Jewels of the Caribbean
* Subject to availability.
Highlights
- A cruise in the heart of the West Indies.
- Discovering 8 islands on the same cruise: Martinique, St. Kitts, Saint Barthélemy, Virgin Gorda, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint Martin and Barbuda.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in St. Kitts and Nevis, Morne Trois Pitons National Park on Dominica.
- Discovering the British Virgin Islands, where each white-sand beach is more stunning than the next.
- On Dominica, the National Park of Cabrits and Fort Shirley.
- Multiple opportunities to swim in crystal-clear waters.
- Possibility of diving (PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor on board.
- Staterooms & Suites
- LE CHAMPLAIN
- Port of call & excursions
- Formalities
- Scuba diving
- Pre/Post & Overlands
Staterooms & Suites
Deluxe Stateroom €3,170 Available Prestige stateroom Deck 4 €3,360 Available Prestige stateroom Deck 5 €3,460 Available Prestige Deck 6 €3,550 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 3 €4,770 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 5 €4,770 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 4 €4,770 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 6 €6,230 Not Available Prestige Suite Deck 5 €5,140 Available Prestige Suite Deck 6 €5,290 Available Privilege Suite Deck 6 €5,440 Available Privilege Suite Deck 5 €5,440 Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 5 €5,600 Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6 €5,600 Available Owner's Suite €7,560 Available
LE CHAMPLAIN
LE CHAMPLAIN
Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.
As the second ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Champlain will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.
Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.
Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.
Port of call & excursions
Fort-de-France
Embarkation 21/01/2021 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 21/01/2021 at 21H00 .Located on the western coast of Martinique, Fort-de-France will amaze you by the splendour of its bay, a magnificent cut-out in the coastline, considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. At the harbour mouth, on its strip of land, fort Saint-Louis overlooks the capital city of Martinique. If you climb up to it, you can see some breath-taking views. Saint Louis Cathedral and the Schoelcher library bear witness to a secular history, intimately linked to the island’s story. Why not try some fresh coconut at the colourful Grand Marché. Two really pleasant places you can take a breather in, right in the heart of the city, are the garden of Balata and the Aimé Césaire park.
22 January 2021 – South Friars Bay, Saint Kitts
Arrival 22/01/2021 midday. Departure 22/01/2021 early evening.Nestling along the peninsula of Saint-Kitts Island, South Friars Bay shelters one of the Kittitians’ most popular beaches. You’ll find this sumptuous stretch of golden sand perfect for a pleasant spot of sunbathing, while its clear and calm waters make it an ideal site for swimming and snorkelling. The rich and preserved sea bed will let you admire a huge variety of reef fish and stunning aquatic flora.
23 January 2021 – Marigot
Arrival 23/01/2021 early morning. Departure 23/01/2021 late evening.Located on the west coast of the French side of Saint Martin, an island in the north-east of the Caribbean Sea, Marigot has stunning discoveries in store for you. Its streets are home to old Creole huts, the traditional dwellings in the 19th century, as well as a host of luxury boutiques and artist studios. Overlooking Marigot Bay and facing Anguilla, Fort Louis is an ideal spot from which to admire the Simpson Bay Lagoon and the surrounding small, lush mountains. For those who enjoy walking, taking a lovely stroll from the Fort Louis marina via the market, is an opportunity to fully enjoy the easy way of life in this charming, picturesque town.
24 January 2021 – Virgin Gorda
Arrival 24/01/2021 early morning. Departure 24/01/2021 early evening.Virgin Gorda is one of the British Virgin Islands archipelago’s largest islands. There, you will discover The Baths National Park and its well-renowned picture-postcard beaches. Gigantic volcanic boulders sit surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, creating spectacular geological formations. Indeed, over the years a network of basins, caves and natural pools has formed, resulting in a sublime aquatic maze in which it is enjoyable to lose oneself before heading to the stunning Devil’s Bay Beach. On the island’s south-eastern tip, Copper Mine National Park is still home to many ruins of an abandoned copper mine that looks out over the sea.
25 January 2021 – Gustavia
Arrival 25/01/2021 early morning. Departure 25/01/2021 late evening.Lovers of this island call it Saint-Barth. This French island in the Lesser Antilles was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Ever since, this tiny mountainous volcanic gem with its unspoilt nature has been enchanting visitors. You will enjoy the beauty of its large paradisiacal beaches, plus the charm and refinement of its old wooden houses and its sumptuous colonial manors. Although, as you saunter through the rues de Gustavia or Saint-Jean, you’ll come across jewellers, top fashion boutiques and fine restaurants, there is also a simplicity that money can’t buy…
26 January 2021 – Barbuda
Arrival 26/01/2021 early morning. Departure 26/01/2021 midday.During your port of call in Barbuda, an island influenced by British culture in the north of the Lesser Antilles, you’ll discover idyllic beaches of white powder-like sand bathed by turquoise waters of striking intensity. The very British colonial atmosphere of English Harbour, a former Royal Navy base, mixes with creole culture in a happy union. This Eden, which has managed to stay calm and intimate, is brimming with very wild fauna and flora. Arts and crafts are present in the markets and shops, where you’ll find wooden statuettes, printed fabrics and very good rum produced in the island’s distilleries.
27 January 2021 – Basse-Terre
Arrival 27/01/2021 early morning. Departure 27/01/2021 late evening.Within the western part of the French Lesser Antilles, the volcanic and mountainous Basse-Terre forms the largest of the islands making up Guadeloupe. The centre of Karukera, or “the island of beautiful waters” in old Caribbean, shelters one of the French national parks: Guadeloupe National Park. The Deshaies Botanical Garden, with its very fine collection of typical flowers and plant species, is a special place for nature lovers. The island’s territory is home to La Grande Soufrière volcano, the highest mountain peak in the Lesser Antilles. With a range of plantations (coffee, cocoa, banana and sugar cane) and distilleries, the island is overflowing with treasures whose secrets you’ll have plenty of time to discover.
28 January 2021 – Portsmouth
Arrival 28/01/2021 early morning. Departure 28/01/2021 late evening.With its mountainous terrain, vast tropical forest, hot springs, rivers and spectacular waterfalls, Dominica is undoubtedly the wildest island in the Caribbean. Protected by several national parks, this little-known land, located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, between Guadeloupe and Martinique, will inspire adventure and exploration. During your port of call, do not miss out on discovering the enchanting landscapes of the Indian River: navigating through this dense mangrove, in which creepers, ferns, forest trees and giant roots are interweaved, is a magical experience, a fascinating voyage into the heart of an almost mystical natural universe.
Fort-de-France
Disembarkation 29/01/2021 at 06H00 .Located on the western coast of Martinique, Fort-de-France will amaze you by the splendour of its bay, a magnificent cut-out in the coastline, considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. At the harbour mouth, on its strip of land, fort Saint-Louis overlooks the capital city of Martinique. If you climb up to it, you can see some breath-taking views. Saint Louis Cathedral and the Schoelcher library bear witness to a secular history, intimately linked to the island’s story. Why not try some fresh coconut at the colourful Grand Marché. Two really pleasant places you can take a breather in, right in the heart of the city, are the garden of Balata and the Aimé Césaire park.
Formalities
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot’s licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
In order to participate in diving sessions, guests must have with them a medical certificate less than 1 year old and their up to date dive book.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving
Fauna and flora of the Caribbean Sea
The fauna of the Caribbean Sea is very varied. During the different dives, divers can observe various species of benthic fauna such as French angel fish, queen angel fish, spotted drums, puffer fish, parrots fish, and pelagic fauna such as spotted eagle ray, barracudas, horse eyes jackfish, as well as fixed wildlife such as gorgonians and barrel sponges.
Supervision of the dives
Your dives will be led by your PONANT instructor. He will take care of your safety and that all goes smoothly. On some diving sites, as in natural reserves or if the local regulations require it, a local guide will escort the diving.
Level required for scuba diving on this cruise
The minimum level required for scuba diving on this cruise is 1star CMAS or the PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent). The certification card, the diving log book and a recent medical certificate (less than 12 months) must be presented at the beginning of the cruise to our main diving instructor.
Process of the dives (certified divers)
The instructor can dive with 4 certified divers at a time. The instructor reserves the right to check divers’ ability for maximum safety. As we will dive in remote places, the dives will be done without decompression stop. A safety stop of 3 minutes at 5 metres will be mandatory. The depth that can be reached will depend on the certification of the divers:
- For those with PADI Open Water Diver certificate (or equivalent), the maximum depth can be up to 20 metres.
- For those with PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certificate (or equivalent), the maximum depth can be up to 25 metres.
- If two PADI Advanced Open Water Divers (or equivalent) wish to dive together independently, they must have a briefing first. They must have dive computers and are allowed to go to a maximum depth of 20 metres.
Process of the initiation dives (novice divers)
Before your initiation dive, your instructor will show you the equipment and will explain to you how to communicate underwater using hand gestures and how to breathe through a regulator. Once in the water, equipped with your material, you will learn how to breathe through your regulator on the surface for a couple of minutes. When your instructor feels you are ready, he will immerse you in water for about 20 minutes to a depth of 6 metres maximum.
Duration of the dives
The diving activity lasts from 2 to 3 hours, which includes the journey to the diving site and the diving. This duration may vary according to the site, the level of divers, weather conditions and the number of participants. For experienced divers, the duration of dives varies between 35 and 60 minutes depending on the site, the diver’s experience and consumption.
Supplied equipment
- Diving wetsuit
- Stabilising jacket
- Fins, mask and snorkel
- Regulator with octopus and pressure gauge
- Diving computer (for divers mastering their use)
Scuba diving activities on this cruise
PORTS OF CALL | DIVES (for certified divers) | Discover scuba diving (for beginners) |
Saint Kitts and Nevis - South Friars Bay, Saint Kitts | YES | NO |
Saint Martin - Marigot | NO | NO |
British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda (morning) | YES | NO |
British Virgin Islands - Virgin Gorda (afternoon) | YES | YES |
Saint Barthelemy - Gustavia | YES | YES |
Antigua and Barbuda - Barbuda | NO | NO |
Guadeloupe - Basse-Terre | YES | NO |
Dominica - Portsmouth | YES | YES |
These sites are indicative. The proposed diving excursions may be changed depending on weather and safety conditions and the number of divers.
Rates
Price per person
- Initiation dive:
- Introductory dive (1 dive): €80
- Ponant Discovery Pack (2 dives): €150
- Certified dive:
- Exploration (1 dive): €80
- Excellence Package (3 dives): €225
- Passion Package (6 dives): €420
Pre/Post & Overlands
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Before your cruise
-
After your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy
Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.
Travellers are advised to check all the information with the authorities concerned prior to the departure date. Ponant advises Travellers to consult the country factsheets relating to the chosen destinations. Ponant specifically draws Travellers' attention to the fact that the information provided may change up until the departure date, and they are advised to consult that information up until the time of departure. CDP invites Travellers to adjust their behavior to the visited country, to exercise vigilance and to avoid carrying valuable objects during their travel.
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