UNBELIEVABLE VALUE FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS! 17 NOVEMBER 2020 • 12 DAY ANTARCTIC LUXURY EXPEDITION CRUISE & STAY • Onboard Le Soléal
$13,540 single per person from | Santiago/Ushuaia Return
17 – 28 Nov 2020 | NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT!
Includes overnight in Santiago the day before & after your cruise and flight to/from Santiago/Ushuaia
LIMITED TIME ONLY – ONLY A FEW CABINS AVAILABLE AT THIS PRICE
PONANT invites you on a polar expedition cruise to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day voyage and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife.
The start of your cruise will be marked by the crossing of the mythical Drake Passage, during which you will probably be escorted by several albatrosses and Cape petrels, the sentinels of these often-choppy waters.
Your ship will then reach the White Continent, realm of the unexpected. Weather and ice conditions permitting, this extreme environment where nature reigns supreme will reveal to you its most beautiful secrets through numerous discoveries.
On this uninhabited land, which wasn’t explored until the 19th century, your encounters with the wildlife will no doubt be one of the highlights of your experience. The Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, humpback whales, seals and seabirds will provide you with cherished lifelong memories.
Each day, whether on land, aboard your ship or during a Zodiac® outing, you will be surrounded by a grandiose decor ranging from icebergs to ice floe and ancient glaciers.
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the IAATO.
Highlights
• Outings and shore visits in Zodiac®inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
• Lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides, covering wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate, environmental protection…
• Hiking opportunity.
• Visiting research stations and former whaling stations.
• Landscapes: a multitude of drifting icebergs, ice floes, imposing glaciers and tall, snow-covered mountains.
• Wildlife: humpback whales, Gentoo penguins, Adelie penguins, chinstrap penguins, leopard seals, crabeater seals, Weddell seals and numerous sea birds.
• Educational discovery in the respect of environment.
• For your comfort, your cruise package includes an overnight in Santiago the day before embarkation and the flights to/from UshuaiaThe Ship – Le Soléal
Guests – 264 | Crew – 140 | Built 2013
Like Le Boréal and L’Austral, the two sister ships that preceded it, Le Soléal further reaffirms PONANT’s signature approach: to take passengers to the farthest reaches of the planet onboard five-star ships offering top-of-the-range services. Le Soleal is all ice-strengthened so can sail to Antarctica and the Arctic and carries Zodiac landing crafts for getting ashore and for sightseeing in remote locations.
An elegant appearance and refined interior design combine with cutting-edge technology to offer a new type of cruising: adventure in a luxury setting.
An homage to yachting: The interior design of the 132 cabins and suites of the Le Soléal features a range of entirely soft and gentle colours, with greys and whites combining with natural wood. The Le Soléal thus brings to mind the looks and styles of the world of yachting, whilst at the same time adding a touch of sophistication.
*Please note this is not a solo group departure. You will have your own stateroom and be travelling on your own, there will be couples onboard. During the cruise there will be the services of a Cruise Director. Please also note that as this cruise line is French owned and operated French is the first language spoken onboard, with English the second (all crew speak English). Ponant appeals to a wide range of nationalities so there will be a mix of people onboard, all sharing the love of adventure, wildlife and exploration.
Pricing
Single price per person from:
Superior Stateroom – SOLD OUT
Deluxe Stateroom – $13,540
Prestige Stateroom (Deck 4) – $14,840
Suite – $21,460
Inclusions
• 1 night accommodation in a 4* hotel the night before embarkation
• Early check-in available from late morning
• Return flight Santiago / Ushuaia / Santiago selected by PONANT, in economy class.
• Services of local guides, in Ushuaia.
• Meals as mentioned in the programme and beverage package
• Transfers as mentioned in the programmeNot Included
• International return flights from Australia – please advise if you wish us to book these for you
• Transfer between airport and hotel in Santiago, the day before embarkation
• Tips for the local guide
• Personal expenses / Travel Insurance
• Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme
• Onboard gratuities (if you wish to do so, this is optional)*Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person single basis from amount. All prices based on cash payment – credit card fees apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Please note that prices shown are not shown in real time. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Current cruise pricing is based on allocated stateroom availability, once these cabins are sold the pricing will be adjusted at a higher rate. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here (as from 05 Feb 2020) may differ from the live prices in our booking system. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty.
Itinerary
17 Nov 2020: SANTIAGO
The day before embarkation you will be met and greeted at your hotel by a Ponant local representative. Check-in from late morning. Lunch on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon. Dinner, overnight at the hotel.
18 Nov 2020: SANTIAGO TO USHUAIA
Embarkation Day: An early morning breakfast will be served before leaving to the airport for you flight Santiago / Ushuaia. Transfer to the airport. Flight Santiago / Ushuaia selected by PONANT in economy class. Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 min. Meet and greet at the airport (English-speaking assistance).
Capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate
sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible.
Depending on your choice made when booking your cruise (options not combinable):
You will be transferred to a restaurant for lunch.
OR
When booking the cruise, guests willing to visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park will be able to sign up for an optional group excursion, with extra cost ($380 per person twin share or $500 for single). If you decide to do so, please note that immediately upon arrival at Ushuaia airport, you will leave towards the Park where you will have lunch before starting the tour (lunch will be servied in a local restaurant within the Park).
Tierra del Fuego National Park – Created in 1960, the park which covers 63 000 hectares (155 670 acres) is located in the south west of the Tierra del Fuego Province on the Beagle Canal. One of his entries stands slightly over 6 miles from Ushuaia. Mountainous landscapes, lagoons, bogs, and rivers draw a picturesque scenery reinforced by the southern position of the park itself. The Darwin Mountains, which represent the southern part of the Andes Mountains are mainly responsible for such landscape. The Park is only partly accessible to the public and this tour will provide you with the opportunity to discover the local flora and sub-Antarctic landscapes. If you get lucky, you may encounter beavers, dams, birds, wild orchids, etc… This is a true paradise for Nature Lovers! At the end of your visit, you will return to Ushuaia and the port, for embarkation on your vessel – boarding between 4pm – 5pm, embarkation time 6pm.
(Please note that the Tierra del Fuego excursion is subject to a minimum of participants: if this number is not reached, the operator will not be able to guarantee the departure – In this case, you will be given the option to join the “Lunch in Ushuaia” programme.)
19 Nov 2020: CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE
Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarise yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the Zodiac® outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. From the ship’s bridge, you will experience exceptional sailing moments before joining the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.
21 – 25 NOV 2020: ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
To learn more about ecosystems, fauna and landscapes in Antarctic regions, go to the section “Discover Antarctica” of your cruise.
Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.
Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest Zodiac® outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.
26 – 27 NOV 2020: CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don’t forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
28 NOV 2020: USHUAIA – SANTIAGO
Arrive early morning, disembarkation from 8am.
Fly to Santiago today (flight included) for your return flight home (flight not included) or extend your stay – we can assist with your future travel arrangements.