refer to pages 64 to 65. For more information, please consult
w w w. p o n a n t . c o m
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THE BLACK–BROWED ALBATROSS
This elegant bird of the polar seas, whose wingspan can reach some 3 metres, has white feathers and a scattering of black on its wings. It beak and feet are pink and its eyes seem to have been drawn in charcoal. Albatross can live for up to sixty years and reproduce very rarely. They enjoy soaring on air currents, making deep dives to the surface of the ocean, and performing impressive u-turns as they skim the waves. We often see them in the wake of ships: they will become your favourite travelling companion.
EXPEDI
LIS RA T G
E UID
Ushuaia
T
ON TI
SOF
argentina
NATU
l’Austral & Le boréal
Drake Passage Deception Island Port Lockroy
Weddell Sea Neko / Paradise Bay
Pleneau Island ANTARCTIca
Ushuaia • ushuaia PA
IFT
departures Austral: nov 20th 2013 • dec 10th 2013 • feb 12th 2014 A RK G departures Boréal: jan 21st & 31st 2014 • feb 10 th 2014 cruise: 11 days / 10 nights DAY
ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
1
Buenos Aires / Ushuaia (Argentina) Direct non-stop chartered flight on LAN AIRLINES*. Direct transfer on board or excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park including lunch. Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00 18.30
2,3
At Sea - Drake Passage
4
Neko / Paradise Bay (Antarctica)
5
Pleneau Island / Port Charcot (Antarctica)
6
Port Lockroy (Antarctica)
7
Deception Island (Antarctica)
8
Cruising the Weddell Sea (Antarctica)
9,10
At Sea - Drake Passage
11
Ushuaia (Argentina) Disembarkation. 07.00 Transfer to the airport. Ushuaia / Buenos Aires International, with direct non-stop flight on LAN AIRLINES*. Arrival at Buenos Aires International Airport (Pistarini)
Nicolas DUBREUIL, Expedition Leader Nicolas has been accompanying polar expeditions for more than 20 years. He fell in love with the region to such an extent that he wrote an ethnology thesis on it. The Antarctica polar expanses have no secrets for this Expedition Leader, Film Maker and Lecturer. Armed with his experience, Nicolas has been working with Compagnie du Ponant for nine years now, helping the captain plan routes and produce a photo of your cruise. He is only too delighted to share his memories and knowledge.
Compagnie du Ponant is a full and proud member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). www.iaato.org Due to the exceptional nature of this itinerary, the calls/sites listed are only a guide. The final route will be confirmed by the ship’s Captain with priority being given to passenger safety. Pack ice may also force the Captain to change course at the last minute. Zodiac® landings or cruising accompanied by your expedition team offer plenty of opportunities to discover and experience what Antarctica and/or South Georgia have to offer at close range. These will of course depend on the weather conditions, the ice, the wind and the sea state. Please read important information and terms & conditions page 102.
*subject to avaibility
ICEBERGS
Made up of freshwater, unlike the ice floe, these icy mountains travel on the sea like white sailing vessels shrouded in the mist. The Antarctic produces the largest icebergs in the world; their huge size has always fascinated the greatest explorers and continues to enchant all the visitors to this icy region. Like Crystal Cathedrals, in shades of turquoise, emerald, snow and azure, they are the trademark of the polar landscape and are home to an abundant wildlife. Some of them have such surprising shapes, with curves, domes and arches, that they appear to have been carved by ice sculptors. Tabletop icebergs, the most imposing specimens in the world, can be many kilometres in length. They are subject to erosion by the waves and are the guardians of the climatic history of our Planet...
ANTARCTIca
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Raphaël SANÉ Naturaliste Guide
EXPEDI
Salisbury Plain
Deception Island
Grytviken
Gold Harbour south georgia
Weddell Sea
N
RISTM
AS
South Shetland Island
LIS RA T G
EW
YEA
R
Drake Passage
Atlantic Ocean
CH
Ushuaia
NATU
T
E UID
Grave Cove Falkland Islands New Island Argentina
SOF
l’austral ON TI
ushuaia • ushuaia A RK G
IFT
DEPARTUREs: dec 20th 2013 • jan 04th & 19th 2014
PA
Another one who is passionate about nature, Raphaël graduated in hydrobiology. Having worked for various naturalist associations and taken part in several expeditions, he is now a guide and speaker on our ships. An advocate of safeguarding our environment, he will be available to share his expertise and knowledge. “I will never forget my encounter with a truly gigantic tabletop iceberg, so huge that it took two hours for LE BORéAL to sail around it!”.
cruise: 16 days / 15 nights DAY
ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
Buenos Aires / Ushuaia (Argentina) Direct non-stop chartered flight on LAN AIRLINES*. 1 Direct transfer on board or excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park including lunch. Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00 18.30 2 At Sea 3 New Island / Grave Cove (Falkland Islands) 4, 5 At Sea 6 Salisbury Plain / Fortuna bay (South Georgia) 7 Grytviken / St Andrews Bay (South Georgia) 8 Gold Harbour (South Georgia) 9, 10 At Sea 11 Cruising the Weddell Sea (Antarctica) Antarctic Strait / Deception Island 12 Half Moon Island (Antarctica) 13 South Shetland Islands (Antarctica) 14,15 At Sea - Drake Passage 16
Ushuaia (Argentina) Disembarkation 07.00 Transfer to the airport. Ushuaia / Buenos Aires, with direct non-stop flight on LAN AIRLINES. Arrival at Buenos Aires International Airport (Pistarini).
ANTARCTIca
*subject to avaibility
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For more details about your shore excursions and formalities, please refer to pages 64 to 65. For more information, please consult
w w w. p o n a n t . c o m
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antarctic sound
A famous stretch of sea connecting the east and west of the Antarctic Peninsula, this strait is the junction between the Bransfield Strait and the Weddell Sea. It is certainly one of the most spectacular sights of the mythical White Continent and where most of the majestic tabletop icebergs that calve from the ice floe tend to float. At the heart of this icy landscape, the polar light creates multiple reflections, humpback whales live under the water’s surface and the broken up ice shelf floats freely, taking with it the Fur Seals basking in the sun.
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THE KING PENGUIN You will have the immense privilege of observing majestic King Penguins in South Georgia. These placid animals have a hard life, just like that of their close cousins, made famous in the film “March of the Penguins”. They are only to be found on this sub-Antarctic island and are exceptional swimmers, thanks to the streamlined shape of their bodies, some 90 cm in length. They are easily recognisable for their bright yellow head and neck and their grey dorsal feathers. They live in colonies that can number many thousands of birds, walking upright or sliding along the ice on their bellies.
Argentina Falkland Islands
Ushuaia
T
EXPEDI
LIS RA T G
E UID
Port Stanley Saunders
SOF
montevideo
ON TI
uruguay
NATU
l’austral
Atlantic Ocean
south Shetland island Ile de la Déception Weddell Sea Neko / Paradise Bay
ushuaia • montevideo PA
A RK G
IFT
DEPARTURE: feb 22th 2014 cruise: 16 days / 15 nights ITINERARY
ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
2, 3
Buenos Aires / Ushuaia (Argentina) Direct non-stop chartered flight on LAN AIRLINES*. Direct transfer on board or excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park including lunch. Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00 18.30 At Sea - Drake Passage
4
Neko / Paradise Bay (Antarctica)
5
Port Charcot / Port Lockroy (Antarctica)
6
Wilhelmina / Enterprise (Antarctica)
7
Deception Island (Antarctica)
8
Cruising the Weddell Sea
9
Sailing towards the South Shetland Islands
10
At Sea - Drake Passage
11
Port Stanley / Volunteer Point (Falkland Islands)
12
Saunders / Grave Cove (Falkland Islands)
13 -15
At Sea Montevideo (Uruguay) 08.00 Disembarkation Transfer to the airport. Ushuaia / Buenos Aires, with direct non-stop flight on LAN AIRLINES. Arrival at Buenos Aires International Airport (Pistarini).
1
16
Extract from the blog of a Naturalist-Guide, January 2012: “The sea is calm and the weather fine, so it’s the ideal morning for watching sea birds from the bridge and on deck 6 of LE BORéAL. Particularly as we are very lucky: two young Giant Albatross have been spending many hours using the wind around our ship. These are the greatest gliders in the world and you could watch them for hours playing with the wind without beating their wings.”
*subject to avaibility OM ZO
PORT LOCKROY On the small island of Goudier, you will have the opportunity to visit Port Lockroy, discovered by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste CHARCOT in 1903. Initially it served as a relief and repair base for whalers, but in 1944 Port Lockroy became a British base. It owes its name to Edouard LOCKROY, a French politician and the partner of Jean-Baptiste CHARCOT during his expedition. You will be able to visit the small museum that retraces the life of the base in the 1950s. Since 1996, it has been open to the public during the short Southern Summer and is used for carrying out research on Gentoo Penguins. Nowadays, this base is the most visited site of the White Continent and, thanks to its little store and post office, it is the only place to offer you the opportunity to write to your friends and family and share this unique moment.
ANTARCTIca
DAY
DRAKE PASSAGe
If there is one place, one sea, one passage that visitors, scientists and other sailors in the Antarctic fear, it is Drake Passage. Seasoned travellers will tell you that a visit to the White Continent has to be earned. Located exactly between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, Drake Passage extends over 800 kilometres from Cape Horn to Livingston Island.
Drake Passage
Wilhelmina Port Lockroy
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FORMALITIES FOR ALL CRUISES The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Compagnie du Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip. Brazil: Guests participating in the pre-cruise program to Iguazu Falls, might need a visa for Brazil (depending on nationality).
SOFT
E EXP DIT
N IO
A RK G
IFT
PA
IMPORTANT INFORMATION SOUTH GEORGIA & ANTARCTICA CRUISES
• A cruise to Antarctica and/or South Georgia is primarily an expedition. • Given the inaccessibility of the White Continent, we recommend you choose your insurance company carefully. Evacuation costs from the Antarctic Peninsula are up to 100.000 US$ plus medical costs. Therefore, please be particularly prudent when choosing an insurance company, especially if you are insured by your credit card. In addition, it is mandatory to return the medical questionnaire, provided at time of booking, at the latest 90 days prior to departure. This questionnaire is very important in order to respect mandatory safety rules in polar zones. Any false information on this questionnaire may lead to a refusal of your embarkation at the port of departure, without any possible recourse. • These voyages include activities such as Zodiac® landings (sometimes wet landings), Zodiac® outings, moderate walks to more active hikes. All this accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides. Considering the nature of the programs, a reasonable level of mobility is required to enjoy these expeditions. • We also recommend you follow the clothing instructions and advice you will find in your travel documents.
ANTARCTIca
Argentina: ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Australian, Canadian, and U.S. citizens: entering/exiting Argentina must have a valid passport and pay a RECIPROCITY TAX. Currently, the fee is only charged at the Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). Fee may be paid in US dollars or by credit card. At time of print, the fees were as follow (subject to change without notice) - Australia: U$D 100 - (multiple entry valid for one year) - Canada: U$D 75 - (one entry) or U$D 150 - (multiple entry valid for 5 years from first entry) - USA: U$D 140 - (one entry)
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AntaRCTIc wildlife THE GENTOO PENGUIN This species of penguin is smaller than its cousins, standing just 80 centimetres tall. Its coat is black and white, and it stands out for its red-orange beak and feet. White triangles highlight its mischievous eyes. A speedy mover, it can travel at 35 km/h when it dives on the edge of the ice floe. Gentoo Penguins prefer to travel in smaller colonies of a few hundred animals. It is by far the shyest of all the penguin cousins. It is not aggressive so is often the prey of its natural predator, the Skua.
THE HUMPBACK WHALE The most impressive mammal of the marine world, the humpback whale can reach 19 metres in length and weigh 65 tons. Easily recognisable for the many bumps or tubercles on its head, the humpback whale is a playful acrobat, who enjoys showing off his diving skills and landing with a huge splash. A friendly and very inquisitive animal, it will willingly come to meet you, swimming close to your vessel. It is a very expressive animal who is renowned for its long plaintive and melodious songs, which it uses to communicate.
THE WEDDELL SEAL This furry seal is a record breaker, able to remain submerged for more than an hour and dive to a depth of some 600m. An endangered species in the 19th century, it is a protected species today. Its pelage is dark grey and it has a spotted belly. To maintain its access to the sea and be able to fish, the Weddell Seal has special teeth allowing it to make a hole in the thick ice. A peaceful animal that sleeps very deeply, it spends part of the day in the water looking for food and takes lengthy rests on the coastal ice.
S REN OT
L TA
BO
Antarctica Essential Expedition Gear Boots are an essential gear to your landings in the White Continent. Compagnie du Ponant has selected Ship to Shore Traveler, Antarctica’s expedition gear expert to propose a rental service of boots adapted to polar destinations. Connect to www.ShipToShoreTraveler.com/ponant
• Why Rent Boots? - Convenience: Free boot delivery to your ship. - Less luggage: Boots are heavy and our rental service minimizes your luggage weight. - Sustainable choice: Renting boots is a smart environmental choice if you are unlikely to wear them again. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. • 70 US$ for boot rental per cruise + 70 US$ for secured deposit = 140 US$ per boot rental. (2012 tarifs to be confirmed)
ANTARCTIca
• Rent Your Boots: Men’s, women’s and kid’s boots, delivered free to your ship. Boots proposed for rental are at least mid-calf high (14inch / 35 cm) and the top recommended boot for Antarctic Peninsula expeditions. They are flexible, pull-on boots with sturdy soles and rated to -40 degrees so your feet stay warm.
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Asia
Asia Homage to Eternal Asia… Some names instantly conjure images of dreams and escape - India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Borneo and Indonesia are amongst them. We invite you to discover the mysteries and splendors of Asia, the pearls of the Orient, whose names are evocative of a journey. As we sail along you will be enchanted by the lights, the colors and the subtle perfumes of Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam and many other countries. As your cruise progresses aboard LE SOLÉAL, you will encounter mysterious and enchanting Asia. For the very first time, LE SOLÉAL will set sail to discover the secrets of this vast continent, visiting new empires and ancient kingdoms rich in ancestral cultures with undoubted charm. Do not miss the majestic Taj Mahal in India, a marble monument and moving mausoleum-cum-garden or the “Valley of Temples” in Bagan, bristling with a thousand pagodas, whose spires seem to soar to the sky in Burma.
Let yourself fall under the Asian spell and embark for new travel experiences filled with emotions and unusual encounters.
Asia
We give you the unique opportunity to encounter Asia differently, to get closer to its traditions, its history and the splendor of its many ancient landmarks. When he spoke of there being many Asias, Marco POLO was not mistaken. As it is a singular destination, its wealth and its treasures are plural.
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An authentic and mysterious continent,
a source of endless fascination… Cruise aboard LE SOLÉAL to the heart of the Japanese archipelago and discover the Land of the Rising Sun, which lives at the pace of its huge cities but is soothed by the serenity of its gardens, their secrets guarded by elegant gateways or vermillion ”Torii”. From Tokyo and Osaka, the modern beating hearts of Japan, to Kyoto, the romantic city. From gardens and sacred alleys to sanctuaries, thousand-year old temples, delicate landscapes of Nara and ancestral traditions, you will discover Japan. LE SOLÉAL offers an in-depth cruise for an exciting and unusual experience. Then, LE SOLÉAL will head to the South to discover the two-delta country… With a shape reminding a dragon’s one, Vietnam reveals vibrant cities full of charms. The country’s legendary beauty exudes spicy fragrances and all the splendours from another era. Sailing down to the South, Indonesia unfolds Bali and its sculptural rice field. Further on, is Thailand, its former Siam’s treasures and palaces with varnished tiles. Further South lies Sri Lanka, a Tear Drop on the Indian Ocean, whilst India is visible on the horizon, eternal and enchanting. But this magical continent will gain in intensity thanks to new destinations such as Borneo, the wild island, like a microcosm of the evolution of our planet, and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, a country that is home to one of the most secret of the Asian civilizations. “Like at the theatre, a curtain raises, the mist burns away in the sky and the Bagan plain sparkles with a million golden domes, which are suddenly revealed...”. Pierre LOTI - “The Golden Pagoda”.
Asia
Asia
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LE SOLéal
BAGAN
BALI
kagoshima
BAGAN
Bali
KAGOSHIMA
Tucked away in a bend of the Irrawaddy River, the plain bristling with over 2,000 pagodas stretches for some 40 km², treating the eye to a forest of sparkling domes rising above the flame trees and mango trees. Bagan is a former religious capital with an incomparable architectural heritage, where time seems to have stood still on the silhouettes of the stupas, the silent remains of a period when, for 3 centuries, Bagan was the seat of Buddhist doctrine. As the sun sets, the spectacle becomes magical: the checkerboard of secular temples is suffused with light and comes to life in the mist rising from the river. Ochre and pink compete for pre-eminence, while the gold glimmers more brightly and the blue of the sky deepens. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, the Bagan Plain is a major archaeological site where the roof-cum-terrace of a pagoda can become a fantastic vantage point for visitors seeking authentic images and emotions.
It would be tempting to ban visits to Bali just so that we can keep it a secret for ourselves. The “Island of Gods” is a constant source of charm and timeless beauty. Located at the Western tip of the Sunda Islands, between Java and Lombok, it is renowned for its artistic development in areas as varied as classical dance, sculpture, painting, leather and metal working. Bali is superb beaches, imposing volcanic hillsides covered with forest, terraced paddy fields that make the light dance, a lively and authentic culture and a remarkably friendly population. The Balinese have lost nothing of their charm or customs; we find the daily ritual of offerings in front of every store, on every bridge, at the entrance to paddy fields or in altars that adorn gardens. We should visit it, but visit it well, in order to protect the treasure that it represents.
In Kagoshima Bay, not far from the Sakurajima volcano, lies a sunkissed city and a horizon of the most astonishing palette of blues: Kagoshima. This charming ancient fortified town lies in the South of Kyushu Island and is known as the ”Naples of the East” because of its abundant sunshine, blue skies and the beauty of the surrounding ocean. Mont Sakurajima was once an island in its own right, but the eruption of the volcano of the same name caused its landmass to join up with Kyushu when the lava filled in the strait that separated them. This still active volcano dominates the city and has become the symbol of it. Come and see its power for yourself during a walk to the Arimura Observatory and do not miss the chance to preserve these superb views for posterity. Kagoshima is also the showcase of the famous cuisine from the province of Tatsuma. Asia
P O RT S O F CA L L . . .
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Hiroshima This is a moving visit; it is impossible to forget the tragic event, the scars of which Hiroshima secretly hides. Founded in 1589 by the feudal lord Terumoto Mori, northen coast of the inland Seto Sea, Hiroshima has become a modern city, one that is lively and very active. Not far from here, at the heart of the Inland Sea, Miyajima, the “island sanctuary” will reveal its treasures. In the background you will see the Shinto Grand Sanctuary, whose entrance is guarded by a magnificent vermillion Torii. Considered to be one of the most beautiful sites in the Japanese islands, you will be transported by the unique character and the serenity of this sacred site.
LE SOLÉAL
LE SOLÉAL Otaru
Japan
China Sea
Japan Kanazawa Sakaiminato
South Korea Busan
Keelung Hong Kong Taiwan
Naha
CTURE LE
R
osaka
CTURE LE
R
Hiroshima
Osaka
Kagoshima
Japan Sea
Hong Kong
OTARU • OSAKA
OSAKA • HONG KONG
Departure: OCT 15th 2013
Departure: OCT 22nd 2013
Cruise: 8 Days / 7 Nights Day Itinerary 1
Otaru (Japan) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00
2
At Sea
3
Asia
For more information, please consult 70
www.ponant.com
19.00
Day
Itinerary
1
Osaka (Japan) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00
-
-
2
At Sea
Kanazawa (Japan)
07.00
18.00
3
Kagoshima (Japan)
4
Sakaiminato (Japan)
08.00
19.00
4
At Sea
5
Busan (South Korea)
12.00
24.00
5
6
At Sea
-
-
7
Hiroshima (Japan)
06.00
17.00
8
Osaka (Japan) Disembarkation
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For more details about your shore excursions, overlands & formalities, please refer to pages 78 to 85.
Cruise: 9 Days / 8 Nights Arrival Departure
08.00
Arrival Departure
23.00 -
-
08.00
18.00
-
-
Naha (Japan)
07.00
12.00
6
Keelung (Taiwan)
12.30
20.00
7
At Sea
-
-
8
Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
9
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Disembarkation
KYOTO
From Osaka, discover Kyoto, city basked in a mellow atmosphere and lulled by the tranquil flow of the Kamo River. Now the sixth largest city in Japan, Kyoto is home to a history that dates back more than 1,000 years and has earned it the title of the ”true spiritual capital of the Japanese archipelago”. With its wonderful sanctuaries, monuments and historical districts, gardens and natural sites, forested hills and more than 1,800 temples, Kyoto has everything a traveller likes. For more than a thousand years, the emperors lived in this city where the cult of beauty and tradition are still flourishing. Geishas, with their immaculate white faces and mouths painted like two bright red petals, represent a living work of art and have inspired the greatest directors and authors. A symbol and icon of femininity, they are also “female artists” whose culture and know-how goes back more than a thousand years.
11.00
LE SOLÉAL Hong Kong Hong Kong Haiphong Ha Long Bay
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CHAN MAY - HUE
Da Nang vietnam
CTURE LE
R
Nha Trang Saigon River Gulf of Ho Chi Minh Thailand South China Sea Malaysia
Singapore
HONG KONG • Singapore
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hue is proud of its past and the regal origins of its ancestors. A picturesque city when the weather is fine, Huê is shrouded in mystery on less glorious days. The former capital of the Nguyen dynasty nestles in a bend in the Perfume River which flows in a valley between lush green hills. A number of landmarks testify to its former grandeur - you can visit the Imperial City, nestled within the walls of the Citadel and opposite the imposing Flag Tower, or the Thien Mu pagoda, built on the hill overlooking the peaceful flow of the river. The collection of palaces, homes and tombs make Hue a calm and romantic small city, one that will leave you with a feeling of gentle melancholy.
Departures: OCT 30th 2013 • nov 21st 2013 jan 28th 2014
Day
Itinerary
OM ZO
Arrival Departure
2
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Embarkation from 16.00 to 17.00 At Sea
3
Haiphong (Vietnam)
4
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
5
At Sea
6
Da Nang (Vietnam)
7
At Sea
8
1
18.00
Nha Trang (Vietnam)
06.00 06.00 06.00 06.00
23.30 18.00 21.00 12.00
9
Sailing on the Saigon River Ho Chi Minh(Vietnam)
11.00
23.30
10
Sailing on the Saigon River
11
At Sea Singapore (Singapore) Disembarkation
09.00
-
12
sailing on the SAIGON river
Bordering the former colonial district in the East of the city, the Saigon River gives Ho Chi Minh the image of a city that embraces its Delta and is open to the world. Enjoy the strains of traditional Vietnamese music and be seduced by the splendid scenery along the riverbanks, such as the colonial houses that emerge from the lush vegetation, the last relics of the former French districts. Discovering the Saigon River means sailing in a small boat along the arroyos, getting lost in one of the many colourful floating markets, or gazing at one of the countless pagodas that illustrate the fervour of its inhabitants.
OM ZO
HONG KONG
Hong Kong, city of lights – A blend of West and East with its unforgettable bay, its modern skyscrapers, its typical markets, its lively shops that are veritable caverns of unimaginable treasures. The name Hong Kong incorporates a number of territories: Hong Kong island itself, the Kowloon peninsula, the New Territories and the small neighbouring islands. Despite its colonial heritage, its huge urban expanses, its renowned business culture and its incessant activity, the city has managed to preserve a typically Chinese character and some very attractive traditional aspects. Don’t miss Aberdeen district and its coloured junks, the occasion for you to discover the bustle of daily life aboard a traditional sampan.
Asia
Cruise: 12 Days / 11 Nights
71
Da Nang - Hoi An
LE SOLÉAL
LE SOLÉAL Phuket
Da Nang
Pangkor Andaman Sea
Malaysia Malacca
Singapore • hong kong th
Departure: dEc 02nd 2013 Cruise: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Arrival Departure
Singapore (Singapore) Embarkation from 14.00 to 15.00
2
At Sea
3
Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam)
4
Sailing on the Saigon River
5
Nha Trang (Vietnam)
6
At Sea
7
Da Nang (Vietnam)
8
At Sea
9
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
10
Haiphong (Vietnam)
11
At Sea
12
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Disembarkation
16.00
16.00 -
www.ponant.com
Asia
Day
Itinerary
1
Singapore (Singapore) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00
Arrival Departure
2
At Sea
20.00 -
-
3
Port Kelang (Malaysia)
06.00
19.00
12.30
14.00 22.00
4
Langkawi (Malaysia)
14.00
20.00
5
Phuket (Thailand)
08.00
18.00
06.00
21.00
6
Penang (Malaysia)
12.00
20.00
7
Pangkor (Malaysia)
08.00
16.00
8
Malacca (Malaysia)
08.00
18.00
9
Singapore (Singapore) Disembarkation
07.00
06.00 06.00 08.30
23.00 19.00 -
OM ZO
For more information, please consult
Singapore
Singapore • Singapore
Departures: nov 10 2013 • jan 17 2014 fEB 08th 2014 th
China Sea
Port Kelang Kuala Lumpur
CTURE LE
Singapore
Day Itinerary
72
Gulf of Thailand
vietnam
Cruise: 12 Days / 11 Nights
For more details about your shore excursions, overlands & formalities, please refer to pages 78 to 85.
Langkawi
Penang
Nha Trang Saigon River Gulf of Ho Chi Minh Thailand South China Sea Malaysia
1
CTURE LE
Thailand
R
Hong Kong Hong Kong Haiphong Ha Long Bay
R
Lulled by the tranquil waters of the Thu Bon River, Hoi An seems to slumber under a spell that made time stand still. This former port city was very prosperous in the 15th century, and rich merchants based their trading posts there, building sturdy wooden houses in bright colours with roofs of ceramic tiles. A sleepy and charming village, whose colourful buildings are reflected in the river lined with jackfruit trees, Hoi An will transport you back through the centuries to a time where sampans supplied the surrounding markets with a thousand and one products, perfumes and flavours. The trading of silk, paper, porcelain, pepper and tea made the fortune of this little town.
HA LONG BAY
Words are inadequate to describe the natural marvel of Ha Long Bay. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, its name means “Bay of the descending dragon”. Whether cones, rocky needles, pitons or hills, all of these limestone forms are the result of the combined actions of wind and waves. The 2,000 islands emerging from the jade waters offer a surreal and magical vision. In these strangely shaped hills that seem to float on the surface of the water, the silence of the sea is total, only broken by the cry of a seabird. In the 18th century, these coastlines and their many caves were the ideal location for Chinese and Vietnamese pirates. In this spectacular marine landscape of limestone pillars, untouched by human hand, you will see ancient karst caves formed at the foot of the cliffs. Discovering one of the most beautiful maritime sites in Vietnam is an unmissable and unforgettable event.
LE SOLÉAL CTURE LE
R
Singapore
OM ZO
Krakatoa island Ciberon Indian Ocean
Java Sea
Indonesia Karimun Jawa
Semarang Surabaya
bali
Tanah Ampo
Komodo
Singapore • bali Departure: DÉC 10 th 2013
MALACCA - BABA NYONYA CULTURE
Lying along the shores of the eponymous Strait, Malacca City has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A witness of the maritime traffic between Asia and the West, the city is inextricably linked to the trade of spices and silk. This cultural oasis will show you the history of a fascinating ancient civilisation, the Baba Nyonya, the descendants of Chinese immigrants who married Malay women. In a Peranakan house in Chinatown, you will discover the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum, which reproduces the interior of a traditional elegant home from the 19th century. The Baba Nyonya were wealthy traders who liked to indulge their taste for sumptuous furniture made from teak and mother-of-pearl, rare jewels and silk brocade.
Cruise: 13 Days / 12 Nights Day
Itinerary
1
Singapore (Singapore) Embarkation from 16.00 to 17.00
2 3 4 5,6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Arrival Departure
At Sea Krakatoa - Sailing around (Indonesia) Cirebon (Indonesia) 14.00 Semarang (Indonesia) 06.00 Karimun Jawa (Indonesia) 08.00 Surabaya (Indonesia) 08.00 At Sea Komodo (Indonesia) 06.00 Nara Bay (Indonesia) 12.00 Tanah Ampo - Bali 06.00 (Indonesia) Benoa - Bali (Indonesia) 06.00 Disembarkation
18.00
18.00 23.00 16.00 18.00 14.00 08.00 23.00
: overland Prambanan & Borobudur, see page 78
KOMODO NATIONAL PARK
On the remote island of Komodo, the eye can feast on a landscape of savannah and mangrove. A protected natural reserve, it is home to the largest lizards still walking the Earth, distant cousins of the dinosaurs: The Monitor Lizards of Komodo - the Komodo Dragons. Do not miss the visit to the Komodo National Park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. These volcanic islands are inhabited by around 5,700 giant lizards, who earned their name of “Komodo Dragon” for their appearance and their aggressive behaviour. The rocky hills covered with a dry savannah scattered with thorn bushes offer an extraordinary contrast with the brilliant white beaches and blue waves breaking on the primitive coral.
Asia
OM ZO
73
Mount Bromo
LE SOLÉAL
LE SOLÉAL CTURE LE
Palopo
BRUNEI
Singapore
Java Sea Probolinggo
bali Tanah Ampo
Indonesia Gili Islands - Komodo Trawangan Kondibondi
Ende
bali
Departure: jan 04th 2014
14
Makassar Gili Islands Komodo
Cruise: 14 Days / 13 Nights Arrival Departure
Benoa - Bali (Indonesia) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00 Celukan - Bali (Indonesia) 12.00 Gili Islands - Trawangan (Indonesia) 07.00 At Sea Palopo (Indonesia) 06.00 At Sea Larantuka - Flores (Indonesia) 07.00 Ende - Flores (Indonesia) 08.00 Kondibondi - Sumba (Indonesia) 09.00 Komodo - Pink Beach (Indonesia) 06.00 At Sea Probolinggo - Java (Indonesia) 06.00 Tanah Ampo - Bali (Indonesia) 09.00 Benoa - Bali (Indonesia) 07.00 Disembarkation
OM ZO
Asia
Indonesia
Departure: dec 22nd 2013
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
www.ponant.com
Borneo
bali • Singapore
1
For more information, please consult
Java Sea
Sandakan
Balik Papan
Kuching
bali • bali
Day Itinerary
74
CTURE LE
Larankuta
R
Celukan
Cruise: 14 Days / 13 Nights
For more details about your shore excursions, overlands & formalities, please refer to pages 78 to 85.
Kota Kinabalu Bandar Seri Begawan
R
On the island of Java, there is a lunar landscape of gigantic proportions and surreal beauty, the Gunnung Bromo, one of the most fantastic sites in the country. Rising from the depths of the ancient Tengger caldera, Mount Bromo is one of three volcanoes that emerged from a crater measuring some 10 km in diameter. For the Hindu Tenggers, this is the home of benevolent gods who fertilise crops and offer abundant harvests three times a year. During this visit, you can discover the Tengger caldera, a vast desert of varying shades of brown. The splendour of this site and the intensity of the light make it unique in the world.
NHA TRANG
Nestled against the mountains that dominate the West of the city, but entirely facing the sea, Nha Trang is a very well-known seaside resort, whose large bay is scattered with lush green islands. A little further on, you will discover the Po Nagar sanctuary, a magnificent religious architectural structure with majestic towers built between the 7th and 12th centuries. The spiritual capital of the Cham people, an ancient civilisation of Hindu origin, the Po Nagar site also offers a fabulous view over the mouth of the Cai River
19.00 19.00 15.00 20.00 18.00 18.00 19.00 18.30 17.00 23.00
Day Itinerary 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Arrival Departure
Benoa - Bali (Indonesia) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00 Gili Islands - Trawangan (Indonesia) 07.00 Komodo (Indonesia) 08.00 Ujung Pandang - Makassar (Indonesia) 08.00 At Sea Balik Papan Indonesia) 08.00 At Sea Sandakan - Sabah (Borneo) 11.00 Kota Kinabalu - Sabah (Borneo) 13.00 Bandar Seri Bagawan (Brunei) 07.00 At Sea Kuching - Sarawak (Borneo) 07.00 At Sea Singapore (Singapore) 07.00 Disembarkation
19.00 14.00 12.30 14.00 15.00 18.00 20.00 18.00 23.00 -
LE SOLÉAL Haiphong
Hong Kong
OM ZO
Ha Long Bay Chan May
Da Nang South China Sea
vietnam
Nha Trang
CTURE LE
R
Gulf of Thailand Malaysia
Ho Chi Minh
hong kong • ho chi minh
HANOI
Known as the “Rising Dragon”, the capital of Vietnam has maintained a poetic aspect and a nostalgic charm. The rapid urbanisation of the city, a blend of past and present, has produced a new city of remarkable diversity. In Hanoi, you can find the mythical city of temples and pagodas, a trading city with its narrow streets and also a dreamy city with the mirror of its lakes. In Vietnamese, Hanoi means “the city between rivers” and it is the capital of the country, located in the North on the banks of the Red River. The historic dragon of Vietnam, elegant, refined Hanoi is revealing itself, with its European aspects and its Eastern air. Do not miss the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the very beautiful One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius.
Departure: feB 19 th 2014 Cruise: 11 Days / 10 Nights Itinerary
1
Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Embarkation from 16.00 à 17.00
Arrival Departure
2
At Sea
3 4 5
At Sea
-
-
6
Chan May (Vietnam)
06.00
19.00
7
Da Nang (Vietnam)
06.00
19.00
8
At Sea
9
-
18.00 -
Haiphong (Vietnam)
07.00
24.00
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
06.00
18.00
-
-
Nha Trang (Vietnam)
06.00
13.00
10
Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam)
12.30
11
Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) Disembarkation
OM ZO
KOTA KINABALU
Far from the hubbub of modern life, Borneo remains true to its real nature. In the Northern state of Sabah, we invite you to meet the indigenous Iban people, an ethnic group belonging to the Dayaks, an ancient warrior tribe from Borneo. In the heart of a traditional village, a number of families will share with you their community life whose traditions are at one with the environment. Hunting, fishing, costumes and customs – everything combines to illustrate the harmony between man and nature. Do not miss their ancestral homes, the long houses built on stilts, with a simple and practical design, made from bamboo and banyan leaves.
Asia
Day
75
Bangkok Discover the secrets of Siam, through its ancestral traditions and civilisations. The best way to see the city is by water, sailing down the many canals of the Chao Praya or “River of Kings”. Along the banks of the river, the golden arrows of temples stand side by side with the intricately carved facades of the last colonial mansions, whilst highrise buildings in steel and glass soar above wooden homes built on stilts. Seeming to emerge from a forest of white and golden domes, the Wat Phra Kaeo, or Temple of Buddha offers you its marble floored terraces and its sanctuaries.
LE SOLÉAL Bangkok
CTURE LE
VIETNAM
Ko Kood Ko Samui
Gulf of Thailand
Ho CHi MiNH China Sea
Andaman Sea Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR
Kuantan
sri lanka Trincomalee
Colombo
R
CTURE LE
Malacca
Hambantota
Singapore
Thailand Penang
kuala lumpur
Departure: MAR 14th 2014
14
Cruise: 14 Days / 13 Nights Arrival Departure
Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00 Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) Sailing on the Saigon River At Sea Ko Kood (Thailand) 08.00 Bangkok (Thailand) 07.30 Bangkok (Thailand) At Sea Ko Samui (Thailand) 07.00 At Sea Kuantan (Malaysia) 07.00 Singapore (Singapore) 08.00 Malacca (Malaysia) 07.00 Port Kelang - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Disembarkation 07.00
23.30 16.00 19.00 18.00 14.00 19.00 18.00
Day Itinerary
Arrival Departure
1
Port Kelang - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00
2
Penang (Malaysia)
12.00
18.00
3
Phuket (Thailand)
08.30
18.00
4
At Sea
-
-
-
-
Yangon (Myanmar)
5, 8
19.00
-
-
12
Trinconmalee (Sri Lanka)
06.00
19.00
13
Hambantota (Sri Lanka)
20.00
14
Colombo (Sri Lanka) Disembarkation
11.00 07.00
9,11 At Sea
: overlands Bagan, Mandalay, see pages 78 to 80
OM ZO
Asia
Phuket
Departure: MAR 01st 2014
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
www.ponant.com
Myanmar
kuala lumpur • colombo
1
For more information, please consult
Andaman Sea
ho chi minh • kuala lumpur
Day Itinerary
76
Bagan and Mandalay
Yangon
India Bay of Bengal
Cruise: 14 Days / 13 Nights
For more details about your shore excursions, overlands & formalities, please refer to pages 78 to 85.
Temples of Bagan
R
Thailand
LE SOLÉAL
SOUTHERN ISLANDS THAILAND
The former kingdom of Siam, a country of countless natural riches, lies between misty mountains and long golden beaches, emerald paddy fields and turquoise seas. The South of the country offers a landscape of idyllic picture-postcard beaches, where each expanse of white sand is more beautiful than the last. Off the coast, lying like a pearl necklace placed on the Andaman Sea, twenty or so islands with evocative names including Ko Samui, Ko Phuket and Ko Phao Phing fire the traveller’s imagination. Phang Nga Bay is a magnificent example of karst formations; its shores consumed with mangrove swamps, look out over the sumptuous array of limestone pitons, rising from the water like a mineral armada.
LE SOLÉAL Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
Khasab
Dubai
arab Emirates
Muscat
sultanatE of oman
Mumbai
Gulf of Oman
INDia
Marmagao
Kochi
R
CTURE LE
Indian Ocean
SRI LANKA
Trivandrum
Colombo
Maldives Male
colombo • Muscat Departure: MAR 27th 2014 Cruise: 18 Days / 17 Nights Itinerary
1
Colombo (Sri Lanka) Embarkation from 16.00 to 17.00
2
At Sea
3 4 5
At Sea
-
-
6
Trivandrum (India)
07.00
18.00
7
Kochi (India)
06.30
19.30
8
At Sea
9 10
Arrival Departure OM ZO
-
18.00 -
Male (Maldives)
07.00
18.00
Beach Day (Maldives)
08.00
18.00
-
-
Marmagao (India)
07.00
14.00
Mumbai (India)
09.00
19.00
11,13 At Sea
-
-
14
Dubai (Arab Emirates)
12.00
23.00
15
Khasab (Oman)
07.00
18.00
16
At Sea
-
-
17
Muscat (Oman) Muscat (Oman) Disembarkation
18
06.00
: overlands Agra, Jaipur, Delhi see page 81
YANGON - SHWEDAGON PAGODA
Yangon was the capital of Myanmar until 2005, and this authentic city is one of the few great Asian metropolises to have maintained the spirit of a huge village. Its lively streets form a dense network around the Shwedagon Pagoda, a veritable city within the city, which is frequented at all hours of the day by fervent citydwellers. Built on the flat summit of a hill, Shwedagon is a magical site and a tourist destination visited by travellers from across the world. We advise you to contemplate it at daybreak, just as the main square awakens under the rising sun.
OM ZO
MuMBAi
Your stopover in the fascinating city of Mumbai, located on the Arabian Sea, will allow you to discover the Elephanta Caves. Dating from the 6th century and home to a collection of rock art that is linked to the cult of Shiva, these are veritable masterpieces carved into the hillside. You will visit the Ghandi Museum and Library dedicated to the memory of the man who played such an essential role in the emancipation and Indiapendence of India. Then you will visit the most sumptuous example of Victorian Gothic architecture in India: Victoria Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies near the Jain Temples in the city centre.
Asia
Day
77
overlands PRAMBANAN TEMPLES & BOROBUDUR (2 days / 1 night) FROM SEMARANG: The most beautiful Temples in Java. Java: an island where Nature deploys its full glory. One of them, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes almost 240 sanctuaries dating from the 9th century The Prambanan Temples, the largest group of Hindu sanctuaries in Indonesia. At the centre of the last ring there are three temples mainly dedicated to the three main Hindu divinities: Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Decorated in finely carved bas-relief illustrating the epic Ramayana, these imposing stone sculptures, the highest of which reaches up 47 m, loom majestically over the surrounding plains. Further, built between the 8th and 9th centuries by the Sailendra dynasty that reigned on the island of Java for some 5 centuries, the Borobudur Temple has perfect dimensions and is nestled among rice paddies and palm trees. Built on three levels rising in harmoniously distributed tiers, Borobudur is not only the largest Buddhist temple in the world; it is also one of the oldest and probably the most beautiful. Since its inclusion on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1970, Borobudur is once again a place of worship and pilgrimage, said to guide one towards the path of enlightenment…
LE SOLÉAL : Singapore • BALI DeCember 10TH 2013 / page 73 Price per person (1) : 395 € Single room supplement: 75 € (1) Based on double occupancy, full board, entrance fees, transfers and services of a local guide. Reservations must be made when booking your cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
TEMPLES of BANGAN (1 day by plane) FROM YANGON:
LE SOLéAL : KUALA LUMPUR • COLOMBO
Tucked away in a bend of the Irrawaddy River, the plain bristling with over 2,000 pagodas stretches for some 40 km², treating the eye to a forest of sparkling domes rising above the flame trees and mango trees. Bagan is a former religious capital with an incomparable architectural heritage, where time seems to have stood still on the silhouettes of the stupas.
MARch 14TH 2014 / page 76
Asia
After having taken a walk through the traditional Nyaung Oo market, you will discover the major Bagan temples, such as Ananda (the most majestic and preserved of the Bagan site), as well as Damayangyi. You will discover the gorgeous Swhezigon pagoda during a carriage ride.
78
Price per person(1) : 415 € (1) Included roundtrip flight Yangon / Bagan in economy class, entrances fees, lunch, transfers and services of a local guide. Reservations must be made when booking your cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
SUNSET & SUNRISE OVER BAGAN (3 days / 2 nights) From YANGON : Tucked away in a bend of the Irrawaddy River, the plain bristling with over 2,000 pagodas stretches for some 40 km², treating the eye to a forest of sparkling domes rising above the flame trees and mango trees. Bagan is a former religious capital with an incomparable architectural heritage, where time seems to have stood still on the silhouettes of the stupas, the silent remains of a period when, for 3 centuries, Bagan was the seat of Buddhist doctrine. As the sun sets, the spectacle becomes magical: the checkerboard of secular temples is suffused with light and comes to life in the mist rising from the river. Ochre and pink compete for pre-eminence, while the gold glimmers more brightly and the blue of the sky deepens. Discover not only the main temples such as Ananda (one of the finest, largest and best preserved of the Bagan temples) and Damayangyi, but also the Shwezigon Pagoda, built as the most important reliquary shrine in Bagan. A short horse-cart ride will bring you to a temple from which you will be able to enjoy the sunset. Enjoy a horse cart ride and an evening cruise on the Irrawaddy River. Witness local people’s life at a market and learn about lacquerware.
LE SOLéAL : KUALA LUMPUR • COLOMBO MARCH 14TH 2014 / page 76 Price per person (1) : 995 € Single room supplement: 275 € (1) Based on double occupancy, full board, flights Yangon/ Bagan, Bagan/Mandalay and Mandalay/Yangon in economy class, entrance fees, transfers, horse-cart ride and services of a local guide. Reservations must be made when booking your cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
SUNRISE OVER BAGAN BY HOT AIR BALLOON
‘‘Balloons over Bagan’’ pilots and technicians are qualified and registered in the UK. The balloons, which are built to the highest standards of the British aerospace industry, are provided by Cameron Balloons Limited, the world’s largest manufacturer of high quality balloons.
Sold only with the overlanD ‘‘sunset & sunrise over bagan’’ Price per person(1): availability and price to be confirmed end of May 2013 Duration: 2 to 3 hours including 45 minutes to 1 hour of flight time.
Asia
Imagine floating over thousand year old pagodas and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, as the sun rises over distant mountains. The balloon is guided by gentle winds not exceeding 15 mph, allowing passengers a serene and peaceful bird’s- eye view of ancient temples drifting by.
79
overlands (suite) MANDALAY & BAGAN (3 days / 2 nights) FROm YANGON:
LE SOLéAL : KUALA LUMPUR • COLOMBO
Journey to legendary Mandalay, the last capital of the Emperors of Myanmar. The city is both a bustling commercial center and a repository of a rich cultural heritage. With the remains of the old Royal City and many ancient monasteries, Mandalay is a showcase for Myanmar 19th century art and architecture. See the famous U-Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world, witness monks’ final meal of the day at a monastery, see the gold-leaf covered statues at the Mahamuni Pagoda. Visit the Golden Palace Monastery with its intricate wood-carvings as well as Kuthodaw Pagoda the “largest book in the world”. Enjoy sunset from Mandalay Hill.
march 14th 2014 / page 76
Bagan is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar (Burma). From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan, the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom’s height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day.
Asia
Discover not only the main temples such as Ananda (one of the finest, largest and best preserved of the Bagan temples) and Damayangyi, but also the Shwezigon Pagoda, built as the most important reliquary shrine in Bagan. A short horse-cart ride will bring you to a temple from which you will be able to enjoy the sunset.
80
Price per person (1): 995 € Single room supplement: 275 € Based on double occupancy, full board, flights Yangon/ Bagan, Bagan/Mandalay and Mandalay/Yangon in economy class, entrance fees, transfers, horse-cart ride and services of a local guide. Reservations must be made when booking your cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
(1)
TAJ MAHAL, delhi & JAIPUR (5 days / 4 nights) FROM MUMBAI: Take an evening flight to New Delhi, the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. A panoramic drive will introduce you to the main landmarks of this city. Visit Humayun’s Tomb built in 1565 AD by his grieving widow Haji Begum, the Qutub Minar. From Agra, visit the close-by Taj Mahal, the world’s greatest love tribute and one of the 7 wonders of the world. The Taj was built to enshrine the remains of Mumtaz Mahal, the consort of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Its construction commenced in AD 1631 and completed seventeen years. Visit the Agra Fort and the Palaces in the Fort, splendid examples of Mughal architecture. Built by Sawai Jai Singh, the city of Jaipur is amongst the first of India’s planned cities. Visit the Amber Fort, the ancient capital of the state until 1728. Visit the Jagmandir or the hall of victory glittering with mirrors, Jai Mahal and temple of Kali. The City Palace, now converted into a museum, except a small portion that is still used by royal family of Jaipur. Built in the fortified campus style, the palace covers almost one seventh part of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion that is devoted to the arms and ammunition used by royal family.
LE SOLéAL : COLOMBO • Muscat MARch 27TH 2014 / page 77 Price per person(1): 1 975 € Single room supplement: 695 € (1) Based on double occupancy, full board, flights Mumbai/ Delhi and Jaipur/Muscat/Dubai in economy class, entrance fees, transfers and services of a local guide. Reservations must be made when booking your cruise or at least 60 days prior to departure date. Detailed program and conditions available upon request. Number of seats limited.
Asia
Fly from Jaipur to Dubai (via Muscat) and return to your ship, in time for lunch onboard.
81
EXCURSIONS Please find below samples of the optional shore excursions for each port of call in Asia. PORT
country
excursion name
BALI (Benoa)
Indonesia
Mount Batur and Lake
BALI (Benoa)
Indonesia
Village Cycling
BALI (Celukan)
Indonesia
BALI (Tanah Ampo) HALONG BAY
Asia
price
8h30
75 €
5h
55 €
Singaraja «Ancient Capital»
5h15
65 €
Indonesia
Besakih, «Mother Temple»
6h30
75 €
VIETNAM
Halong Bay by Junk boat
4h
29 €
Highlights of Brunei
8H
139 €
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN BRUNEI
82
duration
BANGKOK
Thailand
Imperial Treasures of Bangkok
8h30
115 €
BANGKOK
Thailand
Ayutthaya, Ancient Capital of Thailand
8h30
95 €
BUSAN
SOUTH KOREA
Ancient Silla - Capital of Geongju
7h
59 €
CHAN MAY
VIETNAM
Hoi An, World Heritage Town
4h30
45 €
KOCHIN
INDIA
Croisière sur les Backwaters d'Alleppey
8h30
99 €
DA NANG
VIETNAM
Imperial Hue
10h30
79 €
DUBAI
U.A.E
Futuristic Dubai
4h30
45 €
ENDE
INDONESIA
Nature of Kelimutu
8H30
125 €
HAIPHONG
VIETNAM
A glimpse of Hanoi
11h
85 €
HAMBANTOTA
SRI LANKA
National Park and Elephants of Sri Lanka
7h
129 €
HIROSHIMA
JAPAN
A trip to Miyajima
4h
89 €
HO CHI MINH
VIETNAM
The Mekong Delta in depth
7h
95 €
HONG KONG
HONG KONG
Hong Kong Life Style
4h30
39 €
HONG KONG
HONG KONG
Tai Chi, Tea and Dim Sun
5h30
45 €
KAGOSHIMA
JAPaN
Kagoshima and Volcano
4h30
119 €
KANAZAWA
JAPaN
Garden and Tea Ceremony
3h
115 €
KEELUNG
TAIWAN
Best of Taipei
6h
89 €
KHASAB
OMAN
Fjords of Mussandam
3h30
75 €
KO SAMUI
Thailand
Ko Samui by 4x4
3H30
75 €
KOMODO
Indonesia
Komodo National Park
3h
FREE
KONDIBONDI
Indonesia
The Pasola - horse tournament
5H
55 €
kuantan
Malaysia
Villages and Traditions
4H
65 €
KOTA KINABALU
BORNeO
Borneo Cultural Experience
5H
65 €
KUCHING
BORNeO
Cultural Sarawak & Kuching City
9H
125 €
PORT
country
excursion name
LANGKAWI
Malaysia
Coastal Nature Cruise
3H45
55 €
LARANTUKA
Indonesia
School visit and Welcome Ceremony
3H30
45 €
MAKASSAR
Indonesia
Bantimurung National Park
4H30
75 €
MALACCA
Malaysia
Historical and Cultural Malacca
8H
110 €
MALE
MALDIVES
Male on foot
2h30
22 €
MARMAGAO
India
Panjim and Old Goa
6H
65 €
Muscat
OMAN
Discover Muscat
4h
55 €
MUMBAI
India
Mumbai and Elephanta
8h30
115 €
MUMBAI
India
Museums of Mumbai
4h
35 €
NAHA
JAPaN
Best of Okinawa
4h
120 €
NARA BAY
Indonesia
Lombok Culture Discovery
5h
59 €
NHA TRANG
VIETNAM
Nha Trang Ancient Civilization
4h30
45 €
OSAKA
JAPaN
Kyoto and Nara
8h
169 €
PALOPO
Indonesia
Ancient Traditions of Toraja
11H
145 €
PENANG
Malaysia
Jewels of Georgetown
5H
45 €
PHUKET
Thailand
Phi Phi Island by speedboat
7h
115 €
PORT KELANG
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
9h
110 €
PROBOLINGO
Indonesia
Amazing Mount Bromo
8h
135 €
RANGOON
MYANMAR
Schwedagon Pagoda
4H
45 €
SAKAIMINATO
JAPaN
Matsue castle and Samurai residence
5h
89 €
SANDAKAN
BORNeO
Orang Utan sanctuary
5H
75 €
SEMARANG
Indonesia
Wonders of Borobudur
10h
129 €
Singapore
Singapore
Orient insights
4h
65 €
SURABAYA
Indonesia
Trowulan Archaeological Sites
8h
99 €
TRINCOMALEE
SRI LANKA
Polonnaruwa and Dambula
12h
119 €
TRIVANDRUM
India
Kuthiramalika and Napier museum
5h
45 €
price
Shore excursions are sold onboard only. Pricing, tour titles and duration are subject to changes. You will find the complete tour program on www.ponant.com 5 months prior to your cruise. Final tour program will be sent with your cruise documents.
Asia
duration
83
FORMALITIES FOR ALL CRUISES The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Compagnie du Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
SPECIFIC FORMALITIES LE SOLéAL: OSAKA • HONG KONG / OCT 22nd 2013 - page 70 No visa for Hong Kong is required. However, should you choose to extend your cruise with a stay in China, an individual visa for China will be required. LE SOLéAL: HONG KONG • Singapore / OCT 30th 2013 / NOV 21st 2013 / JAN 28th 2014 - page 71 No visa for Hong Kong is required. However, should you choose to extend your cruise with a stay in China, an individual visa for China will be required. • Vietnam: Visa delivered and charged on board (currently 45€ per person, subject to change). LE SOLéAL: Singapore • HONG KONG / NOV 10th 2013 / JAN 17th 2014 / FEB 08th 2014 - page 72 • Vietnam: Visa delivered and charged on board (currently 45€ per person, subject to change). No visa for Hong Kong is required. However, should you choose to extend your cruise with a stay in China, an individual visa for China will be required. LE SOLéAL: Singapore • BALI / DEC 10th 2013 - page 73 • Indonesia: Visa delivered and charged on board (currently 45€ per person, subject to change) • Komodo National Park fee charged on board (40€) LE SOLéAL: BALI • BALI / DEC 22nd 2013 - page 74 • Indonesia: Visa required prior to the cruise. • Komodo National Park fee charged on board (40€) LE SOLéAL: BALI • Singapore / JAN 04th 2014 - page 74 • Indonesia: Visa required prior to the cruise. • Komodo National Park fee charged on board (40€) LE SOLéAL: HONG KONG • HO CHI MINH / FEB 19th 2014 - page 75 • Vietnam: Visa delivered and charged on board (currently 45€ per person, subject to change). LE SOLéAL: HO CHI MINH • PORT KELANG (Kuala Lumpur) / MAR 01st 2014 - page 76 • Vietnam: Visa required prior to the cruise.
Asia
LE SOLéAL: PORT KELANG (Kuala Lumpur) • COLOMBO / MAR 14th 2014 - page 76
84
• Myanmar: Visa delivered and charged on board (currently 45€ per person, subject to change). • Sri Lanka: Visa required prior to the cruise. LE SOLéAL: COLOMBO • Muscat / MAR 27th 2014 - page 77 • Sri Lanka: Visa required prior to the cruise. • India: Visa required prior to the cruise. Note that it can take a long time to get a visa at certain times of the year. • Oman: Visa delivered and charged on board (currently 25€ per person, subject to change).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION • Visas: Before departure, please check carefully that your visas are valid for the right date and time spent in the countries in order to avoid unpleasant situations. • Sightseeing: Some places can only be visited on foot. Also, sites may have stairs or require you to take off your shoes. • Currency: Plan to have dollars in small notes as they are easier to use outside of large cities. • Medication: If you have a medical treatment, do not forget your prescription. • Coaches: road conditions are very poor in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and for some port in Malaysia. Timings are unpredictable due to heavy traffic conditions. The comfort of coaches cannot be compared to that of international vehicles and often lack suspension.
Asia
• Guides: Compagnie du Ponant is aware that the quality of guides is of utmost importance and puts all efforts in place to secure the best local guides available. Note that guides in Asia often have heavy accents. Several of our calls visit small and isolated communities where resources (transportation and guides) are scarce, resulting in higher prices.
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86
WEST AFRICA
LE po nant IN af riCA OUR INAU AR G OUND
URAL C VERD RUISE free E islands excu CAPE
rsi o n
s
West Africa
At the crossroads of three continents For the very first time, LE PONANT will sail towards the coasts of West Africa and introduce you to the most beautiful islands of Cape Verde. At the crossroads of three continents, Europe, Africa and South America, the Cape Verde islands are proud of their mixed race heritage, a blend of cultures that makes them truly unique. Far from the main maritime routes and major tourist destinations, Cape Verde offers its authenticity and its traditions, a region with a thousand faces and a thousand landscapes.
WEST AFRICA
Do not miss this unique opportunity to discover the remarkable cultures of these last preserved and authentic regions of the African continent.
87
Santo Antao At the heart of the Cape Verde Islands, Santo Antao, also known as one of the Barlavento or Windward Islands, is of volcanic origin. This has resulted in a landscape of deep, green valleys and steep summits. We invite you discover the two contrasting sides to this surprising island: the unmissable north first, where you can hike from the altitude forest to the luxuriant Paul valley, via the impressive coastal path leading to Ponta do Sol... Next, you will visit the wild west of the island, with its remote tiny villages and encounter the fishing community.
LE ponant Porto Novo
Atlantic Ocean
WEST AFRICA For more information, please consult
www.ponant.com
OM ZO
Sao Nicolau
Cape Verde islands Brava
Fogo
Maio
Praia
Praia • praia departure : DeC 07 th 2013 CRUISE : 8 days / 7 nights day
itinerary
1
Praia (Cape Verde) Embarkation from 17.30
2
Maio (Cape Verde)
12.00
18.00
3
Sao Nicolau (Cape Verde)
09.00
20.00
4
Mindelo (Cape Verde)
08.00
23.30
5
Porto Novo (Cape Verde)
08.00
19.00
6
Brava (Cape Verde)
12.00
20.00
7
Fogo (Cape Verde)
07.00
23.00
8
Praia (Cape Verde) Disembarkation
07.00
OM ZO
88
Mindelo
arrival departure
21.00
PRAIA
Lost in the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean, Praia reveals itself gradually under the watchful gaze of the passengers of LE PONANT. Literally meaning “beach” in Portuguese, the town of the same name lies on the island of Santiago, the largest in the Cape Verde archipelago. Praia has a thriving cultural calendar, and is more than happy for visitors to enjoy the plays, shows and exhibitions that are held there. This lush green island, where coffee, sugar cane and tropical fruit plantations are to be found in abundance, is recognizable by its very typical geography! The landscape is a harmonious combination of high volcanic plains and alpine valleys. Whilst in the city center, you will walk on the plain, known as the Plateau here, where as dusk falls, the nightlife heats up in a cosmopolitan atmosphere that never loses its local flavor.
MINDELO
Mindelo, on the island of Sao Vicente, is both the cultural capital and the liveliest town in all Cape Verde. The architecture of this former Portuguese colony has maintained many traces of its heritage: Portuguese and British influences can be seen in the beautiful 19th century buildings. A superb panorama over Mindelo Bay will allow you to overlook the city with its beautiful houses in pastel colors and the buildings in the colonial Portuguese style. Do not miss the Belem Tower, in the image of its namesake in Lisbon, the superb port carved out by volcanic formations, the fish market and its colorful stands, and also the African market on the Praça Estrela square. In Mindelo, life is lived to the rhythm of the famous Cape Verde music where the guitar is king. Songs and dances are dictated by nostalgia. And lastly you will be surprised by the many naive frescos, illustrating moral themes and the ideology of the country that cover the walls of the city, home of the late Cesaria Evora, the “Barefoot Diva”.
OM ZO
FOGO
The Island of Fogo is a majestic cone reaching out of the Ocean having a volcano, the “Pico de Fogo”, as its center. From about 1500 AD until 1760 AD, Pico, the volcanic peak of the Fogo caldera was constantly erupting and Fogo was a lighthouse for sailors in this part of the Atlantic Ocean, an impressive spectacle of nature... Discovered by Portuguese sailors, the name of Fogo means «fire» and is part of the “Sotavento” group of the Cape Verde Islands. Nestled between the islands of Santiago and Brava, the island is the tallest one in Cape Verde, with nearly 10,000 ft. above sea level. Do not miss this lunar landscape of gigantic proportion and surreal beauty. All over the island until the very near foot of this volcano are small traditional villages. What appears grey on your first approach will become, at a closer look, a beautiful spectacle of colors. An unusual excursion to some magnificent landscapes.
FREE EXCURSIONS PORT
excursion name
duration
BRAVA
Brava - the island of flowers
4h
FOGO
Fogo and its volcano
8h
MINDELO
Volcanic Island and Mindelo
4h
PORTO NOVO
Santo Antao - the authentic Island
SAN NICOLAO
San Nicolao and its culture
7h30 4h
FORMALITIES FOR ALL CRUISES
SPECIFIC FORMALITIES LE PONANT : PRAIA • PRAIA / DeC 07th 2013 - page 88 • Cape Verde Islands: Visa required prior to the cruise. Cape Verde Island visa as well as airport assistance are included in the pre-cruise program. Guests participating in the pre-cruise program must submit their full passport details to Compagnie du Ponant at least 60 days prior to their cruise. For pre and post cruise program details, please consult www.ponant.com or your travel professional.
WEST AFRICA
The below information is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information. Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Compagnie du Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
89
LE BORéal, L’austral, & Le soléal Welcome aboard Built in the style of superb megayachts, these three 132 – state room/suite “sister-ships” remain faithful to our philosophy: to offer small capacity ships providing a unique and subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and wellbeing. Precious materials, discreet elegance and a perfect balance between chic and casual, combine to make you feel as if you are on your own private yacht.
Ca p ta in s
Captain J. Ph Lemaire
Captain E. Garcia
Le Boréal, L’Austral & le soléal
Captain R. Genevaz
90
Captain P. Marchesseau
Captain R. DAUMESNIL
Captain E. LE ROUZIC
Zodiac
Deck Plans
Bar Open-air Bar
Zodiac
Bar
Sun Deck Wheelhouse
Open-air Bar
6
Zodiac Zodiac
Buffet
626 624
622
Bar
Bar Open-air Bar
Lift Lift
suite
Pool
Photo Grill Lift Liftdesk Lift Lift
(2)
Relaxation Room(3) Relaxation Room(3)
(1)
4
Room
Main Lounge
Dance Floor
Marina Marina Marina Marina Marina
Dance Floor
Dance Floor
619
614
615 611
617
612 610
609 607
608
605
602 Deluxe
606Owner's
620
623
618
621
616
619
614
612 610
Library Panoramic 508 506 504 502 Wheelhouse Terrace
Bar 512 602 510
Lift
Panoramic Lift Deluxe Internet suite Lounge
606Owner's 602 suite 603 Deluxe 601 609 607 605suite Deluxe suite Deluxe
615 611
617
Deluxe suite
Deluxe suiteLift suite
608
Lift
Bar
Deluxe suite suite
suite
Bridge
Library
518 516 504 507 502 505 503 501 525 523 514 521 512 519 510 517 Lift 515 508 511 506 509
Bridge
Lift 536434534432532430530428528426526424524422522420520418518 416516 414514 412 512 410 510 408Lift 508 406 506 404 504 402 502 Massage Lift 509 507 505 Lift 503 501 539 537 Room 535 533 531 529 527 525 523 521 519 517 515 511 536 534
(3)
532
530 528
526
524 522 520
518
516
514
512
510
508 506 504 502
Bridge
434
Lift Lift
shop
Main Lounge Main Bar&Lounge Shop Bar
434
Reception Desk
Lift Lift
334
428
435
426
433
424
431
422
429
420
427
418
416
414
425
423
421
412
410
419
408
417
415
406 404 402
Lift Lift
411
409
407
405 403 401
435
432 430 428 426 424 422 420 418 416 414 412 410 408 404 402 LiftLift 406 334 332 330 328 326 324 322 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 Lift 306 304 302
433
431
429
425
427
423
421
419
417
415
411
409
Excursion Desk
332
330
337
328
335
326
333
324
331
322
329
320
318
316
314
312
327
325
323
321
310
407
405 403 401
319
317
315
334 332 330 328 326 324 322 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 337 335 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 311 309
Desk Excursion Desk
337
334
shop Excursion Shop LiftLift Desk LiftLift Gastronomic shop shop shop Main Lounge Restaurant Gastronomic
335
332 333
337
330
331
335
329
333
328 327
331
326
324
325
329
323
327
322
320
318
321
319
317
325
323
321
316 315
319
314 311
317
Lift
308
Reception Excursion Desk Desk
Bar Shop Lift Lift shop MainLounge Lounge shop Main shop Reception & Bar & Bar
430
425 423 421 419 417 415 411 409 407 405 403 302 401 437334 435 332 330 328 326 324 337 335433 333431 331429 329427 327 322 325 320 323 318 321 316 319 314 317 312 315 310 311 308 309 Lift 307 306 305 304 303 301 300
Excursion Reception Desk Desk
Reception Desk
shop shop
Gastronomic Shop MainLounge Lounge Main Lift Lift Main Restaurant & Bar Lounge shop
432
437
437
shop
shop
MainLounge Lounge Main & Bar
Bridge
527 525 511 412509 410 507 408 505 503 501 426 424 523 422 521 420 519418517416515 414 404 402 Lift Lift407507406 515 411 511 409509 505 403 503 401 501 539437537435535433533431531429529427527425525423523421521 419519 417517 415 405
539 537 434 535 432 533 430 531 428 529
434 432 430 428 426 424 422 420 418 416 414 412 410 408 Lift 404 402 Lift407 406 405 403 401 437 435 433 431 429 427 425 423 421 419 417 415 411 409 shop
Lift Lift
Shop
Bar
616
Deluxe suite
Leisure Area
Changing Rooms
Main Lounge Lift Lift Lounge Lift Lift & Main Bar Lounge Dance Theater Main Bar& Bar Floor Lift Lift
3
Grill
Lift Lift Lift Lift
Bar
621
Panoramic Wheelhouse Terrace
Panoramic Bridge Bar suite suite Panoramic Wheelhouse Terrace Panoramic Wheelhouse Terrace Panoramic Library 536 534 532 530 528 526 524 522 520 518 516 514 512 510 Internet 506 504 502 Lounge Internet Lift509 508 Lounge 521 519 603 601 517 515 511 507 505 503 501 539 537 535 533 531 529615527611525609523607 603 605601 Deluxe Deluxe 615 617 611 609 607 605 625 623625621623619 621 617 619
Lift Lift Lift Lift
Main Lounge
622
625
LiftLift LiftLift
& Bar Theater
618
desk Leisure Area Leisure Area Lift LiftLift Lift
& Bar Theater
Dance Floor
Leisure Area
deskPhoto
Main Lounge & Bar Theater
623
620
601
Leisure Area
Hammam Photo
(2) Main Lounge (2)
622
536 534 526 531 524 529 522 527 520 539532537530535528 533
desk
Lift Lift(2)
& Bar Theater
Relaxation (3) Room Relaxation (3)
626 624
Photo
SOLÉAL configuration:
Bar
Library Panoramic Internet Lounge
Library
(2)
(1) Balneo Balneo(1)
625
626 624
Lift Lift
Balneo(1)
Fitness
suite
603
516 514 626536624534622532620530618528616526614524612522610520608518606Owner's
Buffet Photo deskGrill
Grill (2) GrillLift Lift (1)Restaurant Balneo Restaurant Lift Lift
Relaxation Room(3)
Fitness Fitness
Grill
Buffet
Restaurant
Pool Pool Fitness
Zodiac suite
Balneo(1)Grill
Panoramic Wheelhouse Terrace
Panoramic
Zodiac
Buffet Lift Lift
5
Lift
Sun Deck Wheelhouse Bar
Sun Deck Wheelhouse Internet Lounge 626 624 622 620 618 616 614 612 610 608 606Owner's 602 603 601 SunLift Deck Wheelhouse 625Zodiac 623 621 619 617 615 611 609 607 605suite Deluxe Deluxe Deluxe suite
Buffet Grill
Restaurant
Fitness
602
Deluxe suite
Zodiac
Open-air Bar Grill
Pool
620 618 616 614 612 610 608 606Owner's Zodiac suite
Grill Restaurant Bar
Open-air Bar
Pool
2
Sun Deck Wheelhouse
Zodiac
312 309
315
311
Lift
309
307
305 303
306 304 302 305 303 301 300
307
310 307
Lift
308 305 303
311
Medical Center
306 304 302
309
Medical Center
Medical Center
306 304 302
301 300
307
301 300
305 303
Medical Center 301 300
Medical Center
& Bar
Main Lounge Restaurant & Bar
Gastronomic Main Lounge Restaurant & Bar
shop
Lift Lift
LiftshopLift shop
shop
Gastronomic Lift Lift Main Loungeshop Restaurant & Bar
Lift Lift
shop
Gastronomic Restaurant - Marina
3
28 Deluxe state rooms with private balcony 8 Superior state rooms - Main Lounge - Shop - Reception desk - Excursion desk - Medical center
4
35 Prestige state rooms with private balcony Theater
5
37 Prestige staterooms with private balcony (with 22 Prestige staterooms convertible into 11 Prestige suites) - Fitness - Beauty Corner Sothys™: Balneo, Hammam, Massage, Hairdresser - Relaxation room - Image & photo desk - Bridge
Owner's Suite (484 sq.ft. + 97 sq.ft. private balcony) Deck 6 Prestige Suite (398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft. private balcony) Deck 6 - 5 Deluxe Suite (290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft. private balcony) Deck 6 Prestige State room (200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft. private balcony) Deck 4 - 5 - 6 Deluxe State room (200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft. private balcony) Deck 3 Superior State room (226 sq.ft.) Deck 3
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
6
Owner’s suite - 3 Deluxe suites with private balcony - 20 Prestige staterooms with private balcony (with 18 Prestige staterooms convertible into 9 Prestige suites) - Pool - Grill Restaurant - Internet station - Library - Panoramic lounge - Panoramic terrace
Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 466 ft Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 ft Draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,3 ft Cruising Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 knots Ice class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 C Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bureau Veritas Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . French Guest Decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Guest capacity (double occupancy) up to 264 PAX Normal Crew Size . . . . . . . . . . 140 Fleet of expedition Zodiacs® . . . . (Mark V HD) Gross tonnage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 944 UMS Electric motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 x 2300 KW Installed power . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 400 KW Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fincantieri-Ancona-Italy
Le Boréal, L’Austral & le soléal
2
91
LE BORéal, L’austral, & Le soléal
Accommodation Owner’s suite
(484 sq.ft + 97 sq.ft. private balcony)
Discover your state room
Balcony
Tv
Dinner Area
Sofa
Elegance and flexibility of the suites and state rooms,decorated by French interior designers, panoramic sea view. • Flexible capacity of the ships: from 112 to 132 Suites & state rooms. • From maximum configuration: 4 Suites & 128 state rooms. • To Suite configuration: 24 Suites & 88 state rooms.
Tv
Bar
Desk
Balneo bathtub
Dressing room
Shower
WC
WC
Balcon
Up to 20 Prestige suites
Tv
(398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft. private balcony)
Tv
FR
Ang
Up to 92 Prestige state rooms
Salle à manger
Sofa
(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft. private balcony)
Balcony
Balcony
Balcon
Bar Bureau
*
Bar
Baignoire Balneo
Dressing Sofa
TvWC
Douche
Tv
WC
Tv
Bar Bar
Dressing room
shower
Bathtub*
WC WC
Dressing room
Dressing room
Shower
Dress Douche
WC
WC WC
WC
Amenities FR
3 Deluxe suites
(290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft. private balcony)
Balcony
Sofa
• Bathtub or balneo shower Shower
• Minibar • Flat screen satellite TV
Tv
Bar
Bathtub(1) Dressing room
WC
• Desk with stationery
Bathtub only on bord LE BORÉAL, shower on board L'AUSTRAL
• Cabin layout : kingsize bed, or twin beds, communicating cabins available (Children welcome)
Ang
Balcon
Sofa
Douche
Tv
Bar
Baignoire** WC
Dressing
Baignoires seulement à bord du BORÉAL, douche à bord L'AUSTRAL
• Individually-controlled airconditioning
• IPod™ players Le Boréal, L’Austral & le soléal
• Safe
92
• Hairdryer • Bath robes • Direct line telephone
FR
Ang
28 Deluxe state rooms
FR
Ang
8 Superior state rooms
(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft. private balcony)
Balcon (226 sq.ft)
Balcony
Sofa
Bar Bar
Bar
• 110/220 volts • French bath products
Tv
Tv
Tv
• 24hr room service • Internet access WiFi
Shower
Dressing room
Dressing
Shower
WC WC
*
Prestige Suites on board L’AUSTRAL: 2 showers. Deluxe Suites on board L’AUSTRAL & SOLÉAL: 2 showers.
**
Dressing room
Douche
Douche
WC
WC
Public areas LOUNGES
1 453 sq.ft / 135 sq.m Concierge lounge including reception, customer relations and excursions desk, concierge service
• Main Lounge 2 745 sq.ft / 255 sq.m Inside capacity: 110 Outside capacity: 30 Afternoon tea, lounge, live music, dance floor and cocktail bar Access to the outside terrace
RESTAURANTS
• Gastronomic Restaurant 3 982 sq.ft / 370 sq.m Capacity: 268 Elegant main dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving French and international cuisine, Fine wine cellar • Grill Restaurant 2 530 sq.ft / 235 sq.m Inside capacity: 150 Outside capacity: 60 Casual eating venue for breakfast, buffet lunch and themed dinner
• Panoramic Lounge 1 184 sq.ft / 110 sq.m Library, internet desk, cocktail bar, live entertainment on selected evenings Direct access to the panoramic terrace • Open-air Bar (Pool deck) Seating: 50 Overlooking the pool deck
RECREATION / RELAXATION
• Theater 2 690 sq.ft / 250 sq.m Capacity: 250 Main show room for conferences and live entertainment on selected evenings State-of-the-art audio and video technology • Fitness & Beauty Corner Fitness room: Kinesis equipment, running machines, bicycles Beauty Corner Sothys™: Hairdresser, Massage rooms (2), Balneo room, Hammam, Relaxation room • Leisure area Wii™ area, photoshop
Le Boréal, L’Austral & le soléal
Lobby
93
LE PONANT Welcome aboard With her sleek lines, her decks extending along the full length of her 88 metres, her three masts reaching for the sky and her sails ready to take flight, Le Ponant captivates all who sail on her. There is no need to be an experienced sailor to embark on board this beauty. While passengers do not participate in the manoeuvres, the crew are always delighted to answer any of your questions. As on a private yacht, you will sail with a small group (64 passengers) of people who really love being at sea.
Le Ponant
Ca p ta in s
94
Captain M. DEbIEN
Captain R.p. Boucher
5 - DECK SOLEIL Sun Deck
Observatory
Deck Plans 5 - DECK SOLEIL 4 - DECK ANTIGUA Sun Deck 5 DECK SOLEIL 5 Sun deck
Observatory
LeSun Diamant Deck Panoramic Restaurant
Observatory Bridge
4 - DECK ANTIGUA King size bed cabins Le Diamant
Panoramic 44 -antigua DECK ANTIGUA Restaurant deck
Bridge
King size bed cabins 3 DECK SAINT BARTH 4 - DECK ANTIGUA Le Diamant
Bridge
Panoramic Restaurant
Marina
Saphir lounge Lobby Le DiamantEmeraude loungeKing size bed cabins Panoramic Restaurant
33 Saint-Barth - DECK deck SAINT - BARTH
Bridge
Karukéra restaurant
King size bed cabins Saphir lounge Lobby Emeraude lounge
Karukéra restaurant
22 marie-galante - DECK SAINT MARIE - BARTH GALANTE Saphir lounge 3 deck Lobby Marina Emeraude lounge
Karukéra restaurant
Saphir lounge Lobby Emeraude lounge
Karukéra restaurant
Marina 3 - DECK SAINT - BARTH
2 - DECK MARIE - GALANTE Marina
Triple cabins
King size bed cabins
22 - 27DECK MARIE - GALANTE state rooms (with 3 triple state rooms and 4 Le Diamant Panoramic Restaurant - Bridge 3 king sizes bed state rooms)
Marina - Emeraude lounge - Lobby - Saphir
Triple cabins Observatory - Sun Deck King size bed cabins
32 cabins, all with a porthole and soothing pastel interiors. Triple cabins Antigua Deck state rooms (134 sq.ft. to 165 sq.ft.) Marie-Galante Deck state rooms Twin Bed Version (113 sq.ft. to 145 sq.ft.) Triple cabins
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290 ft 39 ft 13 ft 10 knots 3 Bureau Veritas French 4 64 32 1 443 UMS 1 600 KW 550 KW SFCN-Villeneuve-la-Garenne France
Le Ponant
5 - Karukéra MARIE Gastronomic Restaurant 23 - lounge DECK - GALANTE
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LE PONANT
Accommodation Ang
Discover your state room
FR
5 Antigua Deck state rooms (134 sq.ft. to 165 sq.ft.)
32 cabins, all with a porthole and soothing pastel interiors.
TV
TV
Shower Dressing room
Douche Dressing
WC
WC
Amenities • Individually-controlled • air-conditioning
Ang
FR
27 Marie-Galante Deck state rooms (113 sq.ft. to 145 sq.ft.)
• Cabin layout : king-size bed, or twin beds • Minibar • Flat screen satellite TV
TV
• Desk with stationery
Douche
Dressing room
• Safe
Dressing WC
• French bath products • Dressing table, and Bath robes
TV
Shower
Hairdryer
Twin Bed Version
Ang
WC
FR
• Satellite direct line telephone • 110/220 volts outlet • WiFi •
TV
TV
Shower Dressing room
Douche Dressing
WC
Le Ponant
King size Bed version
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Ang
WC
FR
TV
TV
Shower Dressing room
Dressing WC
Triple version
Douche
WC
Public areas
280 sq.ft / 26 sq.m Reception, customer relations and shore excursions desk
Leisure Facilities • Saphir Lounge 260 sq.ft / 24 sq.m Lecture hall, computer, internet access, TV and DVD • The Marina Direct access to the Zodiacs®
RESTAURANTs
LOUNGES
• Karukéra Restaurant 925 sq.ft / 86 sq.m Capacity: 64 Gastronomic restaurant Breakfast, lunch and dinner, French and international cuisine in an elegant and sophisticated environment
• Emeraude Lounge 795 sq.ft / 74 sq.m Capacity: 64 Main lounge with piano bar • Bar 260 sq.ft / 24 sq.m
• Le Diamant Restaurant 1247 sq.ft / 116 sq.m Capacity: 64 Outside panoramic restaurant Breakfast, buffet lunches
Le Ponant
Lobby
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YOUR ADVANTAGES Le Ponant Bonus A cruise is a holiday one prepares in advance. Our promise is to guarantee you the best fares as early as possible so that you can make those preparations in the utmost comfort. It is why we introduced the Ponant Bonus, a promotional fare with savings up to 30% off the Full cruise price. The fare is liable to increase at any time, without notice, depending on availability at the time you make your booking. The Staterooms Ponant Bonus and Suites Ponant Bonus are now differentiated to benefit the most demanding clients and those planning well ahead, particularly on the exceptional routes. So why not take advantage of it to experience a Suite, select your favourite deck, or take up the pre and post programmes we offer with the savings you make? Don’t wait any longer – book now to enjoy the best fares! ponant bonus fare Up to
Booking Date opened
30
off Full crui% se price
-25%
-20%
-15%
-10%
-5% Cruise Availability
Back-to-back Cruises Extend the pleasure by taking several cruises back-to-back and enjoy a 10% reduction(1) (apart from Ocean Voyage) from the second cruise on. (1) Reduction does not apply to the first cruise and relates to the port/port fare not including port taxes.
Open Bar Option This Summer chose our new Open Bar option(2) valid for the duration of your cruise. Specially designed for our passengers who wish to take advantage of the freedom of choosing a beverage at any moment of the day without restrictions. Enjoy a hot chocolate in our lounge or discover our cocktail of the day , sip local drinks on the sun deck or whatever your favorite might be! Please, contact our cruise specialist for more information. (2) The Open Bar includes unlimited drinks served in the bars , salons and restaurants of the ship , as well as the minibar in your cabin or suite. It does not include fine wine and premium liquors or champagnes. The Open Bar can only be reserved prior to at the very the beginning of your cruise for the entire stay aboard. It is valid only for individual personal consumption , without limitations.
Honeymoon Offer
vos avantages
Because ultimately sharing new discoveries is the best gift on a cruise, we invite you to prolong your wedding or civil union (PACS) celebrations aboard our ships, in the comfort of your stateroom or Suite. For any cruise taken within the 12 months after the wedding or civil union, you can enjoy the following advantages:
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Classic Offer – Cruises in Staterooms
Prestige Offer – Cruises in Suites on board le Boréal, L’AUSTRAL & LE soléal
• € 300 / $ 400 / £ 260 off on your stateroom
• Enjoy all the benefits of the Classic Offer
• Bottle of champagne on arrival
• Your 2 favourite photos are offered
• A photography session and -25% on your photos on board LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL & LE SOLÉAL
• 1 spa treatment per Suite (maximum value: € 115 / $ 150 / £ 100)
• Surprise aboard To prolong your journey of discovery with Compagnie du Ponant, having spent your honeymoon with us, enjoy the exclusive offer of a € 200 / $ 260 / £ 175 reduction per stateroom on your next cruise if taken within three years after your wedding or civil union.
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Single Offer We would like to give our passengers who travel alone the opportunity to enjoy an intimate experience aboard our ships. This is why we offer the single supplement on certain cruises. We invite our guests to enjoy a unique degree of comfort by choosing an individual suite or cabin on one of our selection of exceptional cruise itineraries.(3) LIST OF CRUISES OCCUPANCY SINGLE SUPPLEMENT FREE Oct 23, 2013
LE BORÉAL
Colon / Callao - Lima, page 42
Nov 03, 2013
LE BORÉAL
Callao - Lima / Valparaiso, page 42
From Oct 23 to Nov 22, 2013
LE BORÉAL
Colon / Ushuaia, consecutive cruises, page 43
Dec 02, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Singapore / Singapore, page 72
Dec 07, 2013
LE PONANT
Praia / Praia, page 88
Dec 10, 2013
LE SOLÉAL
Singapore / Bali, page 73
Mar 01, 2014
LE SOLÉAL
Ho Chi Minh / Kuala Lumpur, page 76
Mar 09, 2014
L’AUSTRAL
Montevideo / Recife, page 45
Mar 15, 2014
LE BORÉAL
Valparaiso / Guayaquil, page 46
Mar 27, 2014
LE BORÉAL
Guayaquil / Cartagena, page 32
(3) Single supplement waived, depending on availability.
Wedding Anniversary For every five years of marriage or civil union (PACS), enjoy a € 200 / $ 260 / £ 175 reduction per double stateroom / Suite for a cruise taken during the same calendar year.
Family & Friends Because you often want to share your cruise with family or friends we are now proposing a special offer. From the fifth person onwards all those on one booking benefit, from a 5% reduction on the cruise port/port(4). (4) May be combined with any other current promotional offer.
Teenagers
Referral Program Have you enjoyed cruising on our ships? Then why not introduce Compagnie du Ponant to your relatives and friends and take advantage of the Sponsorship offer. As a sponsor, you receive a € 300 / $ 400 / £ 260 reduction(5) per stateroom on your next cruise, after the person you sponsor has returned from theirs; they in turn enjoy a reduction of € 200 / $ 260 / £ 175* on their first cruise. (5) Terms and conditions apply. To find out more, refer to the sponsorship form or go directly to www.ponant.com, referral section.
VOS AVANTAGES
For families exploring the seas and oceans with teenage children, Compagnie du Ponant has created a preferential rate from 12 to 18 year-olds: adolescents enjoy a 50% reduction on the cruise port / port if sharing a stateroom or Suite with another adolescent or an adult.
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Members of the Ponant Yacht Club get more benefits with the new enriched program.
Ponant Yacht Club
Discover the new formula of our loyalty scheme. As a member of the Ponant Yacht Club you benefit from exclusive services and amenities onboard. Now for the first time, you are also eligible for exclusive offers in the shop, wine cellar or openbar package depending on your membership level.
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PONANT YACHT CLUB Our tiered program of Major, Admiral or Grand Admiral status, offers you the following advantages.
MAJOR When you book your 2nd cruise you become a Major. Your benefits are: • Receipt of our programs in priority • Opportunity to join the Ponant Yacht Club’s private cruises • Invitation to events reserved exclusively for members • Free laundry service onboard
John Smith
major
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Exception
ADMIRAL
Excellence
Privileges
John Smith
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admiral
When you book your 4th cruise, you become an Admiral. Your benefits are: • Enjoy all the advantages of a Major • 50€ / 45 £ / 65 $ off the shore excursion of your choice (1) • Complimentary upgrade (2) • - 10% discount in the shop (3) • - 10% discount in our premium cellar: fine wines, spirits and Champagnes (4)
Services
GRAND ADMIRAL
Prestige
When you book your 7th cruise you become a Grand Admiral. Your benefits are: • Enjoy all the advantages of an Admiral John Smith
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grand admiral
• 5% cruise discount will automatically be applied upon reservation of your cruise (5) • 75€ / 100 £ / 65 $ off the shore excursion of your choice (1) • Free bottle of Champagne on your arrival (4) • - 50% sur vos consommations bar (6) • - 20% discount on one SPA treatment of your choice or hairdresser
Your Ponant Yacht Club status will expire after two years if you have not taken a cruise within that period. However, you will enjoy the benefits of the former status (Admiral for the Grand Admirals, Major for the Admirals and no membership level for Majors), and attain the next level as soon as you have taken another cruise. Benefits apply may change without warning. Some benefits are not available on all our ships: contact us for details. The advantages of each “Ponant Yacht Club” status are not applicable on ocean voyages, whether at time of reservations or onboard. One card will be sent if a cruise has been booked by two or more people who are on the same membership level and travelling together. (1) Amount non exchangeable, non refundable, valid for one shore excursion (Not valid on the pre and post cruise program and private tours). (2) Upgrades are subject to availability, 3 days before departure or onboard. (3) See terms and conditions in the shop. (4) Alcohol in excess is dangerous for your health. Drink in moderation. (5) Reduction may be held over. Only valid on the port-port cruise, does not include onboard expenses or transport and services package. (6) Reduction applies to all beverages apart from fine wines, spirits and vintage champagnes, and only for your personal consumption: drinks for others need to be paid for
Ponant Yacht Club
• - 10% discount on the DVD of your cruise
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GENERAL INFORMATION 1 - The rates of our “classic cruises” and our “cruise & flight” programs are per person and include the following: • All meals while on board the ship (from dinner on the day of embarkation to breakfast on the day of disembarkation) • Captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner • Mineral water, tea, filter coffee, a selection of white, red and rosé wines offered during meals; afternoon tea • Evening entertainment and events • Luggage transfer from pier to the ship and vice versa • Water sports activities (except scuba diving) using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by ship Master according to safety and sea conditions onsite • English speaking lecturer on selected sailings identified by “lecturer on board” logo • Room service 24h (special selection) • SPECIAL FOR PROGRAM IN US/Canada : THE ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE includes the Open Bar (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands...list available upon request), port taxes, Fuel surcharge and gratuities.
GENERAL INFORMATION
A) “Cruise & Flights” program rates also include: • “Cruise & Flights” Programs for expedition cruises Ushuaia-Ushuaia: Direct, non-stop private flights Buenos-Aires/Ushuaia/Buenos-Aires in Economy-class on LAN AIRLINES • “Cruise & Flights” Programs for expedition voyages UshuaiaMontevideo: Direct, non-stop private one-way flight Buenos-Aires/ Ushuaia in Economy-class on LAN AIRLINES • Meet and Greet by our representatives in Ushuaia and luggage direct transfer from the airport to the ship for port clearance • Choice between one full day tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park with lunch included and escort of English Speaking local guide (detailed description available upon request) OR direct transfer to the port for embarkation, buffet lunch and access to the Main Lounge (staterooms/suites will not be accessible before 5pm) • Highly experienced multi-lingual Expedition team for all programs identified with “Expedition” logo.
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2 - Our cruise fares do not include: • Airfare and Airport taxes (subject to modification) • Port and safety taxes (included only in cruise package sold in US/ Canada) Any ground services before and/or after the cruise other than the ones mentioned in each “Cruise & Flights” package and for which details are available upon request. Contact your travel agent or consult www.ponant.com • Optional Open bar package (included only in US$ program rates) to be booked exclusively prior departure • Optional Spa package to be booked prior your departure; please ask for more information • Beverages other than the ones mentioned • Laundry services, hair salon and à la carte Spa treatments • Personal expenses, on board medical consultations and drug prescriptions • Gratuities (included only in US$ program rates) • Cancellation/luggage/assistance/repatriation/medical insurance(s) • Visa expenses and/or immigration reciprocity taxes if applicable • Optional Golf Package to be exclusively booked prior departure and proposed on programs featuring the “golf package” logo • Dives when authorized by local authorities and feasible with ship equipment and zodiacs. Rates: 65 € per standard dive; 75€ per dive when local equipment or staff must be used, 75€ for a “discover scuba dive” course. In order to participate to diving sessions, guests must have with them a medical certificate less than 2 months old and their up to date dive book.
or other contractors. The passenger agrees that Compagnie du Ponant acts as agent and/or trustee for any person including ground and maritime agents and subcontractors, who provide any service forming, or in connection with, any part of the cruise. Hotel accommodations are based on 4 and 5-star rated hotels. Official checkin time is 4pm, check-out time is 11am unless early check-in or late check-out supplement are paid. Our “Cruise & Flights” programs are made in connection with Compagnie du Ponant selected regular or private charter flights. Final timings and schedule of the day by day program will be communicated with the cruise ticket. All our programs are made in economy class and according to number of seats available. If the class is not available anymore, we will suggest, depending on the availability, extra seats with a supplement. On International flights, check-in luggage is limited to 23kg/50lbs and 8kg/17lbs per person for carry-on luggage (besides airlines frequent flyer advantages). On regular domestic or intercontinental flights, check-in luggage limits are between 15 and 20 kg/33 to 44lbs and 8kg/17lbs per person for carry-on. On Compagnie du Ponant Private charter flights, check-in luggage is limited to 20 kg/44lbs and 8kg/17lbs maximum per person as carry-on. We thank you for taking these restrictions into account. Airline carriers charge for extra weight and sometimes refuse, for strict security reasons, to check-in overweight and oversized luggage. Compagnie du Ponant and the airline carriers waive all liability for luggage with extra weight that is refused at the check-in. 3.2 Shore excursionss Besides exceptions indicated in each detailed cruise package program, shore excursions are sold and charged on board and are ruled by general conditions that apply to the contract signed with the local tour operator and the relevant national regulations. The passenger agrees that CDP acts as agent and/or trustee for any person including ground and maritime agents and subcontractors, who provide any service in connection with any part of the cruise. Excursions can involve activities that may not suit persons with disabilities. Prices are only given as an indication and may change. Before departure, you will receive a tour program detailing the excursions on offer with the latest rates. Five months before cruise departure, shore excursions can also be viewed on www.ponant.com. Shore excursions are currently only bookable onboard. In the event of an excursion being cancelled due to a technical reason, shortage of participants or a case of force majeure, the client will not be eligible for any compensation. Please note that you will not be reimbursed for excursions if you cancel after registration. Any meals offered during excursions are simple and should not be compared to the standards on board the ship. Do remember to bring your binoculars for a better and quicker view of fauna. Please do not forget to bring your medical certificates when it is required to participate in a cruise. 4 - Rates and Savings Please find the rates for each cruise on our website www.ponant.com. Port charges are subject to change and in addition to the cruise rates (included only in cruise packages presented in US$). Ponant Bonus saving is not applicable on taxes, excursions, airline ticket and any additional items then the Cruise itself. Tax amounts are subject to change and in addition to the package rates (Except for All Inclusive packages presented in US$) 4-1 Public rates: They are the reference rates of the cruise applicable for the validity period of the brochure. Public rates are per person and based on double occupancy.
It is essential not to forget to bring with you your binoculars for a good fauna observation during Nature outings. Please do not forget to bring your medical certificates when it is required to participate in an expedition cruise.
4-2 Ponant Bonus Fares PONANT BONUS is a special savings program off published cruise-only rates for selected voyages. Ponant Bonus is the guaranteed best price you can obtain on the day you make your reservation directly on our website or via our agents. It can save you up to 30% off the public rates. Ponant Bonus fares are capacity controlled, subject to availability and may change at any time without notice. Ponant Bonus discount could decrease or be closed for specific stateroom and suite categories or entire cruises. Contact your travel agent or refer to www.ponant.com to determine the Ponant Bonus available at the time of booking your cruise(s). Ponant Bonus may not be combinable with other promotional offers or onboard cruise credits.
3 - Ground services 3.1- Pre and post-cruise programs and overlands Pre and Post-cruise programs (as detailed on www.ponant.com), overland programs and shore excursions are performed by independent suppliers who are not employees of Compagnie du Ponant. In this respect, Compagnie du Ponant acts only as an agent and shall not be held liable for said services or for the acts or omissions of sub-contractors
4-3 Other savings: • Combination cruise (if applicable): -10% off the second consecutive cruiseonly rate, port taxes excluded, applicable on all consecutive cruises, except Ocean Voyages. • Ponant Yacht Club Grand Admiral Members: -5% off the cruise-only rate, port taxes excluded • Family & Friends: -5% off the cruise-only rate, port taxes excluded, for all bookings of 5 adults or more in 2 or more staterooms, booked at the same time and all sailing together on the same cruise
GENERAL INFORMATION
NOTE: These discounts/benefits are not combinable with any offer other than those mentioned above. They are not applicable on Ocean Voyages (programs not qualifying for Ponant Yacht Club Benefits) If you are entitled to several discounts, the value of the second discount is calculated from the revised rate obtained after the deduction of the first discount etc. 5 - Children: Children under 3 years of age and women who are over 6 months pregnant are not authorized to sail. Children between 3 and 8 years old are accepted subject to agreement at the time of booking. If accepted, a liability waiver will have to be completed and returned to Compagnie du Ponant to validate your booking. On Antarctica programs, children must be able to disembark/embark by zodiac without assistance and be able to understand and follow safety instructions. Therefore disembarkation is submitted to Captain’s and Expedition Leader’s decision depending on weather conditions and landing sites. In all cases, children and young adults, once on board, are the entire and total responsibility of their parents or guardians. Children from 8 to 11 years old sharing with 2 adults are free on a cruise-only basis and Teenagers from 12 to 17 years old, sharing a Superior Cabin and a Prestige Suite with 1 or 2 adults benefit from a 50% discount on cruise-only fares: other special discounts may apply; please contact us for more details. 6 - Mobility LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL and LE SOLÉAL have three cabins which are specially adapted for disabled guests (ADA Norms). Nevertheless, for safety reasons, all passengers must either be fully mobile or must be accompanied by a travelling companion fit and able to provide all necessary assistance during the voyage. Please note that animals (including service and/or comfort animals) are not permitted aboard. Persons who are not fully mobile, with physical disabilities or other handicaps requiring special treatment or assistance, including persons who use a wheelchair, must advise Compagnie du Ponant in writing of the nature of such conditions when making a reservation request and before the signature of booking form. Compagnie du Ponant reserves the right to refuse passage to anyone who has failed to notify
them of such limited mobility, disabilities or need of assistance, whose medical conditions is not compatible with security rules and requirements specific to the navigation area, or who, in the Compagnie du Ponant’s opinion is unfit for travel. Please note that landings are done using zodiacs making them very difficult or even impossible for passengers with limited mobility. Each landing will be subject to Captain and Expedition Leader approval. 7 - Others: • Women who are more than 6 months pregnant at the time of disembarkation are not permitted to travel • All our vessels are non-smoking with the exception of designated areas on outside decks. • Animals (including service and/or comfort animals) are not permitted aboard. • Any specific health issue, if known, must be reported in writing to our medical department through the mandatory medical questionnaire to be filled and returned by each participant to an Antarctica program, at the latest 90 days prior departure. Please contact us for procedures • Due to exceptional nature of these programs, sites names are given as an indication only. Final route will be confirmed daily by Captain and Expedition Leader depending on ice conditions, weather forecasts with priority being given to passenger safety. • Euro, US Dollar currencies and credit cards (VISA, MASTERCARD and AMEX) are accepted on board. Note there are no ATMs onboard the ships or money exchange. Onboard purchases may be charged back to the guest’s stateroom. • Ship Master retains the right to change the itineraries as per article 4.2 of the cruise ticket. • Detailed terms and conditions are available on www.ponant.com and upon request.
COMPAGNIE DU PONANT is a voting Member of International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic
GENERAL INFORMATION
• Honeymoon: see details on www.ponant.com • Wedding Anniversary (every 5th year): see details on www.ponant.com • On board Reservations: -5% off the cruise-only rate, port taxes excluded for each new cruise booked with our onboard staff
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS These are extracts of the terms and conditions which will apply to your cruise. Please read them carefully. Complete terms and conditions are available upon request. Attention is particularly drawn to the exemption and limitation of liability in favor of Compagnie Du Ponant / Compagnie Du Ponant USA LLC, hereinafter referred as “the Company” or “CDP”. These terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. 1 - Transferability A reservation for one of the programs listed in this brochure is only valid for date, cruise program and passenger(s) names listed on the written confirmation received upon reservation and on the cruise ticket provided with travel documents. Passenger may transfer the ticket to a third party, who shall fill the same conditions as the passenger to perform all purchased services, as long as the agreement has not rendered any effect. The transferor and/or transferee must settle any fees which result, and inform the Company and the seller of this decision by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt no later than 90 days prior day of embarkation. In the event where the passenger transfers his/her ticket without informing the Company and the seller as per the terms described above, this ticket transfer will be invalid and the ticket will be cancelled without any possible refund. 2 - Payment Schedule In order to secure a booking, the guest is required to pay 25% of total cruise price upon confirmation. The final 75% is due no later than 60 days prior to sailing/ departure. All reservations are subject to cancellation fees if payments are not received by the due date. Your full payment or acceptance of a ticket constitutes agreement to these Terms and Conditions, General and Important information presented in this brochure as part of the Passenger Ticket Contract. Any revisions to the above payment plan must be in writing and approved by CDP. 3 - Revisions & modifications Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should inform the Company in advance to obtain her agreement. Once a booking is secured by a deposit, all revisions and/or changes which occurred less than 90 days before departure are subject to an administration change fee that has to be paid by the passenger as stated hereunder in “Cancellation & Refunds”. The passenger who decides to shorten his journey cannot claim any refund for any unused services. The passenger, who fails to present himself in time for his departure or relinquishes booked services included in the program for any reason, cannot claim any refund. 4 - Cancellation & Refunds All cancellations must be in writing. Any and all guests not reporting for departure or prevented from reporting for departure or waiving for any reason whatsoever the benefit of services included in the program cannot claim any refund. Compagnie du Ponant shall not be required to refund any monies to any guests who must leave the sailing prematurely for any reason, nor shall Compagnie du Ponant be held responsible for any costs, fees, damages or causes of action which result from the transportation expenses incurred by guest’s early departure. For any deposited or fully paid booking, cancellation or change penalties will be assessed as noted below. These penalties are also applicable to any hotel and/or air bookings and ground services. 4-1 For expedition cruises in Antarctica, Falkland Islands and South Georgia: • More than 90 days before departure: EUR 300 per person (or equivalent in USD or GBP) • 90-61 days before departure: 25% per person of full fare • 60-46 days before departure: 50% per person of full fare • 45 -31 days before departure: 75% per person of full fare • Less than 30 days before departure: 100% of full fare 4-2 For all other cruises: • More than 45 days before departure: EUR 300 per person (or equivalent in USD or GBP) • 45-31 days before departure: 50% per person of full fare • 30 -21 days before departure: 75% per person of full fare • Less than 21 days before departure: 100% of full fare
Terms & conditions
5 - Formalities and health information
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Before booking one of these journeys or trips offered in this brochure, each passenger is personally responsible for complying with the required legal regulations. All passengers must carry a valid passport, as well as the visas and vaccination certificates which may be required at the airport, at the port of arrival and departure. Company du Ponant waives all liability for not complying with the required legal regulations regarding immigration, customs or sanitary documents required before departure and during his trip. Any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation to board the airplane or access to the ship is responsible and may not claim any compensation or refund of his trip or services. The information given in this brochure is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult respective government agencies up to the departure date. 6 - Transportation and services 6-1 Air transport and Flight Package information All airline tickets are provided in the electronic ticket format. It is imperative to ensure that the first names and surnames communicated are those mentioned on the relevant passport, as they cannot be changed later. Any mistakes, or requests to alter the name, will require the purchase of a new ticket. Compagnie du Ponant will provide passengers, at the time they make their booking, with the name of the airline or airline carriers which have either already been selected or are likely to be selected. Compagnie du Ponant undertakes to inform passengers, before departure, of any changes to the identity of the airline or airline carriers as soon as they are known. The words “direct flight” mean there will be no change of aircraft, but do not exclude the possibility that there may be one or several stops. A “direct non-stop flight” means no change of aircraft and no stops. Private charter flights do not offer special meals.
Airline carriers can enter into a “code share” agreement whereby they are able to sell a flight under their own name, although the aircraft itself may be operated by another airline company. The schedules and type of transportation listed are provided by the transportation companies at the time this brochure was being produced. They are a guideline to the moment of departure and are subject to change for all kinds of reasons (additional stops added, weather conditions, air traffic control authorisation, strikes, etc). In accordance with the Warsaw and Montreal Convention, timings and routes as well as departure/destination airports are not a contractual element of the transportation ticket. Under these conditions, Compagnie du Ponant cannot be held responsible for changes that are beyond its control. Changes to the original travel program may be the result, in particular, of technical faults, weather conditions, political reasons, delays or cancellations, strikes, additional stops, changes to aircraft or routes, etc. Under no circumstances can these incidences be attributed to Compagnie du Ponant or any compensation made whatsoever. If a client wishes to abandon his journey, he will be liable to the cruise cancellation fees indicated above. The airline carrier’s responsibility, in the event of damages, complaints or claims of any kind, is limited to the carriage of passengers and their luggage by air, within the terms and conditions stipulated on the tickets and by the airline companies themselves. Compagnie du Ponant will not reimburse any expenses (taxis, meals, hotels, etc), when the passenger is under the responsibility of the airline company. The consequences of accidents/incidents occurring when travelling by air are governed by the Warsaw and Montreal Convention, or by the local regulations governing national transportation in the country concerned. Our “Cruise and Flights” programs are made in connection with Compagnie du Ponant selected regular or private charter flights. Final timings and schedule of the day by day program will be communicated with the cruise ticket. All our programs are made in economy class and according to number of seats available. If the class is not available anymore, we will suggest, depending on the availability, extra seats with a supplement. On International flights, check-in luggage is limited to 23kg/50lbs and 8kg/17lbs per person for carry-on luggage (besides airlines’ frequent flyer advantages). On regular domestic or intercontinental flights, check-in luggage limits are between 15 and 20 kg/33 to 44lbs and 8kg/17lbs per person for carry-on. On Compagnie du Ponant Private charter flights, check-in luggage is limited to 20 kg/44lbs and 8kg/17lbs maximum per person as carry-on. We thank you for taking these restrictions into account. Airline carriers charge for extra weight and sometimes refuse, for strict security reasons, to check-in overweight and oversized luggage. Compagnie du Ponant and the airline carriers waive all liability for luggage with extra weight that is refused at the check-in. 6-2 Pre/post programs, overland packages, hotel and ground services information Pre and post programs (advertised on www.ponant.com), as well as overland packages proposed in this brochure Compagnie du Ponant “WINTER CRUISES 2013 – 2014” are subject to a minimum of participants. CDP may cancel any of these programs up to 21 days prior to its departure date, if a minimum of 20 participants (unless noted otherwise) is not reached. 6.3- Boarding and transportation terms and conditions a) Embarkation: Guests must report for boarding in the conditions set by the cruise ticket (details of cruise ticket document are available upon request). Passengers are responsible for having received all medical inoculations necessary for the voyage and having their cruise ticket, a valid passport, visas and other documents mandatory for the scheduled ports of call and disembarkation. If a passenger does not have proper documents he/she will not be allowed to embark. Boarding the ship automatically makes the passenger subject to the application of the provisions hereafter, as well as the general conditions concerning the travel program, which they are familiar with and which they have accepted. If guests decide to organize their own transport to/from the ship, it is highly recommended that they choose refundable and changeable tickets and to take reasonable buffer time with transfers to/from ship. b) Visas, Passport and Health information: At the time of boarding, all guests must have a passport valid for six months following disembarkation as well as necessary visas and vaccination certificates which may be required in destination ports where the ship calls. CDP accepts no responsibility for obtaining required visas or for advising guests of visa or other immigration requirements. Please consult relevant authorities or a visa service to determine accurately if any visas, health certificates, or vaccinations are required. If incorrect documents are obtained, guests will be unable to participate in particular shore excursions and may be denied boarding and/or disembark in certain port of calls/countries. The Company and/or Master of the ship are entitled to refuse embarkation or to prevent disembarkation of any passengers who do not show the documents allowing them to disembark at the scheduled destination or stopover ports. Every passenger is personally responsible for compliance with the statutory and regulatory provisions in force before departure. Note: Due to airline security measures, your passport name must match your airline ticket name or you may be denied boarding. c) Health and Security: If it appears to the Company and/or the Master of the ship that a passenger is for any reason whatsoever unfit to travel or likely to endanger his health or safety or impair the comfort of others on board or seems likely to be refused permission to land at any port or to render the Company liable for his maintenance, support or repatriation, the Company or the Master of the ship shall be entitled at any time to take any of the following courses as appear appropriate to them, namely • To refuse to embark or disembark the passenger at any particular port • To disembark him at any port • To transfer him from one berth to another • To confine him to one cabin of the ship’s medical centre • Through the ship’s doctor and/or his staff to administer any drug, medication or other substance or to admit and/or confine the passenger to the hospital, or any similar institution at any port provided that the ship’s doctor considers it necessary.
Please note that given the inaccessibility of Antarctica, we recommend you choose your travel insurance company very carefully. It is mandatory to return the medical questionnaire provided at the time of booking. LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL and LE SOLÉAL have three cabins which are specially adapted for disabled guests (ADA Norms). Nevertheless, for safety reasons, all passengers must either be fully mobile or must be accompanied by a travelling companion fit and able to provide all necessary assistance during the voyage. Please note that animals (including service and/or comfort animals) are not permitted aboard. Persons who are not fully mobile, with physical disabilities or other handicaps requiring special treatment or assistance, including persons who use a wheelchair, must advise Compagnie du Ponant in writing of the nature of such conditions when making a reservation request and by all means before the signature of booking form. Compagnie du Ponant reserves the right to refuse passage to anyone who has failed to notify them of such limited mobility, disabilities or need of assistance, whose medical conditions is not compatible with security rules and requirements specific to the navigation area, or who, in the Compagnie du Ponant’s opinion is unfit for travel. Please note that landings are done using zodiacs making them very difficult or even impossible for passengers with limited mobility. Each landing will be subject to Captain and Expedition Leader approval. Passengers accept civil and criminal liability for all damages caused to Compagnie du Ponant, other passengers or third parties by their actions. Passengers are individually and solely responsible for the payment of any and all fines or penalties inflicted by competent authorities on account of their own acts. d) Itinerary changes/alterations/cancellation of a trip: Arrival and departure times are given as an indication only. The Company cannot guarantee coincidence with corresponding schedules (plane, train...) notably due to modification of the program duration initially planned, which cannot incur any compensation, as the Company cannot be held liable for indirect damages. CDP reserves the right to withdraw and/or cancel a sailing to make changes in the itinerary whenever, in its sole judgment, or in the judgment of the vessel owner or operator, conditions warrant it. In the event of adverse meteorological conditions or adverse political or social conditions in the country of a port of call or for any other fact that may jeopardize the safety of guests or of the ship, or in the event of orders by public authorities, the Company may change the itinerary or ports of call or destination, delay, end or cancel the trip, divert the ship, tow or be towed, transfer guests and their luggage aboard any other means of transportation, even when this results in an increase or a shortening of the advertised program. The Company does not warrant that these will correspond to the time schedule of connecting flights or transfers (eg planes or trains...), due to the fact that the initially scheduled trip duration may be altered. No indemnification shall be due on this account, as the Company is not liable for indirect damages. Under any circumstances, the ship may provide assistance to any person or goods at sea, and will not be liable for the consequences of a modification to the cruise programme for this reason. In the case of external events beyond the control of the Company or for any reason regarding the safety of travelers or the ship or due to an insufficient number of participants, according to that which is provided for by the terms and conditions of the trip programme, the Company may cancel the cruise and must inform the passengers by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt or email, fax with proof of delivery. Cruises published in the brochure “COMPAGNIE DU PONANT- WINTER CRUISES 2013-2014” are subject to a minimum of participants. Compagnie du Ponant may cancel any cruise program up to 21 days before departure if the minimum of guests registered is under or equal to 50% of the ship capacity of : • 244 guests onboard LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL and LE SOLÉAL (restricted to 200 guests on Antarctica, Falkland and South Georgia expedition itineraries) • 55 guests onboard LE PONANT In the event of an alteration of the contract by the Company after boarding the ship, passengers shall in any case not be entitled to any indemnification other than refund for unperformed services for which no replacement was provided. In addition, passengers may be requested to pay extra monies for services rendered under such circumstances and for the costs of living aboard the ship in the event that the duration of the trip is extended The Company reserves the right to change staterooms other than what the guests have booked. e) Luggage: a) Each guest can bring aboard a reasonable amount of clothing and personal effects without charge, subject to airline restrictions. Hand luggage or cabin luggage and personal effects shall comply with allowances in the terms and conditions provided for in the programme. Luggage must be distinctly labeled with the passenger’s full name, the name of the ship and stateroom number. b) All passengers are prohibited from transporting merchandise in their luggage whose content may threaten the health of other passengers, damage or contaminate their luggage on the vessel. It is notably forbidden to board or pack animals or inflammable, explosive, corrosive, dangerous, scented or leaking materials in your luggage. Failure to comply with these rules will lead to payment of a lump sum penalty provided for by law. The passenger will in any case be responsible for any injury, loss or damages suffered due to the presence of these objects, and shall ensure that the Company is not sued due to such events. Such objects may at any time and in any place be disembarked, destroyed, thrown into the sea or made safe by the Company without any compensation. It is also prohibited to load objects as luggage other than those intended for personal use by the passenger, and notably goods in general, and objects whose importing is prohibited or which are not compliant with customs or police regulations. The passenger is responsible for all consequences, expenses, damages and penalties resulting therefrom, and the Company, in such cases, shall not be held liable for loss or damages. c) Passengers must look after their personal luggage during the entire duration of the stay aboard the ship as well as during embarking, transfer and disembarking operations. Compagnie du Ponant waives all liability for luggage left unattended
by passengers and for which passengers have not taken the necessary precautions against theft, loss or damage. Specifically, the Company shall not be liable for breakable items and valuables including but not limited to money, watches, securities, jewellery, computers and any electronic materials, mobile phones and other precious objects which must be hand-carried by the passenger on and off the ship; are the full responsibility of the passenger at all time. CDP is not responsible for loss of or damage to such items. Passenger is responsible for subscribing to insurance to cover luggage. 7 - Independent contractors/Limit of liability: The passenger agrees that Compagnie du Ponant acts as agent and/or trustee for any person, ground and maritime agents and subcontractors, who provide any service forming, or in connection with, any part of the cruise. Transportation services to the port of departure, transfers to the ship, including, as applicable, hotel room and restaurant bookings or guided tours, are performed by independent suppliers who are not employees of Compagnie du Ponant. In this respect, Compagnie du Ponant acts only as an agent and shall not be held liable for said services or for the acts or omissions of sub-contractors or other contractors. Compagnie du Ponant shall not be held liable for bodily injury to, or death of passengers, or for loss of, or damage to luggage or other personal belongings, unless it is proved that the carrier has infringed statutory obligations or that it or one of its employees or agents has committed gross negligence. However, in the event the liability of Compagnie du Ponant is incurred, such liability is limited (details available upon request). Compagnie du Ponant shall in any case not be liable for failure of an improper performance when the same is due to or caused by the fault of the passenger; the unforeseeable or unavoidable fault or a third party unconnected with the provision of any services to be provided under the contract ; unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of Compagnie du Ponant; an event of “Force Majeure” such as a war, threat of war, riots, civil commotion, acts of God, terrorist activities, natural and nuclear disaster, fire, technical problems with transport, closure of ports, strikes and any industrial action, or any other event beyond the control of Compagnie du Ponant. Compagnie du Ponant and the Owners and operators of the vessels identified in this brochure shall be entitled to claim the benefit of whichever law, regulation, treaty or doctrine provides the greatest protection. 8 - Validity of the brochure From February 14, 2013 and until further notice, this brochure cancels and replaces all information contained in all brochures COMPAGNIE DU PONANT or any other leaflet. 9 - Rates The prices given at the time of booking are based on economic conditions known on October 04th, 2012 for the period from November 20th, 2013 and until further notice. These conditions are, amongst others, the cost of transport and fuel, relevant dues and taxes for the proposed operation (port taxes, embarkation and disembarkation taxes, entrance costs to tourist sites), currency exchange rates relevant to the pricing of these programs. Compagnie du Ponant reserves the right within the legal limits of French Law to vary the prices if necessary. All variation of the cost of transport, fuel, taxes, dues and visa costs will be passed on within the voyage cost. Additionally, any surcharge levied will be increased to include an amount to cover agent’s commission. Any change in fare cannot be imposed less than 30 days prior to departure. For the cruise-only rate, daily surcharge, if any, will be calculated based on: S=
fuel variation * x daily comsumption** Ship capacity ***
(*): MGO FOB Rotterdam 0,1% in US$ (**) : Le Boréal, L’Austral and Le Soléal: 20t, Le Ponant : 5.5t (***): Le Boréal, L’Austral and Le Soléal: 200 passengers for expedition-style cruises ; 244 for all other cruises ; Le Ponant 55 passengers 10 - Travel Insurance Passengers shall be responsible for subscribing to cancellation/luggage/ assistance/repatriation/medical insurance(s). 11 - Claims No claims can be made against CDP without a written and detailed statement of the claim by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt requested within the following time periods: a) For luggage: in the event of obvious damages or loss: no later than at the time of disembarkation. In the event of hidden damages or loss: within seven (7) days of disembarking or of the date when disembarkation should have taken place; b) For passengers in the case of bodily harm and damages other than to luggage: within thirty (30) days from the date when the passenger disembarked or should have disembarked. Failure to comply with these provisions shall mean that the passenger is deemed to have safely disembarked without harm and collected his or her luggage without damage thereto. 12 - Jurisdiction These terms & conditions are subject to and interpreted according to International regulations and concern the transportation of passengers and their luggage from the time of boarding the ship to the moment of disembarking, as well as at ports of departure, destination, or stopover. CDP shall incur no liability outside this period of time. Without prejudice to required legal regulations, any actions related either to the interpretation, or execution of this agreement shall be brought before the competent courts of Marseille-France. CDP is not responsible for omissions, printing and/or presentation errors and reserves the right to make corrections as required..
Terms & conditions
• Health care, medical expenses and drugs on land or aboard the ship shall be paid by passengers.
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INSURANCE
une société
international
La Compagnie du Ponant is creating a new insurance and multi-risk assistance contract. Enjoy worry-free travel with our exclusive Ponant 5* Insurance policy, arranged through our partner, TMS, a specialist in high-end travel insurance. This insurance will cover you on all our itineraries without exception, and for the full duration of your cruise. TMS has been our partner for nearly 15 years and has plenty of experience in the type of problems that may arise. We are therefore offering to be the single and unique point of contact for booking your flights and cruises and also for managing insurance cover throughout your trip. The guarantees provided are subject to a surcharge of 4% incl. taxes on the total cost of your cruise. The policy must be taken out on the day your cruise is purchased or no later than 46 days before your cruise starts. Our sales staff are at your disposal to answer all your questions. To be eligible you must live in mainland France including Corsica, the French overseas departments, Andorra and Monaco, or in an EU country or in Switzerland. BENEFITS
Maximum amounts / person, incl. tax
Trip cancellation Illness (including relapse from previous illness or injury), accident, death of the insured, of a family member or an insured accompanying party. • Attack or natural disaster occurring at destination point • Other justified reasons Deductible •
25 000 € maximum / person 75 000 € maximum / event 10% of the cancellation cost with a minimum of 50 € / person (no deductible in case of illness, accident or death)
Missed connection Travel expenses up to the next stop-over OR • Early return •
50% of the trip cost with a maximum of 1 500 € / person Return ticket + taxi fare
Baggage Theft, total or partial destruction, loss during conveyance by a shipping company Deductible • Late delivery>24h •
3 049 € incl. tax / person 30 € / file Fixed sum of 400 € incl. tax / person
Assistance to persons in case of illness or injury during travel Transportation / Repatriation Return travel of family members or insured accompanying party OR • Presence during hospitalization - Transportation - Accommodations • Prolonged stay of accompanying party in the event of hospitalization • Accompanying children under 18 years old • Travel continuation • Reimbursement of medical expenses abroad and advance of hospitalization costs abroad - Europe and Mediterranean countries - Rest of the world Deductible for medical expenses • •
Actual costs Return ticket + taxi fare Round trip ticket + taxi fare 80 € / night (maximum 10 nights) 80 € / night (maximum 4 nights) Hostess or round trip ticket Additional travel expenses 75 000 € / person 152 500 € / person 30 € / person / event
Assistance provided in case of death • •
Return travel of family members or one or two of the insured accompanying party Anticipated return in the event of death of a family member, the person in charge of child care or the professional replacement
Return ticket + taxi fare Return ticket + taxi fare
Travel Assistance Advance of bail abroad Coverage of lawyers’ fees abroad Early return in case of damages at home Assistance in case of damages at home - Conservatory measures - Accommodations • Assistance and advance of funds in case of theft, loss or destruction of identification papers or payment means • • • •
15 300 € / person 3 100 € / person Return ticket + taxi fare 80 € 50 € / night (maximum 2 nights) 2 300 € / person
Civil liability All bodily injury and property damage Including property damage Deductible • •
4 500 000 € incl. tax / person 75 000 € incl. tax / person 75 € / claim
Trip interruption Cost of trip interruption, due to: - Hospitalization or death of close relations - Damages at home • Compensation travel, following: - Medical repatriation of the insured
insurance
•
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Prorata temporis (excluding transportation)
Initial cost of insured trip
Travel accident • •
Death Disability
15 245 € incl. tax / person 15 245 € incl. tax / person 150 000 € incl. tax / event
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408 Avenue du Prado - 13008 Marseille - France
Licence 013060005 - Member of SNAV, ATOUT FRANCE and APST
www.ponant.com
Photographs, all rights reserved: Compagnie du Ponant, Sylviane de Tracy, Sylvain Posso, François Lefebvre, Nathalie Michel, Designer Jean-Philippe Nuel, Filipo Vinardi, Eric Laignel, Mike Louagie, Philip et Guillaume Plisson, OT Caraïbes, OT République Dominicaine, Istockphoto, Shutterstock, Fotolia, Alamy. Non contractual document and photos. The photos used in this brochure are only possible experiences and therefore can not be guaranteed. Brochure design: Transparence Productions.
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