Between Martinique & Panama
* Subject to availability.
Special offer(s) :
FLIGHT CREDIT
$AUD 1300 flight credit per person on select cruises. This offer is valid until June 30, 2019, is subject to availability and may be changed or withdrawn without prior notice. It cannot be backdated.
FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT *
*The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and staterooms categories.
CONSECUTIVE CRUISES
Take advantage of our special consecutive cruises offers*
-When this cruise is in 2nd position get a -20% discount
-When this cruise is in 3rd position get a -30% discount
- When this cruise is in 4th position get a -40% discount
- When this cruise is in 5th position get a -50% discount
- When this cruise is in 6th position get a -60% discount
*Reduction does not apply to the first cruise and relates to the port/port fare excluding port taxes, non available for Ocean Voyages and subject to availability. The offer is only available on selected cruises. Please, contact us.
Highlights
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Saint Lucia’s volcanic Pitons ; Cartagena de Indias, an old colonial city.
- Discovering the Los Roques archipelago, a paradise for sea turtles.
- Zodiac® excursions and discovering the stunning San Blas Islands.
- An extraordinary encounter with the Kuna Indians, a warrior tribe of the San Blas archipelago.
- Possibility of diving (PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent) with an experienced instructor on board.
- Lecturers on board, selected for their areas of expertise.
- Staterooms & Suites
- LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE
- Port of call & excursions
- Formalities
- Scuba diving
- Pre/Post & Overlands
Staterooms & Suites
Deluxe Stateroom AU$5,030 Available Prestige Deck 4 AU$5,320 Available Prestige Deck 5 AU$5,480 Available Prestige Deck 6 AU$5,640 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 5 AU$9,870 Not Available Deluxe Suite Deck 3 AU$7,570 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 4 AU$7,570 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 6 AU$9,870 Not Available Prestige Deck 5 Suite AU$10,810 Available Prestige Deck 6 Suite AU$14,620 Not Available Privilege Suite Deck 6 AU$11,460 Available Privilege Suite Deck 5 AU$11,460 Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6 AU$11,800 Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 5 AU$11,800 Available Owner's Suite AU$15,970 Available
LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE
LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE
Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.
As the fourth ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Dumont d'Urville will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.
Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.
Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.
Port of call & excursions
Fort-de-France
Embarkation 07/12/2019 from 18H00 to 19H00 . Departure 07/12/2019 at 23H30 .Located on the western coast of Martinique, Fort-de-France will amaze you by the splendour of its bay, a magnificent cut-out in the coastline, considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. At the harbour mouth, on its strip of land, fort Saint-Louis overlooks the capital city of Martinique. If you climb up to it, you can see some breath-taking views. Saint Louis Cathedral and the Schoelcher library bear witness to a secular history, intimately linked to the island’s story. Why not try some fresh coconut at the colourful Grand Marché. Two really pleasant places you can take a breather in, right in the heart of the city, are the garden of Balata and the Aimé Césaire park.
8 December 2019 – Soufrière
Arrival 08/12/2019 early morning. Departure 08/12/2019 late evening.Nestled in the crook of a breath-taking bay, the former capital of St Lucia is brimming with attractions. Soufrière is famous for The Pitons, volcanic spires that tower over the entrance to the town, and you will fall in love with its authentic Creole charm and warm friendly atmosphere. As well as diving and swimming off exquisite beaches, don't miss Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens for the mineral baths, one of the natural wonders of the Caribbean.
9 December 2019 – Mayreau Island
Arrival 09/12/2019 early morning. Departure 09/12/2019 early afternoon.Among the string of paradisiac islands with their white sandy beaches that form the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines archipelago, Mayreau is the smallest. Its peaceful and idyllic atmosphere, far from the madding crowd, invites you to relax. Onshore, make the most of a shaded and fully equipped beach, from where you’ll be able to set off snorkelling to explore superb coral gardens overflowing with life and colour.
10 December 2019 – La Blanquilla Island
Arrival 10/12/2019 early morning. Departure 10/12/2019 late afternoon.A trip to Venezuela is a truly original interlude, surrounded by untamed nature where adventure is the watchword... The longest Caribbean coastline in South America awaits you in the North of the country, where endless pristine, sun-kissed beaches make the traveler feel that they have arrived in paradise. A nature reserve with exceptional coral reefs, the elegant island of Blanquilla is an ideal destination for divers or those who simply love to swim in crystal waters surrounded by multicoloured fish. A fan-shaped paradise surrounded by an emerald sea, do not miss this stopover of matchless charm.
11 December 2019 – Los Roques Archipelago
Arrival 11/12/2019 early morning. Departure 11/12/2019 early evening.A journey to Venezuela is a real break from routine, at the heart of a wild natural environment where adventure is the watchword. The longest Caribbean coastline of the South American continent awaits you to the north of the country, where long unspoiled sunkissed beaches give the traveller the impression that they have entered paradise. The Nature Reserve of Los Roques National Park is a 100 km² lagoon with more than 300 islands, islets and sand banks. Protected by a great coral reef, caressed by the gentle breeze of the trade winds, these islands with their unique beauty offer travellers their emerald water. Do not miss this port of call of incomparable charm.
12 December 2019 – Bonaire
Arrival 12/12/2019 early morning. Departure 12/12/2019 late afternoon.Surrounded by a barrier reef and a marine sanctuary, Bonaire is a true paradise for divers. This peaceful and preserved little island is renowned all over the world for its coral reefs, which are directly accessible from the beach, providing a unique sensation of freedom. Discover magnificent marine fauna and flora while snorkelling or diving in its turquoise waters. The Washington Slagbaai National Park in the north of the island is home to many birds. It is the most important breeding site in the south Caribbean for the pink flamingo, the island’s emblematic animal.
13 December 2019 – At sea
Arrival 13/12/2019. Departure 13/12/2019.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.
14 December 2019 – Cartagena
Arrival 14/12/2019 early morning. Departure 14/12/2019 evening.A splendid harbour city in the north of Columbia, a source of inspiration for the Columbian writer Gabriel García Márquez, Cartagena will win you over with its well-preserved colonial architecture, and warm friendly atmosphere. You can visit the sumptuous UNESCO World Heritage fortified historical centre whose churches and houses have magnificent multi-coloured façades. A witness of Spanish domination, the San Felipe de Barajas fortress stands on top of a hill from where you can admire views over the whole city. The Las Bóvedas neighbourhood will charm you with its arcades, used as prison cells during the 19th century civil wars.
15 December 2019 – San Blas Islands
Arrival 15/12/2019 midday. Departure 15/12/2019 mid afternoon.Located on the north-east coast of Panamá, the San Blas archipelago is a string of coral islands that graces the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Over 300 islands and cays covering an area of 300 square kilometres offer travellers a multitude of treasures. Sheltered behind a long coral reef, the San Blas Islands are full of paradisiac anchorages. The long sandy white beaches bounded by crystal clear waters will allow you to relax and enjoy an incredible marine fauna before discovering the Kunas Indian community. Still feeding off hunting and fishing, they will welcome you in their villages of bamboo houses gathered near the beaches.
Colón
Disembarkation 16/12/2019 at 07H00 .Colón is the second largest city in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Colón is today an important port, and the free trade zone created in 1953 contributed greatly to the development of the city. Colón was founded in 1850 by Americans working on the Panama railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts through the isthmus of Panama; the city rapidly overshadowed the older Caribbean ports of Panama when the canal opened.
Formalities
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot’s licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.
In order to participate in diving sessions, guests must have with them a medical certificate less than 1 year old and their up to date dive book.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving
Fauna and flora of the Caribbean Sea
The fauna of the Caribbean Sea is very varied. During the different dives, divers can observe various species of benthic fauna such as French angel fish, queen angel fish, spotted drums, puffer fish, parrots fish, and pelagic fauna such as spotted eagle ray, barracudas, horse eyes jackfish, as well as fixed wildlife such as gorgonians and barrel sponges.
Supervision of the dives
Your dives will be led by your PONANT instructor. He will take care of your safety and that all goes smoothly. On some diving sites, as in natural reserves or if the local regulations require it, a local guide will escort the diving.
Level required for scuba diving on this cruise
The minimum level required for scuba diving on this cruise is 1star CMAS or the PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent). The certification card, the diving log book and a recent medical certificate (less than 12 months) must be presented at the beginning of the cruise to our main diving instructor.
Process of the dives (certified divers)
The instructor can dive with 4 certified divers at a time. The instructor reserves the right to check divers’ ability for maximum safety. As we will dive in remote places, the dives will be done without decompression stop. A safety stop of 3 minutes at 5 metres will be mandatory. The depth that can be reached will depend on the certification of the divers:
- For those with PADI Open Water Diver certificate (or equivalent), the maximum depth can be up to 20 metres.
- For those with PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certificate (or equivalent), the maximum depth can be up to 25 metres.
- If two PADI Advanced Open Water Divers (or equivalent) wish to dive together independently, they must have a briefing first. They must have dive computers and are allowed to go to a maximum depth of 20 metres.
Process of the initiation dives (novice divers)
Before your initiation dive, your instructor will show you the equipment and will explain to you how to communicate underwater using hand gestures and how to breathe through a regulator. Once in the water, equipped with your material, you will learn how to breathe through your regulator on the surface for a couple of minutes. When your instructor feels you are ready, he will immerse you in water for about 20 minutes to a depth of 6 metres maximum.
Duration of the dives
The diving activity lasts from 2 to 3 hours, which includes the journey to the diving site and the diving. This duration may vary according to the site, the level of divers, weather conditions and the number of participants. For experienced divers, the duration of dives varies between 35 and 60 minutes depending on the site, the diver’s experience and consumption.
Supplied equipment
- Diving wetsuit
- Stabilising jacket
- Fins, mask and snorkel
- Regulator with octopus and pressure gauge
- Diving computer (for divers mastering their use)
Scuba diving activities on this cruise
PORTS OF CALL | DIVES (for certified divers) | Discover scuba diving (for beginners) |
ST LUCIA - Soufriere | YES | YES |
ST VINCENT & The Grenadines – Mayreau Island | NO | YES |
VENEZUELA – La Blanquilla | YES | YES |
VENEZUELA – Los Roques | YES | YES |
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - Bonaire | YES | NO |
COLOMBIA - Cartagena | YES | NO |
PANAMA – San Blas Acuatupu | NO | NO |
These sites are indicative. The proposed diving excursions may be changed depending on weather and safety conditions and the number of divers.
Rates
Price per person
- Initiation dive:
- Introductory dive (1 dive): € 80
- Ponant Discovery Pack (2 dives): € 150
- Certified dive:
- Exploration (1 dive) : € 80
- Excellence Package (3 dives) : € 225
- Passion Package (6 dives) : €420
Pre/Post & Overlands
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Before your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy
