Exploring Nordaustlandet with Ponant
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EXPLORING NORDAUSTLANDET WITH PONANT The Far North and the expanse of the Arctic polar world and its sea ice stretching all the way to the North Pole are yours to admire during an all-new 9-day exploratory cruise. With Ponant, discover these remote territories from the North of Spitsbergen to Nordaustlandet, a region inaccessible to traditional cruise ships at this time of year. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the first hybrid electric polar exploration ship, you will cross the magnificent landscapes of Kongsfjorden, then the Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park. You will then sail east to try to reach the shores of the Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve. This total immersion in the polar desert in search of the sea ice offers the promise of an unforgettable adventure. You will admire Europe’s largest ice cap and the impressive fjords that punctuate this icy landscape. You are entering the kingdom of the polar bear and will perhaps be lucky enough to spot a mother teaching her cub the secrets of hunting and survival. Your exploration amidst these remote lands continues to the east. Le Commandant Charcot will attempt to reach the easternmost island of the Svalbard archipelago, Kvitoya – the white island –, as its name indicates, entirely covered by the ice cap and overrun by walruses. The crossing of the Hinlopen Strait guarantees an exceptional panorama. Its basalt islets and its majestic glaciers hide a rich marine ecosystem: seabird colonies, walruses, polar bears and Arctic foxes come to feed here. 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Before your return to Longyearbyen, your ship will take you to thick-billed murres have taken up residence on the sheer cliffs. Isfjorden, one of Svalbard’s most imposing fjords, famous for You may even get the chance to see a bear or an Arctic fox sheltering many species of cetaceans. roaming in the vicinity. The exploration of these distant territories will give you a unique Days 6 - 7 SAILING IN THE HINLOPEN STRAIT feeling of having arrived at the end of the world aboard Le Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait, in the heart of the Arctic Ocean, Commandant Charcot, capable of reaching extreme sites, between the Norwegian islands of Spitsbergen and usually inaccessible at this time of the year. An unforgettable Nordaustlandet promises an unforgettable experience. This odyssey, during which your ship will reach 80 degrees north territory of the Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve offers latitude. breathtaking panoramas, with magnificent basalt formations and the ice cap stretching as far as the eye can see, diving into ITINERARY the sea. The shore line cut by the fjords moving inland Day 1 LONGYEARBYEN, SPITSBERGEN composes a magical landscape in which icebergs float here and Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard there, the result of the calving of the surrounding glaciers. This archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the place, today a popular spot to observe the seabirds nesting in northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter the enormous cliffs, polar bears and walruses, was once temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this intrinsically linked to the history of the whalers who frequented mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the the region from the 17th century. Indeed, it was one of them, mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the Thijmen Jacobsz Hinlopen, then director of a Dutch whaling untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely company, who gave the strait its name. Later on, Russian unexplored territory. trappers, European explorers, scientists and even mountaineers roamed this region, as hostile as it is sublime. Days 2 - 5 NORDAUST-SVALBARD NATURE RESERVE The Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve has been protecting the Day 8 NORDVEST-SPITSBERGEN NATIONAL PARK northernmost and coldest part of the archipelago, Like the other protected areas of Svalbard, the Nordaustlandet (North East Land), since 1973. This vast polar Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park was established in the early desert covered by two ice caps is the second largest island in 1970s to protect this exceptional environment against the the Svalbard archipelago. Protected by the Gulf Stream, the growing interest of the mining industry. Nunataks, glaciers, fjords and cliffs in the west and north are home to large islands and large bays, arctic tundra scattered with moss and colonies of birds and walruses. The landscapes in the colder lichen in shades of silver and gold... This region will fascinate east and south are dominated by imposing glaciers that calve you with its landscapes and with the numerous vestiges that majestic icebergs in the vast Hinlopen Strait. Large colonies of bear witness to the history of the men ─ whale hunters and those involved in the first expeditions to the North Pole ─ who 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com found themselves on these shores from the start of the 17th century. In this pristine environment, you will be able to observe arctic sterns or seals on the rocks that emerge at low tide. Day 9 LONGYEARBYEN, SPITSBERGEN 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. Please Note: We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation, mainly in the fjords, will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the coastal ice cannot be broken, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing programme, outings, activities and observation of fauna cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions. The experiences are unique and vary from day to day and for each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the AECO. 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com YOUR SHIP: LE COMMANDANT-CHARCOT YOUR SHIP: Le Commandant-Charcot VESSEL TYPE: LENGTH: PASSENGER CAPACITY: BUILT/REFURBISHED: With its hybrid propulsion combining liquefied natural gas (LNG) AREAS and electric generators, Le Commandant-Charcot has been Le Commandant-Charcot has many common areas that are designed to minimise the environmental impact of travel to the designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while furthest latitudes. preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 177 m² reception The decoration of the ship, designed by two internationally area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An expeditions desk, renowned design and architecture firms - the studio of The ship's administrative services, The sales office, manned by Jean-Philippe Nuel and Wilmotte & Associes - is designed to be our Hospitality & Travel Manager officer, Our boutique which in harmony with the environment. The approach is contemporary sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various with the desire to create a warm and elegant setting; stone, accessories, The image & photo desk. wood and leather recall the natural environment in which the The different lounges include a 302 m² main lounge including a ship is sailing. 28 m² cigar lounge, a tea corner and a bar, with live music on Equipped with just 135 staterooms including 31 suites with selected evenings, A 400 m² panoramic bar and lounge, An balconies and outside views, Le Commandant-Charcot open-air Bar. welcomes you in an intimate and refined atmosphere. The recreation spaces Outstanding gastronomy in the two restaurants, relaxation in the Fitness & Beauty Corner: Fitness room: Elliptic, running indoor pool surrounded by its winter garden, relaxation in the machines, bicycles... well-being area with sauna and Snow Room... Like on a private Beauty Corner: Hairdresser, Massage rooms, Sauna, Snow yacht, each of our guests is unique. Room, Nail Shop. PUBLIC Pool area: Indoor Pool and winter garden - Outdoor Pool Theatre: Capacity: 270-276 - Main show room for conferences 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com and live entertainment on selected evenings - State-of-the-art audio and video technology. Leisure area: Public areas - Library - Medical centre. 16 Zodiacs on board. 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com INSIDE YOUR SHIP OWNER'S SUITE PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 6 PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 7 PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 8 PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 7 PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 8 PRIVILEGE SUITE SUITE DUPLEX 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com PRICING 15-Jun-2022 to 23-Jun-2022 SUITE DUPLEX £32969 GBP pp PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 6 £13135 GBP pp PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 7 £13365 GBP pp PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 8 £13605 GBP pp OWNER'S SUITE £37639 GBP pp PRIVILEGE SUITE £23639 GBP pp PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 8 £22469 GBP pp PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 7 £21889 GBP pp ADDITIONAL CHARGES: Port Charges. From 590 AUD pp 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com.