- Voyages to China, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam and Cambodia -

Compagnie du Ponant has introduced to the UK marketplace a dedicated Asian Cruises 2010-2011 brochure, featuring voyages on the 113-cabin Le Diamant, sailing for the first time to the mysterious and enchanting coastlines of Asia.

The 40-page, full-colour, user-friendly brochure features a total of 12 voyages, from China, Thailand, and Malaysia, to India, Vietnam and Cambodia, together with deck plans and facilities of the classic Le Diamant; and accompanying UK sterling fares are also available.

The ambiance created on board a Compagnie du Ponant vessel is unique – more like being on a private yacht than a cruise ship. Itinerary highlights on offer between November 2010 and March 2011, include:

* “Indian Flavours and Scents of Ceylon”: an 11-night departure on 8 November 2010, from Mumbai to Chennai, India, calling at Mormugao, Kochi, Trivandrum, India; and Colombo, Galle, Trincomaleee, Sri Lanka.

* “From the Cosmopolitan City of Singapore to the Charming City of Hanoi”: a 12-night depature on January 9, 2011, from Singapore to Haiphong, Vietnam, calling at Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Quy Nhan, Da Nang, Port Chang May and Ha Long Bay.

Dream locations off the beaten track, new cultures and close encounters with Nature’s wonders, in the relaxed yet sophisticated style that the French know how to do to perfection, this Asian brochure opens up a privileged world of “Yacht Cruises” which have become the signature of COMPAGNIE DU PONANT. All the crew on board the yacht ships are totally fluent in both English and French; and on all of the voyages passengers will have the opportunity to meet with expert lecturers on board.

In a new format, this brochure also features details of optional shore excursions, available at each port of call – the port, country, name of the shore excursion, duration and price.

Voyage only fares for the 2010/2011 Le Diamant Asian season lead in at:

* “Chinese New Year in the Land of the Dragon”: 8 nights Shanghai to Tianjin, departing 31 January 2011 - from £1,455 per person + £235pp port and safety taxes
OR
* “From the Great Wall of China to the Yangtze River”: 8 nights departing 8 February 2011, from £1,455 per person + £235pp port and safety taxes

Double Early Bird Offer: Applicable to Asian cruise bookings made before 31 August 2010, on voyages 5 months ahead of the departure date, double savings apply of from £360 per person to £530 per person apply, depending on the cruise.
The fares shown above are per person, port to port, sharing a double cabin, with full board.
Voyage only fares include:
- The cruise including all meals from dinner on the day of embarkation to breakfast on the day of disembarkation.
- Welcome aboard and captain’s cocktail parties, gala dinner.
- Mineral water, tea, filter coffee, white, red and rosé wines served with meals.
- 24 hour room service
- Evening entertainment and events, and/or organised shows.
- Porterage from the quayside to the ship and vice versa.

For Reservations:
UK Toll Free Line: 0808 234 3802
 

LE BOREAL, the fourth ship sailing under French flag of Compagnie du Ponant’s fleet,  arrived on Thursday 6th of May in Marseilles.  This first French port is the starting point for the ship’s inaugural cruise - with Captain Jean-Philippe Lemaire at the helm - which 260 delighted guests are enjoying.

Built by the Italian Fincantieri shipyard, its racy and pure line has been designed by Stirling Design International in Nantes.  The interior design, a perfect balance between chic and casual, is by Jean-Philippe Nuel.

Superior materials, discreet elegance and a tasteful décor, combined with exterior and interior lines to reflect a nautical mood. On board, soothing neutral tones are enlivened by splashes of red, Compagnie du Ponant’s signature colour, linking tradition and innovation, to create personal touches in the spirit of a “private yacht”.

LE BOREAL remains faithful to Compagnie du Ponant’s Yacht Cruises philosophy: Small ships, unique ambiance, combining luxury, intimacy and wellbeing. 

LE BOREAL  offers two restaurants including a specialist gastronomic one, lounges where passengers can get together for talks and shows - or just relax, an internet area, a theatre, library and a games room.

LE BOREAL remains faithful to Compagnie du Ponant’s eco-friendly philosophy and is Green-ship certified. 

Le Boréal forges ahead by implementing eco-friendly features such as:

• dynamic positioning, so there is no need to drop anchor, thereby protecting the seabed

• Electric propulsion system: quiet and economic

• Diesel engines, using MDO (Marine Diesel Oil): lighter and less polluting

• Waste and sewage treatment on board

• Low energy bulbs

• Reduced exhaust emissions

LE BOREAL has been designed to meet the highest expectations and to preserve the independence of each guest to suit their personal tastes. She is equipped with state of the art facilities (Kinesis Wall™, Technogym™, etc) and in partnership with the famous Carita™ beauty brand, the wellness area and Spa on Le Boréal is ready to welcome passengers for unforgettable moments of relaxation (beauty treatments, hairdresser, hammam, balneotherapy and more).

Compagnie du Ponant has joined forces with a  selection of well known partners to enhance the guests’ experience and pleasure:: Nespresso coffee, Palais des Thés teas, Swarovski lighting, floral decorations by Emilio Robba , Mumm champagnes…

Nearly all cabins have a private balcony, while some are available as triples, or as inter-conecting cabins for families who will also enjoy the leisure area equipped with Wii™ consoles and other children’s games. There is also a special children’s menu. As on a private yacht, passengers are free to do as they wish at their own pace.

For guests’ enjoyment are : unusual itineraries, secluded ports that are inaccessible to large ships, a luxurious and contemporary ambiance, attentive service and haute cuisine await...

A selection of cruises for Le Boréal’s maiden season - full details at: www.ponant.com.

Wellness Cruise – Marine Harmony in partnership with CARITA
Nice (France) - Honfleur (France) 
18 June to 27 June 2010 - 10 days / 9 nights on board
from £2,425 per person, plus £265pp port taxes

From Norman Shores to the Baltic: the Kiel Canal
Honfleur (France) - Copenhagen (Denmark)
27 June to 4 July 2010 - 8 days / 7 nights on board
from £1845 per person, plus £210pp port taxes

Ottoman Reveries
Istanbul (Turkey) - Antalya (Turkey)
23 August to 30 August 2010 - 8 days / 7 nights on board
from £1980 per person, plus £210pp port taxes

From the Grand Mosque to the Grand Canal
Istanbul (Turkey) - Venice (Italy)
27 September to 4 October 2010 - 8 days / 7 nights on board
from £1980 per person, plus £210pp port taxes

 

Le Boréal - French cruise line Compagnie du Ponant’s brand new ship - has just been awarded a Gold Medal by the European Cruiser Association.

Le Boréal won the prize in the “Best Newcomer of the year 2010” category, ahead of Seabourn Sojourn which received a silver medal. The prize was awarded to Le Boréal in recognition of her elegance, personality, innovative equipment and the meticulous attention paid when building the ship to fulfil the expectations of passengers.

 “Le Boréal meets our highest standards in terms of quality. The ship therefore deserves this award as ‘Best Newcomer of the year 2010’. It is not only about her particular style, it is also the inclusion of state of the art eco-friendly technologies that tipped the balance in her favour,” said Stefan Jaeger, President of the European Cruiser Association.

“Green Ship” certified, Le Boréal is equipped with systems that respect the environment, particularly the marine world:

• Dynamic positioning so there is no need to drop anchor, thereby protecting the seabed

• electric propulsion system that is quiet and economic

• engines which, depending on the regulations of the region, use MDO (Marine Diesel Oil), a low sulphur fuel, not so heavy and less polluting than HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil)

• An advanced waste and sewage treatment system that exceeds demands set by the MARPOL regulation and limits waste

• Low energy lighting (LED) inside and out

• A system to reduce exhaust emissions, etc

The 264-passenger Le Boréal sets sail on her first cruise on 6 May 2010, 7-nights Marseilles to Nice.

COMPAGNIE DU PONANT

For over 20 years now, COMPAGNIE DU PONANT has embodied the art of YACHT CRUISES, combining a sophisticated à la française lifestyle on board with exploration and discovery: 

-  to reach secret ports only accessible to small capacity vessels,

-  to offer haute cuisine in an intimate environment where no attention to detail is spared, and 

-  to create unforgettable memories of relaxation on board elegant yachts of character.

Dream locations off the beaten track, new cultures and close encounters with the wonders of Nature – these are the privileges on offer thanks to the small size and technical capabilities of the vessels belonging to COMPAGNIE DU PONANT.

The magic is also there on our themed cruises and “variations on a theme”, enhanced by specialists, nature guides and renowned lecturers (classical music, golf, gastronomy, & others).

Year established: in 1988, Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée and Philippe Videau launched this adventure with a dozen other Officers from the French Navy.

A fleet of character:

• LE PONANT, 32-cabin sailing yacht

• LE LEVANT, 45-cabin yacht

• LE DIAMANT, small expedition cruise ship with 113 cabins

• May 2010: arrival of LE BOREAL, 132-cabin yacht

• May 2011: arrival of L’AUSTRAL, 132-cabin yacht

Number of cabins: 190 in 2009, 322 in 2010, 454 in 2011

Staff: 300 of whom 250 are at sea in 2009

Number of passengers: 11,000 / year in 2009

Annual turnover: €35M

Head Office: 408 avenue du Prado, 13008 Marseille, France.

Onshore teams: Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, Chief Executive Officer

Véronique Saadé, Deputy Executive Vice-President

Alexandra Olivari, Marketing Manager – and an enthusiastic team!

Captains: Régis Daumesnil, Etienne Garcia, Rémi Genevaz, Jean-Philippe Lemaire, Erwann Le Rouzic, Patrick Marchesseau

Reducing its impact on the environment is a priority for COMPAGNIE DU PONANT from the thoughtfully selected itineraries, to using eco-friendly hull coatings, to respecting local people, and raising awareness among passengers and crew. It is a tradition that Le Boréal and L’Austral will take forward as both will be eligible for the “Green Ship” label.

COMPAGNIE DU PONANT is a member of the Charte Bleue d’Armateurs de France, requiring ship owners to protect marine and coastal environments. It also belongs to the IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) and rigorously applies the regulations and advice for preserving the environment through responsible behaviour.