2021-09-20
2025-01-01
from$ 21040 AUD
Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.
Ship
Le Boreal
Le Boreal
City
Reykjavík to Longyearbyen
Reykjavík to Longyearbyen
Up to 30% Off - Ponant Bonus
2021-09-20
2025-01-01
Overview
PONANT invites you to experience the exceptional by discovering the east coast of Greenland and following the ice to the majestic lands of Spitsbergen during a brand-new 13-day cruise. From Reykjavik, you will sail towards the east coast of Greenland and discover Inuit culture in Ammassalik Island and set off to meet the inhabitants of this remote region, with deep-rooted traditions. You will then sail through Kangerlussuaq fjord, a wonderful scenery of ice and vertiginous peaks of dark grey rock coated in snow that plunge into the deep blue waters of the fjord. Your ship will then sail on towards Ittoqqortoormiit Region, to the heart of this hostile but sublime realm of ice, before reaching Scoresby Sund, the largest and deepest fjord system in the world. Le Boréal will make its way to Jan Mayen Island, which was very dear to Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot. Located on the threshold of the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans, this isolated and uninhabited volcanic island was a whale hunting centre and is home to large bird colonies. You will then reach Svalbard and Isfjorden, some of whose branches reach the heart of the island of Spitsbergen, before reaching Longyearbyen, your disembarkation port.
Departures
Note: Current p/p indicative rate. Final price may change due to currency fluctuations.
Cruise Itinerary
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Still almost unknown just a century ago, the east coast of Greenland remains the most authentic and majestic region. Here, the alpine mountains merge intimately with the sea, while the fjords are adorned with high snow-capped peaks and drifting icebergs. Follow in the wake of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s famous ship, the Pourquoi Pas?, which set off with its crew to discover Ammassalik, a small island of primitive and wild beauty where the Inuit people chose to live. The name of this island is a reference to the capelin, a small flamboyant silver coloured fish, whose presence in the thousands announces to inhabitants the return of spring. A surprising discovery in a spectacular setting.
In the Ammassalik region, the small island of Storo welcomed the famous French explorer Paul-Emile Victor during his first stay in Greenland in 1932. This young ethnologist was set down by Captain Charcot at Ammassallik then made his way to the island of Storo, where he spent a year hosted by an Inuit family. Bones, stones, a tomb and a few vestiges of huts and wooden cabins are evidence that people have been coming to the island for a very long time. Its location facing the Denmark Strait, at the entrance of a small fjord, is indeed ideal for hunting or for observing the whales, narwhals or belugas that live in the fish-rich waters of the Greenland Sea.
Midway between the magnificent Sermilik fjord and the vast expanses of Liverpool Land, you will discover the impressive Kangerlussuaq Fjord, one of the largest on the south-east coast of Greenland. You will sail through a wonderful décor of ice and vertiginous, jagged peaks of dark grey rock coated in snow that plunge into the deep blue waters of the fjord. The fjord is fed by the gigantic Kangerlussuaq glacier, the largest on the east coast of the Greenland Ice Sheet. In the north-west, the Watkins Range is home to the tallest peaks in the Arctic. Gunnbjorns Fjeld stands 3,693 metres (12,000 feet) tall. Known for its abundant fauna, this hard-to-reach fjord is uninhabited, although Inuit hunters have been visiting it for thousands of years.
Located between the largest national park and the longest system of fjords in the world, the town of Ittoqqortoormiit, whose name means “great house” in Greenlandic, is one of the remotest inhabited places in the world. Covered with ice and snow for nine months of the year, you will be able to discover the ancestral way of life of the last hunters of the polar region. As soon as the thickness of the ice floe allows, they set out on the trail of walruses, seals, narwhals, musk ox and polar bears, travelling by traditional dog sleds.
Covering an area of 13,700 km2 (5,290 mi2), Scoresby Sound is the largest and deepest fjord system in the world. Named after the explorer and whale hunter William Scoresby, who mapped the region in 1822, it opens onto the Greenland Sea to the north of the Blosseville Coast. This wild and desert region offers untouched panoramas of infinite beauty, with high snow-capped peaks rising tall alongside icebergs immersed in clear, blue-tinged waters. Rode Fjord and its cliffs coloured red by iron ore provide a fascinating setting you will not want to miss. Discovering these stunning places in the wake of great explorers like Captain Charcot, who was deeply attached to the land of the Inuit, inspires a profound reverence.
Located between the largest national park and the longest system of fjords in the world, the town of Ittoqqortoormiit, whose name means “great house” in Greenlandic, is one of the remotest inhabited places in the world. Covered with ice and snow for nine months of the year, you will be able to discover the ancestral way of life of the last hunters of the polar region. As soon as the thickness of the ice floe allows, they set out on the trail of walruses, seals, narwhals, musk ox and polar bears, travelling by traditional dog sleds.
The island of Jan Mayen, belonging to Norway, lies hidden off Greenland’s coastlines, lost between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. This small piece of land is inhabited by only a handful of Norwegian meteorologists. Tongues of ice descend from its volcanic summit, which culminates at 2,227 metres and is covered with a thick glacial coat. These tongues join the sea, between ranges of black volcanic rocks at times tinged with red. If the sky is clement, you will have the chance to glimpse the summit, decked out in magnificent light. The visit of a small fin whale will perhaps enable you to complete this memorable picture.
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
The vast Isfjorden is one of the main fjords in Svalbard. These different branches reach the heart of the island of Spitsbergen. Located deep inside the Billejforden, the Nordenskiöld Glacier with its front of ice, nearly 5 km wide, is one of the most spectacular in the Svalbard Archipelago. You will perhaps have the opportunity to discover the ghost town of Pyramiden. Constructed at the foot of a mountain in the form of a pyramid, this former mining town, founded by Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century before being sold a few years later to the Soviet Union, and abandoned in 1998, has conserved all the buildings from its glory days, when it lived off coal mining.
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Le Boreal
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 142 meters Passenger Capacity: 264 (in twin cabins, 200 in Antarctica) Built: 2011 A superb mega-yacht with 132 cabins, she is the fruit of the expertise of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard and French sophistication, as interpreted by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. Le Boreal remains faithful to our philosophy - to create a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being. Superior materials, discreet elegance and a tasteful décor combined with exterior and interior lines to reflect a nautical mood, subtly revisited. On board, soothing neutral tones are enlivened by splashes of red, our signature theme linking tradition and innovation to create personal touches in the spirit of a “private yacht”. Cuisine Loyal to the great French tradition, the haute cuisine on board is worthy of the finest restaurants, where discreet, attentive service is the hallmark. Our two restaurants welcome you for breakfasts, lunch and dinner. The Gastronomic Restaurant, with a capacity of 268 persons, is situated on Le Liberte Deck and serves you French and international cuisine accompagnied by fine wine. On the Grill Restaurant, you will have the opportuniny to eat outside and enjoy buffet lunch and themed dinner. Life On Board Whether you want to join other guests in the theatre or games area (Wii™ consoles, etc), or relax on your own in a quiet corner of the library, Le Boreal has been designed to meet the needs of every guest. Everything has been done to preserve the independence of each guest to suit their personal tastes: lounges for lectures and shows, a spa in partnership with Carita™, but also more intimate spaces such as the library and internet corner. Comfortable cabins, nearly all with private balcony, are available forfamilies either as triples or as communicating cabins. There is also a games area with Wii™ consoles, children’s menus, and a baby-sitting ser vice.Just as if you were on a private yacht, your time is your own to do as you please. Fitted with the latest equipment (Kinesis Wall, running machine) and in partnership with the famous Carita™ brand, the Beauty Centre on Le Boreal welcomes you for some unforgettable moments of relaxation and pampering (beauty treatments, hairdresser, hammam, balneotherapy).
Highlights
• An all-new cruise between the territories of Greenland and the island of Spitsbergen, in landscapes that are as majestic as they are unexplored. • Outings and shore visits in a Zodiac® with a team of naturalist-guides. • Hiking opportunity. • An encounter with the Inuit people to share their springtime traditions while the ice is still ubiquitous. • Scoresby Sund, the world’s largest fjord system, and land of exploration for Captain Charcot; there is still a stela in remembrance of him, as well as his old dwelling. • Jan Mayen Island, a volcanic island as well as a refuge for many bird colonies. • Sail in Spitsbergen’s fjords and towards the ice floe. • Landscapes: mountains striped with multi-coloured strata, fjords, jagged mountains, ice floes, glaciers, icebergs, wild tundra, sheer cliffs, polar ice cap. • Wildlife: polar bears, narwhals, seals, musk oxen, Arctic foxes and hares, walruses, orcas, Svalbard reindeer, sea birds.
Map
