Unveiling
outstanding destinations, where shimmering icebergs floats in muffled silence,
the Arctic Collection of Compagnie du Ponant showcases the line's long experience in sailing
the Great North.
Aboard 264-guest luxury yachts Le Boreal and L'Austral,
passengers can enjoy exclusive access to remote and outstanding locations thanks
to the small size and technical prowess of this latest generation of ships,
specifically designed for Polar cruises. Ponant offers its guests a
unique five-star expedition concept and a true adventure in the company of
renowned experts on the Great North.
New
additions to the programme for 2014 include the North-West Passage crossing to
Alaska and the White Sea, the gateway to Russia’s Far North, as well as the East
Fjords of Iceland.
The Arctic Experience
The White Sea: on the edge of the Arctic Circle, beyond the northern point of Norway, L’Austral
embarks on a new adventure deep into the isolated territories of Russia’s
Far North, which were closed to foreigners until 1991. Scheduled for early June
when nature awakens after a long hard winter, this exceptional cruise will sail
among the North Cape islands and along the shores of the vast Kola Peninsula, a genuine wilderness of tundra, forests, lakes and rivers - the perfect spot to see the midnight sun. Passengers will then discover the
White Sea coast in the Russian Arctic, including the Solovetsky Islands, a
desolate archipelago carpeted in black pine forests and home to one of the
most beautiful Russian Orthodox monasteries, as well as the city of
Arkhangelsk.
Tromsø-Kirkenes (12 days), depart 4 Jun, 2014; from £3,517
per
person (direct flights included).
Spitsbergen & Iceland: this
new itinerary linking Kirkenes to Longyearbyen on L'Austral will include five days in Spitsbergen, final stop before the North Pole. In the heart of
this great white desert of rugged peaks where the omnipresent light blurs the
boundaries between day and night, days at sea are interspersed with Zodiac
outings to explore this polar universe and sneak a peek at polar bears, reindeer
and seals at dawn.
Kirkenes-Longyearbyen (8 days), dep Jun 15, 2014; from
£3,023pp (direct
flights included).
Greenland & The Baffin Sea: this
cruise on Le Boreal to the heart of the Great Canadian North is a chance to
explore all aspects of this magnificent region of protected natural areas and to
see the northern lights – plus, whale-watching in the Baffin Sea and Saint
Lawrence, discovering Akpatok Island (home to polar bears) and Percé Rock
(gannet colony), as well as visiting the colourful Greenlandic and Quebecois
villages, sailing up the Saguenay fjord, and touring Quebec City’s old town, a
UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kangerlussuaq-Quebec (15 days), dep Sep 4, 2014; from £3,888pp
(direct flights included).
North-West Passage: for
this second edition, the North-West Passage crossing will leave from Greenland
on a voyage that has fired the imaginations of generations of sailors and
adventurers over the centuries. The last section of this legendary itinerary is
along the Alaskan coast to Nome.
Kangerlussuaq-Nome (22 days), dep Aug 26, 2014; from £7,139pp
(direct flights included)
Kamchatka & The Kuriles: from
Nome in Alaska, L'Austral sets sail for the wild landscapes of the almost
forgotten Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East. This volcanic region is
spectacular and home to diverse and abundant wildlife, such as Steller’s sea
lions. There is much to see, including the Valley of Geysers, the 40 volcanoes
at the heart of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and
the Uzon Caldera.
Nome-Petropavlovsk (16 days), dep Sep 16, 2014; from £6,934pp
person (direct flights included).
