Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
30% Ponant Bonus
19 m²
2
- New
Natural and cultural discoveries in Celtic lands
Dublin - Dublin
Dates:
27/08/2025
to
04/09/2025
Other available dates
days
nights on board
PONANT invites you on an all-new 9-day cruise aboard Le Bellot for an exceptional immersion in Celtic lands, from Dublin to County Cork, via Wales and Northern Ireland.
From Dublin, the capital of Ireland boasting a convivial atmosphere and authentic charm, your ship will sail to the medieval town of Youghal. From the port, you can easily get to the historical Raleigh Quarter, home to St Mary's Collegiate Church and the Clock Gate Tower. Walking along the old ramparts, which are among the best preserved in Ireland, you will be able to admire the views over the bay. An exploration of River Blackwater will reveal splendid country houses, including that of the Jameson sisters, direct descendents of John Jameson whose name is synonymous with Irish Whiskey.
You will then reach Ballycotton, a small and sheltered fishing port, renowned for its black lighthouse sitting on a rocky islet. You will be able to go all the way around the island in a zodiac dinghy. During a walk along the cliffs, you will perhaps be lucky enough to glimpse peregrine falcons, seals or dolphins. A short distance from there lies Fota House, a large 19th-century mansion home to a large collection of paintings, an arboretum and superbly restored gardens.
Then, Le Bellot will reach the charming port of Kinsale, lying at the mouth of the Bandon estuary. With its narrow streets of colourful façades, its cafés, pubs, galleries and boutiques, Kinsale is one of Ireland’s most popular towns and enjoys a reputation as the country’s gastronomic capital.
In Baltimore, you will sail to the port in a tender among the legendary Carbery's Hundred Isles, thus named in the poem, The Sack of Baltimore, by Irish writer Thomas Davis, evoking the worst pirate raid to ever take place in Europe, during summer 1631. You will land on Sherkin Island, populated with artists in summer. Along the narrow streets edged with fuchsias, small cottages and workshops seem to welcome visitors.
Your ship will head for the shores of Wales and you will sail around the island of Skomer in a zodiac dinghy. This national nature reserve surrounded by spectacular cliffs is one of the country’s most beautiful sites. An ornithological paradise, it is teeming with many species, for example, Manx shearwaters, razorbills, gannets and fulmars. The waters surrounding the island are some of the British Isles’ richest in terms of fauna and flora. At the end of the summer, you can observe seals, dolphins and porpoises as well as the strange sunfish.
Le Bellot will then make a port of call at Fishguard, a small and peaceful coastal town nestling in the hollow of two hills, an ideal starting point for exploring the Welsh countryside.
Finally, you will head for Warrenpoint, a seaside resort in Northern Ireland set in an exceptional natural environment, which promises beautiful walks in the Silent Valley Mountain Park, before arriving in Dublin, where your cruise will come to an end.
Ref : EE270825
Your itinerary
An all-new expedition cruise through Ireland and Wales, discovering authentic landscapes, rich fauna and flora, and Celtic culture. Outings and shore visits in a zodiac dinghy with a team of...
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LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
LE LYRIAL
LE LAPÉROUSE
LE CHAMPLAIN
LE SOLÉAL
01/11/2024 to the 16/11/2024
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Services provided
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Selection of Clarins top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Expedition programmes include activities such as zodiac outings and landings (sometimes with "wet landing"), moderate walks to more active hikes, all accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides.
Ports of call, visited sites, outings and landings will depend on weather conditions, position of ice, winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change of plans at any time. The Captain and the Expedition Leader may at any time cancel or stop any activity, or even modify the itinerary. The final itinerary will be confirmed by the Captain, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. His decision will be based on advice from experts and authorities.
Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience in remote areas: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is extremely expensive. Without adequate medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe to full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully, be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive, especially if you are insured by your credit card. PONANT offers an insurance contract with extensive guarantees, please contact us for more information.
Clothing tips:
- A waterproof rain jacket
- Waterproofed shoes or comfortable resistant walking shoes
- Comfortable trousers: waterproof trousers, hicking tracksuit
- Waterproof and windproof over-trousers – MANDATORY
- Pullover, sweat-shirt or fleece jacket
- A warm hat, woollen ear muffs or fleece ear muffs, fleece or woollen neck warmer (avoid scarves that do not stay in place)- recommended
- Walking socks
Accessories:
- Small waterproof backpack (to protect your camera from water)
- Binoculars (strongly recommended for wildlife viewing)
- Highly protective sunglasses
- Walking poles (highly recommended)
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
PONANT activities
Highlights
- An all-new expedition cruise through Ireland and Wales, discovering authentic landscapes, rich fauna and flora, and Celtic culture.
- Outings and shore visits in a zodiac dinghy with a team of naturalist-guides.
- A PONANT exclusive for three Irish ports of call: Youghal, Ballycotton and Baltimore.
- A brand-new port of call: Skomer Island, a paradise for seabirds and marine mammals.
- Landscapes: rocky islets, small sheltered coves, sheer cliffs, mountains, woods, parks.
- Wildlife: seals, dolphins, peregrine falcons, Skomer voles, Manx shearwaters, razorbills, gannets, fulmars, harbour porpoises, common dolphins, sunfish.
Ports of Call & Excursions
27 August 2025 - Dublin
Embarkation 27/08/2025 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 27/08/2025 at 18:00
The Irish capital stretches along the banks of the Liffey to Dublin bay, on the East coast of Ireland. Discover Ireland’s warm conviviality in the pedestrian district of Temple Bar. Its cobbled streets are brimming with fabulous shops, pubs and arts centres. Next to Trinity College, famous for its 18th century library, you can stroll along Grafton Street: in one of its famous tea shops, try a delicious scone and clotted cream served hot and melt-in-the-mouth with jam. Not far from here, the majestic O’Connell bridge leads you to the avenue with the same name, on which Spire, a luminous contemporary sculpture presides.
28 August 2025 - Youghal
Arrival 28/08/2025
Departure 28/08/2025
The historic town of Youghal, in south-west Ireland's County Cork, lies at the mouth of the River Blackwater, which flows into the Irish Sea. A fortified medieval town, Youghal boasts numerous historic buildings inside some of the best-preserved ancient ramparts in Ireland. A stroll through the old town will take you to the 13th-century Saint Mary's Collegiate Church, the 700-year-old Clock Gate Tower and the gardens of Youghal College. Some architectural wonders lie hidden along the banks of the River Blackwater: the country homes of the town's great landowners and distillers.
29 August 2025 - Ballycotton
Arrival 29/08/2025
Departure 29/08/2025
This picturesque fishing village is typical of West Cork, the wild, windswept coastline of south-west Ireland. You will be enchanted by the warm atmosphere of the traditional pubs and first-rate seafood restaurants, supplied directly by local fishermen. The huge beaches surrounding Ballycotton are extraordinary, and contain nature reserves where you can spot a large number of marine wildlife. The lighthouse, which stands on a small island opposite Ballycotton, is a well-known attraction as it is one of the world’s only three black lighthouses.
29 August 2025 30 August 2025 - Kinsale
Arrival 29/08/2025
Departure 30/08/2025
Considered Ireland’s most beautiful village, Kinsale will captivate you with its sublime natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Located at the mouth of the Bandon River in County Cork, this charming little port is home to picturesque streets lined with colourful houses, art galleries and theatres, as well as to a 17th-century fort. Not far away, perched on a rocky promontory, stands the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse: still in operation today, it has magnificent views over the Atlantic Ocean.
31 August 2025 - Baltimore
Arrival 31/08/2025
Departure 31/08/2025
The magnificent West Cork area on the south-west tip of Ireland is home to Baltimore: a charming fishing village seemingly at the world’s end. It lies in an extraordinary landscape with immense beaches, a steep coastline, rocky cliffs and secret coves. You can admire the 13th-century castle of Dún na Séad, which bears witness to the sack of Baltimore in the 17th century, when pirates attacked the village, kidnapping over 100 inhabitants. The famous white stone Baltimore Beacon towers majestically over the bay, offering one of the finest views of the coast.
1 September 2025 - Skomer Island
Arrival 01/09/2025
Departure 01/09/2025
Skomer is a Welsh island with a unique atmosphere. Lying off the south coast of Pembrokeshire, Skomer is famous as a home to a wide variety of seabirds, and one of the most beautiful natural sites in Wales, with its rugged coastline, spectacular cliffs, sheltered bays and coves, seals and wild flowers. The island, which has not been inhabited since 1950, is now a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Scientific Interest and a Protected Area. It contains traces of human occupation dating back to the Iron Age, with remains of prehistoric houses, burial cairns and menhirs.
2 September 2025 - Fishguard
Arrival 02/09/2025
Departure 02/09/2025
A small coastal town located in the South Wales, Fishguard will offer you a peaceful stop during your cruise. Nestling in the hollow of two hills, the city, once a Viking trading post, is now the ideal starting point for exploring the Welsh countryside. Across its vast expanses of fertile land, its green valleys and its magnificent moors, the region will reveal its rich historical heritage to you. Among other things, you will be able to visit mediaeval Pembroke Castle, renowned for its impressive architecture and the illustrious people who have lived there, such as Gerald de Windsor.
3 September 2025 - Warrenpoint
Arrival 03/09/2025
Departure 03/09/2025
On the shores of Carlingford Lough, a fjord marking the eastern end of the border between Ireland and the UK, lies the charming seaside resort of Warrenpoint. Set in stunning natural surroundings and dominated by the Mournes and Cooley peaks, the area is ideal for walking. It is also the starting point for an escape to discover the archaeological site of Fort Navan, also known as Emain Macha, once considered the capital of the Ulster kings. At the Castle Ward, a Victorian tower house, you can gain an insight into the lives of its inhabitants in the 18th century. Or you may prefer to learn about the history of Belfast's water supply at Silent Valley Park.
4 September 2025 - Dublin
Arrival 04/09/2025 early morning
Disembarkation 04/09/2025 at 08:00
The Irish capital stretches along the banks of the Liffey to Dublin bay, on the East coast of Ireland. Discover Ireland’s warm conviviality in the pedestrian district of Temple Bar. Its cobbled streets are brimming with fabulous shops, pubs and arts centres. Next to Trinity College, famous for its 18th century library, you can stroll along Grafton Street: in one of its famous tea shops, try a delicious scone and clotted cream served hot and melt-in-the-mouth with jam. Not far from here, the majestic O’Connell bridge leads you to the avenue with the same name, on which Spire, a luminous contemporary sculpture presides.
Le Bellot
Like the other ships in the PONANT EXPLORERS series, Le Bellot has been designed to provide absolute comfort for its passengers, even at the heart of the world's most remote and isolated regions.
Racy lines, state-of-the-art equipment, a refined design, a softly muted and at the same time convivial ambiance together with a deliberately restricted number of cabins all contribute to the modernity of Le Bellot, a unique ship in the world of cruising.
Decks
Polar Expedition
Make your dreams of adventure come true, explore the boundaries of the world, and discover wild and legendary territories. The icy immensity of Antarctica, the constantly changing glaciers and icebergs of the North Pole, the mysterious mists of the North European coastlines, the most remote fjords on the planet… Every destination unveils unrivalled landscapes, home to increasingly varied fauna. Our team of naturalist-guides will share their knowledge with you during varied lectures about the history of the great explorations, geology and climatology, the fauna and flora, and will invite you to share special moments with the local populations.