PONANT Expeditions 2016_2018 collection

EXPEDITION COLLECTION by | 1
E X P E D I T I O N
C O L L E C T I O N
November 2016 - March 2018

2 | RESERVATIONS & INFORMATION CALL 1 888 400 1082 OR YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR • VISIT WWW.PONANT.COM

Dear Traveler,
The Earth shapes us. Water and stone give rise to glaciers and
orchids, desert islands and rain forests. We sculpt ourselves to
these landscapes. We become myriad, amid these myriad forms.
Too often, we see too little—our vision and experiences dulled by
a blizzard of media and technology. This coming year, let’s open
the aperture. Let’s challenge ourselves to experience the natural
world at its most far-flung, exotic, sublime, and vibrantly real.
The Chilean fjords, the Scattered Islands off Madagascar, the
Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea—these are places straight
out of a nature documentary. We’ll take Zodiac landing craft to
the ternflocked islands and the penguinmassed coasts, wend
into an Amazonian rivulet, round a bonesand African island,
with expert naturalists at the helm.
And then we’ll return each day to our well-appointed home
aboard a PONANT ship. Our sister ships, L’Austral, Le Boréal,
Le Lyrial, and Le Soléal, offer a fundamentally different experience
from anything you’d expect of stereotypical cruising. Each is
a five-star small ship for up to 264 guests, with the elegance
of contemporary French design, cuisine, service, and luxury
accommodations. Yet they’re meant for getting closer to the rain
forests, the unpopulated islands, closer to the distant spaces that
few people see. There is simply no more perfect blend of luxury
and cutting-edge ship technology available, bringing the ultimate
in comfort and refinement to the world’s most extreme corners.
Our attention to detail, with a light touch, extends to our
sensitivity for the environment, and the environments and
cultures of the indigenous populations we will meet. We are
profoundly committed to preserving the environments in which
we travel, with all of our sister ships designated internationally
as Clean Ships. We operate with the understanding that the
destinations we’re sailing to are some of the last unspoiled
places on Earth—and that it is our responsibility that they
remain pristine, preserved, and unadulterated by our presence.
This coming year, we’d love to have you aboard for a revelatory
experience of lands upon the distant seas.
Sincerely,
Navin Sawhney
CEO, Americas

4 | RESERVATIONS & INFORMATION CALL 1 888 400 1082 OR YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR • VISIT WWW.PONANT.COM
Awaken Your Sense of Wonder  
Humans are by nature curious. We are knowledge-seekers. We conquer final frontiers. We endeavor to be The
First. Centuries of explorers can attest to this curiosity, as they set off to brave terra incognita in the furthest
reaches of our planet. Whatever goal drove the early adventurers—scientific discovery, a search party, an untold
fortune, glory for themselves or their country—their journeys all began with one question: What will I find? And
they explored to discover the answer.
When you find yourself asking that question, an expedition cruise is the platform for discovering your
answer. While a traditional cruise focuses inward, to what’s happening aboard the ship; an expedition cruise
focuses outwards, to what’s happening outside. Nature is your entertainer. Discovery is your purpose.
Like-minded travelers are your comrades in arms. Learning—about a new land, a new animal species,
a new culture, about the Earth itself—is at the forefront. While on expedition there is always a
larger intention.
Discoveries are out there, and it is PONANT’s mission to take you to them. Every expedition cruise—whether you
venture to the poles or the tropics—is framed by six key elements:
• Exploration. On expedition you are always exploring, and many times navigating uncharted regions. You can
be as active as you like to be—the only requirement is that, much like the early explorers, you are adventurous
in spirit.
• Proximity. PONANT’s unique itineraries access to the most remote, pristine destinations on the planet. Often
we are the only people there. Our ships bring you close to the action...and our Zodiacs make you a part of it.
• Spontaneity Flexibility. An expedition puts you in the right place at the right time, and Mother Nature does
the rest. With small ships and an adventurous mindset, we have the flexibility to make the most of a situation
or opportunity.
• Talent Tools. PONANT employs the best captains, crew, staff, and naturalists working in the industry today.
Our team has the experience to know the inherent risks of expedition cruising, and how to avoid them. And
PONANT invests in state-of-the-art technology and equipment, so we can always explore safely.
• Respect. It’s a somber truth that many of the most precious places on Earth are the ones most impacted
by climate change and similar pressures of encroaching civilization. We all understand this concept in the
abstract, but after an expedition experience, the protection of these lands becomes personal. Travel bestows
an appreciation of nature’s delicate balance.
• Ease. PONANT expeditions are all-inclusive. Once onboard, all shore excursions, Zodiac outings, and naturalist
lecturers are offered without additional charge. There will be no barriers between you and the experience of
a lifetime.

A Tradition of Excellence  
PONANT was founded more than 25 years ago by two young officers of the French Merchant Marines, including
current CEO Jean Emmanuel Sauvee. In 1999, we commenced operating in the Arctic and Antarctic. Today we are
the world leader in polar cruising, taking more guests into the Earth’s most extreme regions than any other cruise
ship company.
Seventeen years and over 330 departures after that initial expedition, our mission remains constant: to deliver
extraordinary experiences and lifelong memories in fascinating and distant destinations.
“There are two ways of accessing [remote regions]: one way is to form part of the elite group
of researchers and scientists who preserve access to the scientific bases—and the other is
sailing with PONANT, as we offer our passengers the chance to enjoy a unique experience
aboard ships whose smaller size allows us to access exceptional sites. Over the years, our
privileged passengers have become veritable ambassadors for the protection of the oceans
and the fragile environment of these icy regions.”
—Jean Emmanuel Sauvee, PONANT CEO

6 | RESERVATIONS INFORMATION CALL 1 888 400 1082 OR YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR • VISIT WWW.PONANT.COM
ARCTIC
page 48
THE AMAZON
ORINOCO
page 82
CHILEAN FJORDS
PATAGONIA
page 82
ANTARCTICA
page 18
CLEAN SHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ADVANCED ENGINEERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
EXPEDITION TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
EXPEDITION CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
ANTARCTICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
THE KIMBERLEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
ARCTIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
CONTENTS

SPITSBERGEN
page 48
THE PACIFIC
page 64
INDONESIA
page 64
THE KIMBERLEY
page 36
NEW
ZEALAND
page 64
THE SEYCHELLES
page 94
MADAGASCAR
page 94
PACIFIC OCEANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
SOUTH AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
THE SEYCHELLES, SCATTERED ISLANDS MADAGASCAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
OUR FLEET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
INCLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
TERMS CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
PONANT YACHT CLUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Discover the World’s Treasures by Sea

PONANT vessels have been carefully designed to offer the highest standards of luxury, and of
safety—both for our guests and for the natural environment. Preserving fragile climates is a founding
principle of PONANT, and our shared obligation wherever we voyage.
The World’s Most
Beautiful Places
Deserve to Stay Unspoiled

THE CLEAN SHIPS OF PONANT
PONANT’s vessels are the only ships in their class to be certified “Clean Ships” by Bureau Veritas, one
of the world’s foremost stewards of ecologically sound travel. We’ve designed our ships with innovative
technologies so that our human footprint is as small as possible. These state-of-the-art systems and
processes ensure that we can:
• Run silent, run clean. A silent electric propulsion
system cuts carbon emissions by 40%, and
prevents us from interrupting whale songs.
• Rest without an anchor. A sophisticated GPS and
propulsionsystem,calledDynamicPositioning,can
keepusinafixedlocationontheseas withoutneed
ofananchor.Sowewon’trudelycrashanoctopus’s
garden party.
• Responsibly treat all water. PONANT vessels
are engineered with advanced systems for
conserving, filtering, treating, and recycling all
water we use.
• Carbon-scrub what’s left. When oceans
absorb carbon dioxide, they get more acidic.
Shellfish don’t like that. That’s why we treat our
wastewater with advanced filtration systems.
• Never litter. All wastes aboard ship are sorted,
compacted, and stored for recycling ashore.
• Travel light. CFR and LED lighting throughout
our ships uses just 10% of the electrical power of
older, more traditional systems.
• Sea clearly. Advanced sonar provides the
bridge with rolling 3D views of the ocean floor,
icebergs, and ice floes, and allows us to keep
our distance from marine animals.

Our sister ships, L’Austral, Le Boréal, Le Lyrial, and Le Soléal, have all been designed with one idea at their
heart: discovery and inspiration in the furthest reaches of the planet’s seas.
We’ll be able to safely edge right up to ice floes, sea life, and the smallest islands, with a shallow draft plus
forward-facing sonar to guide us. We’ll be able to dash on to Zodiac landing craft at a moment’s notice,
with a marine launch on the ship’s stern for easy embarkation. Even in choppy waters, we’ll cruise steady
with the equipped fin stabilizers. Whales and other sea life will remain safe around us—and us, around
them—with an underwater detection system.
Together with our ships’ state-of-the-art green technologies, these engineering aspects ensure a voyage
filled with adventure, without compromising either safety or comfort.
Advanced Engineering
for Luxurious Discovery

Safety first.
CUTTING-EDGETECHNOLOGY
The magic of a PONANT expedition is our
ability to transport a cocoon of luxury into
the most challenging natural environments.
So our ships are built with ice-strengthened
hulls, to brave the sea ice of polar waters.
The captain always has a superb view of
underwater terrain thanks to advanced sonar
systems. Satellite weather systems allow
us to anticipate inclement weather and, on
occasion, avoid it or adapt our expedition
schedules on the fly. Six independent, but
overlapping, information systems provide
pinpoint location-tracking for the ship as a
whole, and the fleet of Zodiacs are equipped
with radio beacons to ensure your safety.
Where it gets fun.
ZODIAC®
EXCURSIONS
Zodiacs are rigid-bottomed, small, durable
inflatable boats. They’re built for the challenges
of rugged coasts, and narrow channels that
larger ships never see. They are the naturalist-
adventurer’s best friend.
They are so light and nimble to launch, we
can set out on a moment’s notice when manta
rays flock off the Solomon Islands, or when
cormorants flock in a Chilean fjord. Or ride
in with the seabirds to a desert beach. Our
landing craft give us freedom of movement.
At the tiller and the bow, expert naturalists
will chart our course and illuminate the
ecosystems around us. A rare orchid here; an
albatross nest to starboard; and we begin to
see the living web, its myriad motions.
Our Zodiac excursions—both planned
and spontaneous—are at the heart of
our expeditions. Every outing is a unique
adventure, because if there’s one thing we’ve
learned, it’s that Nature always surprises us
with something more.
Elegance. With a French Touch.
THE PONANT EXPERIENCE
We’re from France. We can’t help it. Our five-
star hospitality is inflected with elegance,
superb gastronomy (our chefs train at Ducasse
Conseil, a catering consulting company run
by Alain Ducasse Enterprise), excellent wines
and cheeses, Veuve Clicquot champagne,
pastries from Ladurée, bread from the French
boulangerie Paul, toiletries from L’Occitane,
spa services from Sothys, and a service ethos
equal parts discretion and joie de vivre.
PONANT ship exteriors are engineered for
expeditions; interiors are designed by the
celebratedinteriordesignfirmofJeanPhilippe
Nuel,whoseworkstandsattheleadingedgeof
contemporary French design. We invited him
to explore the continuity and flow between the
beauty of the interior environment, and the
natural environments we’ll experience.
All of our beautifully appointed accommo-
dations—for a maximum of just 264 guests—
are outside, and 95% of them have outdoor
balconies. Here, you’ll find a calming luxury with
signature touches of the modern Côte d’Azur.

MICK FOGG
As an award-winning wildlife photographer and
adventurer,MickFogghasspentthepast17years
leading expeditions and photographing some
of the world’s most remote and spectacular
destinations from Antarctica to Southeast Asia.
He has designed itineraries and led over 200
expeditions through Antarctica, the Subantarctic
Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Vanuatu, New
Caledonia, French Polynesia, the South Pacific,
the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea,
Indonesia,andMalaysia.Withadegreeinmarine
biology, Mick has been able to combine his
passion for exploration and travel with a desire
to educate people about the myriad of wonders
that abound in nature’s richest realms.
NICOLAS DUBREUIL
With more than 20 years experience in the
Antarctic, be it on foot, in a kayak, on skis or on
a dogsled, and with 90 expeditions under his
belt, the polar regions hold no more secrets for
this expedition leader, filmmaker, and lecturer.
A resident of Kullorsuaq, Nicolas Dubreuil also
leads expeditions to remote areas of Greenland
and speaks three native dialects. He has
organized successful trips to the polar regions
forthedeaf,amputees,andexplorerswithother
disabilities. Nicolas has been with PONANT for
10 years, working in tandem with the captain
to plan routes and produce a photo-report of
the cruises. He is only too delighted to share his
memories and knowledge.
MARK“HARRY”CHRISTENSEN
Harry Christensen is a marine biologist with
extensive experience in educating people
about Indo-Pacific Coral Reef biodiversity. For
over 25 years, he has provided educational
programs to visitors in many regions including
Australia’s Kimberley, and also led several
expeditions in this area. His passion is based
on watching Malcolm Douglas’ wildlife
documentaries of this rugged and remote
coastline. He says “I love the contrast of the
red color of ancient Kimberley sandstone, the
greens of the woodlands and mangroves, all
set upon cloudless blue skies. It gets into your
blood. When I am in the Kimberley, I am at
home; when not, I crave to return.”
The PONANT Expedition Team
Each of our expedition voyages feature an accomplished team of leaders who will accompany you onboard and in the field
to provide fascinating lectures and valuable insight on the destinations we visit. Selected for their knowledge, expertise, and
infectious enthusiasm, our seasoned professionals contribute to a rewarding and memorable experience. Each journey is
different, but every PONANT expedition promises the discovery and appreciation of some of the most remote and mysterious
corners of the world.

JUAN JOSÉ APESTEGUI
Naturalist and ornithologist Juan José
Apestegui was born and raised in Costa
Rica. With 20 years experience as a guide
and speaker, he has been traveling in the
Antarctic for over a decade on expedition and
cruise ships. This seasoned naturalist is only
too happy to share his extensive knowledge
of the geology, wildlife, and culture of
Antarctica so guests can fully participate in
an adventure to the “sixth” continent.
SIMON COOK
Simon Cook has worked as a lecturer and staff
member on over 200 small-ship expedition
cruises to all corners of the world: Iceland, the
Arctic, remote islands of the Atlantic (including
South Georgia and the Falkland Islands), and
Antarctica, which he has been to 80 times. This
Welsh naturalist is particularly interested in
photography, cetaceans, and ornithology. He has
published numerous photographs and articles
about cetaceans in the North Atlantic and birding
aroundtheworld.
JOHN FRICK
John Frick has spent over ten seasons leading
expedition travel to Antarctica, but his travels
havetakenhimtoAfrica,Alaska,SouthAmerica,
the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, the Baltic, the
Mediterranean, Africa, India, Transatlantic, the
South Pacific, and more. He looks forward to
sharing his enthusiasm for travel and for the
wonders of the natural world, in particular for
the White Continent. John especially enjoys
imparting his expertise in stargazing and
astronomy with his fellow travelers.
JOSÉ SARICA
Fascinated by dolphins since childhood, José
SaricaholdsmastersandPh.D.degreesinmarine
biology and aquatic ecotoxicology. He also
studied animal-assisted therapy (AAT), which
uses animals to help treat humans suffering
psychologicallyandphysically.Theseexperiences
led him to become a PONANT naturalist in 2009,
allowing him to share his passion for marine
mammals during expedition cruises in Antarctica
andintheArctic.In2014,hebecameanExpedition
LeaderinAlaskaandAntarctica.
RICK PRICE
Rick Price is a specialist in natural history and
a documentary director/cameraman with 24
years experience. He started his career as a
marine biologist on Signy Island, Antarctica,
conducting surveys and working on his first
film material for the BBC Natural History Unit.
Todayhehascreditsforfamousseriesincluding
The Natural World and Supersense. Rick is an
experienced lecturer and naturalist, taking
yearly expedition cruises to the Arctic and
Antarctic regions.
“One of the great joys of being
an Expedition Leader is sharing
unique experiences with curious
people. Most of our guests aren’t
satisfied with just taking a pho-
tograph of the destination and
heading back home. They want
to experience the destination and
learn more about what they are
seeing and the people they are
meeting.”
—Mick Fogg

An Introduction to the Indigenous
People of Our Journeys
There are many names, spoken in many tongues, with a single meaning: “The people.” “The local people.” “The people of
the land.” For hundreds, sometimes tens of thousands of years, indigenous societies grew as one with the land. The earth
shaped them. The ice spoke to them. The forest whispered secrets. On our travels, we will meet with descendants of the
original inhabitants of these lands. We’ll learn their stories, experience their cultures, arts and traditions, and understand the
challenges they face today to preserve ancient knowledge on a changing planet.
MAORI
The Maori arrived in New Zealand in the 13th
century after hundreds of years’ migration
throughout Polynesia. Their place-names,
traditions, and culture infuse every aspect of New
Zealand life—and beyond. You’ll recognize their
traditionalwardance,the“Haka,”inthepre-game
chants of New Zealand’s famed rugby team, the
All Blacks. You’ll see their swirling, sickle-shaped
tattoosadorningbodiesaroundtheworld.There’s
a Maori dignity, honor, and strength all their own,
reflected in their kappa haka performance art,
their runanga (governing councils), and their
champion outrigger canoe crews. Fiercely proud
of their traditions, they will welcome you with a
hearty “Kia ora!” and a powhiri (pressing noses,
theirequivalentofakiss).
ASMAT
The trees soar high above, in the rain forest
mudflats of southern Papua New Guinea.
“Asmat,” here, is the name for wood, and
the Asmat believe they were created from
the trees, which are inhabited with the souls
of the dead. As such, they create from the
wood—ancestral masks and fertility totems so
beautifully proportioned and intricately carved,
an entire room at the Museum of Metropolitan
Art is devoted to them. Their hourglass-shaped
drums, fitted with lizard skins, are integral to
their way of life, a communication of spiritual
energy, and their dance ceremonies are thrilling
experiences. Until the 1950s, the Asmat had
virtually no contact with the outside world.
TRISTANIANS
Located in the southern Atlantic Ocean, the eight-
mile-wide British Overseas Territory of Tristan
da Cunha is the most remote populated island
in the world. And that population is unique:
home to approximately 300 people from just
70 families, the inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha
descended from 15 ancestors who arrived on the
island between 1816 and 1908, originating from
Scotland, England, The Netherlands, the United
States, and Italy. Every inhabitant of Tristan
da Cunha lives in the island’s only settlement,
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, and they all
share the same occupation: farming. All land is
communally owned; the main source of income
isintheisland’slobsterfactory.Theirisolationhas
alsocreatedanunusualdialectofEnglish.

INUIT
The frozen Arctic, of icebergs, auroras, the
howling winter and the Midnight Sun, is
forbidding territory for most of us. But these
have been Inuit lands for thousands of years.
Hardy fishers and hunters, the Inuit exist
almost entirely on a diet of protein and fat—
whales, seals, caribou, and musk-oxen—and
their clothes and footwear are from animal
skins. Since the Inuit believe in an animist
universe, they have a saying: “The great peril
of our existence lies in the fact that our diet
consists entirely of souls.” An angakkuq, or
shaman, helps an Inuit community balance
this tenuousness. Today, nearly 9 out of 10
Greenlanders are Inuit.
ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS
The deep drone of a digeridoo seems to
summon the life-force from within the earth,
out of the stone, and spin the stars around the
enchanted night. It summons, for Aboriginals,
the beginning: The Dreaming, the time of
Creation, when the Rainbow Serpent carved
the billabongs, creeks, and lagoons of The
Kimberley. For 50,000 years Aboriginals were
the only people known to Australia. Their rock
art comprises some of the earliest records of
human creativity on the planet. Today, 40% of
the Kimberley’s population is Aboriginal, and
Aboriginal-owned art centers are an important
part of the region’s culture.
THE WARAO
“Nearby in the rain forest the jaguar is listening
to us,” sings a Warao grandfather, preparing
his grandson for the challenges of life ahead.
The Warao are boat people, spread out among
the innumerable islands of the Orinoco Delta,
sheltering in thatched huts on stilts, which
rise above the vast Orinoco River’s seasonal
flooding. The first Westerner to encounter
this tribe, Alonso de Ojeda, named the region
Venezuela—“little Venice.” About 20,000 Warao
remain, the sole speakers of their indigenous
language, which is linguistically unrelated to
everyotherhumanlanguageonEarth.Youmay
hear their songs, accompanied by bone flutes,
as the Warao weave their basketry.
Visit our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/user/PonantCruises
to see L’Austral’s encounter with the Asmat people

2016-2018 Expedition Calendar

EMBARK/DISEMBARK DATES NIGHTS REGION STARTING FROM SHIP CHARTER FLIGHT
2016
VALPARAISO-USHUAIA 11/2-11/15 13 SOUTHAMERICA $7,750 LEBORÉAL OWUSHUAIA-BUENOSAIRES
USHUAIA-USHUAIA 11/15-11/30 15 ANTARCTICA $11,790 LEBORÉAL RTBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
USHUAIA-USHUAIA 11/24-12/9 15 ANTARCTICA $11,790 LESOLÉAL RTBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
BALI-CAIRNS 12/2-12/16 14 PACIFICOCEANIA $7,550 L’AUSTRAL
USHUAIA-USHUAIA 12/4-12/14 10 ANTARCTICA $9,500 LELYRIAL RTBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
CAIRNS-PORTVILA 12/16-12/28 12 PACIFICOCEANIA $6,190 L’AUSTRAL
PORTVILA-LYTTELTON 12/28-1/7 10 PACIFICOCEANIA $5,510 L’AUSTRAL
2017
LYTTLETON-MILFORDSOUND 1/7-1/22 15 PACIFICOCEANIA $10,280 L’AUSTRAL
AUCKLAND-PORTVILA 2/18-3/1 11 PACIFICOCEANIA $5,220 L’AUSTRAL
USHUAIA-MONTEVIDEO 2/21-3/8 15 ANTARCTICA $10,330 LESOLÉAL OWBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
PORTVILA-KOTAKINABALU 3/1-3/18 17 PACIFICOCEANIA $8,410 L’AUSTRAL
USHUAIA-CAPETOWN 3/4-3/25 21 ANTARCTICA $10,610 LELYRIAL OWBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
USHUAIA-VALPARAISO 3/5-3/18 13 SOUTHAMERICA $8,620 LEBORÉAL OWBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
RECIFE-FORTDEFRANCE 3/17-4/3 17 SOUTHAMERICA $9,290 LESOLÉAL
DURBAN-MAHE 4/2-4/17 15 SEYCHELLES $8,990 LELYRIAL
KOTAKINABALU-DARWIN 6/22-7/3 11 PACIFICOCEANIA $4,540 L’AUSTRAL

EMBARK/DISEMBARK DATES NIGHTS REGION STARTING FROM SHIP CHARTER FLIGHT
TROMSØ-LONGYEARBYEN 6/27-7/4 7 ARCTIC $6,210 LEBORÉAL OWPARIS-TROMSØ;
OWLONGYEARBYEN-PARIS
DARWIN-BROOME 7/3-7/13 10 KIMBERLEY $7,290 L’AUSTRAL
LONGYEARBYEN-LONGYEARBYEN 7/4-7/11 7 ARCTIC $6,870 LEBORÉAL RTPARIS-LONGYEARBYEN
LONGYEARBYEN-LONGYEARBYEN 7/11-7/18 7 ARCTIC $7,130 LEBORÉAL RTPARIS-LONGYEARBYEN
REYKJAVIK-KANGERLUSSUAQ 7/31-8/10 10 ARCTIC $7,450 LEBORÉAL OWKANGERLUSSUAQ-PARIS
REYKJAVIK-KANGERLUSSUAQ 8/9-8/21 12 ARCTIC $8,190 LESOLÉAL OWKANGERLUSSUAQ-PARIS
KANGERLUSSUAQ-KANGERLUSSUAQ 8/10-8/23 13 ARCTIC $13,920 LEBORÉAL RTPARIS-KANGERLUSSUAQ
KANGERLUSSUAQ-KANGERLUSSUAQ 8/21-9/6 16 ARCTIC $15,360 LESOLÉAL RTPARIS-KANGERLUSSUAQ
DARWIN-DARWIN 9/1-9/11 10 KIMBERLEY $6,640 L’AUSTRAL
KANGERLUSSUAQ-QUEBECCITY 9/6-9/20 14 ARCTIC $8,970 LESOLÉAL OWPARIS-KANGERLUSSUAQ
DARWIN-BALI 9/11-9/22 11 PACIFICOCEANIA $4,800 L’AUSTRAL
BALI-BALI 9/22-10/3 11 PACIFICOCEANIA $4,540 L’AUSTRAL
PUNTAARENAS-USHUAIA 11/18-11/28 10 ANTARCTICA $9,020 LEBORÉAL RTBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
USHUAIA - USHUAIA 12/3 - 12/13 10 ANTARCTICA $9,020 LE LYRIAL RTBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
USHUAIA - USHUAIA 12/19 - 1/4 16 ANTARCTICA $14,790 LE SOLÉAL RTBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
2018
USHUAIA-MONTEVIDEO 2/28-3/15 15 ANTARCTICA $9,710 LESOLÉAL OWBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
USHUAIA-CAPETOWN 3/3-3/24 21 ANTARCTICA $8,920 LELYRIAL OWBUENOSAIRES-USHUAIA
The Ponant Bonus Fare is a promotional price that varies according to the availability of places remaining on the cruise and is subject to change.

ANTARCTICA
Tabletop icebergs, growlers, drift, ice floe, or pack ice...Antarctica has its
own language. Here is your chance to sail through the heart of the Antarctic
Peninsula, a final frontier ensconced in an incredible sheet of ice.

Far to the south lie perhaps the most spectacular, most pristine lands on the planet.
Mountains of ice glittering in the sunlight. Magnificent fjords. Immense pale-blue glaciers.
And along the rocky shoreline, millions of penguins, seals, albatross, and other seabirds. To
travel to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands is almost like stepping back in
time, to the era when the world was new.
Join us for an extraordinary exploration of the great White Continent. As one of our
eco-friendly ships sails through the Antarctic Peninsula’s awe-inspiring waterways,
you will marvel at icebergs, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. Daily excursions
in Zodiacs with our team of naturalist guides will allow you to cruise among ice floes,
explore penguin rookeries, and learn about this extraordinary region in depth.
The remote Falkland Islands and South Georgia are even rarer sites to discover, with
their thriving wildlife habitats of seabird colonies and penguin rookeries, and offshore
it’s not unusual to encounter whales. Less icy than the Antarctic Peninsula, these
mountainous islands are ideal for nature hikes to observe albatrosses, King penguins,
fur seals, and elephant seals. We will also pay a special visit to the old Norwegian whaling
station of Grytviken, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final resting place.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Take a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the White
Continent with the #1 Polar Cruise Company in
the world.
• Enjoy daily outings in Zodiacs that cruise
among ice floes and observe the Antarctic
region’s unique wildlife up close, including
various species of penguins, minke and
humpback whales, elephant seals, sea leopards,
and numerous seabirds.
• See surreal Antarctic landscapes, from drifting
or calving icebergs, to floating pack ice, to tall
snowy mountains.
• Take a thermal bath on Deception Island,
hike Neko and Paradise Bay on the Antarctic
Peninsula, and explore the lush green pastures
in the Falklands or the grassy tussocks of
South Georgia.
• In South Georgia, visit abandoned former
whaling stations and colonies of King penguins.
• Photograph the abundant wildlife and plant
life on the Falkland Islands, which form a link
between Patagonia and Antarctica.
• On our transatlantic voyage from South America
to Africa, visit the Falkland Islands, South
Georgia, Tristan da Cunha—the most remote
island in the world—and sail around the Cape of
Good Hope to disembark in Cape Town.
The Great White
PONANT is a full and proud member of the
International Association of
Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)
www.iaato.org
IAATO is an industry group organization that sets the
highest possible tourism operating standards in an effort to
ensure appropriate,safe and environmentally sound travel to Antarctica.
This effort is unique, and the challenge to maintain environmentally
responsible tourism exists to this extent in no other region of the world.
ANTARCTICA

The Places You’ll Go
Even in this worldly age, Antarctica is a land apart. There are no city maps, no marked trails, no local tour guides among
the ice cliffs. While your itinerary will vary according to local ice and wind conditions, we plan to visit many awe-inspiring
channels, islands, and bays that impart the solitary grandeur and beauty of the land. Each day presents a new discovery.
DRAKE PASSAGE
If there is one place, one sea, one passage
that visitors, scientists, and other sailors fear
in the Antarctic, it is Drake Passage. Seasoned
travelers will tell you that you have to earn
the right to see the White Continent, and
the Antarctic Convergence zone, where the
northward-flowing Antarctic waters meet the
warmer equatorial waters, is home to a rich
variety of marine wildlife. As the ice caps and
peaks of the Antarctic Peninsula emerge on
the horizon, the colors of the midnight sun
will make this cruise magical and you’ll know
immediately why you came.
TRISTAN DA CUNHA
A small British archipelago discovered in the
16th
century by the Portuguese sailor after
whom it was named, Tristan da Cunha is
made up of several islands scattered between
South America and South Africa. Most of
these are listed as UNESCO World Heritage
sites. Discover the archipelago’s main island,
offering visitors basalt land lulled by the swell,
home to the only village in the chain of islands,
and topped with a volcano. Further on, your
ship will take you to Nightingale Island before
heading towards the austere-looking Gough
Island, where numerous colonies of sea birds
have taken up residence.
THE ANTARCTIC
PENINSULA
Imagine a vast polar expanse, a chain of snow-
coveredpeaksplungingintotheDrakePassage,
and majestic icebergs separating themselves
from the ice shelf…you are in Antarctica! In
this place where the fog adds an extra touch
of mystery to the pervading icy atmosphere,
you will truly feel like you are at the end of the
world. During your shore visits in a Zodiac®, you
will be able to meet the colonies of penguins
as they welcome you on their lands. As the
Gentoo, Adélie, and chinstrap penguins are not
camera shy, you will be able to capture many
unforgettable moments.
BROWN BLUFF
Located in the Antarctic Sound, Brown
Bluff boasts some of the White Continent’s
most stunning landscapes. Formed by
an ancient volcano whose lava gave the
bluff a perfectly flat top, this site offers a
spectacular setting of long beaches and
glaciers, overlooked by a remarkable
volcanic tuff cliff. At the foot of this
impressive wall, 20,000 pairs of Gentoo
and Adélie penguins nest. Don’t miss your
chance to observe their clumsy waddling as
they leave their nest and head for the beach
in search of food.
DECEPTION ISLAND
Nestling in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula,
Deception Island rewards the traveler’s gaze
with volcanic beaches and the vestiges of
its abandoned huts. This was an important
whaling port for a long time and in the early 19th
century it became a refuge where sailors could
wait for storms or icebergs to pass. The island’s
greatest asset is its exceptional wildlife. Today
Deception Island is home to one of the largest
colonies of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic
Peninsula, as well as elephant and fur seals.
PORT LOCKROY
Call at Port Lockroy, a surprising natural
harbor sitting in the heart of the Antarctic
Peninsula. Discovered by the explorer Jean-
Baptiste Charcot, over the years it has served
as a relief and repair base for whalers and
a British military base in turn, and it is now
a scientific research station. Today, it is
considered to be the most visited site in the
Antarctic, thanks to its small museum that
retraces the life of the station from the 1950s
onward, and its souvenir shop. Do not miss
your chance to visit the world’s southernmost
post office, where you can mail a postcard
commemorating your Antarctic adventure.

PLENEAU ISLAND
PORT CHARCOT
Named in honor of the talented photographer
who accompanied Jean-Baptiste Charcot
on his 1903 expedition, Pleneau Island
has become a refuge for myriad Gentoo
penguins, elephant seals, and fur seals.
In the heart of the island, Port Charcot
comes into view. This great bay served as
CaptainCharcot’sfirstwinterquartersduringan
expedition aboard his vessel PourquoiPas? and
it still bears traces of that fabulous adventure.
FORTUNA BAY
Fortuna Bay sits at the foot of the abrupt
heights of the Breakwind Ridge Mountains and
its beauty is bewitching: here, the many cliffs
plunge into the frozen sea and the surrounding
vast plains are covered in grassland dotted
with tussock. As for the bay, its curve extends
as far as the sea to form a perfect arc cut by
a stream. When we drop anchor here, we
invite you to retrace the steps of Sir Ernest
Shackleton, who landed here during the final
part of his famous Antarctic odyssey in 1916,
and meet the 50,000 couples of king penguins
that have taken up residence on the island.
THE ICEBERGS
Antarctica’s icy giants are legendary and iconic.
Calved by the ice caps and composed only
of fresh water, these crystal cathedrals are a
hallmark of polar landscapes and they carry
not only the history of the ice cap and glacier
they come from, but also the marks of the
waves that sculpt their silhouette. Get close to
these natural works of art aboard our Zodiac
landing craft. Sometimes you will see them
toppling or crashing into one another, and you
will understand the complex nature of this
powerful yet fragile environment.
GRYTVIKEN
As part of our celebration of the centennial of
Sir Ernest Shackleton’s expedition, we will pay
a visit to the old Norwegian whaling station
of Grytviken, offering a glimpse into the early
20th
-century vestiges of this industry. A calming
desolation reigns here. Take time to also visit
the museum devoted to the history of South
Georgia and a charming church.
HALF MOON ISLAND
Situated in the cold waters of the Antarctic,
in the heart of the Shetland Archipelago, Half
Moon Island offers a surreal and mysterious
setting. Here, jagged coastline alternates with
gently sloping bays, dominated by ancient
petrified volcanic vents. In the center of the
island, Camara, Argentina’s former geopolitical
base that was established in 1953, nestles in the
curve of a vast crescent-shaped beach covered
inlarge,soot-coloredpebblespoundedbyasea
full of ice. This provides a refuge for numerous
animal species and is an unusual port of
call on the edges of the Antarctic, promising
captivating discoveries.
THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
Located to the southeast of South America, the
Falkland Islands were discovered by a Spanish
expedition at the beginning of the 16th
century.
More than two hundred years later, sailors
from Saint-Malo, known as Malouins, occupied
the island and gave it the name used until the
British conquered these lands at the edge of
the world in 1833. Scattered with tufts of grass
and surrounded by a grey and often wild sea,
the islands are a small country of moors and
rugged coastlines carved by the South Atlantic,
where the wildlife and plant life form a link
between Patagonia and Antarctica. Take the
time to observe and photograph the abundant
wildlife of these wild and stunning islands.
ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTICA

24 |
From the Log Book
THE LEMAIRE CHANNEL BEYOND
LeBoréal, February 2, 2013
By Simon Cook
Last night the captain warned us about an early start and he was true to his word,
for we had an announcement from him at 4:30 am! The reason was simple—we had
entered the spectacular Lemaire Channel, gateway to Antarctica. The sky was
overcast but visibility was very good and the channel was largely clear of ice too.
Cliffs towered above us on both sides and the tops were covered with ice and snow.
Our destination was nearby Port Charcot, but numerous icebergs blocked our way.
So instead we landed on Pleneau Island, where there was a large colony of Gentoo
penguins. From the top of the island there were scenic views of ‘iceberg alley,’ an
area of many grounded icebergs.
After a short break on the ship we were out in the Zodiacs. There were three
humpback whales near the ship, which looked as if they were sleeping.
Consequently, they enabled us to get very close, after the boats made a very slow
approach. To be so near to these leviathans was humbling but very exciting. Some
Zodiacs headed northwards towards Port Charcot and were rewarded with
close views of leopard seals and minke whales. Others went across to the other
side of the Lemaire Channel, where our eagle-eyed naturalist had homed in
on two more humpbacks, which could be seen spy-hopping and arching their
backs. It was quite something when the whales swam under the ice and emerged
explosively in open water so close to us. At this range it was possible to see just how
big these creatures really are. Equally impressive was the noise that they made when
they exhaled—it was like an elephant trumpeting. There was a final surprise in
store for us: each boat had been given glasses and a bottle of champagne!
ST. ANDREWS AND GRYTVIKEN, SOUTH GEORGIA
L’Austral, January 11, 2013
By Agnès Brenière
What a day today! We started this morning with a landing in St. Andrews Bay, home
to the largest King penguin colony in South Georgia. We walked along the beach
meeting King penguins, Antarctic fur seals, elephant seals, giant petrels, and skuas,
before climbing a small hill from where, suddenly, the colony appeared to us. It was
an unbelievable and stunning view of these thousands of penguins, adults and
chicks, standing there, breeding, waiting for food or for their molt! Now we
understand why South Georgia is nicknamed “The Serengeti of the South.”
Back on the ship, another surprise awaits us. José, one of our marine mammal
specialists, urged us to come on the outside decks to watch a Southern Right
whale swimming close to the ship, banging its tail against the sea surface and
even showing its head, which was fully covered with barnacles!
After lunch, we watched the impressive scenery of icebergs, most of them tabular
icebergs drifting from Antarctica. Such a beauty! Then we arrived in Cumberland Bay
for our afternoon landing in Grytviken, an old whaling station that closed in 1964.
Here we visited the small cemetery where Shackleton’s grave is located, and
the remains of the whaling station itself. Some of us went back to the ship, while
others went on a hike between Grytviken and Maiviken, another really scenic bay
with lots of icebergs. The weather was with us until the end of the day, and we went
to bed with unforgettable memories dancing in our heads.

ANTARCTICA

MAGELLANIC PENGUINS
Ablackandwhiteseabirdwithshortwingsideal
for swimming, this penguin is found only in the
Falkland Islands and is the only species that
digs and nests in burrows on the edge of
the beach.
LEOPARD SEALS
This solitary hunter can grow up to 10 feet in
length; it owes its name to the spotted fur on
its belly. Slim, lean and very agile, you may spot
them in the wake of the ship.
BLACK-BROWEDALBATROSS
This elegant bird of the polar seas, whose
wingspan can reach about 10 feet, has white
feathers and a scattering of black on its wings,
while its eyes seem to have been drawn in
charcoal. Playing in the air currents, they will
become your favorite traveling companions.
GENTOO PENGUINS
Smaller than its cousins, standing just two
and a half feet tall, the Gentoo’s black and
white coat is brightened by its bright red-
orange feet. White triangles highlight its
mischievous eyes.
CHINSTRAP PENGUIN
Amedium-sizedbirdrenownedforitsboldness
and agility, this species is easily recognizable
for the fine band of black feathers that adorn
its throat. A very sociable animal, it often
shares its land with other colonies of Gentoo or
Adélie Penguins.
FIN WHALE
Easily identifiable thanks to the dorsal fin
that breaks the surface of the water, you will
recognize this whale for its asymmetrical
coloring. Fin whales are smaller than Blue
whales, but can reach 65 feet in length and
weigh 40-80 tons.
Wildlife
This pearly white land is home to a number of animal species, including seabirds, fur seals, and King, Adélie, and Gentoo
penguins. This is nature at its unspoiled, fascinating best. The list below highlights only a few of the species we will
encounter on our voyages.

THE HUMPBACK WHALE
Renowned as the most impressive marine
mammal, this playful acrobat offers an
astonishing sight; its huge, powerful blue
tail slaps the water’s surface, challenging
spectators and photographers alike.
NORTHERN FUR SEALS
The northern fur seal’s small head and short
muzzle, combined with its large front flippers,
makethisanimaleasytoidentify.Theyarevery
social and favor windswept beaches, finding
shelter in the surrounding rocks.
THE KING PENGUIN
Easy to identify with its bright yellow head and
neck and grey dorsal feathers, we will only
encounter this exceptional swimmer in South
Georgia. Indolent and very sociable, they
travel in huge colonies that can include many
thousands of individuals.
MACARONI PENGUINS
Measuring just over two feet in height,
this species of penguin is easy to spot
thanks to its black and white dress and the
crest of yellow feathers on both sides of
its head.
SEA LIONS
This mammal of the seal family owes its name
to the long, dense fur redolent of a large
mane around its neck and shoulders. They
make their home on rocky beaches and are
talented swimmers, at ease both in water and
on shore.
ELEPHANT SEALS
The largest members of the seal family, the
colossal silhouette of this mammal is adorned
withatrunk-shapednose,formingasoundbox
that allows it to express itself from the shore.
ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTICA

The Great
Austal Loop
For the adventure of a lifetime, this comprehensive,
15-night voyage explores the ineffable grandeur of the
Antarctic world, its wildlife, and its majestic landscapes.
USHUAIA • USHUAIA (15 nights)
Aboard Le Boréal
November 15 - 30, 2016
Aboard Le Soléal
November 24 - December 9, 2016
December 19, 2016 - January 4, 2017 (16 nights)
from $11,790
see page 34
D 1 FlightBuenosAires-USHUAIA(Argentina).Directtransfer to
the port or lunch and free time at the Arakur Resort. Optional
excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park available.
Embarkation from 16:00 to 17:00
D 2 At sea
D 3 New Island - Saunders (Falkland Islands)
D 4-5 At sea
D 6 SalisburyPlain-FortunaBay-Stromness(SouthGeorgia)
D 7 Grytviken - St. Andrews Bay (South Georgia)
D 8 Gold Harbour - Cooper Bay (South Georgia)
D 9-10 At sea
D 11 Weddell Sea - Brown Bluff (Antarctica)
D 12 Gerlache Strait - Enterprise (Antarctica)
D 13 Deception Island - Half Moon Island (Antarctica)
D 14-15 At sea - Drake Passage
D 16 USHUAIA (Argentina). Disembarkation. Transfer to the
airport. Flight Ushuaia-Buenos Aires International
(Pistarini).
Enterprise
Deception Island
Half Moon
Weddell Sea
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Gold Harbour
Salisbury Plain
Grytviken
FALKLAND ISLANDS
SOUTH GEORGIADrakePassage
USHUAIA
New Island
ARGENTINA
PA
RKAGI
FT
The Best of the
White Continent
This exploration of Antarctica’s most interesting, most
beautiful, and most wildlife-rich islands and islets is a truly
unforgettable experience.
Aboard Le Boréal
from $9,070
see page 34
D 4 Neko - Paradise Bay (Antarctica)
D 5 Pleneau Island - Port Charcot (Antarctica)
D 6 Port Lockroy (Antarctica)
D 7 Deception Island (Antarctica)
D 8 Sailing the Weddell Sea (Antarctica)
D9-10 At sea - Drake Passage
(Pistarini).
USHUAIA
Deception Island
Weddell Sea
Pleneau Island - Port Charcot
Port Lockroy
Neko - Paradise Bay
DrakePassage
ARGENTINA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
PA
RKAGI
FT

ANTARCTICA
Emblematic
Antarctica
One of our most popular Antarctic itineraries, this 10-night
voyage sails in the wake of the great explorers to the most
iconic sites of the White Continent.
South Georgia
Antarctica
Follow in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton on
this in-depth exploration of two of the Earth’s most
astonishing places.
USHUAIA • MONTEVIDEO (15 nights)
Aboard Le Soléal
February 21 - March 8, 2017
from $10,330
see page 34
D 5 Port Lockroy - Wilhelmina Bay (Antarctica)
D 7-8 At sea
D 10 Grytviken (South Georgia)
D 11 Fortuna Bay (South Georgia)
D 12-15 At sea
D 16 MONTEVIDEO (Uruguay). Disembarkation.
PA
RKAGI
FT
Aboard Le Boréal
January 4 - 14, 2017
Aboard Le Lyrial
December 4 - 14, 2016
February 12 - 22, 2017
D 7 Sailing the Weddell Sea (Antarctica)
D 8 Deception Island - Half Moon Bay (Antarctica)
(Pistarini).
PA
RKAGI
FT
Aboard Le Soléal
December 9 - 19, 2016
January 4 - 14, 2017
January 14 - 24, 2017
February 2 - 12, 2017
from $9,500
see page 34
ANTARCTICA
USHUAIA
Deception Island
Weddell Sea
Port Lockroy
Neko - Paradise Bay
Drake Passage
ARGENTINA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
SOUTH
GEORGIA
DrakePassage
USHUAIA
ARGENTINA
URUGUAY
Deception Island
Gold Harbour
Fortuna
Bay
Wilhelmina Bay
Neko
MONTEVIDEO
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Grytviken

Emblematic
Antarctica
This 10-night expedition aboard Le Boréal is the perfect
introduction to the White Continent. Sail to some of
Antarctica’s most captivating sites, and see the iconic
images of this frozen region.
Aboard Le Boréal
November 18 - 28, 2017
December 8 - 18, 2017
January 26 - February 5, 2018
February25-March7,2018
from $9,020
see page 35
D 7 Deception Island - Half Moon (Antarctica)
D 8 Weddell Sea (Antarctica)
airport. Flight Ushuaia-Buenos Aires International (Pistarini).
USHUAIA
Deception Island
Port Lockroy
Neko - Paradise Bay
Weddell Sea
DrakePassage
Atlantic Ocean ARGENTINA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
PA
RKAGI
FT
From Antarctica
to Africa
ThisthrillingtranscontinentalvoyagebetweenSouthAmerica
andSouthAfricavisitstheincredibleislandsoftheFalklands,
SouthGeorgia,andtheTristandaCunhaarchipelago—the
world’sremotestinhabitedisland.
USHUAIA • CAPE TOWN (21 nights)
Aboard Le Lyrial
March 4 - 25, 2017
from $10,610
see page 34
D 2 At sea
D 3 New Island - Grave Cove (Falkland Islands)
D 4 Saunders - Volunteer Point (Falkland Islands)
D 5-6 At sea
D 7 Salisbury Plain - Fortuna Bay (South Georgia)
D 8 St. Andrews - Grytviken (South Georgia)
D10-13 At sea
D 14 TristandaCunha(BritishOverseasTerritories)
D 15 Nightingale Island (BritishOverseasTerritories)
D 16 Gough Island (BritishOverseasTerritories)
D17-20 At sea
D 21 Cape Town (South Africa)
D 22 CAPE TOWN (South Africa). Disembarkation.
USHUAIA
CAPE TOWN
SOUTH
AFRICA
New Island
Saunders
Fortuna
Bay
Tristan da Cunha
Nightingale Island
Gough Island
Gold Harbour
Grytviken
ARGENTINA
PA
RKAGI
FT

Christmas
New Year’s in the
Antarctic Peninsula
SpendChristmasandNewYear’sinthemythicalWhite
Continentforamemorableholidayseasonlikenoneother.
USHUAIA • USHUAIA (10nights)
Aboard Le Boréal
December18-28, 2017
December28,2017-January7, 2018
from $9,020
see page 35
USHUAIA
Deception Island
Port Lockroy
Neko - Paradise Bay
DrakePassage
ARGENTINA
PA
RKAGI
FT
Emblematic
Antarctica
One of our most popular Antarctic itineraries, this
10-night voyage aboard Le Lyrial follows in the wake of
the great explorers.
USHUAIA • USHUAIA(10 nights)
Aboard Le Lyrial
December 3 - 13, 2017
from $9,020
see page 35
Embarkation from16:30 to 17:30
Weddell Sea
Weddell Sea
USHUAIA
Deception Island
Port Lockroy
Neko - Paradise Bay
Drake Passage
ARGENTINA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
PA
RKAGI
FT
ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTICA

Beyond the
Polar Circle
For the first time, PONANT will cross the Antarctic Circle
at latitude 66° 33’ 39”. After discovering the Falklands and
South Georgia, you will reach the Antarctic Peninsula and
pass this mythic polar line.
Aboard Le Soléal
January 23 - February 8, 2018
from $14,240
see page 35
D 2 At sea
D 4-5 At sea
D 9 At sea
D 10 Elephant Island (Antarctica)
D 11 Astrolabe Island (Antarctica)
D 12 Neko - Peterman Island (Antarctica)
D 13 Crossing the Polar Circle
D 16 Ushuaia (Argentina)
Gold Harbour
Neko
Astrolabe Island
Elephant Island
Salisbury Plain Grytviken
FALKLAND
ISLANDS
SOUTH GEORGIADrake
Passage
AntarcticPolarCircle
USHUAIA
New Island
ARGENTINA
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA PA
RKAGI
FT
Christmas
New Year’s in
Southern Lands
Make the end-of-year festive season even more magical
aboard Le Soléal with a Christmas and New Year’s cruise
against a backdrop of drifting icebergs.
Aboard Le Soléal
December 19, 2017 - January 4, 2018
from $14,790
see page 35
D 2 At sea
D 4-5 At sea
D 6 SalisburyPlain-FortunaBay-Stromness(SouthGeorgia)
D 9-10 At sea
D 11 Weddell Sea - Brown Bluff (Antarctica)
D 13 Pleneau - Port Charcot Wilhelmina Bay - Enterprise
(Antarctica)
D 15 At sea - Drake Passage
D 16 Ushuaia (Argentina)
Neko
Pleneau
Deception Island Weddell Sea
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Gold Harbour
Salisbury Plain
Grytviken
FALKLAND ISLANDS
SOUTH GEORGIADrakePassage
USHUAIA
New Island
ARGENTINA
PA
RKAGI
FT

From Antarctica
to Africa
Join us aboard Le Lyrial for an exceptional transatlantic
cruise between Antarctica and South Africa. Midway,
we’ll call at Tristan da Cunha, the most isolated island
in the world.
USHUAIA • CAPE TOWN (21 nights)
Aboard Le Lyrial
March 3 - 24, 2018
from $8,920
see page 35
D 2 At sea
D 3 New Island - Grave Cove (Falkland Islands)
D 4 Saunders - Steeple Jason Island (Falkland Islands)
D 5-6 At sea
D 8 St. Andrews - Grytviken (South Georgia)
D10-13 At sea
D 14 TristandaCunha(BritishOverseasTerritories)
D 15 Nightingale Island (BritishOverseasTerritories)
D 16 Gough Island (BritishOverseasTerritories)
D17-20 At sea
D 21 Cape Town (South Africa)
D 22 CAPE TOWN (South Africa). Disembarkation.
USHUAIA
CAPE TOWN
SOUTH
AFRICA
New Island
Saunders
Fortuna
Bay
Tristan da Cunha
Nightingale Island
Gough Island
Gold Harbour
Grytviken
ARGENTINA PA
RKAGI
FT
The Great
Adventure
From the Antarctic Peninsula, set off towards South
Georgia, a land of adventure, where the imposing
landscapes are home to teeming wildlife.
USHUAIA • MONTEVIDEO (15 nights)
Aboard Le Soléal
from $9,710
see page 35
D 5 Port Lockroy - Wilhelmina Bay (Antarctica)
D 7-8 At sea
D 9 Cooper Bay - Gold Harbour (South Georgia)
D 10 Grytviken (South Georgia)
D 11 Fortuna Bay (South Georgia)
D 12-15 At sea
D 16 MONTEVIDEO (Uruguay). Disembarkation.
SOUTH
GEORGIA
DrakePassage
USHUAIA
ARGENTINA
URUGUAY
Deception Island
Gold Harbour
Fortuna
Bay
Wilhelmina Bay
Neko
MONTEVIDEO
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Grytviken
PA
RKAGI
FT
Atlantic
Ocean
ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTICA

PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-15%
DEC.9, 2016; FEB. 23, 2017
10nightsonboard,round-tripflightBuenosAires-Ushuaiatransfers
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE SOLÉAL/ LE BORÉAL
Superior Stateroom $10,810 $9,500
Deluxe Stateroom $12,460 $10,900
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 $13,710 $11,970
Deluxe Suite $19,910 $17,240
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 $23,100 $19,950
Owner Suite $30,780 -
3rd
passenger in a Superior Stateroom $9,500 $8,390
3rd
and 4th
passenger in Suite $19,950 $17,270
Children8-11sharingparents'room $1,850 -
Individualstateroomrate From + 50%
Safety and port taxes (included in the cruise fare) $630
Airport taxes $50
Emblematic Antarctica (p. 29) JAN. 4, 2017; JAN. 4, 2017;
JAN. 14 2017; FEB. 2, 2017
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE SOLÉAL/ LE BORÉAL
Superior Stateroom $10,810
Deluxe Stateroom $12,460
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 $13,710
Deluxe Suite $19,910
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 $23,100
Owner Suite $30,780
3rd
passenger in a Superior Stateroom $9,500
3rd
and 4th
passenger in Suite $19,950
Children8-11sharingparents'room $1,850
Airport taxes $50
Emblematic Antarctica (p. 29)
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-20%
NOVEMBER 30, 2016 (p. 28)
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE BORÉAL
Deluxe Suite $19,910 $16,350
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $50
The Best of the White Continent
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-15%
DEC. 4, 2016; FEB. 12, 2017
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE LYRIAL
Deluxe Suite $19,910 $17,240
Privilege Suite - Deck 6 $24,150 $20,840
Grand Deluxe Suite - Deck 6 $27,460 $23,650
Grand Privilege Suite - Deck 6 $30,000 -
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $50
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-20%
NOVEMBER 15 24, 2016
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE BORÉAL/LE SOLÉAL
Deluxe Suite $26,210 $21,470
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $50
The Great Austral Loop (p. 28)
MARCH 4, 2017
21nightsonboard,outwardflightBuenosAires-Ushuaiatransfers
USHUAIA• CAPETOWN
LE LYRIAL
Deluxe Suite $22,340 $17,420
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Safety and port taxes (included in the cruise fare) $1,323
Airport taxes $30
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-25%
From Antarctica to Africa (p. 30)
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-5%
DECEMBER 19, 2016
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE SOLÉAL
Deluxe Suite $32,580 $31,080
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $50
The Great Austral Loop (p. 28)
South Georgia Antarctica (p. 29)
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-15%
FEBRUARY 21, 2017
USHUAIA• MONTEVIDEO
LE SOLÉAL
Deluxe Suite $21,850 $18,890
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $30
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-10%
FEBRUARY 22, 2017
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE LYRIAL
Deluxe Suite $19,910 $18,130
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $50
2016-2017 Fares (per person, double occupancy)

PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-30%
NOV. 18, 2017; NOV. 28, 2017;
JAN. 26, 2018; FEB. 25, 2018
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE BORÉAL
Deluxe Suite $22,240 $16,210
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $45
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-20%
DECEMBER 8, 2017
10nightsonboard,round-tripflightBuenosAires-Ushuaia transfers
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE BORÉAL
Deluxe Suite $22,240 $17,210
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $45
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-30%
DECEMBER 3, 2017
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE LYRIAL
Deluxe Suite $22,240 $16,210
Grand Privilege Suite - Deck 6 $33,600 $24,160
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $45
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-30%
DECEMBER 18, 2017
USHUAIA • USHUAIA
LE BORÉAL
Deluxe Suite $22,240 $16,210
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $45
Christmas in the Antarctic (p. 31)
PON
ANTBO
NUSUp to
-30%
DECEMBER 28, 2017
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE BORÉAL
Deluxe Suite $23,260 $16,920
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes(**)
$45
NewYear's in the Antarctic (p. 31)
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-20%
DECEMBER 19, 2017
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE SOLÉAL
Deluxe Suite $35,770 $27,480
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $45
Christmas New Year's in
Southern Lands (p. 32)
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-15%
Beyond the Polar Circle (p. 32)
FEBRUARY 28, 2018
USHUAIA • MONTEVIDEO
LE SOLÉAL
Deluxe Suite $22,870 $17,670
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Children8-11sharingparents'room(
$1,728 -
Airport taxes $22
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-30%
The Great Adventure (p. 33)
MARCH 3, 2018
USHUAIA• CAPETOWN
LE LYRIAL
Deluxe Suite $21,150 $15,570
Grand Privilege Suite - Deck 6 $31,690 $22,950
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $22
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-30%
From Antarctica to Africa (p. 33)
JANUARY 23, 2018
USHUAIA• USHUAIA
LE SOLÉAL
Deluxe Suite $30,570 $26,380
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Airport taxes $45
2017-2018 Fares (per person, double occupancy)
The Ponant Bonus Fare is a promotional price that varies according to the availability of places remaining on the cruise and is subject to change.
ANTARCTICA
ANTARCTICA

THE KIMBERLEY,
WESTERNAUSTRALIA
Australia’s last frontier, the Kimberley region is impenetrable, desolate, and
magnificent—a destination for true adventurers.
Come explore the real Outback.

THEKIMBERLEY
Located in the desolate northern region of Western Australia, the Kimberley is one of
the world’s last great wilderness areas. At over 163,500 square miles, it is three times the
size of England, yet there is only one paved road traversing it. This is an ancient land,
built on 1.8 billion-year-old sandstone that has been uplifted, contorted, and eroded to
form spectacular gorges, desolate mountains, and magnificent waterfalls. It is a national
biodiversity hotspot listed in the top 3.7% of least-impacted marine environments
worldwide. And it is here that you will find a living indigenous culture dating back more
than 40,000 years, along with Australia’s oldest rock art galleries.
For the first time, PONANT is offering in-depth itineraries that explore this isolated coastline
of Australia’s great Outback. The Kimberley boasts more than 2,633 islands, extensive
mangrove forests, wild rivers, and important seabird breeding colonies, all best discovered
via small ship. Join us onboard the five-star expedition ship L’Austral, the youngest and
most modern ship in the region, for a true adventure.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Take a Zodiac expedition to view the unique
tidal phenomena of the Horizontal Falls,
with the option to take a “fast boat” through
the falls.
• Encounter the world’s largest population
of migrating humpback whales; watch for
Australian Humpback dolphins and the
elusive Snubfin dolphin.
• Enjoy Zodiac excursions to get close to
mangroves, amazing geological features,
waterfalls, and landscapes that are over a
billion years old.
• Enjoy swimming in crystal-clear, shallow
waters at the Surveyor’s Pool or in the
Buccaneer Archipelago.
• Hike to the top of King George Falls to enjoy
fantastic views and a refreshing swim.
• Take guided bush walks and discover the
cultural history of Wijingarra Bard Bard.
• Walk to caves to see examples of Gwion
and Wandjina rock art.
• Take an optional helicopter tour to
the Mitchell Falls, Mitchell River, and
Mitchell Plateau.
Australia’s Unspoiled Wilds
THEKIMBERLEY

The Places You’ll Go
Vast wildlife sanctuaries, spectacular gorges, thundering waterfalls, some of the world’s most beautiful beaches,
untouched atolls, and rugged islands with an amazing variety of marine life: in a place that has fewer people per square
mile than almost anywhere else on Earth, the Kimberley guarantees a great adventure. Let PONANT take you to a land
few have been privileged to see.
VANSITTART BAY -
JAR ISLAND
Jar Island contains ancient rock art galleries
depicting the Gwion Gwion style, unique
to the Kimberley region. These extremely
ornamented naturalistic human figures are
stained indelibly into the rock surface, forming
a negative-like image devoid of pigment,
indicating great age which may extend back
over 30,000 years. Indeed, these are the oldest
detailed depictions of human figures in the
world, and their detail provides a fascinating
insight into a rich early culture.
BUCCANEER ARCHIPELAGO
The Buccaneer Archipelago consists of up to
one thousand rocky islands, the last remnants
of a drowned coastline. Approximately 1,800
million years ago the Kimberley basin collided
with the Australian landmass, causing the
folding and buckling of the sedimentary rocks.
Approximately 550 million years ago, a series of
‘wrenchfaults’occurred,strongenoughtobend
the sandstone 45-90 degrees. These geological
phenomena resulted in unique landscapes and
huge tidal ranges.
PRINCE FREDERICK
HARBOUR
THE HUNTER RIVER
One of the most scenic parts of the Kimberley
coast, Prince Frederick Harbour and Hunter
Riverarelinedwithancientrainforestpockets,
pristine mangroves, and mosaic sandstone
cliffs. The sandstone escarpment at the river
mouth, known as kampamantiya, rises over
650 feet before giving way to extensive mud
banks and mangrove forests. Guarding the
entrance to the river is Wunumpurramarra,
also known as Naturalists Island.
FRESHWATER COVE,
COLLIER BAY
Freshwater Cove lies in the heartland of
Worrorra country, and it is here that you’ll have
a unique opportunity to hear the stories of the
Dreamtime (creation). Worrorra are a proud
people that have returned to their country
after being displaced during WWII. Along with
the Ngarinyin and Wunambal tribes, they are
part of the shared Wandjina culture and belief
system. Wijingarra Bard Bard is home to a
number of significant rock art galleries.
KING GEORGE RIVER
FALLS
The 260-foot-high sides of the King George
River display varying degrees of weathering,
the colors and textures of the gorge changing
as you travel up the river. Red, pink, and orange
hues, together with weathering and erosion
patterns, provide continually changing scenery
that culminates at the King George twin falls,
the highest single drop falls in the Kimberley.
For many, this the highlight of their Kimberley
experience.
HORIZONTAL FALLS,
TALBOT BAY
Talbot Bay is defined by stunning geological
features including the Horizontal Waterfalls
and the dramatic, vertiginous cliffs of Cyclone
Creek—one of the premier attractions of the
West Kimberley. The Horizontal Waterfalls are
a pair of stunning breaks in the McLarty Range,
with massive tidal differences of up to 35 feet.
They are created as seawater builds up faster
on one side of the gaps than the other, creating
a waterfall up to 13 feet high and vast tidal
whirlpools on the outgoing side.
THEKIMBERLEY

You have a background in marine biology. When and why did you
decide to become a guide in the travel industry?
After working at a regional university in Northern Australia for 10
years I decided that I needed a change. I took a break from work and
started travelling through Outback Australia and the remote jungles
of Borneo. It was then that I discovered a thirst for travel to remote
parts of the planet. I wasn’t interested in visiting big cities or the
theme parks of the world. I wanted to explore and discover places that
people rarely travelled to.
The desire to travel and explore naturally led me to the tourism
industry. I formed my own small boutique expedition company
conducting tours through the remote areas of Northern Australia
and Indonesia. I then received an invitation to sail on board the
world’s first luxury small expedition ship. I was amazed by this travel
concept—it seemed a perfect match. Guests are able to travel to
remote locations and have an authentic, bespoke experience in total
comfort and style. Imagine being able to walk through the forests of
Komodo Island in search of ‘dragons,’ before returning to our ship,
where attentive crew mix your cocktail of choice and a team of waiters
serve you exquisite cuisine prepared by our French chefs.
What do you like most about being an expedition leader?
One of the great joys is sharing unique experiences with well-educated
and well-travelled people. Most of our guests aren’t satisfied with just
taking a photograph of the destination and heading back home. They
want to experience the destination and learn more about what they
are seeing and the people they are meeting. Through education and
understanding our guests gain a holistic experience and memories
that stay with them forever.
You’ve led expeditions throughout the Pacific and Oceania. Do you
have a favorite destination—or maybe a top three?
It’s impossible for me to narrow down a favourite destination. My
journeys have taken me to some pretty amazing places across the
planet, but here goes:
Australia’s remote Kimberley region is definitely in my top three. The
timeless landscapes, pristine environments and harsh beauty are
like nowhere else on Earth. Born by fire over two billion years ago it
is home to the oldest continuous culture on Earth and the world’s
largest living reptile. The scenery is breathtaking and with less than
45,000 people living in an area the size of California it is one of the
world’s “last frontiers.”
Of all the polar destinations I have visited, Macquarie Island is still my
favourite. The landscape is spectacular and it has some of the highest
densities of wildlife of anywhere on the planet. It is also one of the
world’s least visited travel destinations, making it truly unique. Did
you know that in 2014 more people attempted to reach the summit
of Mount Everest than visited Macquarie Island—now that’s unique!
I have been to Macquarie Island many times but, on every visit, the
moment I set foot on that beach it takes my breath away. Every time I
leave, I vow to return, and I see no end in sight.
The Sekonyer River that leads to Camp Leakey in Tanjung Puting
National Park, Indonesia, holds a very special place in my heart. It
was here that I first encountered Orang-Utans in the wild. It is without
doubt the best place on the planet to view these remarkable apes in
their natural environment.
[Editor’s note: See the Pacific Oceania section on page 64 for PONANT
expeditions to Maquaire Island and Indonesia.]
QA with Mick Fogg
As an award-winning wildlife photographer and adventurer, Australian Mick Fogg has spent
the past 17 years leading expeditions and photographing some of the world’s most remote and
spectacular destinations from Antarctica to Southeast Asia. We sat down with Mick to ask him
some questions about expedition cruising, PONANT’s newest destination, the Kimberley, and
what it’s like to encounter a formidable “Saltie.”

You’re also a professional photographer. What kind of camera do
you travel with? Can you share tips on how to capture the perfect
nature shot?
I usually travel with two DSLR bodies and a number of lenses from
wide angle to telephoto. I use my Canon 7D Mark II for wildlife images
and my Canon 5D Mark III for scenery shots.
There’s lots of tips and tricks to capturing the perfect nature photograph,
so when travelling on board we offer presentations in photography basics.
When it comes to capturing landscapes it’s all about composition. Always
look at the whole image to be captured, not just the main subject. Try a
different angle or height to shoot from: most people view life between five
and six feet off the ground, and by taking an image from ground level or
up high you capture images that we don’t normally see, and they become
more interesting to look at. When it comes to capturing wildlife shots,
my best advice is practice, practice, practice. For example if you want to
photograph birds in flight then practice in your local park or at the beach.
It’s definitely worth the time and effort, so that you can capture a great
moment when on your holiday. I always “burst” shoot wildlife images to
ensure the sharpest, crispest image.
Name three things you pack that you can’t leave home without.
My camera, passport, and some local currency. With these three items
I can travel freely and capture memorable moments.
The Kimberley has been called one of the last true wilderness
areas on Earth. How does it feel to visit such a remote place?
The feelings I get on returning to the Kimberley are almost
indescribable. It is a place where landscapes are altered only by
weather and tides, where human footprints are few and far between,
and the stories in stone left by ancient cultures are still being read
today. It almost feels like you are stepping back in time, to how the
world once was, before humankind began shaping it. Landing on
these ancient shores, knowing that they haven’t changed since the
first arrival of man some 40–50,000 years ago is a humbling experience.
It is one of the last great wilderness areas that has remained unsullied
by man, where Mother Nature is free to show off all her glory.
Our Kimberley expedition voyages allow guests to explore the myriad
of waterways with our fleet of Zodiacs in search of wildlife, take guided
walks to ancient indigenous rock art sites, walk along pristine white
sand beaches and learn about the landforms, cultures, and natural
history of the region. We have the world’s youngest fleet of luxury
expedition ships and are “green ship” certified. Meaning that guests
can feel happy knowing they are travelling through a pristine area in
the most environmentally sensitive vessels available.
Do you have a favorite native Aussie animal? What wildlife could
one expect to see on a Kimberley expedition cruise?
That’s hard to say. I love the uniqueness of the Australian fauna,
the fact that we have egg-laying mammals and are dominated by
marsupials sets us apart from the rest of the world.
One of my favourite animals that I like to encounter and photograph
would have to be the black necked stork. It is a spectacular bird to
watch when it is hunting fish, dancing from one leg to another with
wings outstretched to confuse its prey. Our Kimberley expeditions will
be at the best time of the year for wildlife, as the waters recede during
the dry season the birds and reptiles become more concentrated. In
addition, during the months of July to September, the world’s largest
population of migrating humpback whales arrives in the Kimberley
region. Last year there was an estimated 36,000 humpbacks migrating
up the West Australian coast and the great news is that the population
is increasing at about 10% a year. It is one of the best places on the
planet to view these majestical leviathans.
On that note, what is it like to encounter a saltwater crocodile (or
“Saltie”), the largest living reptile and a Kimberley inhabitant?
They sound pretty ferocious.
They are such an ancient animal and time doesn’t seem to have much
meaning to them. They will watch animals (including humans) for
days, learn their (our) routines and wait patiently for the opportune
moment to attack. Rarely do they attack spontaneously; they are
methodical and efficient hunters. There’s something unnerving about
being outsmarted by an animal with the brain the size of a walnut!
They are one of the few ‘cold blooded’ animals to survive the great K/T
boundary extinction (66 million years ago) and are perfectly adapted
to their environment. With the ability to lower their heart rate to one
beat a minute, sense minute vibrations hundreds of meters away
and explode from the water at almost 37 mph, they are a formidable
predator. When I see a “Saltie” I see the success of millions of years
of natural selection, whereas most people just see a beautiful pair of
shoes or a handbag!
THEKIMBERLEY

Wildlife
Australia is a continent famous for its unique, endemic animal species, and the Kimberley—as one of the world’s last true
wilderness areas—is home to many of them. Below is a sampling of what we may encounter on our Kimberley cruise.
SALTWATER CROCODILE
Earth’s largest and one of the deadliest living
reptiles, the saltwater crocodile has the
broadest distribution of any other crocodile,
ranging from eastern India to northern
Australia. “Salties,” as Australians are known
to call them, are formidable, opportunistic
predators that feed on prey both large and
small, including fish, other reptiles, birds, water
buffalo, monkeys, wild boar, and sharks. They
have the strongest bite of any modern animal.
Males can reach up to 20 feet and weigh up to
3,000 pounds. Females are much smaller and
often do not grow larger than nine feet long.
SNUBFIN DOLPHIN
The rare Australian snubfin dolphin has a
blunt, round head and smiling mouth line—
resulting in a cute, docile appearance. Unlike
other dolphins, the snubfin is quite shy, yet
extremely social in its own population of
50-100 individuals. They can become so
engrossed in their fellow dolphins when
playing or feeding that they become oblivious
to oncoming vessels.
BLACK NECKED STORKS
The picturesque black necked stork is known
for is distinctive plumage: a jet-black head,
black wing bar, and black tail, which contrast
against the white plumage of the rest of the
body and its long, coral-red legs. The male
and female storks are identical in coloring and
size, and are only distinguishable by different-
colored irises (striking yellow for females and
brown for males). This carnivorous bird ranges
from Southeast Asia to Australia.
GREEN TURTLE
The green turtle is the most common sea turtle
in the Kimberley, and is identifiable for its olive
green, heart-shaped carapace that measures
up to three feet in length. Green turtles nest,
forage, and migrate across tropical northern
Australia, and can live for a hundred years. This
species is widely distributed, but is under threat
everywhere from over-harvesting of both eggs
and adults, and from accidental mortality in the
nets and long-lines of fishing fleets. Equally as
worrying are the high numbers of green turtles
suffering from debilitating and potentially lethal
tumors, the cause of which is unknown.
SHORT-EARED
ROCK WALLABY
The “acrobat of the marsupial world” can be
found leaping and bounding around the rocky
outcrops and cliff ledges. Their agility is due
in part to feet that grip rock with skin friction
rather than claws. The short eared rock wallaby
is found in small areas of northern Australia, yet
inabundance,andisnamedforearsthatarenot
more than half the length of their heads.
AUSTRALIAN HUMPBACK
DOLPHIN
The Australian humpback dolphin is a recently-
classified species of of humpback dolphins
that occurs between northern Australia and
southern New Guinea. While all humpback
dolphins have conspicuous humps, the
Australian variation has a lower dorsal fin than
its Atlantic and Indian cousins, along with an
overall dark gray coloration.

Iconic
Kimberley
From Darwin to Broome, embark on an expedition of the
best of Australia’s Outback. L’Austral will take us as far
as the Buccaneer Archipelago, whose coast is one of the
most spectacular in the region.
DARWIN • BROOME (10 nights)
Aboard L’Austral
July 3 - 13, 2017
July 23 - August 2, 2017
August 12 - 22, 2017
from $6,960
see page 47
D 1 DARWIN (Australia)
D 2-3 Koolama Bay |
King George River and Falls
D 4 Vansittart Bay
D 5 Hunter River | Mitchell Falls
D 6 Freshwater Cove
D 7 Montgomery Reef
D 8 Talbot Bay | Horizontal Falls
D 9 Buccaneer Archipelago
D 10 The Lacepede Islands
D 11 BROOME Disembarkation
Jewels of
the Kimberley
Sailing round trip from Darwin, Australia’s only tropical
capital city, this expedition provides an in-depth
exploration of the country’s unspoiled northwest coast.
DARWIN • DARWIN (10 nights)
Aboard L’Austral
September 1 - 11, 2017
from $6,640
see page 47
D 1 DARWIN (Australia)
D 2 Vansittart Bay
D 3 Hunter River | Mitchell Falls
D 4 Freshwater Cove
D 5 The Lacepede Islands
D 6 Montgomery Reef
D 7 Talbot Bay | Horizontal Falls
D 8 Swift Bay
D 9-10 Koolama Bay |
King George River and Falls
D 11 DARWIN Disembarkation
Vansittart Bay
Hunter River Mitchell Falls
Freshwater Cove
Montgomery Reef
Talbot Bay Horizontal Falls
BROOME
The Lacepede Islands
Buccaneer Archipelago
AUSTRALIA
TimorSea
DARWIN
Koolama Bay and
King George River Falls
Koolama Bay and
KingGeorgeRiverFalls
Vansittart Bay
Hunter River Mitchell Falls
Freshwater Cove
Montgomery Reef
The Lacepede Islands
AUSTRALIA
TimorSea
DARWIN
Swift Bay
Talbot Bay Horizontal Falls
THEKIMBERLEY

Fares(per person, double occupancy)
AUGUST 12, 2017
10nightsonboard
DARWIN • BROOME
L’AUSTRAL
Deluxe Suite $12,030 $11,470
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Children8-11sharingparents'room $590 -
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-5%
Iconic Kimberley
SEPTEMBER 1, 2017
10nightsonboard
DARWIN • DARWIN
L’AUSTRAL
Deluxe Suite $12,030 $10,910
3rd
3rd
and 4th
Children8-11sharingparents'room $590 -
PON
ANTBO
NUS
Up to
-10%
Jewels of the Kimberley
JULY 3, 2017; JULY 23, 2017
10nightsonboard
DARWIN • BROOME
L’AUSTRAL
Superior Stateroom $7,290
Deluxe Stateroom $7,800
Deluxe Suite $12,030
Owner Suite $17,950
3rd
passenger in a Superior Stateroom $4,050
3rd
and 4th
passenger in Suite $8,590
Children8-11sharingparents'room $590
Iconic Kimberley
THEKIMBERLEY
The Ponant Bonus Fare is a promotional price that varies according to the
availability of places remaining on the cruise and is subject to change.

THE ARCTIC
Remote, frozen, expansive, and for the most part inaccessible, the Arctic
has fueled the imagination of adventurers for centuries. PONANT invites all
explorers-at-heart on an unforgettable journey of discovery and appreciation
for the icy realms that lie beyond 66°N.

PONANT Expeditions 2016_2018 collection

PONANT Expeditions 2016_2018 collection

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