Ponant Latest Topics

Le Dumant d'Urville Cancelled Aug 2021

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 11:47:18 +0000

Received official notification that this voyage has been cancelled. It was from Reykjavik to Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It feels like this year may be a repeat of 2020 with ongoing cancellations. Here's hoping for something interesting to book for 2022.

Ponant Given Permission to Resume Operations in New Zealand beginning February 2021

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:34:06 +0000

A new article on Cruise Critic states that Ponant has been granted conditional approval to send its small-scale luxury expedition vessel, Le Laperouse, to New Zealand to restart operations exclusively for New Zealanders beginning February 2021:

Small Ship Cruise Lines Slowly Resume Operations in Australia, New Zealand

Kimberly cruising

Sat, 04 May 2019 21:54:00 +0000

Does anybody was with Ponant on Kimberly cruising in Australia ? Any tips ?

NEED A FAIR REFUND POLICY DUE TO VIRUS

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 02:37:42 +0000

This cruise line needs to look at what the rest of the industry is doing and allow for refunds for those who are booked who will be at risk if they travel or cruise which is anyone over 60 according to the CDC. This cruise line needs to change its policy now.

Le Jacques Cartier Iceland August 2021 cancelled

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:46:53 +0000

More bad news. From my TA...

"Please see below and attached your booking moved from August 11-18, 2021 on Le Jacques Cartier to August 13-20, 2021 on Le Champlain. The itinerary, fare, and duration are the same but Ponant upgraded you to a Deck 5 Prestige Stateroom from Deck 4. Final payment is May 15, 2021. Ponant advises guests to contact their air carrier to make any necessary changes. Please let me know if you have any questions."

Looks like I will have to cancel. My second dose VAX is in July. And, I will probably still have to quarantine/test outgoing and return. Not good.

Home-Porting out of BARBADOS, Lesser Antilles!

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 20:27:28 +0000

The news came thru just now.

Le Dumont-d’Urville will be sailing from our Bridgetown Port!

Check it out here:

https://www.nationnews.com/2021/02/13/ponant-homeport-barbados/

Le Champlain schedule puzzle

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:57:01 +0000

Curiously Ponant's website is showing the dates for two Le Champlain sailings that are overlapping:

The first is Iceland Mosaic, Reykjavik to Reykjavik 7 nights, 8/20/2021 to 8/27/2021.

The second (and the one we are booked on) Greenland and Newfoundland, Reykjavik to St Pierre and Miquelon 10 nights, 8/22/2021 to 9/1/2021.

Perhaps we are we missing something obvious?

Tahiti closes borders to all tourists starting Feb 3, 2021.

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 17:47:48 +0000

From the Tahiti Tourism Board:

https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/covid-19/

Le Laperouse: February 8 2021 Sub-Antarctic Islands from AKL, 14 days

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 21:41:49 +0000

Ponant's "Le Bellot" has scheduled cruises in New Zealand waters from December 2020 until March 2021, but she will remain in Marseilles to cruise in northern waters once ports in the Mediterranean are re-opened. "Le LaPerouse" has been anchored off Noumea, New Caledonia, for many months, and is currently in Singapore getting its electric engine system upgraded. She will soon take on crew and head for Auckland, New Zealand, so that she can Quarantine for three weeks during December 2020 before commencing a re-organized schedule which will include a couple of trips lasting 14 days down to the Sub-Antarctic Islands.

Lorna and Donald Simpson (Masterton, New Zealand) have booked on the second expedition "down south" into the Roaring 40s, the Filthy 50s and the Abominable 60s to view the numerous islands with their bird life, seals, penguins, albatrosses, et cetera. Most will be "visited" by Zodiac without landing to view seals frolicking in the kelp and seeing summer flowers on the grassland and in native forests. The first expedition concludes in Dunedin, but ours disembarks on Monday 22nd February 2021 in Lyttleton, not far from Christchurch, so we will fly from there to Wellington/WGN and head home by afternoon train.

These cruises are for New Zealand citizens and residents only, as nobody from North America will be permitted to fly to Aotearoa/ New Zealand until 2023 or perhaps 2024, due to CoVid-19 restrictions. Some Australians might be permitted, as flights from Melbourne (Victoria) are due to re-commence on Monday 9th November 2020 (but many parts of Australia are not yet CoVid-free).

Anybody else due to be on this expedition cruise can contact us on DANDLSIMPSON/ dandlsimpson at xtra dot co dot nz

We are experienced cruisers and worldwide travellers, having lived and taught in several countries, despite being native-born Kiwis.

Cancelled: July 7- 20 '21 Manila-Darwin on Le Laperouse

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 21:53:05 +0000

Just received word from our TA, the July 7-20, 2021cruise from Manila to Darwin on Le Laperouse has been cancelled.

Ponant has offered a future cruise credit plus 20% or a full refund of the deposit paid; however, noting it would take several months for us to receive it!

We opted to get our money back....now the fun begins!

Ponant March/April 2021 Australia cruises

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 04:33:17 +0000

Has anyone heard anything about the West coast of Australia April 2021 cruise?

Ponant January & February Cruises Officially Canceled

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 12:46:31 +0000

Here is the list of January / February cruises. All have been cancelled — three Paul Gauguin sailings are “confirmed’ in March.

https://fr.calameo.com/read/000132423cf461dcaf716?authid=BIZNrwBnxZY5&fbclid=IwAR3rpCjGU_8B_43woFlIFr1Hh5uUORGMDblK5v2kNlF_Yjq19Y4OlreSA3I

Edie Rodriguez Sighting

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 18:55:32 +0000

Remember Edie Rodriguez? Former CEO who left Crystal Cruises to become Americas Brand Chairman and Corporate Special Advisor for Ponant Cruises in 2017. Maybe I missed something, but I haven't heard anything about her since.

But she turned up last week in an article about Larry Pimentel getting a lifetime achievement award:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/tpg-lifetime-achievement-award-2020-larry-pimentel/

What's the latest Ponant booking/payment policy???

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 04:08:38 +0000

Just checking...

https://us.ponant.com/stress-free-booking-conditions

According to the above 'stress free' policy, final payment is 30 days before departure. Any cancellation by us before FP converts our deposit to FCC.

After FP, we get a FCC or refund only if we test positive. Or, if Ponant cancels.

What's the situation with the Schengen restrictions to Americans and Canadians? The European border is closed to us.

Do we automatically get a FCC or refund after FP, if the border is still closed? Anyone have experience?

Ponant Just Canceled Le Bellot New Zealand Jan. 30, 2021 Cruise

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 21:16:44 +0000

My TA just called to say that Ponant has finally canceled our Le Bellot New Zealand Jan. 30, 2021 cruise. This is the second cancellation, so we are demanding our money back. Will update this thread with developments...

Good News re Ponant Payment Policy

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 17:26:21 +0000

I'm booked on the Jan. 30, 2021 New Zealand cruise on Le Bellot – the cruise isn't going to happen, but I don't blame Ponant for holding onto hope because I really would prefer to go than to have it cancelled. But I was unhappy that final payment is coming up on Nov. 1.

So I'm happy to report that my TA checked and was told that they have changed the final payment to Dec. 31. I don't know if this is because she asked or if it is a new general policy. But at least we know that you can get a 30-day final payment date!

Ponant shuts down its fleet for several months but wants to preserve employment (in French)

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 04:48:40 +0000

Summary:

After the epidemic on Le Jacques Cartier, Ponant has stopped all operations for a reevaluation of the COVID protocols and hope to resume sailing Spring 2021.

In the meantime, 750 or their normal contingent of 1750 crew members will remain on the payroll to maintain the ships.

https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/ponant-met-sa-flotte-larret-pour-plusieurs-mois-et-tente-de-preserver-lemploi

Ponant Suspends "All Northern Hemisphere Cruises" Through End of 2020

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 03:14:19 +0000

** Ponant Suspends Through End of 2020

On November 19, the French line Ponant announced that it would suspend all northern hemisphere cruises through the end of 2020.

"The safety and security of passengers, crew members and the locals of the regions visited remains PONANT's priority," the line said in a statement.

Passeengers on cancelled voyages will receive a credit of 120 percent of the amount paid, which can be applied to a future sailing.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/5713/

Ponant Cruise Ship Disembarks Passengers in France After COVID-19 Outbreak

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 04:06:10 +0000

New article on Cruise Critic:

Ponant Cruise Ship Disembarks Passengers in France After COVID-19 Outbreak

Ponant Posts Major Schedule Update September - December 2020

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 12:44:13 +0000

Ponant has posted a major schedule update for the rest of this year (and into 2021 for some cruises).

Major changes I noticed:

- Caribbean and Central American cruises on Dumont d'Urville & Champlain cancelled

- French Polynesian cruises continue on Paul Gauguin & Soleal

- Earlier Argentine cruises under review

- Seychelles still on schedule operated by Champlain. Ponant says they are discussing with Seychelles government

https://fr.calameo.com/read/000132423cf461dcaf716?authid=BIZNrwBnxZY5&fbclid=IwAR3rbqUhzDlQCmgPPNqFR7XPgxyQNMA3yoB8CiTr_rOIHdgLr1mt8lyU0AE

Le Soleal has left Papeete

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 19:23:50 +0000

She left PPT at 7:25 am this morning and is currently halfway between Moorea and Tetiaroa and now on a heading of 17 degrees which would point toward Rangiroa. . Much of the client based crew members from the PG are on-board. Will be interesting to hear some feedback over the coming weeks.

LE CHAMPLAIN maiden call at Piraeus

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 10:53:02 +0000

Even built some years ago LE CHAMPLAIN made her maiden call at Piraeus just few days ago during this peculiar year

Ponant Webinar Oct. 15 (in French)

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 21:13:10 +0000

From the Ponant French website [this screenshot benefited from Google Translate]:

Ponant New Brochure April – November 2021?

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:47:56 +0000

Ponant sent me an email showing the "New Brochure Summer 2021 Collection – Cruises from April to November 2021"

but the link goes to a brochure for March to November 2021 so it may not be the revised version yet:

https://en.calameo.com/read/00013242395d18c8ace3d

Where is Boreal?

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 03:17:55 +0000

Le Boreal was stuck in Svalbard for the longest time. It now seems to be sporadically showing that it's in western Russia. Is this right. How did it get there? Did it go through the northwest passage? I can't see an AIS track through Panama or anywhere near Canada?