{"id":14663,"date":"2010-04-24T10:45:00","date_gmt":"2010-04-24T10:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/le-ponant-sails-to-hidden-corners-of-mediterranean-2\/"},"modified":"2010-04-24T10:45:00","modified_gmt":"2010-04-24T10:45:00","slug":"le-ponant-sails-to-hidden-corners-of-mediterranean-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/2010\/04\/le-ponant-sails-to-hidden-corners-of-mediterranean-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Le Ponant Sails to Hidden Corners of Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/div>\n

From this spring through the fall, Compagnie du Ponant<\/a>, the world\u2019s only French-flagged cruise line, will offer unusual voyages to some of the hidden corners of Europe\u2019s most popular destinations: Italy, France and Spain. From May 17 through October 23, guests aboard the luxury cruise line\u2019s stylish Le Ponant will enjoy visits to some 12 lesser-known island gems including Porquerolles, Minorca, Lipari, Gozo, Hvar, Mljet and through the Kornati archipelago. Sailing on mostly seven-night itineraries, the three-masted Le Ponant will sail along the French Riviera, Costa Brava and the Ligurian and Dalmatian coasts.<\/p>\n

Le Ponant is an elegant 290-foot sailing yacht that accommodates 64 guests in 32 outside staterooms. Two restaurants, one with panoramic views; two lounges and a library provide plenty of entertainment options. Relaxing outside on the expansive 4,300-square-foot deck \u2013 especially when the ship has its 16,000 feet of sails unfurled \u2013 is particularly appealing. Aboard the yacht, guests enjoy the best France has to offer: delicious cuisine, tasteful accommodations and a chic, yet informal atmosphere. The intimate size of Le Ponant and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:2 translate to very personalized service. Compagnie du Ponant\u2019s aim: to have guests feel like they are sailing on their own yacht. <\/p>\n

Kicking off its European season on May 17, the seven-night \u201cCharms of Corsica and Italy\u201d itinerary sails from Nice down the west side of Corsica to picturesque Ile Rousse; along the towering granite cliffs of Piana Calanches, a UNESCO World Heritage site; then to the cliff-top fortressed medieval city of Bonifcacio; before continuing to Rome; Elba\u2019s Portoferraio; the medieval town of Lerici in the Cinque Terre, and back to Nice. \u201cTreasures of the Blue Mediterranean\u201d (May 24, 31, September 2, 19, & October 10), seven-night sailings from Nice to Valleta and back, include mostly Italian ports like the volcanic island of Ponza, the jewel-like Amalfi, tiny Lipari in the Aeolian Islands, plus a cruise around Stromboli\u2019s active volcano and a visit to Taormina\u2019s ancient Greek theatre and its still-smoking Mount Etna. <\/p>\n

Other Le Ponant cruises highlighting Italy include:<\/p>\n

\u00a8 \u201cSicily and the Mezzogiorno\u201d (August 19, 26, September 26 & October 3) \u2013 Four seven-night voyages, from Valletta (Malta) to Naples and Naples back to Valletta, call at the famed Sicilian cities of Syracuse, Taormina and Palermo and Castellamare, gateway to the Phoenician sites of Segesta and Erice, plus Lipari and Amalfi.<\/p>\n

\u00a8 \u201cItalian Promenades: Tuscany and Liguria\u201d (October 17 & 23) \u2013 The six-night Nice-to-Nice itinerary calls in Monaco and four Italian ports, including the Tuscan resort of Viareggio, a jumping-off point for visits to Pisa or Florence. <\/p>\n

France and Spain are the focus of:<\/p>\n

\u00a8 \u201cA Mediterranean Anthology\u201d (June 12, 19, 26 & July 3) \u2013 Four seven-night itineraries from Nice to Barcelona and Barcelona to Nice, visit: the nature reserve on Porquerolles; the medieval village of Port Saint Louise du Rhone in the heart of the Alpilles; Port La Nouvelle for its Crusader fortresses; the UNESCO Biosphere reserve of Minorca; Majorca\u2019s cobblestoned capital Palma de Majorca, and medieval Palamos north of Barcelona, the Mediterranean\u2019s most popular port. <\/p>\n

Several itineraries explore the Dalmatian Coast, one of this year\u2019s hot destinations:<\/p>\n

\u00a8 \u201cFrom the Riviera to Medieval Cities of the Adriatic\u201d (July 24) – This nine-night adds stops at Elba and ports along Italy\u2019s western coast with visits to the beautiful island of Hvar; Split, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Diocletian\u2019s Palace; picturesque Rovinj, and medieval Piran.<\/p>\n

\u00a8 \u201cBlown by the Wind in Croatia\u201d (August 2) \u2013 A seven-night Venice-to-Venice itinerary calls at eight jewels along the Dalmatian Coast including three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the walled city Dubrovnik, Trogir and Sibenik. The cruise visits the fortified towns of Zadar and Kotor; Mljet, one of this coast\u2019s best kept secrets and medieval Korcula before it sails through the Kornati archipelago. <\/p>\n

\u00a8 \u201cFrom the Doge\u2019s Palace to the Palace of the Grand Master\u2019s\u201d (August 9) \u2013 A ten-night Venice-to-Valleta voyage combines seven ports along the Dalmatian coast with stops at Otranto on Italy\u2019s heel, Taormina and Gozo.<\/p>\n

Golfers can hit the links during \u201cTee Time in the Mediterranean,\u201d two seven-night, Nice-to-Nice sailings (July 10 and 17) playing at select golf courses in Cannes, Corsica, Sardinia, Elba and Portofino. Included in the price are green fees at five courses, golf carts and transfers to and from the courses. The yacht\u2019s Sports Director will handle all the details. <\/p>\n

These itineraries are tailor made for Compagnie du Ponant\u2019s sailing yacht. Le Ponant\u2019s zodiacs allow guests to explore these intriguing ports as well as private coves and deserted islets. And on a hot summer day in the Mediterranean nothing is more refreshing then jumping off the marina platform for a swim.<\/p>\n

Le Ponant has 32 exterior staterooms with large windows and all have individually-controlled air conditioning, a choice of king or twin beds and private bath with shower and L\u2019Occitane amenities. Ranging from 113 to 165 square feet, they come equipped with the latest technology: flat-screen satellite TV, direct-dial satellite telephone, Wi-Fi as well as a mini-bar and safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cPonant\u2019s philosophy \u2013 to offer small ship cruising with a bit of French flavor in a comfortable ambiance with welcoming service \u2013 is very much aligned with the aspirations of today\u2019s travelers,\u201d says, Terri Haas, Compagnie du Ponant\u2019s Chief Commercial Officer. \u201cOur cruises are designed for those who are interested in history and culture and enjoy seeing unspoiled corners of the world,\u201d explains Haas. <\/p>\n

All but six cruises are seven-night itineraries. Starting at $3,045 per person, double occupancy for a Marie Galante Deck stateroom on the six-night \u201cItalian Promenades: Tuscany and Liguria\u201d and ranging up to $5,680 per person, double for an Antigua Deck stateroom on the 10-day \u201cFrom the Doge\u2019s Palace to the Palace of the Grand Masters,\u201d cruise prices include all wine, beer, mineral water, soft drinks and specialty coffees served with meals. Compagnie du Ponant offers travel agent commissions ranging between 10 and 15 percent. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From this spring through the fall, Compagnie du Ponant, the world\u2019s only French-flagged cruise line, will offer unusual voyages to some of the hidden corners of Europe\u2019s most popular destinations: Italy, France and Spain. From May 17 through October 23, guests aboard the luxury cruise line\u2019s stylish Le Ponant will enjoy visits to some 12 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[342],"class_list":["post-14663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ponant-cruises"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14663\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}