Ponant Cruises

Press Releases

Compagnie du Ponant Cruises Antarctica

12 Sep 2011

For Immediate Release: September, 2011

Luxury yacht cruise liner Compagnie du Ponant has released the last available cabins on the sought-after 11day/10night ‘Land of Extremes’ itinerary to Antarctica. Guests will board the newest addition to the Ponant fleet L’Austral in Ushuaia (Argentina) before departing to the awe-inspiring continent boasting spectacular mountain scenery coupled with giant icebergs and Antarctic animals.

To reach the mythical white continent L’Austral will cross the Drake Passage, an area named after the famous explorer, Sir Frances Drake, who sailed the waters back in 1578. The following five days will be spent exploring the amazing channels, ports, islands and Gerlache strait of Antarctica.

The magic commences at Neko Bay, an area surrounded by towering mountains, snow and wildlife; a unique landscape broken only by the haunting cries of Cape petrels and cormorants. L’Austral then travels further south to the heart of the glacial universe surrounding the high cliffs of Booth Island and Cape Renard, marking the entrance to the Lemaire Channel.

Guests will go on to explore Pleneau Island and Port Lockroy, an area close to the magnificent Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent to the Drake Passage. Formerly a military base, Port Lockroy has been transformed into a museum with a handful of boutique shops. On Pleneau Island, travellers will marvel at the views of penguins, leopard seals basking in the sunshine.

Day five of this magnificent itinerary is spent at Cuverville Island and Gerlache Strait before heading to Deception Island, an area which boasts one of the largest colonies of Chinstrap penguins. Deception Island also boasts a unique landscape comprising barren volcanic slopes, steaming beaches and ash-layered glaciers. It is one of the only islands in the world where a vessel can sail directly into the centre of a restless volcano.

L’Austral will spend its final day cruising in the Weddell Sea at Brown Bluff, an area which brings travellers to the foot of an imposing cliff, home to a colony of 20,000 Adelie penguin couples. After five amazing days cruising the Antarctic L’Austral commences if final voyage back through Drake Passage before arriving back into Port at Ushuaia (Argentina).

Inclusions:
- 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 (selected menu)
- Evening entertainments and events, and/or organised shows
- All zodiac shore landings
- A polar parka
- Porterage from the quayside to the ship and vice versa
- English-speaking guest-speaker (when applicable)
- Cruise NDAs and taxes

Prices start from AUD$6,387.00 for a Superior Stateroom, Conditions apply.

For further information on Compagnie du Ponant or Travel the World, please contact:
Sarah Mansell
BLACK Communications
Tel: 02 8399 3005 Mobile; 0422 909 972 Email: sarah@blackcommunications.com.au
For cruise information for Compagnie du Ponant, please contact Travel the World on 1300 950 622.

The only French cruise ship line, COMPAGNIE DU PONANT is an integral part of France’s great sailing tradition. The company combines an elegant lifestyle aboard and discovery through a range of exceptional and unusual destinations in Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The fleet comprises five ships: LE PONANT, 32-cabin sailing yacht, LE LEVANT, 45-cabin yacht, LE DIAMANT, expedition cruise ship with 113 cabins and suites, LE BORÉAL, yacht with 132 cabins and suites and L’AUSTRAL, yacht with 132 cabins and suites.

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