Compagnie du Ponant Offers 2013-2014 Antarctica Voyages aboard L'Austral and Le Boreal

Compagnie du Ponant opened its 2013-2014 Antarctica booking window earlier than it has in past years. An added advantage to the earlier booking opportuni ty is the Ponant Bonus Fare structure: The earlier the guest books, the more guests can save, with a possible savings of 30 percent off the regular fare. The round-trip sailings travel from Ushuaia and through the Drake Passage to several ports on the “White Continent” – including Paradise Bay, Port Charcot, Deception Island and the Weddell Sea. The longer itinerary visits several areas of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. The 11-day adventure, with seven departures, currently starts at $6,279 per person, double, while the 16-day option, with four sailings, starts at $11,141. One of the 16-day sailings, departing at the end of the season, finishes in Uruguay and has a current Ponant Bonus starting fare of $7,266, a savings of 23 percent off the regular fare.

The 11-day program spends five full days traversing the coast of Antarctica with multiple landings, while guests on the 16-day voyage add visits to the Falklands Islands and South Georgia. A team of naturalist guides and a fleet of Zodiac boats give guests an intimate view of the area and an education on its history and wildlife. 

The line's 466-foot sister yachts – L’Austral and Le Boréal – offer two restaurants, several spacious lounges, a theater, a games area, two open-air bars, a swimming pool, a library, a fitness area, a spa and a staff-to-guest ratio of greater than 1:2. The 132 staterooms, 124 with private balconies, have king-size or twin beds, a desk, minibar, dressing table, marble baths with showers, L’Occitane products and all the latest technology, including flat screen satellite TVs and Wi-Fi. 

Compagnie du Ponant has also moved to a transparent pricing structure for the North American market, which highlights all-inclusive fares. All meals, open bar, stocked mini-bars in all staterooms and suites, a welcome-aboard cocktail party, 24-hour room service, all entertainment as indicated within the itinerary, gratuities, port charges, and even taxes and fees are now included in the pricing. The only extras are guests’ personal expenses, air, transfers and optional excursions. 

Specials programs offered include a new 5 percent discount on family-and-friends groups of five or more; a new 50 percent discount for guests ages 12 to 18 traveling with their families and sharing a stateroom with another teen or adult; a 10 percent discount on back-to-back cruises; increased savings on wedding and anniversary packages; single supplements from 15 percent; and discounts for referring other guests to Compagnie du Ponant.

For more information, visit en.ponant.com.