Ocean cruises

This cruise, will cultivate the art of peaceful travel as well as a family spirit, thanks to its customised activities on board and on shore for youngsters*, with the Kid Explorers Club.

On these summer days, take a journey towards the unexpected, experience the extraordinary and embark on an exceptional 9-day cruise, along Mediterranean shores, with their heady mix of savours, architectural styles and age-old traditions, to seek out a rare phenomenon offered by the sky: the total solar eclipse. Throughout your journey aboard Le Boréal, discover the secrets of this exceptional event thanks to the presence of Joe Rao, meteorologist and eclipse chaser, and Serge Brunier, science journalist, author, photographer and eclipse chaser.

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, dive into the teeming waters of the wild Revellata peninsula at the gates of Calvi, explore the pretty villages of Gordes, Les Baux-de-Provence and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence leaving from Marseille or visit the Miró Foundation in Palma.The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

From Nice, you will set sail for Calvi in the heart of the Balagne region. Between steep peaks and sublime beaches with turquoise waters, you will experience a wild and authentic Corsica. Your ship will set sail towards the southern tip of Corsica, to Bonifacio. A veritable fortress sculpted by the wind and the spray, the “sentinel city” will reveal its historical centre and its long cobbled streets.

You will reach Marseille, the oldest port city in France, which is constantly renewing itself beneath the protective gaze of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Guard.

Le Boréal will sail to the Roussillon region, close to Spain. The charming fishing port of Port-Vendres will stand before you. Here, you will be bewitched by a unique blend of historic heritage and exceptional natural scenery, its backdrop the lush Albera Massif Mountain range running down towards the coast.

You will sail towards Barcelona. Truly an open-air museum, the “prodigious town” reveals an astonishing range of artistic treasures and museums, combining Roman ruins, medieval districts and a number of avant-garde elements from the 20th Century. 

Further east, you will reach the Balearic Islands, which are anchored off the coast of the Spanish coastline and will be a highlight of your Mediterranean journey. After you have discovered the treasures of Palma de Mallorca, the Captain will take you — if weather conditions permitting** — off the coast of the main Balearic Island, which is the best place to observe this rare phenomenon. You will be captivated by the unique spectacle provided by this 19th total eclipse of the 21st century, during which the Moon will obscure the Sun and reveal the solar corona.

This cruise, a veritable invitation to dream big, to be within reach of immensity and to reconnect with pure magic, will conclude in Nice, famous for its interminable riviera.

*for children aged 4 to 13 years old

**We are privileged guests in these places, where we are at the mercy of the weather conditions. As we cannot control the weather conditions, we cannot guarantee the observation of this total solar eclipse. Nevertheless, the Captain will have room for manoeuvre and will be able to sail towards the most suitable places on the eclipse’s trajectory.

The glamour of the French Riviera is on full display in Monte Carlo’s famous casino, the designer boutiques along Promenade de la Croisette in Cannes, and Saint-Tropez’s Pampelonne Beach. Spain’s Balearic Islands of Menorca and Mallorca boast their own white sand beaches, as well as historic castles, grand cathedrals and esteemed local wineries and gin distilleries. 

 

View Sample Shore Experiences in the Mediterranean.

Explore the western coast of Australia at the pace of sovereign nature. Wild beaches, turquoise waters, isolated islets and coral reefs sketch out unique panoramas, providing veritable refuge for a multitude of species. In this end of the world, a long-standing secret, national parks, a marine park, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and strings of islands shelter rare fauna, such as sea lions or sharks. From one port of call to the next, far from the beaten path, in a Zodiac, during hikes and swims, take the pulse of this vibrant land teeming with life, marked by the stories and petroglyphs of the First Nations.

Circumnavigate Iceland to discover the country’s dramatic scenery. Head into the mountains and valleys surrounding Akureyri to explore the “Waterfall of the Gods” and the otherworldly lagoons and mud pools in the geothermal landscape around Lake Myvatn.  The bays of Ísafjörður are ideal for whale watching, while Grundarfjörður is a gateway to the craters and lava tubes of Snæfellsjökull National Park.