PONANT Launches 2023-24 Voyages

Credit: PONANT

(PRESS RELEASE)_From snow-capped peaks lining Norwegian fjords to the fine sandy beaches of South Pacific atolls, PONANT is launching its Winter 2023-2024 voyages. Nearly 30 different itineraries--13 of which are new--crisscross Asia, the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, and Latin America, offering once-in-a-lifetime journeys and unique points of access.  
 
Among the new sailings is a winter sailing to Norway in pursuit of the Northern Lights. The voyage includes encounters with the Sami people, one of the last European Indigenous people who have practiced traditional reindeer herding since the 17th century. Another new sailing whisks guests from Madagascar to the Mascarene archipelago, with a new port of call in Portu Mathurin, the little-known Rodrigues Island, plus overnight stays on Reunion Island and Mauritius.  

Depending on the destination, guests will enjoy a wide range of activities: meetings with local communities, visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites, diving, snorkelling, swimming, hiking, snowshoeing, biking, and sleigh rides.

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 “Oriental wonders & civilisations” – NEW 
Le Bougainville will sail through the Persian Gulf, discovering the treasures of Islamic culture both centuries-old and brand new. Departing from Muscat, the cruise will head for Sour, a traditional fishing village in the Sultanate of Oman, then to Daymaniyat Islands, a marine sanctuary renowned for snorkelling and scuba diving. Next is the fjords of Musandam, the futuristic skyscrapers of Dubai, and the landmarks of Abu Dhabi, including the Great Mosque and the new Louvre Museum. From there it’s on to Dammam, the gateway to the Al Hasa oasis, Manama, and finally, Doha.  

Muscat – Doha aboard Le Bougainville, 28 November to 3 December 2023, 11 days – 10 nights 
From €4,470 – Find more about this cruise 

And also “Music of one thousand and one nights” 
Doha – Muscat aboard Le Bougainville. 28 November to 8 December 2023, 11 days – 10 nights 
From €5,510 – Find more about this cruise 

“Caribbean mosaic, between mangroves & lagoons” - NEW 
Departing from Belize City, this expedition is an invitation to discover the lush scenery of Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Le Dumont-d’Urville will sail to Punta Sal, the Jeannette Kawas National Park, and Les Cayos Cochinos archipelago, located on the world’s second-largest barrier reef. While the Cuero y Salado National Park and Water Caye desert island are home to outstanding marine life, the towns of Livingstone and Punta Gorda will transport guests into the heart of a history rich in ancestral traditions. 
Belize City – Belize City, aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville, 5 sailings, 14 November to 12 December 2023, from 8 days – 7 nights 
From €3,380 – Find out more about this cruise 
 
“Nordic Discoveries & Traditions” – NEW 
For the first time in the winter season, PONANT is offering a new journey to Norway. The 11-day sailing offers, among other highlights, encounters with the Sami people, one of the last European Indigenous people who have practiced traditional reindeer herding since the 17th century, plus authentic experiences like dog sleighing, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. From Tromsø, a secluded town above the Arctic Circle, Le Bellot will sail to Narvik, the Lofoten Islands, the Trollfjorden fjord, Hammerfest--one of the world’s northernmost towns, where the polar landscapes come alive with the whirling ballet of the Northern Lights--Honningsvåg, Alta and Bear Island, a small strip of land with craggy coastline and high jagged cliffs.  
Tromso – Tromso, aboard Le Bellot, 4 sailings from 1st to 31 March 2024, 11 days – 10 nights 
From €8,350 – Find more about this cruise 
 
“Seychelles to Sri Lanka Expedition” – NEW 
From Seychelles to Sri Lanka via the Maldives, this Indian Ocean voyage will take guests around some of the world’s most exotic, far-flung islands. The first few days will be spent exploring the Seychelles archipelago, with stops at the Aride Island Nature Reserve, a sanctuary home to more than a million birds, and the spectacular Anse Source d’Argent beach.  Le Jacques-Cartier will then head for the Maldives, to the Rasdhoo and Baa atolls, and then Sri Lanka, with its monumental temples and wildlife reserves. 
Mahé – Colombo, aboard Le Jacques-Cartier, 4 to 19 January 2024, 16 days – 15 nights 
From €6,750 – Find more about this cruise 
 
“Madagascar & the Mascarene islands adventure” – NEW 
This 14-day expedition journey whisks guests from Madagascar to the Mascarene archipelago. Departing from Port-Louis in Mauritius, the ship will set sail towards Nosy Boraha Island, once a haven for pirates off Madagascar’s east coast, before reaching the ‘Great Red Island’ and Tamatave. From there, Le Jacques-Cartier will reach La Réunion, with its volcanic craters and vanilla plantations, and finally, Rodrigues, another jewel in the Indian Ocean.  
Port Louis – Port Louis, aboard Le Jacques-Cartier and Le Champlain, 3 sailings from 3 to 16 December 2023, 14 days – 13 nights 
From €6,330 – Find more about this cruise 
 
“From New Caledonia to Micronesia” - NEW 
From the heavenly beaches of Nouméa to the atolls of Guam, this tropical expedition into the heart of remote Pacific islands offers breath-taking underwater scenery, traditional villages, World War II shipwrecks, and brand-new ports of call. From Noumea, Le Soléal will sail to the sublime island of Lifou, the archipelago of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia. The trip ends in Guam, the biggest volcanic island in the Mariana Islands.  
Nouméa – Guam, aboard Le Soléal, 8 to 24 March 2024, 17 days – 16 nights 
From €7,170 – Find more about this cruise 
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