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The Quintessential Collection Summer & Winter 2019 Voyages of Discovery aboard Deluxe Small Ships Gardening • Food & Wine • Multigenerational • World Affairs World War II History • Classical Music • Art • Polar Expedition
The
Quintessential Collection by PONANT At PONANT we believe that travel is by its very nature a form of discovery and transformation. With this belief as our guiding principle, we proudly introduce a new chapter in our voyages of discovery: The Quintessential Collection. This anthology gathers both traditional yachting cruises and luxury expeditions designed for those who share our approach to travel and who wish to engage with the world in order to better understand it. Whether you choose to celebrate Sicily’s food and wine on a circumnavigation of the island; or to tour the verdant gardens of the British Isles at springtime; or to cruise among iconic Mediterranean sites to the strains of classical music; or to realize an art connoisseur’s dream as you visit the great museums of The Netherlands and Belgium, one of the eight voyages described in this brochure is sure to be perfectly suited to your interests. Each cruise in our Quintessential Collection is based on a theme and includes a pre-cruise hotel stay with bespoke excursions tied to that theme. The cruises feature talks and performances by world-class speakers or musicians aboard our fleet of deluxe small ship (ideally suited to foster camaraderie amongst kindred spirits). During the voyage, guests also enjoy one or two exceptional activities ashore that are relevant to the cruise theme—and that encourage an authentic embrace of local cultures and attitudes. Experiencing destinations anew in all of their richness is the fundamental appeal of travel. PONANT invites you to join us to inspire your spirit, enrich your mind, and awaken your sense of wonder.
2 | The Quintessential Collection
Le Lyrial in the Mediterranean
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Gardening Cruise
VOYAGE TO GREEN AND GENTLE LANDS Exploring Gardens and Historic Sites from London to Bergen Aboard the deluxe ship Le Boréal
May 13–22, 2019 BERGEN
Belgium
NORWAY Stavanger
SCOTLAND Rosyth Edinburgh
North Sea
Newcastle Upon Tyne
ENGLAND LONDON
The British Isles, Belgium, and Norway in springtime are lovely, verdant places, and this voyage is carefully designed to showcase the very best they have to offer. As we sail from London into the North Sea, we pause along the way to explore both shores—but it is the remarkable gardens we visit that make this voyage a true horticulturalist’s dream. Pre-embarkation, we’ll spend the day at Kew Gardens, London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site with the most diverse collection of living plants in the world. We’ll also visit Chelsea Physic Garden, tucked away in an almost-secret location beside the Thames and the oldest botanic garden in London. In other ports along the way, optional excursions with a focus on gardens, art, and history will be available. But the highlight of our voyage lies at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, where we’ll sit down to an exclusive gala luncheon on site hosted by the Garden staff.
Antwerp Ostend
BELGIUM
Bruges
HIGHLIGHTS • Garden expert Holly Shimizu leads a series of onboard lectures. • Tour Chelsea Physic Garden, the oldest botanic garden in London, and Kew Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on a speciallytailored pre-cruise program. • Enjoy a gala luncheon at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, hosted by the director and staff exclusively for PONANT guests. • Optional excursions to private and public gardens, and other points of interest, in most ports of call.
Scotland Lily pond, Kew Gardens, London, England
4 | The Quintessential Collection
Featured Speaker
Monday, May 13, 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM Arrive in London and transfer to your deluxe hotel for overnight. The afternoon is free to rest or explore. Gather with fellow travelers this evening for a welcome reception and introduction to the program ahead. (R)
HOLLY H. SHIMIZU, recently retired Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden, is an internationally recognized horticulturist. She has worked in gardens in many parts of the world and is often recognized from ten years as a host of the popular Victory Garden television show on PBS. Holly has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Thomas Roland Medal for outstanding contributions to horticultural education from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Professional Award for an Outstanding Public Garden Director from the American Horticultural Society. Dedicated to heightening an awareness and love of plants through her work, she has written for numerous publications and has been an international flower show judge. Her husband Osamu is a Garden Designer whom she met while working in Europe. They live in Maryland with their naughty dog, enjoying their sanctuary garden near the Potomac River.
Tuesday, May 14 LONDON | EMBARK Tour Kew Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s leading botanical research institutions. After a quick lunch, we enjoy a visit of Chelsea Physic Garden. In late afternoon, we embark Le Boréal and set sail down the Thames. (B,L,D) Wednesday, May 15 OSTEND, BELGIUM | BRUGES OR KASTELL VAN OOSTKERKE Following a morning at sea, possible excursions include the medieval town of Bruges for a walking tour of the historic center and a visit to the Groeninge Museum, home to a fine collection of Flemish art; or to Kasteel van Oostkerke, an architectural castle garden designed by the internationally-respected Dutch gardener Mien Ruys. (B,L,D) Thursday, May 16 ANTWERP Opt to tour this historic city, including Grote Markt, Town Hall, the guild houses that were the driving force behind Antwerp’s economic dominance of the 17th century, Brabo Fountain, and Vlaaikensgang (a typical medieval alley). You may also visit the Cathedral, which contains some of Rubens’ greatest paintings: Elevation of the Cross and Descent from the Cross. Also on offer is garden excursion to Arboretum Kalmthout. (B,L,D)
Bruges, Belgium
Friday, May 17 AT SEA (B,L,D) Saturday, May 18 NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM Possible excursions in Newcastle include a tour of this vibrant university town, including the BALTIC Center for Contemporary Art and the Great North Museum on the campus of Newcastle University. For those interested in garden, we offer a tour, personally guided by the Duchess of Northumberland, of the gardens at Alnwick Castle. (B,L,D) Sunday, May 19 ROSYTH, SCOTLAND | EDINBURGH Today is devoted to visiting the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, founded in 1670 and now a world-renowned center of plant science and horticulture. First we are welcomed by the Curator of the Garden’s Living Collection, then we enjoy expert-led tours of the gardens. We also will be guests at an exclusive luncheon on site, in the elegant Caledonian Hall (built in 1842) with spectacular views over the famous rock garden—an included event that will be the highlight of the trip. (B,L,D)
Tuesday, May 21 STAVANGER, NORWAY Stavanger has played a leading role in Norway’s maritime history. One possible excursion goes to Ullandhaug, where reconstructed houses give a sense of the living conditions during the Iron Age and enjoy magnificent views over Hafrsfjord. Or take our garden excursion to Flor og Fjaere. Before returning to the ship, you may wish to walk along Old Stavanger with its well-preserved wooden houses dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. (B,L,D) Wednesday, May 22 BERGEN | DISEMBARK (B)
PRICE LIST
PON
Monday, May 20 AT SEA (B,L,D)
ANT BO Up to
S NU
ITINERARY
-30%
Save up to 30% with PONANT Bonus Fares. Superior Staterooms
$5,600
$4,440
Deluxe Staterooms
$5,950
$4,690
Prestige Staterooms, Deck 4
$6,240
$4,890
Prestige Staterooms, Deck 5
$6,380
$4,990
Prestige Staterooms, Deck 6
$6,540
$5,100
Deluxe Suites
$8,370
$6,380
Prestige Suites, Deck 5
$8,940
$6,780
Prestige Suites, Deck 6
$9,160
$6,940
Owner’s Suite
$9,560
$9,560
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. PONANT Bonus Fares are based on availability and subject to change. Contact PONANT at 888-400-1082 for more information.
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Epicurean Cruise
SICILIAN FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE Aboard the deluxe ship Le Bougainville
June 27–July 6, 2019
Trapani
Palermo Monreale Segesta
Taormina
SICILY Agrigento Porto Empedocle Syracuse
Ionian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea Gozo
A typical market in Palermo, Sicily, Italy
On this circumnavigation of Sicily, we will see the temples of the ancient Greeks at Agrigento, Segesta, Taormina, and Syracuse. We will discover Sicily’s inviting medieval towns, including Monreale and Palermo. And we begin and end in Malta, itself another crossroads of cultures, where we will encounter the prehistoric temples of Gozo as well as the great monuments of Valletta. But our real focus will be culinary—an extensive survey of foods and wines. We will sample Sicily’s eclectic cuisine, with Greek, Spanish, French, and Arabic influences, as we enjoy the arancini of Agrigento, discover the famous street food of Palermo, and experience the pasta and sardines and eggplant of the eastern region. Taking advantage of rich volcanic soil, white wines are produced virtually everywhere on Sicily, while the best reds come from the hill towns above Syracuse. We will taste them all. Along the way, lectures and discussions with two local experts allows us to explore food’s economic, social, and cultural import, exploring how its cultivation, preparation, and consumption is at the center of so much human activity and how the experience of dining— food, drink, and dialogue—shapes our sense of self and of community.
Valletta, Malta
6 | The Quintessential Collection
MALTA
VALLETTA
HIGHLIGHTS • Series of talks on local Sicilian food and wine by Mary Taylor Simeti. • Onboard Wine School with Wine Spectator expert Marco Scapagnini. • Included pre-cruise in Valletta to explore the Palace of the Grand Masters and the CoCathedral of St. John. • An exclusive “farmers’ market” of local produce at the award-winning International Marionette Museum, arranged by Mary Taylor Simeti. • Optional excursions include a wine tasting outside of Trapani, a cooking class with the Duchess at the Palazzo Lampedusa in Palermo, visiting a winery on Mt. Etna, and a gelato sampling in Noto.
International cuisine on board
ITINERARY
Featured Speakers
Thursday, June 27, 2019 VALLETTA, MALTA Arrive in Valletta and transfer to Grand Hotel Excelsior (or similar). The afternoon is free to rest. Welcome cocktail reception this evening. (R)
PONANT has teamed up with Wine Spectator magazine to feature an exclusive Wine School & Food Pairing experience aboard Le Bougainville, expressly for this cruise. Leveraging Wine Spectator’s expertise and methodology, this unique wine tasting experience will allow guests to delve deeply into the local wines of Sicily. Le Bougainville’s Chef will create a menu of individual dishes with which guests will sample two wines— carefully chosen by Wine Spectator—all under the guidance of local wine ambassador and educator MARCO SCAPAGNINI. Guests will vote on their favorite wine pairing after Mr. Scapagnini’s presentation. Participants in this special event will also receive two month’s complimentary access to Wine Spectator’s online Wine School.
Friday, June 28 VALLETTA | EMBARK Explore the Palace of the Grand Masters and the Co-Cathedral of St. John on an included walking tour. There will be free time to explore before embarking Le Bougainville in the afternoon. (B,D) Saturday, June 29 PORTO EMPEDOCLE, ITALY | AGRIGENTO Our first call in Sicily allows for an optional excursion to Agrigento. Set on a ridge facing the sea, the Doric temples are among the most captivating Greek ruins in the Mediterranean. Also visit the Archaeological Museum, whose collection is devoted to finds from the surrounding area. (B,L,D) Sunday, June 30 TRAPANI | SEGESTA | TRAPANI Trapani is the oldest and largest wine-producing region in Sicily. Today, choose an optional tasting excursion to try Trapani’s best-known wines, such as Marsala, Grillo, and Biano d’Alcamo. Alternatively, opt to visit Segesta’s Doric temple and the medieval town of Erice. (B,L,D) Monday, July 1 PALERMO | MONREALE | PALERMO Seek out the Cappella Palatina, a wonder of Byzantine-Arab-Norman artistry. In the afternoon, we enjoy the highlight of our cruise: an exclusive “farmers’ market” arranged by Mary Taylor Simeti. It will feature cheeses, meats, breads, oils and wines handpicked by Mary from local producers. This event will be held in the International Marionette Museum. (B,L,D) Tuesday, July 2 PALERMO An optional walking tour of Palermo’s old town includes visits to the bustling markets and tastings of street food such as arancine, crocché, and caponata. Also on offer is an optional cooking class with the Duchess of Palma at an 18th-century Palazzo by the sea—a celebration of Sicilian food and culture! (B,L,D) Wednesday, July 3 TAORMINA Taormina’s Greek theater offers dramatic views of Etna and the Sicilian coastline, and its streets are quaint and filled with gardens. Opt to join an exclusive visit to a winery on Mt. Etna, where you can appreciate the delicate terroir the ancient volcano creates. (B,L,D) Thursday, July 4 SYRACUSE Choose to tour the Greek theater, among the most impressive to survive from antiquity. A walking tour of Ortygia reveals the Temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Arethusa, and the Cathedral. An optional journey is offered to Noto, nestled in the hills above Syracuse. Home to Caffe Sicilia, one of the best gelateria in Sicily, beautiful Noto is where we will taste the unbelievably rich variety of classic gelato and Sicilian granita. (B,L,D) Friday, July 5 GOZO, MALTA | VALLETTA This morning we visit the Ġgantija Temples, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, dating from around 3600 to 3200 b.c. Sail to Valletta and visit the National Museum of Archaeology, where an impressive array of artifacts dating from Malta’s Neolithic Period (5000 b.c.) to the Phoenician Period (400 b.c.) are displayed. (B,L,D) Saturday, July 6 VALLETTA | DISEMBARK (B)
MARY TAYLOR SIMETI was born and raised in New York City. In 1962, she went to Sicily to work as a volunteer in a community development center. What was intended to be a one- or two-year interlude turned out to be a life: in 1964 she married Antonio Simeti, an agricultural economist who until his retirement taught at the University of Palermo. They have two children and four grandchildren. Simeti and her husband now help their daughter to run the family farm, where they produce organic wine, olive oil and produce. She is the author of On Persephone’s Island: A Sicilian Journal (Knopf, 1986), and of a history of Sicilian food entitled Pomp and Sustenance (Knopf 1989), and co-authored Bitter Almonds (Morrow 1994), the memoir of a pastry chef who learned her trade in a convent orphanage. Travels with a Medieval Queen (Farrar Straus Giroux) was published in 2001, and Sicilian Summer, An Adventure in Cooking with my Grandsons in 2017. In addition, Simeti has contributed frequently to The New York Times and to the London Financial Times.
PRICE LIST Deluxe Stateroom
$6,200
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
$6,850
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
$7,150
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 Deluxe Suite Prestige Suite - Deck 5
$7,460 SOLD OUT $13,480
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
$14,110
Privilege Suite
$14,780
Grand Deluxe Suite - Deck 6
$16,170
Owner Suite
$16,940
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. PONANT Bonus Fares are based on availability and subject to change. Contact PONANT at 888-400-1082 for more information.
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Multigenerational Cruise
A FAMILY LEARNING ADVENTURE FROM ROME TO ATHENS Aboard the deluxe ship Le Lyrial
July 14–23, 2019
Salerno, Italy
ITALY CIVITAVECCHIA Rome Pompeii Salerno
Ionian Sea
TURKEY
GREECE
Katakolon
ATHENS
Ephesus Kusadasi
Santorini
Mediterranean Sea
This voyage is designed to create opportunities for shared learning and discovery across generations. Grandparents, parents, and children learn together about the history, literature, mythology, and culture of the Mediterranean world while experiencing firsthand the monuments left behind by the civilizations that have risen and fallen here. From the ruins and museums of Rome and Pompeii, Le Lyrial takes us to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics, and home to the ancient Sanctuary of Zeus—a vast expanse of well-preserved altars and temples. On Crete and Santorini, we discover the Bronze Age civilization of the Minoans, and in Ephesus we explore one of the best preserved Roman cities in all of the Aegean. Our signature Young Explorers™ Program, led by experienced educators, involves groups of children and young adults in recreational learning activities designed from a youth perspective. Onboard activities and shore excursions are specifically aimed at inspiring young minds. And lectures by a distinguished experts inform and entertain the entire family.
Pompeii, Italy
8 | The Quintessential Collection
Rethymnon Knossos
Crete
YOUNG EXPLORERS™ PROGRAM Experienced youth education counselors will lead groups of children and young adults in the Young Explorers™ Program, a series of educational and recreational activities designed from a youthful perspective. This is the perfect opportunity to inspire young minds with stories of the gods and heroes of Greek and Roman mythology, the grandeur of ancient art and architecture, and the special natural beauty of the Mediterranean. Accompanied by their parents or grandparents, Young Explorers™ will enjoy guided excursions designed to provide experiences of the natural world—beach walks, forest hikes, boat rides, and more. And they will participate in carefully crafted explorations of ancient sites—Pompeii, Zeus’s Temple at Olympia, the Palace of Knossos on Crete, the Parthenon—where history and legend will come alive. A note on ages: We welcome Young Explorers™ aged 8-17. In our experience, children younger or older than this do not reap the full benefit of the program. We are, however, willing to make exceptions on a caseby-case basis.
Featured Speakers
Sunday, July 14, 2019 ROME, ITALY Transfer to the hotel Westin Excelsior Rome, located in the Via Veneto district. The afternoon is free for rest or exploration. In the evening, gather with fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at the hotel. (R)
KATHLEEN M. LYNCH is Professor of Classics at the University of Cincinnati. She teaches courses in Greek archaeology and mythology. Her book, The Symposium in Context, won the James R. Wiseman Award for best publication in Archaeology in 2013. At Cincinnati she won the Cohen Excellence in Teaching Award in 2014. In 2016 she won a Dean’s Award for Faculty Excellence for her leadership as Head of the Classics department (the first female head, ever). As an archaeologist, Kathleen has studied pottery from archaeological sites in Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Albania. She serves as a trustee of the Archaeological Institute of America, the American Research Institute in Turkey, and as Vice-Chair of the Managing Committee of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. She is a riveting lecturer and a wonderful travel companion.
Wednesday, July 17 AT SEA (B,L,D) Thursday, July 18 KATAKOLON, GREECE | OLYMPIA Olympia is an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and one of four sites where the Panhellenic games were held. Tour the sacred area. Young ExplorersTM will be invited to compete in mock Olympic Games staged for them on the site of the ancient games. (B,L,D) Friday, July 19 RETHYMNON, CRETE | KNOSSOS Travel to Knossos and its fabled Palace—a maze of frescoed corridors and chambers showing life as it was four millennia ago—and home to the labyrinth of the legendary Minotaur. Also visit the Heraklion Museum, which houses treasures from Knossos. Young ExplorersTM may choose to hike a portion of the Imbros Gorge on a guided walk through narrow passages lined with caves. The walk ends on the coast for a swim. (B,L,D) Saturday, July 20 SANTORINI Adults will visit the stunning archaeological site of Akrotiri and the Prehistoric Museum, while Young ExplorersTM board a sailboat to Nea Kameni, the island in the center of Santorini’s caldera, where they hike to the summit of the volcano to learn about the area’s geology. Families reunite in Phira Town for lunch and free time. (B,L,D)
Monday, July 22 ATHENS, GREECE | DISEMBARK Disembark Le Lyrial in Athens to explore the Acropolis, perhaps the most important ancient monument in the Western world, and the stunning Acropolis Museum. After lunch at a taverna, adults visit the ancient Agora, while Young Explorerstm discover the city on an iPad-based interactive game to complete “The Labors of Hercules.” Spend the night at the Divani Caravel hotel. (B,L,D) Tuesday, July 23 ATHENS (B)
He has published more than 100 episodes that have been downloaded over 60 million times worldwide for personal, academic, and professional use. His work has been featured on BuzzFeed, Mental Floss, CBC Radio, multiple conferences, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and beyond. He is also an Academy of Podcasters award nominee for best arts podcast as well as a 2016 Best of iTunes show creator. In 2016, Jason and his wife, Carissa (producer and editor), cofounded the media production company Bardic to highlight the art of storytelling. Their third show, “Fictional,” expands the engaging style of “Myths and Legends” into the world of classical literature.
PRICE LIST Save up to 25% with PONANT Bonus Fares. ADULT
ANT BO Up to
-25%
CHILD
ANT BO Up to
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Sunday, July 21 KUSADASI, TURKEY | EPHESUS Renowned as the center of worship of the mother-goddess Cybele, later known as Artemis, Ephesus was also the site where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians. Excavations continue and archaeologists are restoring the Terrace Houses, which offer a glimpse of daily Ephesian life. See the facade of the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Amphitheater. (B,L,D)
JASON WEISER is a storyteller. Formally, he’s the writer and host of “Myths and Legends,” a weekly podcast started in 2015 that adapts world folklore and mythology for the modern audience. From Hercules to Baba Yaga, King Arthur to Mulan, Osiris to Anansi, and more, Jason taps into his training in English literature, narrative theory, and literary analysis from Ohio State University to narrate new retellings as closely to the originals as possible.
PON
Tuesday, July 16 SALERNO | POMPEII & HERCULANEUM The excursion for adults leads to Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roman cities both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in a.d. 79. Children head to a farm in the Sorrentine Hills, where they learn about the cultivation of oranges, lemons, olives, and grapes, as well as the making of mozzarella, before visiting Pompeii. (B,L,D)
PON
Monday, July 15 ROME | CIVITAVECCHIA | EMBARK Travel to the center of old Rome for a tour of the Colosseum and Forum, where important events in the history of the Republic and the Empire are memorialized. In the afternoon, transfer and embark Le Lyrial. (B,L,D)
S NU
ITINERARY
-25%
Superior Stateroom
$6,440
$5,430 $4,420 $3,920
Deluxe Stateroom
$6,800
$5,700 $4,600 $4,050
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
$7,380
$6,130 $4,890 $4,270
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
$7,650
$6,340 $5,030 $4,370
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
$7,930
$6,550 $5,170 $4,480
Deluxe Suite
$10,310
$8,330 $6,360 $5,370
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
$13,310 $10,580 $7,860 $6,490
Privilege Suite - Deck 6
$13,880 $11,010 $8,140 $6,710
Grand Deluxe Suite - Deck 6
$15,660 $12,340 $9,030 $7,370
Grand Privilege Suite - Deck 6
$19,400 $15,150 $10,900 $8,780
Owner’s Suite
$19,570 $19,570 $10,990 $10,990
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. PONANT Bonus Fares are based on availability and subject to change. Contact PONANT at 888-400-1082 for more information.
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Art Cruise
HISTORY, ART & ARCHITECTURE ALONG THE NORTH SEA Aboard the deluxe ship Le Dumont-d’Urville
August 24–September 1, 2019 COPENHAGEN
DENMARK
North Sea
Kiel Canal GERMANY NETHERLANDS Harlingen
Amsterdam Antwerp Ostend BELGIUM Bruges HONFLEUR Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
This voyage is an art connoisseur’s dream, visiting some of the best museums in the world in the space of nine days, with a state-of-the-art five-star small luxury cruise ship as our means of transportation. We begin our journey in Copenhagen with a visit to the marvelous collection of modern art at Louisiana Museum, situated at water’s edge with views of Sweden across the sound. Then transiting the Kiel Canal, we spend six days on the eastern shores of the North Sea exploring the great museums of Holland and Belgium—the stunning architecture and contemporary art of the Groninger Museum; the Dutch Masters of the Rijksmuseum and the Hague; the incomparable Van Gogh Museum; the Stedelijk Museum for modern art, contemporary art, and design; Rubens’ masterpieces in the Antwerp Cathedral; Michelangelo’s Madonna in Bruges.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
10 | The Quintessential Collection
FRANCE
HIGHLIGHTS • Included pre-cruise in Copenhagen with visit to the Louisiana Museum. • Private after-hours tour and reception at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. • Specially designed optional excursions to the Groninger Museum; Rijksmuseum; Mauritshuis; Rubens’ masterpieces in the Antwerp Cathedral; Michelangelo’s Madonna in Bruges. • Series of lectures and discussions with Till-Holger Borchert.
Featured Speaker
Saturday, August 24, 2019 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Arrive in Copenhagen and transfer to the Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen. In the evening, gather with fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at historic Odd Fellows Hall for an introduction to the program ahead. (R)
TILL-HOLGER BORCHERT is General Director of the Municipal Museums of Bruges (Musea Brugge) and Founding Director of the Flemish Research Center of the Arts in the Burgundian Netherlands at the Groeningemuseum, Bruges. Educated at the University of Bonn and at Indiana University, Borchert has taught in both Europe (Aachen) and the United States (Middlebury, Memphis). He has curated dozens of exhibitions, mostly on Netherlandish Art in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, that have shown in museums in Belgium, New York, Madrid, and Rome. Borchert is also a prolific author on artists ranging from Van Eyck to Dürer to Rubens. In 2016 he published a major study of Hieronymus Bosch, and his work on Jan van Eyck: the Complete Oeuvre is in press.
Monday, August 26 AT SEA | SAILING THE KIEL CANAL Today, attend lectures and enjoy the many amenities of the ship. (B,L,D) Tuesday, August 27 HARLINGEN, NETHERLANDS Choose to travel to Leeuwarden to explore the Fries Museum, which focuses on the history and culture of Friesland. It contains rooms depicting the folk art of Hindeloopen and other traditional crafts, as well as one dedicated to Leeuwarden’s most famous citizen—Mata Hari. Or you may join an excursion to the medieval city of Groningen and to the Groninger Museum. The museum itself is a work of art, designed by Alessandro Mendini with help from other leading lights of modern architecture, and its exhibits run the gamut from Dutch Masters to contemporary art and design. (B,L,D)
Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure No. 5 at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark
Wednesday, August 28 and Thursday, August 29 AMSTERDAM During our two days in Amsterdam you will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of excursions: a cruise along the city’s canals to gain a sense of its 18th-century architecture; a visit to the world’s largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum; the Rijksmuseum, where you can explore its marvelous collection of Dutch Masters; the Hague; Mauritshuis; and more. On August 28, all guests attend a private, after-hours tour and reception at the recently renovated Stedelijk Museum, devoted to modern and contemporary art. Led by museum staff, explore the core of the collection and enjoy a reception produced by one of Amsterdam’s premiere caterers. (B,L,D) Friday, August 30 ANTWERP, BELGIUM Explore Antwerp, including Grote Market, Town Hall, the guild houses that were the driving force behind the city’s economic dominance of the 17th century, Brabo Fountain, and Vlaaikensgang (a typical medieval alley). Opt to visit the Cathedral of Our Lady, which contains some of Rubens’ greatest paintings: Elevation of the Cross and Descent from the Cross. Or you may choose a guided tour of the Mayer van den Bergh Museum, including works by great masters, especially Peter Bruegel. (B,L,D) Saturday, August 31 OSTEND | BRUGES Decide to join an excursion to Bruges, a perfectly preserved medieval town known for its charming canals, magnificent architecture, and exquisite art, for a walking tour through narrow cobblestone streets, the marketplace, Belfry Tower, Town Hall and the Chapel of the Holy Blood. Or you may visit the Groeninge Museum, famous for its collection paintings by Flemish Primitives, and see the Church of Our Lady, home to Michelangelo’s sculpture of Madonna with Child. (B,L,D) Sunday, September 1 HONFLEUR, FRANCE | DISEMBARK | PARIS (B)
Groninger Museum, Netherlands
PRICE LIST
PON
Sunday, August 25 COPENHAGEN | EMBARK Travel to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Founded in 1958, Louisiana has evolved into one of the premier museums of modern art in the world. The museum features a broad range of artistic genres, including architecture, design, photography, and film. Return to Copenhagen to embark Le Dumont-d’Urville in late afternoon. (B,L,D)
ANT BO Up to
S NU
ITINERARY
-30%
Save up to 30% with PONANT Bonus Fares. Deluxe Stateroom
$5,460
$4,326
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
$5,720
$4,508
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
$5,860
$4,606
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
$5,990
$4,697
Deluxe Suite
$7,640
$5,852
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
$10,440
$7,812
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
$10,720
$8,008
Privilege Suite
$11,000
$8,204
Grand Deluxe Suite - Deck 6
$11,290
$8,407
Owner Suite
$11,590
$11,590
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. PONANT Bonus Fares are based on availability and subject to change. Contact PONANT at 888-400-1082 for more information.
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Music Cruise
A MUSICAL ODYSSEY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN Aboard the deluxe ship Le Bougainville
September 19–27, 2019
Athens, Greece
CIVITAVECCHIA
ITALY Naples - Pompeii
GREECE
Itea - Delphi ATHENS PIRAEUS
Taormina
SICILY
Katakolon Olympia
Mediterranean Sea
Your host for this exquisite musical odyssey is MICHAEL PARLOFF, who will lead a series of private recitals by world-class musicians as you cruise the loveliest destinations from Athens to Rome. In the space of one week, this Musical Odyssey in the Mediterranean takes in the entire span of Greco-Roman antiquity, and during that week, musicians of the highest international caliber will perform aboard Le Bougainville, our deluxe floating concert hall.
HIGHLIGHTS • Enjoy a series of exclusively-designed, private concerts aboard ship by collection of worldclass chamber musicians. • Explore Athens’ Acropolis during a pre-cruise sightseeing tour. • Private concert at Taormina’s medieval Cathedral, featuring a customized program of pieces inspired by Sicily. • Take optional excursions to iconic sites in the Mediterranean including The Monastery of St. John on Patmos, The Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, the Greek Temple at Taormina, Olympia, and Pompeii.
PRICE LIST
ANT BO Up to
S NU
Relax to classical music onboard
Sifnos
PON
An experience that combines some of the loveliest destinations in the Mediterranean with private recitals by musicians each evening: that is what we offer on this voyage. From Classical Greece to Imperial Rome, we encounter important sites everywhere—sacred Patmos; the Oracle at Delphi; the Greek theater in Taormina overlooking Mount Etna. In Taormina, enjoy a private concert ashore at a medieval Cathedral.
Corinth Canal
Patmos
-30%
Save up to 30% with PONANT Bonus Fares. Deluxe Stateroom
$5,840
$4,484
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
$6,440
$4,904
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
$6,720
$5,100
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
$7,010
$5,303
Deluxe Suite
$9,460
$7,018
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
$12,540
$9,174
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
$13,130
$9,587
Privilege Suite
$13,740
$10,014
Grand Deluxe Suite - Deck 6
$15,020
$10,910
Owner Suite
$15,720
$15,720
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. PONANT Bonus Fares are based on availability and subject to change. Contact PONANT for more information.
12 | The Quintessential Collection
ITINERARY
Featured Musicians
Thursday, September 19, 2019 ATHENS, GREECE Arrive in Athens and transfer to the luxury Hotel Grande Bretagne (or similar). Join fellow travelers this evening for a welcome reception. (R)
Flutist JASMINE CHOI, whom The Philadelphia Inquirer declared “A major talent with a robust tone,” performs more than 100 concerts a year in all of the major musical capitals of the world. She has recently been featured as a soloist, chamber musician, and in recital in Berlin, Vienna, Saint Petersburg, Seoul, Paris, London, and New York City. Her infinite curiosity has led her to make her own arrangements of major works, including the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky violin concertos, as well as recent world-premieres of works composed by Detlev Glanert, Taxu Kim, and Mark Laycock. In 2015, she was selected as one of the top ten flutists in music history by Sinfini Magazine UK.
Saturday, September 21 PATMOS It was to Patmos that St. John the Evangelist was banished during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, and is said to have received the visions of Apocalypse, which later became the Book of Revelation. Dominating the landscape is the fortress-like Monastery of St. John, built in the 11th century at the summit of a hill. Our visit reveals precious icons, gold and silver liturgical objects, rare manuscripts and antiquities. (B,L,D) Sunday, September 22 SIFNOS Call at the unspoiled island of Sifnos, where the distinctive cubic style of Cycladic architecture prevails. Explore the former island capital at Kastro, an impeccably-kept village that has retained much of its medieval character. Continue to Apollonia, a Cycladic labyrinth of white houses, flowers, and belfries, and its twin village Artemonas, with its impressive Venetian-style houses and their distinctive chimneys. (B,L,D)
Credit: Matt Dine
Friday, September 20 ATHENS | PIRAEUS | EMBARK Begin today at the Acropolis, where we explore the architectural marvel of the Parthenon, built in the 5th-century b.c. as a temple to the goddess Athena. Tour the Acropolis Museum, a collection of artifacts from excavations of the Acropolis. In the afternoon, transfer to Piraeus to embark Le Bougainville. (B,D)
Monday, September 23 CORINTH CANAL | ITEA | DELPHI | ITEA A morning transit of the Corinth Canal brings us into the Ionian Sea and to the small port of Itea. You may choose to join an optional drive through spectacular scenery to Delphi. Famous in antiquity as the home of the oracle of Apollo, Delphi continues to cast a spell as we marvel at the impressiveness of the site even in ruins. (B,L,D)
Equally acclaimed as a pianist and composer, MICHAEL BROWN has been described as “one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers” (The New York Times). A recipient of a 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Mr. Brown appears regularly as a soloist with orchestras from Seattle to Germany and recently made his solo recital debuts at New York City’s 92nd Street Y and Zurich’s Tonhalle. As a member of the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, Mr. Brown performs regularly in New York City, on tour throughout the U.S., and he recently shared a Lincoln Center recital with his longtime duo partner, cellist Nicholas Canellakis.
Thursday, September 26 NAPLES | POMPEII | NAPLES Today, you have the option of visiting Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in a.d. 79. No other place so completely captures the character of life in the early Roman Empire. Highlights include the Forum, the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Stabian Baths, the best preserved and most complete in Pompeii. (B,L,D)
Credit: Arthur Moeller
Tuesday, September 24 KATAKOLON This morning’s optional excursion takes us to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics, and home to the ancient Sanctuary of Zeus—a vast expanse of well-preserved altars, temples and other ruins. Highlights of the site include the Temples of Hera and Zeus, the Council House and the Treasuries. The affiliated Archaeological Museum houses exquisite sculptures and other artifacts from the site. (B,L,D) Wednesday, September 25 TAORMINA, SICILY, ITALY If you wish, join a tour of the Greek theater—offering dramatic views of Mt. Etna and of the Bay of Naxos—and amble among Taormina’s quaint streets and gardens. The highlight of our visit will be an included, private concert at Taormina’s medieval Cathedral, featuring a selection of Sicilianos from composers including Bach and Fauré. (B,L,D)
Cellist NICHOLAS CANELLAKIS has become known as one of the most sought-after and innovative performers of his generation. The New York Times praised his playing as “impassioned,” saying “the audience was seduced by Mr. Canellakis’s rich, alluring tone.” He performs regularly with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society in Alice Tully Hall and on tours throughout the world and has also been a guest artist at many of the world’s leading music festivals, including Santa Fe, La Jolla, Music@Menlo, Ravinia, Verbier, and Aspen. He is the coartistic director of the Sedona Winter MusicFest in Arizona and is on the faculty of the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.
Violinist KRISTIN LEE enjoys a vibrant career as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and educator. A 2015 recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, she has performed concertos with orchestras throughout the U.S. and abroad and recitals at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre, and the Kumho Art Gallery in Seoul. As a chamber musician, she is an artist of the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society and has made appearances at Music@Menlo, Sarasota, Ravinia, El Sistema in Caracas, and the Perlman Music Program. Ms. Lee earned a master’s degree from The Juilliard School where she served as an assistant teacher in Itzhak Perlman’s studio.
Friday, September 27 CIVITAVECCHIA | DISEMBARK | ROME (B)
| 13
World War II History Cruise
IN THE WAKE OF GENERAL MacARTHUR The Legacy of World War II from Hong Kong to Japan Aboard the deluxe ship Le Lapérouse
September 26–October 10, 2019 Sea of Japan JAPAN
Shingu Shimizu OSAKA Hiroshima Uwajima Tokushima Kagoshima
East China Sea
CHINA
Keelung Hiroshima, Japan
Word War II was without doubt the defining event of the 20th century. As we sail from China to Japan, metaphorically in the wake of General Douglas MacArthur on his way to accept the Japanese surrender, we will reflect upon this recent chapter in Asia’s legacy with the help of expert historians. We will also explore the many ways that modern-day Taiwan and Japan enjoy enormous diversity, inspired by the natural and man-made wonders we will see—the National Palace Museum in Taipei, the endless beaches of Okinawa, iconic Mount Fuji, and the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushimajinja Shrine and Peace Memorial in Hiroshima.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Japan
HONG KONG
TAIWAN
Naha Ishigaki
HIGHLIGHTS • A series of lectures and discussions with historians James Bradley and Philip Hurst. • An included, specially arranged meeting with survivors and successors at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima and a visit to Miyajima. • The opportunity to discover landmark iconic sites of Japan, ranging from the distant past through to the present day. • Optional excursions to sites connected to World War II, including a museum in Chiran dedicated to Kamikaze pilots.
Traditional Japanese meal
14 | The Quintessential Collection
Pacific Ocean
Featured Speakers
Thursday, September 26, 2019 HONG KONG Arrive in Hong Kong and transfer to the Kowloon Shangri La Hotel (or similar). Gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception. (R)
JAMES BRADLEY is a New York Times number one best-selling author and a son of John Bradley, who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. The Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of that event is the world’s most reproduced photo. Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood told their father-son story in their movie, Flags of Our Fathers. James has been traveling in and learning about Asia since 1974.
Saturday, September 28 AT SEA (B,L,D) Sunday, September 29 KEELUNG, TAIWAN Optional excursions include the Martyr’s Shrine and the National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and Lungshan Temple. (B,L,D) Monday, September 30 ISHIGAKI, JAPAN Choose to visit the Yaeyamashi Palm Tree Grove and Kabira Bay to discover its coral reefs via glass bottom boat. Learn about weaving at the Minsa Kogeikan Museum. In Yaima-mura, enjoy live folk music. (B,L,D) Tuesday, October 1 NAHA, OKINAWA Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was originally built in the 14th century. Shikina-en Garden is an example of Japanese landscape architecture. Opt for a visit to the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. (B,L,D)
America’s best-selling Pacific historian, his first book, Flags of Our Fathers, chronicled the lives of the boys who raised the flag on Iwo Jima; his second, Flyboys: A True Story of Courage, detailed the air war in the Pacific and the dramatic story of George Herbert Walker Bush’s close escape from capture and death; his third, The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War, tells the story of how President Theodore Roosevelt promoted the Japanese Monroe Doctrine for Asia; and his fourth, The China Mirage: The Hidden History of American Disaster in Asia, tells of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s attitudes towards China in the lead-up to World War II in the Pacific. James is currently working on his fifth book, which focuses on the early years of World War II in Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. An acclaimed professional speaker who has entertained thousands, he brings Pacific history alive. PHILIP HURST is a popular lecturer on world affairs, geopolitics, and modern history. After several decades practicing international law, his focus is on history, with a particular interest in modern states in transition, from colony to independence and from dictatorship to democracy, Imperial history, and the geopolitics of the First World War.
Wednesday, October 2 AT SEA (B,L,D) Thursday, October 3 KAGOSHIMA |CHIRAN Choose to join a drive through tea plantations to reach Chiran, a town renowned for its samurai houses and gardens. Visit the Chiran Peace Memorial Museum, dedicated to the Kamikaze pilots of WWII. (B,L,D) Friday, October 4 UWAJIMA | UCHIKO You may travel to Uchiko to walk Yokaichi Street, showcasing an old sake brewery, the Amazake Chaya Teahouse, the Uchiko-za Theater, and the Kami Hagi-tei, the former home of one of Uchiko’s most influential families. (B,L,D) Saturday, October 5 HIRSOHIMA On today’s included highlights, visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum. Continue by boat to Miyajima to the Itsukushma Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating from the 16th century noted for its ‘floating’ tori gate. (B,L,D) Sunday, October 6 TOKUSHIMA Home to Ryozen-ji, Tokushima is surrounded by massive mountains. Opt to visit Awa Odori Kaikan to see a traditional dance. (B,L,D) Monday, October 7 AT SEA (B,L,D) Tuesday, October 8 SHIMIZU Fujisan Sengen Shrine has become the region’s most important shrine. You will have the chance to explore the Hiroshige Museum of Art. (B,L,D) Wednesday, October 9 SHINGU If you wish, explore the Grand Shrines located in the Kii Mountain Range. Discover the Buddhist temples of Seigantoji and Fudarakusenji. (B,L,D) Thursday, October 10 OSAKA | DISEMBARK (B)
Formerly Deputy Director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, and Counsel at The World Bank, Philip is a distinguished international and constitutional lawyer. Philip has worked in many of the world’s most remote and exotic countries, having visited well over 100 nations. He also advised governments, multilateral organizations, NGOs and private sector clients on infrastructure and resources projects. He has been consulted frequently by governments on regional security issues.
PRICE LIST
PON
Friday, September 27 HONG KONG | EMBARK Take a tram ride to Victoria Peak, visit the Aberdeen floating fishing village, and tour the Museum of Coastal Defence. Embark Le Lapérouse. (B,L,D)
ANT BO Up to
S NU
ITINERARY
-30%
Save up to 30% with PONANT Bonus Fares. Deluxe Stateroom
$10,240
$7,680
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
$11,360
$8,470
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
$11,870
$8,830
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
$12,410
$9,200
Deluxe Suite
$17,010
$12,420
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
$22,800
$16,480
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
$23,900
$17,250
Privilege Suite
$25,050
$18,050
Grand Deluxe Suite - Deck 6
$27,450
$19,730
Owner Suite
$28,780
$28,780
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. Contact PONANT for more information.
| 15
World Affairs Cruise
WORLD AFFAIRS CRUISE A Voyage in the Ionian and Aegean Seas Aboard the deluxe ship Le Bougainville
October 10–18, 2019 Itea, Greece
ITALY
Ionian Sea
Taormina Catania
VALLETTA
The Mediterranean world is the source of much of what we know as modern civilization—the values of democracy and scientific inquiry, the expression of the human spirit in literature, art and music, and the teachings of the three great monotheistic religions. As we explore the sites along our itinerary that resonate with this rich legacy, we will engage with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, former director of the CIA General Michael V. Hayden, and best-selling author and classicist Daniel Mendelsohn in assessing the current state of Western civilization, examining challenges to its values and traditions, and exploring its future. What is the current status of this great crossroads of cultures as the region faces new political, economic, and social flashpoints? And at this historic juncture, what should the United States do to ensure that the rich diversity of peoples and beliefs endures? In lectures and in thoughtful conversation with one another and with you, our guest experts will bring their decades of experience to bear on these and other questions.
Itea
ATHENS
Katakolon Nafplion
Sicily
Malta
GREECE
Mediterranean Sea
HIGHLIGHTS • Opportunities to share meals and informal conversations with Fareed Zakaria, Daniel Mendelsohn, and General Michael Hayden throughout the voyage. • Private excursion to the Megalithic sites and Archaeological Museum of Malta. • Specially curated optional excursions to iconic ancient sites, including Olympia, Delphi, and Mycenae.
PON
ANT BO Up to
S NU
PRICE LIST Ancient theater of Taormina, Sicily, Italy
Hydra
-20%
Save up to 20% with PONANT Bonus Fares. Deluxe Stateroom
$6,450
$5,340
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
$7,160
$5,910
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
$7,500
$6,180
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
$7,840
$6,450
Deluxe Suite
$10,780
$8,800
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
$14,490
$11,770
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
$15,190
$12,330
Privilege Suite
$15,920
$12,920
Grand Deluxe Suite - Deck 6
$17,470
$14,160
Owner Suite
$18,310
$18,310
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. Contact PONANT for more information.
16 | The Quintessential Collection
ITINERARY
Featured Speakers
Thursday, October 10, 2019 VALLETTA, MALTA Arrive in Valletta and transfer to the Grand Hotel Excelsior, where you meet with fellow travelers for a welcome reception. (R)
Host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, contributing editor at The Atlantic, and Washington Post columnist FAREED ZAKARIA is widely respected for his thoughtful analysis and ability to spot economic and political trends. Esquire magazine described him as “the most influential foreign policy adviser of his generation.” Zakaria’s international bestseller The Post-American World is about the “rise of the rest,” analyzing the growth of China, India, Brazil, among others, and what it means for the future. The New York Times called it “a relentlessly intelligent book,” while the Boston Sunday Globe wrote, “Zakaria...may have more intellectual range and insights than any other public thinker in the West.” His latest book, In Defense of a Liberal Education, debuted at #6 on The New York Times best-sellers list in April 2015.
Friday, October 11 VALLETTA | EMBARK Explore Valletta’s National Museum of Archaeology. A short drive takes us to the remarkable Tarxien Temples, which date back to 2800 b.c., and then on to Hagar Qim, an even older temple that stands atop a hill on the southern edge of the island overlooking the sea. Transfer to the pier to embark Le Bougainville and set sail for Sicily. (B,D) Saturday, October12 CATANIA, SICILY, ITALY | SYRACUSE | CATANIA Syracuse once rivaled Athens as the most important city of the ancient world. An optional excursion includes a visit to the Archaeological Museum, Greek Theater, the Roman Amphitheater and the Latomia del Paradiso. (B,L,D) Sunday, October 13 TAORMINA Clinging to the side of Mount Tauro, Taormina looks out to sea and the dramatic cone of Mount Etna. A Greek colony was founded here in 403 b.c. You have an option to explore the Greek theater, which offers dramatic views of Etna and the Sicilian coastline. (B,L,D) Monday, October 14 KATAKOLON, GREECE | OLYMPIA Choose to visit Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics and home to the ancient Sanctuary of Zeus—an expanse of altars, temples and other ruins. Highlights of the site include the Temples of Hera and Zeus, the Council House and the Treasuries. The affiliated Archaeological Museum houses exquisite sculptures and other artifacts from the site. (B,L,D) Tuesday, October 15 ITEA | DELPHI | CROSSING THE CORINTH CANAL Opt to join today’s drive through spectacular scenery to Delphi. Famous in antiquity as the home of the oracle of Apollo, Delphi continues to cast a spell as we marvel at the impressiveness of the site even in ruins. Also explore the on-site museum. This evening, we transit the Corinth Canal as we move from the Ionian to the Aegean Sea. (B,L,D) Wednesday, October 16 NAFPLION Our optional morning excursion is to Mycenae, center of the Mycenaean civilization, an extraordinary culture that flourished in the 2nd millennium b.c. Homer described Mycenae, the legendary home of Agamemnon, as “rich in gold.” A tour of the citadel includes the imposing Lion Gate, other remains of the acropolis, as well as the impressive beehive-shaped tombs set outside the walls. In the afternoon, the optional excursion continues to Epidaurus, the ancient shrine of Asklepios, whose ruins are dominated by a 4th-century theater, one of the finest in Greece. (B,L,D) Thursday, October 17 HYDRA Choose an excursion that focuses first on the architecture of Hydra, as we tour the Lazaros Koundouriotis Mansion, a superb example of an 18th-century Hydriot house, exploring its opulent interior and heirlooms belonging to this wealthy ship owner and his family. Or opt to devote some time to the Ecclesiastical and Byzantine Museum located next to Hydra’s Cathedral. The museum is housed in what was once a monk’s cell and exhibits religious objects and historic documents. (B,L,D)
GENERAL MICHAEL V. HAYDEN is Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency and author of Playing to the Edge. As Director of the CIA, 2006-2009, General Hayden oversaw the collection of information concerning the plans, intentions, and capabilities of America’s adversaries; produced timely analysis for decision makers; and conducted covert operations to thwart terrorists and other enemies of the United States. Before becoming Director of the CIA, he served as the country’s first Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence—and was the highest-ranking intelligence officer in the armed forces. Currently, General Hayden serves as a principal at The Chertoff Group, a security and risk management advisory firm, and as a distinguished visiting professor at the George Mason University School of Policy, Government and International Affairs. DANIEL MENDELSOHN is an internationally best-selling memoirist and award-winning critic and essayist. Hailed by The New York Times as “our most irresistible literary critic,” he is America’s best-known interpreter of Classical antiquity for mainstream audiences; his reviews and essays on books, movies, theater, and television appear frequently the New Yorker and The New York Review of Books. A professor of Humanities at Bard College, he is the author of seven books, including the international award-winner The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million. His latest book, An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic, recounts his travels around the Mediterranean with his late father, a scientist, while reading Homer’s Odyssey.
Friday, October 18 ATHENS | DISEMBARK (B)
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Polar Expedition
ANTARCTICA & CLIMATE CHANGE Aboard the deluxe expedition ship L’Austral
December 9–20, 2019
L’Austral in Antarctica
The White Continent is a powerful place, and a journey there will change your life forever. For it is in this world devoid of human sounds, where only the wild cries of birds, seals, and whales echo across a vast expanse of land and sea, that even the most seasoned traveler becomes humbled by a return to nature. Immersed in Antarctica’s primeval beauty is the perfect place to reflect on man’s relationship with the environment and how to restore its balance. That is why PONANT has invited two renowned New York Times science contributors onboard this expedition cruise to initiate a larger conversation on polar environments and climate change. Henry Fountain and James Gorman, who together have over four decades’ experience writing and reporting for the Times, will be your erudite guides to the spectacular, other-worldly landscapes you will view from the decks of L’Austral and the ice and fauna you will meet on daily Zodiac excursions and hikes ashore.
ARGENTINA
Flights to and from Buenos Aires
USHUAIA
Drake Passage
South Shetlands
Weddell Sea
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
HIGHLIGHTS
Adélie penguins, Antarctica
18 | The Quintessential Collection
• Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides. • Lectures and informational sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides, covering wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate, environmental protection, and more. • Hiking opportunities. • Landscapes: drifting icebergs, ice floes, imposing glaciers and snow-covered mountains. • Wildlife: humpback whales, Gentoo and Adelie penguins, chinstrap penguins, leopard, crabeater, and Weddell seals, numerous sea birds.
Featured Speakers
Monday, December 9, 2019 BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA | USHUAIA Meet fellow travelers at the Buenos Aires airport check-in desk for your included flight to Ushuaia. On arrival in Ushuaia, transfer to the Hotel Arakur, overlooking the Beagle Channel and one of the newest and most elegant hotels in the city. Join fellow travelers and our lecturers for dinner this evening. (D) Tuesday, December 10 USHUAIA | EMBARK Join an excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Created in 1960, the park is famous for its mountainous landscapes, lagoons, bogs, and rivers. If we are lucky we may encounter beaver dams, birds, wild orchids, and more. Lunch will be served in a restaurant within the Park. Return to Ushuaia and the port to embark L’Austral in the afternoon. (B,D) Wednesday, December 11 & Thursday, December 12 AT SEA | DRAKE PASSAGE Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the Zodiac® outings. From the ship’s bridge, you will experience exceptional sailing moments before joining the naturalist-guides on L’Austral’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage. Our second day brings us into the realm of the Antarctic, where we might spot our first icebergs and the ice sheets of the South Shetland Islands. (B,L,D) Friday, December 13-Tuesday, December 17 ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Explore the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula, a narrow finger of land that separates the ice-choked waters of the Weddell Sea and surrounding islands. Witness a breathtaking panorama of icebergs, blue glaciers, and jagged, snow-capped mountains. Aboard the ship’s fleet of Zodiacs, cruise among ice floes; explore penguin rookeries; and, if conditions permit, visit with scientists at research stations. Although the itinerary will vary according to local ice and wind conditions, we hope to visit such places as Paradise Bay, a habitat of Gentoo penguins; Pleneau Island, offering stunning views of mountains and glaciers; and Deception Island, known for its volcanically-heated hot springs. (B,L,D) Wednesday, December 18 & Thursday, December 19 AT SEA | DRAKE PASSAGE (B,L,D) Friday, December 20 USHUAIA, ARGENTINA | DISEMBARK | BUENOS AIRES Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for the included return flight to Buenos Aires, with connecting flights to home cities. (B)
HENRY FOUNTAIN has been an editor and reporter at The New York Times for more than two decades, writing about science for most of that time. For 10 years he wrote “Observatory,” a weekly science column. He is currently one of a team of reporters covering climate change, and has written about declining sea ice, melting ice sheets and thawing permafrost, among many climate-related subjects. He also writes about wildfires, oil spills, earthquakes and other disasters, natural and manmade, and is the author of a book about the 1964 Alaska earthquake, The Great Quake: How the Largest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet. This will be his second trip to Antarctica.
LECTURE TOPICS:
• The State of the Cryosphere: How climate change is affecting polar ice, north and south. • The Corrosive Ocean Carbon Dioxide: The impact of acidification, especially in regard to the Southern Ocean • Fixing the Climate: Various approaches to fighting climate change JAMES GORMAN, a science writer at large for The New York Times, has been an editor and reporter at the Times for 25 years. He writes about the natural world and the animals that inhabit it, and is the host of “ScienceTake,” a regular video series that explores the visual side of scientific research. He has been to Antarctica twice, once on a three-month long cruise aboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea. He has written two books on Antarctica and environs, The Total Penguin and Ocean Enough and Time. James has taught writing at Princeton, Wesleyan, New York and Fordham Universities and recently made his first trip above the Arctic Circle with scientists studying the Arctic bumblebee.
LECTURE TOPICS:
• The Little Known Ocean: The Southern Ocean circles the globe and has a profound effect on the planet’s weather and ecosystems. • Boom and Bust: How New England sealers drove the Antarctic fur seal close to extinction.
PON
PRICE LIST
ANT BO Up to
S NU
ITINERARY
-25%
Save up to 25% with PONANT Bonus Fares. Superior Staterooms
$13,910
$11,120
Deluxe Staterooms
$14,840
$11,820
Prestige Staterooms, Deck 4
$16,370
$12,970
Prestige Staterooms, Deck 5
$17,070
$13,490
Prestige Staterooms, Deck 6
$17,820
$14,060
Deluxe Suites
$24,080
$18,750
Prestige Suites, Deck 5
$27,820
$21,560
Prestige Suites, Deck 6
$29,090
$22,510
Owner’s Suite
$33,140
$33,140
• Penguins: The evolution and future of the world’s most iconic flightless birds.
Rates listed are per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy staterooms, subject to availability. PONANT Bonus Fares are based on availability and subject to change. Contact PONANT at 888-400-1082 for more information.
| 19
THE SISTER SHIPS L’Austral, Le Boréal & Le Lyrial 7 Sun Deck - Open-air Bar
Zodiac
Bar
7
SUN DECK
Open-air Bar Zodiac
6
604 602 614 612 610 608 606 602 Deluxe Deluxe 626 624 622 620 618 616 614 612 610 608 Grand Owner’s Suite Suite Deluxe Suite Suite
GRILL RESTAURANT GRILL RESTAURANT
POOL POOL
PANORAMIC LOUNGE INTERNET PANORAMIC 605 603 601 INTERNET LOUNGE 615 623 611621 619609617 615607611 609Owner’s 539 625 607 605 Deluxe 603 Deluxe 601 Suite Deluxe suite Suite LIBRARY Deluxe Suite Suite LIBRARY
Deck 6 - Le Lyrial
PANORAMIC TERRACE PANORAMIC TERRACE
602 Owner’s Deluxe suite 602 Suite 608 Owner’s 602 608 Owner’s PANORAMIC Deluxe PANORAMIC 602 suite 608 Owner’s Deluxe 602 INTERNET TERRACE Suite LOUNGE suite 608 516 Owner’s Deluxe 508 506 504 502 518 514 512Deluxe 510 suite Suite PANORAMIC PANORAMIC 607 605 suite 603 601 Suite PANORAMIC TERRACE Suite INTERNET PANORAMIC LOUNGE PANORAMIC PANORAMIC Deluxe Deluxe TERRACE LOUNGE PANORAMIC 508 506 504 502 PASSERELLE PANORAMIC 518 510 INTERNET TERRACE 607 516 605 514 603 512Suite 601 LOUNGE Suite LIBRARY INTERNET TERRACE 607 605 Deluxe 603 601 INTERNET LOUNGE 607 605 603 Deluxe 601 509 Deluxe Deluxe 607 605 603 601 Suite515Deluxe Suite LIBRARY 521 519 517 511 507 505 503 501 BRIDGE Deluxe Suite Suite LIBRARY Deluxe Suite Deluxe Suite LIBRARY Suite Suite 509LIBRARY 521 519 517 515 511 507 505 503 501
626 624 622 620 618 616 614 612 610 608 GRILL HAMMAMRESTAURANT GRILL GRILL RESTAURANT GRILL BALNEO RESTAURANT ESPACE PHOTO GRILL RESTAURANT RESTAURANT
POOL POOL POOL POOL POOL
6
IMAGE & PHOTO DESK
626 626 626 626 536 539
624 624 624 624 534 625
622 622 622 622 532 623
620 620 620 620 530 621
618 618 618 618 528 619
616 616 616 616 526 617
614 614 614 614 524 615
612 612 612 612 522 611
610 610 610 610 520 609
536 539 539 539 539 539
534 625 625 625 625 537
532 623 623 623 623 535
530 621 621 621 621 533
528 619 619 619 619 531
526 617 617 617 617 529
524 615 615 615 615 527
522 611 611 611 611 525
520 609 609 609 609 523
539 537 535 533 531 529 527 525 523
Deck 6 - Le Boréal - L’Austral BALNEO BALNEO BALNEO BALNEO (1) BALNEO
5
THÉÂTRE (3)
(2)
536 534 532 530 528 526 524 522 520 518 516 514 512 510 IMAGE & PHOTO DESK IMAGE & PHOTO DESK IMAGE & PHOTO DESK IMAGE & PHOTO DESK IMAGE & PHOTO DESK
THEATER
536 432 534 430 532 434 536 534 532 536 534 532 536 534 532 434 432 430 539 537 535
530 428 530 530 530 428 533
528 426 528 528 528 426 531
526 424 526 526 526 424 529
524 422 524 524 524 422 527
522 420 522 522 522 420 525
520 418 520 520 520 418 523
518 416 518 518 518 416 521
516 414 516 516 516 414 519
514 412 514 514 514 412 517
539 435 537 433 535 437 539 537 535 539 537 535 539 537 535 437 435 433
533 431 533 533 533 431
531 429 531 531 531 429
529 427 529 529 529 427
527 425 527 527 527 425
525 423 525 525 525 423
523 421 523 523 523 421
521 419 521 521 521 419
519 417 519 519 519 417
517 415 517 517 517 415
508 506 504 502
508 510 408 406 506 404 504 402 502 508 506 504 502 BRIDGE 510 508 506 504 502 510 510 509 508 506 504 502 408 406 404 402 511 507 505 503 501 BRIDGE BRIDGE BRIDGE 509 407 507 515 411 511 409 509 405 505 403 503 401 501 BRIDGE 509 515 511 509 507 505 503 501 515 511 507 505 503 501 515 511 407 507 505 503 501 411 409 405 403 401
512 410 512 512 512 410 515
Le Lyrial configuration: (1) Hammam (2) Massage (3) Massage 434 432 430 428 426 424 422 420 418 416 414 412 410 408 THEATER THEATER THEATER THEATER THEATER GRAND SALON
4
MAIN LOUNGE
MAIN LOUNGE
3 MARINA MARINA
BUREAU DES EXCURSIONS
BOUTIQUE SHOP
SHOP
MAIN LOUNGE RESTAURANT SHOP MAIN LOUNGE MAIN LOUNGE GASTRONOMIQUE SHOP MAIN LOUNGE SHOP SHOP GASTRONOMIC RESTAURANT
EXCURSION DESK RÉCEPTION
434 434 434 334 434 437 334 437 437 437 337 437
432 432 432 332 432 435 332 435 435 435 335 435
430 430 430 330 430 433 330 433 433 433 333 433
428 428 428 328 428 431 328 431 431 431 331 431
406 404 402
426 424 422 420 418 416 414 412 410 408 406 404 402 426 424 422 420 418 416 414 412 410 408 406 404 402 426 424 422 420 418 416 414 412 410 408 406 404 402 326 306 426 324 424 322 422 320 420 318 418 316 416 314 414 312 412310 410 308 408 406304 404302 402 407 429 427 425 423 421 419 417 415 411 409 405 403 401 326 324 322 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 306 304 302 407 429 427 425 423 421 419 417 415 411 409 405 403 401 429 427 425 423 421 419 417 415 411 409 407 403 401 407 405 429 427 425 423 421 419 417 415 411 409307407 405 403 401 329 305 429 327 427 325 425 323 423 321 421319 419 317 417315415311411309 409 405303 403301 401300
RECEPTION DESK
337 335 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 311 309 307 305 303 301 300
EXCURSION DESK EXCURSION EXCURSION DESK EXCURSION DESK EXCURSION DESK DESK RECEPTION DESK RECEPTION RECEPTION DESK RECEPTION DESK RECEPTION DESK DESK
334 332 330 328 326 324 322 320 318 316 314 312 310 308 334 334 334 334 337
332 332 332 332 335
330 330 330 330 333
328 328 328 328 331
326 326 326 326 329
324 324 324 324 327
322 322 322 322 325
320 320 320 320 323
318 318 318 318 321
316 316 316 316 319
314 314 314 314 317
312 312 312 312 315
310 310 310 310 311
306 304 302
308 306 308 306 308 306 308 306 307 309 305
304 304 304 304 303
302 302 302 302 301 300
337 335 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 311 309 307 305 303 301 300 337 335 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 311 309 307 305 303 301 300 337 335 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 311 309 307 305 303 301 300 337 335 333 331 329 327 325 323 321 319 317 315 311 309 307 305 303 301 300
6 BORÉAL, AUSTRAL: Owner’s Suite with private balcony - 3 Deluxe Suites with private balcony - 20 Prestige Staterooms with private balcony (with 18 Prestige Staterooms convertible into 9 Prestige Suites) LYRIAL: Owner’s Suite with private balcony - 3 Deluxe Suites with private balcony - 1 Grand Deluxe Suite with private balcony - 8 Privilege Suites with private balcony - 1 Prestige Stateroom with private balcony ALL SHIPS: Pool - Grill Restaurant Internet Space - Library - Panoramic Lounge - Panoramic Terrace 5 37 Prestige Staterooms with private balcony (with 22 Prestige Staterooms convertible into 11 Prestige Suites) Fitness Center - SOTHYS™ Beauty Corner: Balneo, Hammam, Massage, Hairdresser Relaxation Room - Image & Photo Desk Bridge 4 35 Prestige Staterooms with private balcony - Theater 3 28 Deluxe Staterooms with private balcony - 8 Superior Staterooms - Main Lounge - Shop - Reception Desk - Excursion Desk - Medical Center 2 Gastronomic Restaurant - Marina Owner’s Suite—Deck 6 Privilege Suites—Deck 6 Grand Privilege Suite—Deck 6 Prestige Suites—Decks 5 - 6 Grand Deluxe Suites—Deck 6 Deluxe Suites—Deck 6 Prestige Staterooms—Decks 4 - 5 - 6
2
MARINA MARINA MARINA MARINA MARINA
GASTRONOMIC RESTAURANT GASTRONOMIC GASTRONOMIC RESTAURANT GASTRONOMIC RESTAURANT GASTRONOMIC RESTAURANT RESTAURANT
20 | The Quintessential Collection
Deluxe Staterooms—Deck 3 Superior Staterooms—Deck 3
THE PONANT EXPLORERS Le Bougainville, Le Dumont-d’Urville & Le Lapérouse DECK 7 DECK 7 DECK DECK 777 DECK
7 Fitness - Ponant Yacht Spa - Sundeck SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA
7
6 P anoramic lounge - 14 Prestige staterooms (including 6 Prestige staterooms convertible into 3Luxury suites) - 2 Deluxe suites - 2 Privilege suites - 1 Grand Deluxe suite - 1 Owner’s suite
FITNESS FITNESS FITNESS FITNESS FITNESS
Fitness - Ponant Yacht Spa - Sundeck Fitness - Ponant Yacht Spa - Sundeck Fitness Fitness --- Ponant Ponant Yacht Yacht Spa Spa --- Sundeck Sundeck Fitness Ponant Yacht Spa Sundeck
5 Bridge - 28 Prestige staterooms (including 1 for person of reduced mobility and 20 Prestige staterooms convertible into 10 Prestige suites) 1 Deluxe suite - 2 Privilege suites - 2 Grand Deluxe suites
DECK 6 DECK 6 DECK DECK 666 DECK PANORAMIC LOUNGE PANORAMIC LOUNGE PANORAMIC PANORAMIC LOUNGE PANORAMIC LOUNGE LOUNGE
6
4 R estaurant - 24 Prestige staterooms (including 1 for person of reduced mobility) - 1 Deluxe suite 3 Reception Desk - Excursion Desk - Main Lounge
- Pool Deck - Shop - Medical Panoramic lounge - 14 Prestige staterooms (including 6 Prestige staterooms convertible into 3 Luxury suites) - 2 Deluxe suites - 2 Privilege suites - 1 Grand Deluxe Suite - 1 Owner suite Center - Theater Panoramic lounge - 14 Prestige staterooms (including 6 Prestige staterooms convertible into 3 Luxury suites) - 2 Deluxe suites - 2 Privilege suites - 1 Grand Deluxe Suite - 1 Owner suite 13 Deluxe staterooms - 1suite Deluxe suite Panoramic lounge 14 Prestige staterooms (including 6 Prestige staterooms convertible into 3 Luxury suites) - 2 Deluxe suites - 2 Privilege suites - 1 Grand Deluxe Suite 1 Owner Panoramic lounge lounge -- 14 14 Prestige Prestige staterooms staterooms (including (including 66 Prestige Prestige staterooms staterooms convertible convertible into into 33 Luxury Luxury suites) suites) -- 2 2 Deluxe Deluxe suites suites -- 22 Privilege Privilege suites suites -- 11 Grand Grand Deluxe Deluxe Suite Suite -- 11 Owner Owner suite suite Panoramic
DECK 5 DECK 5 DECK DECK 555 DECK
Owner’s Suite—Deck 6 Privilege Suites—Decks 5 - 6 BRIDGE BRIDGE BRIDGE BRIDGE BRIDGE
5
Grand Deluxe Suites—Decks 5 - 6 Prestige Suites—Decks 5 - 6
WC WC
WC Deluxe Suites—Decks 3 - 4 - 5suites -6 1 for person of reduced mobility and 20 Prestige staterooms convertible into 10 Prestige suites) - 1 Deluxe suite - 2 Privilege suites - 2 Grand Deluxe Bridge - 28 Prestige staterooms (including WC WC 1 for person of reduced mobility and 20 Prestige staterooms convertible into 10 Prestige suites) - 1 Deluxe suite - 2 Privilege suites - 2 Grand Deluxe suites Bridge - 28 Prestige staterooms (including (including 1 for person of reduced mobility and 20 Prestige staterooms convertible into 10 Prestige suites) - 1 Deluxe suite - 2 Privilege suites - 2 Grand Deluxe suites Bridge 28 Prestige staterooms Prestigesuites Staterooms—Decks 4-5-6 (including 11 for for person person of of reduced reduced mobility mobility and and 20 20 Prestige Prestige staterooms staterooms convertible convertible into into 10 10 Prestige Prestige suites) suites) -- 1 1 Deluxe Deluxe suite suite -- 22 Privilege Privilege suites Grand Deluxe Deluxe suites suites Bridge -- 28 28 Prestige Prestige staterooms staterooms (including -- 22 Grand Bridge
Deluxe Staterooms—Deck 3
DECK 4 DECK 4 DECK DECK 444 DECK RESTAURANT RESTAURANT RESTAURANT RESTAURANT RESTAURANT
4
Restaurant - 24 Prestige staterooms (including 1 for person of reduced mobility) - 1 Deluxe suite Restaurant - 24 Prestige staterooms (including 1 for person of reduced mobility) - 1 Deluxe suite 1 for person of reduced mobility) - 1 Deluxe suite Restaurant (including 11 for for person person of of reduced reduced mobility) mobility) -- 1 1 Deluxe Deluxe suite suite Restaurant --- 24 24 Prestige Prestige staterooms staterooms (including (including Restaurant 24 Prestige staterooms
DECK 3 DECK 3 DECK DECK 333 DECK POOL POOL POOL POOL POOL
3
GRILL GRILL GRILL GRILL GRILL
MAIN LOUNGE MAIN LOUNGE MAIN LOUNGE MAIN LOUNGE LOUNGE MAIN
SHOP SHOP SHOP SHOP SHOP
WC WC -WC Pool WC WC
EXCURSION DESK EXCURSION DESK EXCURSION EXCURSION DESK EXCURSION DESK RECEPTION DESK DESK RECEPTION
DESK RECEPTION RECEPTION DESK RECEPTION DESK DESK
* Non-contractual plans, ships under construction.
WC WC WC WC WC
THEATRE THEATRE THEATRE THEATRE THEATRE
Reception Desk - Excursion Desk - Main Lounge Deck - Shop - Medical Center - Theater - 13 Deluxe staterooms - 1 Deluxe suite Reception Desk - Excursion Desk - Main Lounge - Pool Deck - Shop - Medical Center - Theater - 13 Deluxe staterooms - 1 Deluxe suite Reception Desk Excursion Desk Main Lounge Pool Reception Desk Desk -- Excursion Excursion Desk Desk -- Main Main Lounge Lounge -- Pool Pool Deck Deck --- Shop Shop --- Medical Medical Center Center --- Theater Theater --- 13 13 Deluxe Deluxe staterooms staterooms --- 111 Deluxe Deluxe suite suite Reception Deck Shop Medical Center Theater 13 Deluxe staterooms Deluxe suite
DECK 2 DECK 2 DECK DECK 222 DECK MARINA
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PROGRAM INCLUSIONS Included • Hotel nights as described in individual itineraries • Cruise aboard one of PONANT’s deluxe ships • Roundtrip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia on Antarctica & Climate Change • Lectures, discussions, and performance by featured guests as listed for each individual cruise • Shore excursions listed as included in individual itineraries • All meals aboard ship including early riser’s coffee & pastry, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner • French-inspired gourmet cuisine, with menu creation and chef training by Ducasse Conseil • Complimentary open bar aboard ship including select wines served with lunch and dinner • Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship • 24-hour room service • Airport/hotel/pier transfers and handling of luggage • Gratuities to shipboard personnel, porters, guides, drivers • Port taxes and charges • Pre-departure materials
Not Included Airfare (other than specified above); airport taxes; passport and visa fees and/or immigration reciprocity taxes (if applicable); transfers other than stated above; luggage handling; trip cancellation and baggage insurance; medical and repatriation insurance; meals and beverages other than those specified above; optional excursions; overland excursions; personal expenses (such as telephone, Internet, laundry service, hair salon services, à la carte spa treatments, etc.).
THE PONANT SHIPS CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
PONANT’s concern for the health and well-being of the planet is demonstrated by our active involvement in organizations dedicated to the promotion of ecologically responsible tourism and to the sharing of best practices. We are a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and a signatory of La Charte Bleue d’Armateurs de France, which bind us to follow the most stringent rules and regulations governing safety and environmental protection. CLEAN SHIPS
Above and beyond participation in these organizations, we have taken the additional step of having all of our sister ships and the new PONANT EXPLORERS certified “Clean Ship” by the French classification society, Bureau Veritas, one of the world’s major ship classification societies. This coveted and seldomawarded certification recognizes that the PONANT fleet—from initial design and construction to seagoing operations—has adopted the most environmentally responsible materials, equipment, and management procedures possible. 22 | The Quintessential Collection
TERMS & CONDITIONS Compagnie du PONANT, PONANT Group USA, LLC, and PONANT USA, LLC are hereinafter collectively referred to as “PONANT GROUP”. Please read carefully the following terms and conditions, which constitute the sole, legally enforceable agreements between the passenger and PONANT GROUP and the tour’s sponsoring organization. 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 departure. CANCELLATION, MODIFICATION PENALTIES & REFUNDS: Ports and excursions are subject to change. All cancellations or modifications 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. PONANT GROUP shall not be required to refund any monies to any guests who must leave the cruise prematurely for any reason, nor shall PONANT GROUP 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 penalties will be assessed as noted below. These cancellation penalties are applicable on all services booked with PONANT GROUP. • From confirmation of booking date up to 91 days prior departure: 10% of full fare • 90-61 days prior departure: 25% of full fare • 60-46 days prior departure: 50% of full fare • 45-31 days prior departure: 75% of full fare • Less than 30 days prior departure: 100% of full fare. TRAVEL INSURANCE: Passengers shall be responsible for subscribing to cancellation/luggage/ assistance repatriation/medical insurance(s). ITINERARY: PONANT GROUP 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. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS/LIMIT OF LIABILITY: The passenger agrees that PONANT GROUP 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 PONANT GROUP. In this respect, PONANT GROUP acts only as an agent and shall not be held liable for said services or for the acts or omissions of subcontractors or other contractors. PONANT GROUP 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 PONANT GROUP is incurred, such liability is limited (details available upon request). PONANT GROUP 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 of a third party unconnected with the provision of any services to be provided under the contract; unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of PONANT GROUP; 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 PONANT GROUP. RATES: The prices given at the time of booking are based on economic conditions known on April 1, 2017 and are subject to change. 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. PONANT GROUP reserves the right within the legal limits of applicable laws 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 60 days prior to departure. For the cruise-only rate, daily surcharge, if any, will be calculated based on: S= fuel variation* x daily consumption** SHIP CAPACITY *** (*): MGO FOB Rotterdam 0,1% in US$ (**): L’AUSTRAL, LE BOREAL, LE LYRIAL, LE SOLEAL: 20t. LE LAPEROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE, LE DUMONT-D’URVILLE : 10t. (***): L’AUSTRAL, LE BOREAL, LE SOLEAL, LE LYRIAL: 244 passengers. LE LAPEROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE, LE DUMONT-D’URVILLE 173 passengers 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. PONANT GROUP 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. PONANT GROUP is not responsible for omissions, printing and/or presentation errors and reserves the right to make corrections as required. SHIPS’ REGISTRY: France FL Seller of Travel Ref No ST37706 CA Seller of Travel Ref No 2120712-40 Photographs, all rights reserved: PONANT - Laurence Fischer - Mick Fogg - Erick Larrieu Francis Latreille - François Lefebvre - Natalie Michel - Philip Plisson - Margot Sib - istock - Alamy - Getty Images Non-contractual document and photos. The photos used in this brochure are only possible experiences and therefore cannot be guaranteed.
Sailing the beautiful, blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea
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