MARSEILLE -- Compagnie du Ponant, the French-flagged cruise line has just released their new Winter 2013/2014 brochure featuring 21 different itineraries sailing the near and far reaches of the globe. Cruises to Asia and Antarctica, Africa and South America and beyond follow in the footsteps of the great explorers and allow travelers to go on their own seafaring voyages of discovery.

Joining the five-star fleet for the winter season will be Compagnie du Ponant’s brand
new yacht-style expedition liner, Le Soléal. Launching in July 2013, the 132-stateroom state-of-the-art Le Soléal will embark on her maiden sailing season, joining her sister ships Le Boréal and L’Austral. Le Ponant, the line’s more intimate three-masted 32-stateroom yacht, will be sailing for the very first time around the Cape Verde Islands.

The smaller size of the ships, which can accommodate from 64 to 264 passengers, offer more personalized service and a private yacht feel, along with the ability to visit exotic ports not accessible to larger vessels. This allows for a travel experience that is highly intimate, luxurious and authentic, and inventive itineraries filled with once in a lifetime experiences.

For the winter season, from October 2013 to April 2014, Compagnie du Ponant offers 21 different itineraries and 50 departure dates to destinations in South America, Caribbean/Central America, Asia, Antarctica, and Western Africa, on cruises ranging from 6-nights in South America, up to 15-nights to Antarctica and 17-nights in Asia.

Sail around the world with Compagnie du Ponant:

South America - Explore the vast continent from Machu Picchu in Peru to the Atacama Desert in Chile, from the Andean landscapes of the Tierra del Fuego, to the mythical passage around Cape Horn. Spotlight South America cruises include:

• 13-nights Valparaiso, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina:  A breathtaking cruise along the Pacific Shores of South America
•   14-nights Recife, Brazil to Cayenne, French Guyana:  Explore the mysterious waterways of the Amazon

Asia – Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo, with 10 different itineraries throughout Asia, from India to Indonesia, Hong Kong, to Japan and Singapore, Vietnam, Colombo and Kuala Lumpur. Discover new empires and ancient kingdoms, modern metropolis and temple filled jungles. Spotlight Asia cruises include:

•  7-nights Otaru to Osaka:  Explore Japan’s traditions, beliefs and lifestyles, from Otaru to Kanazawa, and Hiroshima, passing by Busan, to Osaka, the new center of Japan.
• 13-nights Bali to Singapore:  Discover the “island of the gods” in Indonesia, sail the beaches of the Gili islands, view the famous Komodo “dragons” and explore Makassar with its Bantimurung waterfalls and lush vegetation.
• 13-nights Kuala Lumpur to Colombo, Sri Lanka:  Sail from the vibrant and captivating ancient royal city of Kuala Lumpur to Colombo in Sri Lanka, known as the "happy" or "radiant" land, with ports of call in Thailand and Myanmar.

Caribbean and Central America - Revel in the charm of these islands where time seems to stand still. Golden beaches, turquoise seas and the surrounding flora are home to many natural treasures and abundant marine and wildlife. Spotlight Caribbean and Central America cruises include:

• 7-nights Fort de France, Martinique to St. Martin: Enjoy a special GOLF themed cruise while visiting the islands of Dominique, Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and St. Barts.
• 7-nights Cartagena to Fort de France:  Sail from Colombia to Martinique, with ports of call in Curaçao, Venezuela, Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia. 
•  14-nights Guayaquil to Cartagena:  Sail from Ecuador to Columbia with ports of call in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala before crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the Panama Canal.

Antarctica – Discover the mysterious White Continent, that extreme land on the edge of the world, explored by man since only 1820. This vast icy continent offers spectacular mountain scenery, the world’s biggest icebergs and an extraordinary array of wildlife.

Spotlight Antarctica cruises:

• 10-nights and 15-nights Ushuaia, Argentina to Ushuaia, Argentina:  Sail through waters that are sometimes frozen, often escorted by seals, humpback whales and other sea life to reach the “sixth continent.” The route goes through the famous Drake Passage to reach the Polar Front which marks the meeting of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, then continues further south to the spectacular Lemaire Channel.

Western Africa – For the very first time, the 3-masted sailing yacht Le Ponant offers cruises to the coast of West Africa and the beautiful islands of Cape Verde.

Spotlight Western Africa cruise:

•   7-nights Praia to Praia:  At the crossroads of three continents, Europe, Africa and South America, the Cape Verde islands offer a landscape of volcanic plains and alpine valleys and a proud mixed race heritage. Visit the islands of Brava, Fogo, Mindelo, Porto Novo and San Nicolao in the archipelago island chain. 

Each of ships in Compagnie du Ponant’s chic fleet offer the essence of private luxury yachting, along with attentive service from a bi-lingual crew fluent in English and French, and refined culinary artistry.

Amenities and services on Le Soléal, Le Boréal and L’Austral also include:

• A choice of 132 luxurious staterooms or suites with sea views and private balconies, including the elite Deck 6 that is home to 13 spacious suites with 24-hour butler service
•  A welcoming main foyer with a boutique, reception desk and excursion desk
• Two restaurants, offering dining from casual to fine, complete with wine pairings and a fine wine cellar, a bar and lounge, and 24-hour in-room dining
• A full-service SOTHYSTM spa with signature treatments, hammam, hair salon, tea room and fitness center
• An outdoor pool with bar, panoramic terrace adjoining the indoor bar and lounge, library with Internet stations, medical center, WiFi, in-room and on-board flat screen satellite TV with complimentary on-demand movies
• A 250-seat theater for live entertainment, film screenings and presentations
• A fleet of expedition Zodiac boats outfitted with satellite tracking

To reserve or learn more, please call 1-888-400-1082 or visit http://en.ponant.com. To download the Winter 2013-2014 brochure, go to http://en.ponant.com/Brochures.

About Compagnie du Ponant

Since its founding by two Merchant Navy officers in 1988, Compagnie du Ponant has taken to the sea with intimate ships that offer the essence of private luxury yachting with inspired French sensibility and custom technology to preserve fragile marine ecosystems. This year, the cruise line is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the July 2013 launch of its fourth state-of-the-art vessel, the 132-stateroom Le Soléal, and introducing new itineraries in the Arctic and Asia.

Able to sail in waters not accessible to larger ships, the four sleek Compagnie du Ponant yachts visit exotic ports not found on many itineraries, allowing 64 to 264 guests to discover engaging new experiences aboard and ashore during 3- to 21-night cruises that span the globe. Options abound, from five-star polar expeditions, cultural cruises and ocean voyages to music - (jazz, classical, opera and more), golf- and culinary-themed cruises. All cruises feature attentive service from a convivial crew, luxuriously appointed staterooms and suites, gourmet cuisine and fine wine, and carefully curated excursions.

Compagnie du Ponant’s North American sales office is located at 2 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2470, Miami, Florida 33131. For reservations and more information, please call: 1-305-398-9849 or toll free: 1-888-400-1082; email: USreservations@ponant.com, or visit http://en.ponant.com.



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