COMPAGNIE DES ISLES DU PONANT
Mediterranean, Central America
LE PONANT
Passenger Capacity: 60
Built: 1991
Length: 288 ft.
Beam: 39 ft.
Draft: 13 ft.
Officers: French
Staff and Crew: 30; French
- Itinerary:
The ship sails in the Mediterranean from June to October,
then moves to Costa Rica, Panama and Belize for the winter.
A 12-night Mediterranean land/sea tour goes from
Nice to Malta, with stops in Corsica, the Pontine Islands, Salerno and Sicily.
One 10-day Central America cruise/tour goes to Guatemala and Tikal and Belize’s
barrier reef; another begins in Panama, travels through the Panama Canal to
Costa Rica and includes a tour of the rainforests and nature reserves.
- Cabins: 32.
All cabins, 150 sq. ft., are outside with a port and have
individually controlled air-conditioning, double or twin
beds, a private bath with shower.
- Dining: Breakfast and luncheons are buffet on deck. Dinner is single
seating with assigned tables. There is French and continental cuisine with choice
of three entrees. Wine is complimentary. There is an outdoor cafe under a canvas
awning.
- Facilities and Activities: This is a modern sail cruiser with three
masts and 16,000 sq. ft. of sail. There is a main lounge and a library. There
is piano music at dinner. The ship has a stern marina platform for swimming
and snorkeling and has windsurfers, zodiacs and a water-ski boat. There are
on-board naturalists. Most passengers speak French. Smoking is permitted on
deck and in your cabin. Passengers swim and snorkel at remote
beaches, explore rainforests, visit the Cuna Indians of the San Blas Islands.
-
Recent Fares Reported to Us: A
9-night sea-and-land itinerary
with three nights in Costa Rica and a 6-night cruise started at $3,990 per
person double occupancy. A 12-night (seven days cruising) Mediterranean
land/sea tour -- $4,975 per person double occupancy, including motorcoach,
port taxes, hotel accommodations, gratuities, shore excursions and sightseeing.
LE LEVANT
Passenger Capacity: 90
Built: 1998, in France
Length: 330 ft.
Beam: 46 ft.
Draft: 11 ft.
Crew: 50, French
- Itinerary: Cruises
the Caribbean, Orinoco and Amazon Rivers, Hudson Bay and the Baltic.
- Cabins: 45. Cabins are all outside, 195 sq. ft.,
have a private bath with shower. Beds can be configured two twins or queen-size.
Cabins have TV/VCR and refrigerator, are all located midship for comfort
in heavy seas.
- Dining: French cuisine is served. Wines are complimentary for lunch
and dinner. Breakfast and lunch are served indoors and outdoors at a verandah
restaurant. There is open seating.
- Facilities and Activities: There is a salon for lectures, a library,
gym, hairdresser, pool. The hull is strengthened for navigation
in ice. Two landing craft emerge from hydraulic doors toward the rear of the
ship and go from the ship’s marina at the stern to carry passengers to shore.
On warm-weather cruises passengers can swim or snorkel off the back of the ship.
A dive team is on board. Onboard naturalists and scholars lecture on the history
and ecology of destinations. The bridge is open to passengers at all times.
The Caribbean excursions focus on natural history in less-frequented places, such
as climbing to Sulfur Springs Volcano on St. Lucia and exploring national parks
and botanical gardens. All wildlife excursions are accompanied by guides. The
Orinoco-Amazon River trip has an optional flight to Angel Falls and a hike to Hacha Falls in Canaima National Park, and the seven-day Amazon trip has visits
to rubber plantations, and Ticuna Indian
villages. On the Hudson Bay cruise, stops are made at Inuit villages
and uninhabited islands.
-
Recent Fares Reported to Us: $2,995 to $4,495 per
person double occupancy for Caribbean ; $4,195 to $7,195 for Amazon cruises
and Hudson Bay expedition, including shore excursions.
LE DIAMANT
Passenger Capacity: 226
For
current fares and detailed itineraries for these ships,
click on this
direct link
|
