Natural and Cultural Wonders of the Western Caribbean
* Subject to availability.
Special offer(s) :
FLIGHT CREDIT
$AUD 1300 flight credit per person on select cruises. This offer is subject to availability and may be changed or withdrawn without prior notice. It cannot be backdated.
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
- A cruise to four Central American countries: idyllic beaches, pre-Columbian sites, and discovery of the Garifuna culture.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Tikal by plane and the archaeological park and Mayan ruins of Quirigua from Santo Tomás de Castilla; the Mayan site of Copán from Puerto Cortés; the Belize Barrier Reef with Half Moon Caye and the Great Blue Hole.
- Swimming, snorkelling or scuba diving at the Great Blue Hole in Belize, one of the world’s ten most beautiful diving sites according to Captain Cousteau.
- The possibility of visiting Tulum and Muyil before your cruise.
- Discovering the town of Livingston, which can only be reached by sea.
- Staterooms & Suites
- LE CHAMPLAIN
- Port of call & excursions
- Formalities
- Scuba diving
- Guest(s) Lecturer(s)
- Pre/Post & Overlands
Staterooms & Suites
Deluxe Stateroom AU$4,730 Available Prestige stateroom Deck 4 AU$5,010 Available Prestige stateroom Deck 5 AU$5,160 Available Prestige Deck 6 AU$5,320 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 3 AU$8,340 Not Available Deluxe Suite Deck 5 AU$7,160 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 4 AU$8,340 Not Available Deluxe Suite Deck 6 AU$7,160 Available Prestige Suite Deck 5 AU$10,280 Available Prestige Suite Deck 6 AU$10,590 Available Privilege Suite Deck 6 AU$10,890 Available Privilege Suite Deck 5 AU$10,890 Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 5 AU$13,130 Not Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6 AU$13,130 Not Available Owner's Suite AU$13,520 Not Available
LE CHAMPLAIN
LE CHAMPLAIN
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 second ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Champlain 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
Puerto Morelos
Embarkation 04/01/2020 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 04/01/2020 at 22H00 .North of the Mexican Riviera Maya that runs along the Yucatán Peninsula, Puerto Morelos is a charming fishing village with an authentic atmosphere, its white sandy beaches scattered with thatched huts and colourful boats. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea shelter a marine park that protects part of the Mesoamerican reef, considered the second-biggest barrier reef in the world. A few kilometres south, you’ll be able to discover the Maya site of Tulum. Overlooking idyllic beaches of white sand fringed with palm trees, it is the only Maya site erected on the Caribbean Sea coast.
5 January 2020 – At sea
Arrival 05/01/2020. Departure 05/01/2020.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.
6 January 2020 – Puerto Cortés
Arrival 06/01/2020 early morning. Departure 06/01/2020 evening.In the hollow of the Gulf of Honduras, Puerto Cortés is the largest seaport in this country, which only recently opened up to tourism but possesses many natural and cultural riches. Its 650 km of coastline on the Caribbean Sea are bordered with sandbanks and deltas of small coastal rivers, while its waters have many reefs and cays to explore. Puerto Cortés is the departure point for discovering the impressive San Fernando de Omoa fortress, which was built in brick and coral by the Spanish authorities in the middle of the 18th century and is now a museum of history and archaeology.
7 January 2020 – Santo Tomás de Castilla
Arrival 07/01/2020 early morning. Departure 07/01/2020 evening.A port city located in the north-east of Guatemala, on the coast of the Amatique Bay, Santo Tomás de Castilla offers exceptional access to the fabulous Mayan archaeological site of Quiriguá. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, this place takes you back in time, deep into a décor of ruins and vestiges from the 8th century. Another unmissable visit is to the San Felipe fortress. Built at the end of the 16th Century by the Spanish to protect the villages on the shores of Lake Izabal from pirate attacks, it offers the opportunity to discover an example of colonial military architecture and to enjoy unspoiled views over the Dulce River and the surrounding environment.
8 January 2020 – Livingston
Arrival 08/01/2020 early morning. Departure 08/01/2020 late afternoon.Livingston is a town unlike any other in Guatemala, an enclave with a Caribbean atmosphere on the edge of the Rio Dulce. Lanchas, the motor boats that travel along the river and the Caribbean Sea, are the only way of reaching this small, welcoming town with no overland access to the rest of the country. Here, you are in Garifuna country: the inhabitants, descendent from Jamaican slaves, perpetuate their culture through oral tradition and ceremonies. Garifuna music, which is lively and sounds similar in some respects to reggae, and Garifuna dance, to the beat of drums, have both been classified by UNESCO as “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.
9 January 2020 – Belize City
Arrival 09/01/2020 early morning. Departure 09/01/2020 early evening.Belize City is the former capital and the country’s largest town. Located on the Caribbean Sea, this lively little town symbolises the fusion of British, Spanish and Maya cultures. The departure point for flights over the Great Blue Hole and the barrier reef, it’s also the ideal gateway for discovering the treasures of Maya architecture: in the heart of the jungle, the grandiose and mysterious ruins of temples and palaces at the Lamanai and Xunantunich sites await you. Another unmissable experience: a trip to the mouth of the Belize River: with a little luck and care, you’ll get a glimpse of manatees, dolphins, crocodiles, iguanas and many aquatic bird species.
10 January 2020 – Half Moon Caye
Arrival 10/01/2020 early morning. Departure 10/01/2020 midday.The tropical green crescent of Half Moon Caye is a natural monument of Belize stretching out over crystal-clear waters. The appeal of the oldest protected marine and ornithological area in Central America stems from its beaches lined with coconut trees, but most importantly from its incredible underwater world, which you will be able to explore with fins, mask and snorkel. Corals, sponges, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, eels and groupers live in the turquoise waters, while on land the coastal forest is home to amusing geckos and a large colony of red-footed boobies, spectacular divers that penetrate the water at high speed to feed on small fish and squid.
Puerto Morelos
Disembarkation 11/01/2020 at 08H30 .North of the Mexican Riviera Maya that runs along the Yucatán Peninsula, Puerto Morelos is a charming fishing village with an authentic atmosphere, its white sandy beaches scattered with thatched huts and colourful boats. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea shelter a marine park that protects part of the Mesoamerican reef, considered the second-biggest barrier reef in the world. A few kilometres south, you’ll be able to discover the Maya site of Tulum. Overlooking idyllic beaches of white sand fringed with palm trees, it is the only Maya site erected on the Caribbean Sea coast.
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.
- 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 | CERTIFIED DIVES | INITIATION DIVES |
HONDURAS - Puerto Cortes | YES | YES |
GUATEMALA - Santo Tomás de Castilla | NO | NO |
GUATEMALA - Livingston | NO | NO |
BELIZE- Belize City | YES | YES |
BELIZE-Half Moon Cay | YES | YES |
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
Guest(s) Lecturer(s)
Alain Choquette
Born in Quebec, Alain Choquette dreams of becoming a famous magician from his earliest age. Specialised in “close-up magic”, he handles card tricks with skill and bases his shows on a close collaboration with his audience. With humour and poetry, Alain Choquette offers another approach to magic while collaborating with renowned artists like the famous magician David Copperfield.
In his early stages, Alain presented his close-up magic tricks to the most popular talk show in Quebec television "Ad Lib". Starting from 1993, he multiplied performances in Quebec and in the United States. His first show “Première apparition” was a great success in Montreal with 200 performances within two years.
This dazzling celebrity brought him then to the American stages. He was invited to participate in the TV special "World's Greatest Magic" broadcast by NBC and watched by over 26 million viewers, and then to join the American tour 50th anniversary of the prestigious Radio City Music Hall in New York.
In 2003, he presented “Alain Choquette et compagnie” at the Casino of Montreal, and mystified Montrealers with “La Disparition des Douze” in which he removed 12 randomly selected people within the public. This trick gave him a worldwide reputation.
Alain Choquette crossed the Atlantic in 2013 to seduce the French audience through his participation at the Comedy Magic Show of Arturo Brachetti. He came back to France in late 2014, and since then has been presenting his new show “Drôlement magique” across the country.
Languages spoken: French, English
Photo credit: Michel Cloutier
Possibility of withdrawal in case of force majeure.
Pre/Post & Overlands
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Before your cruise
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After your cruise
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During your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy
Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.
Travellers are advised to check all the information with the authorities concerned prior to the departure date. Ponant advises Travellers to consult the country factsheets relating to the chosen destinations. Ponant specifically draws Travellers' attention to the fact that the information provided may change up until the departure date, and they are advised to consult that information up until the time of departure. CDP invites Travellers to adjust their behavior to the visited country, to exercise vigilance and to avoid carrying valuable objects during their travel.
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