PONANT invites you on a 10-day cruise aboard Le Lapérouse for an extraordinary journey featuring the archaeological sites and sumptuous scenery of northern Scotland, on the edge of the Highlands, in the heart of the dreamlike and mysterious Hebrides archipelago.
From?Dublin, the Irish capital brimming with convivial atmosphere and authentic charm, your ship will then take you to the?Isle of Man, located between the United Kingdom and Ireland, with a clear Celtic and Viking heritage. The capital Douglas is an authentic postcard from United Kingdom of yesteryear with a Victorian atmosphere.
Then you will call in Portrush, where you can visit the?Giant's Causeway. This massive geological formation is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features over 40,000 basalt columns.
You will then reach Rathlin Island, a small and austere territory in County Antrim, whose sheer cliffs are home to Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony. Near the surprising upside-down lighthouse, located on the west of the island, you will be able to visit the RSPB seabird centre.
Then you will set sail towards the Hebrides archipelago. Located to the west of Scotland, it has around 150 islands and will reveal its diversity.
You will make a stop on Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland, home to an impressive abbey, and probably where the Book of Kells was produced. Then, you will enjoy sailing along Staffa Island and its impressive basalt columns and will reach the volcanic territory of Lunga, in the Treshnish Isles. The small island is a protected area for seabirds and home to colonies of puffins and guillemots among others. You will continue your exploration of the Inner Hebrides on the Isle of Skye. With their granite hills and heather moorlands, the landscapes of Loch Scavaig are among the wildest in the Highlands and will be an opportunity for an unforgettable walk at Loch Coruisk. Canna, a charming islet inhabited by twenty or so souls and nicknamed “the garden of the Hebrides”, will unveil itself, with its Christian, Celtic, Nordic and Scottish vestiges, in a natural setting of great beauty, a sanctuary for rich marine birdlife.
Your ship will then cruise towards Ullapool on the shore of Loch Broom in the western Highlands. This former herring fishing port boasts a picturesque atmosphere made up of white cottages and colourful fishermen's boats
You will continue to the Outer Hebrides and you will discover Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. This port of call will take you back in time to between 2900 and 2600 BC, the period during which the island’s megalithic site would have been created… Before the circle of standing stones, aligned with the cardinal points, the mystery remains entire, the emotion is palpable.
Next, you will reach the Shiant Isles for an unforgettable experience sailing at the foot of their cliffs, where many colonies of seabirds come to nest.
Then Le Lapérouse will set sail towards Rothesay, an elegant Victorian seaside resort on the Isle of Bute. Constructed around its 13th-century castle, the small town brims with charm, with its fine dwellings in the extravagant Georgian architectural style, and its sumptuous wild and landscaped gardens.
Finally, you will reach Glasgow, your disembarkation port.
- An all-new expedition cruise featuring archaeological sites, exceptional landscapes and the rich birdlife of the British archipelago of the Hebrides.
- Outings and shore visits with an experienced team of naturalist-guides.
- Hiking opportunities
- From Portrush, visit the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO site.
- The Isle of Man, its Celtic and Viking influences, and its capital, Douglas, a postcard from United Kingdom of yesteryear with a Victorian atmosphere.
- The exploration of seven new ports of call: Portrush, Rathlin Island, Lunga, Loch Scavaig, Canna, Lochmaddy, Rothesay.
- Exceptional opportunities for observing the life of large colonies and many species of seabirds in their natural habitat.
- Between Dublin and Glasgow, sail into the heart of Celtic shores, lands of magic and legends.
- An all-new port of call at Callanish, on the Isle of Lewis, to attempt to unravel the mystery of the eponymous megalithic site, an arrangement of 50 standing stones dating back to the Stone Age.
- The Scenery: islands, lochs, volcanic landscapes, cliffs, basaltic organs, sculpted dunes, sandy beaches, heather moors, wild marshes, granite hills, stone circles, cairns, rocky coasts, remarkable gardens.
- The wildlife: sea birds : guillemot, great skua, puffin, razorbill, turnstones, purple sandpipers, dunlins and sanderlings, Greenland barnacle goose, dotterels, ringed plovers, skylarks and oystercatchers; harbor and grey seals, poney.
Availability is always subject to confirmation. Please check with us before booking flights
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Le Bellot
| Built | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Length | 131 Metres |
| Lifts/elevators | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.
As the first ship in a new series, Le Bellot will embody the unique atmosphere of a subtle blend of exploration, refinement, intimacy and comfort.
Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.
Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.
RESTAURANTS
As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship.
To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals.
In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts.
PUBLIC AREAS
Le Bellot has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger.
A 140 m² reception area includes:
A reception/concierge desk,
An excursions desk,
The ship’s administrative services,
The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer,
Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories,
Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.
A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides:
Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship,
Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions,
Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding.
A pool deck offering:
A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system,
A pleasant solarium,
An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas.
A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening.
Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with:
The latest sound and lighting technology,
A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.
Please click the following links to read more about Ponant and the other Ponant cruise ships.
Deck plans are for illustrative purposes only – The actual ship and cabin layout may differ.
Le Boreal
Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship
A superb mega-yacht with 132 cabins, she is the fruit of the expertise of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard and French sophistication, as interpreted by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. Le Boreal creates a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being.
The best materials, discreet elegance and a tasteful décor combined with exterior and interior lines to reflect a nautical mood. On board, soothing neutral tones are enlivened by splashes of red, our signature theme linking tradition and innovation to create personal touches in the spirit of a “private yacht”.
Cuisine
Loyal to the great French tradition, the haute cuisine on board is worthy of the finest restaurants, where discreet, attentive service is the hallmark.
Choose from two restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Gastronomic Restaurant is situated on Le Liberte Deck and serves you French and international cuisine accompagnied by fine wine. In the Grill Restaurant, you have the opportuniny to eat outside and enjoy buffet lunch and themed dinner.
Life On Board
Whether you want to join other guests in the theatre or games area (Wii™ consoles, etc), or relax on your own in a quiet corner of the library, Le Boreal has been designed to meet the needs of every guest.
Everything has been done to preserve the independence of each guest to suit their personal tastes: lounges for lectures and shows, a spa in partnership with Carita™, but also more intimate spaces such as the library and internet corner. Comfortable cabins, nearly all with private balcony, are available for families either as triples or as communicating cabins. There is also a games area with Wii™ consoles, children’s menus, and a baby-sitting ser vice. Just as if you were on a private yacht, your time is your own to do as you please.
Fitted with the latest equipment (Kinesis Wall, running machine) and in partnership with the famous Carita™ brand, the Beauty Centre on Le Boreal welcomes you for some relaxation and pampering (beauty treatments, hairdresser, hammam, balneotherapy).
Wheelchairs3 specially adapted wheelchair cabins (Deck 3 = Superior cabin no. 307, no balcony, Deck 4 = Prestige Cabin no. 407 - with balcony and Deck 5 = Prestige Cabin no 509, with balcony) and lifts to all decks/areas.
DetailsLength: 142 metres. Passenger Capacity: 264 (in twin cabins, just 200 in Antarctica). Built: 2011
Please click the following links to read more about Ponant and the other Ponant cruise ships.
Deck plans are for illustrative purposes only – The actual ship and cabin layout may differ.
Le Laperouse
| Length | 131 metres |
|---|---|
| Built | 2017 |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Lifts/elevators | yes |
Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.
Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.
Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.
RESTAURANTS
As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Lapérouse will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism.
In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts.
To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals.
PUBLIC AREAS
Le Lapérouse has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger.
A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.
A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding.
A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas.
A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening.
Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.
Please click the following links to read more about Ponant and the other Ponant cruise ships.
Deck plans are for illustrative purposes only – The actual ship and cabin layout may differ.
Le Lyrial
| Length: | 142 metres |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2015 |
A sleek silhouette, a welcoming intimate atmosphere, discover aboard this new ship the philosophy that has made our sisterships such a success: the spirit of Yacht Cruises.
Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 122 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, will join our fleet in April 2015. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the our destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation. The result is a subtle variation around a palette of blues, ranging from the luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in Mediterranean coves
A refined ambiance is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat’s hull, while the central sculpture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonymous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.
Please click the following links to read more about Ponant and the other Ponant cruise ships.
Deck plans are for illustrative purposes only – The actual ship and cabin layout may differ.
Includes
- accommodation in stateroom,
- the full meal plan,
- the Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar,
- free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day*,
- access to all the common areas:
- on board our sister ships and Ponant Explorers: fitness room, steam room, hair salon, swimming pool (sea water, heated), solarium, lounges, theater, boutique & leisure area.
- accommodation in stateroom,
- the full meal plan,
- the Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar,
- free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day*,
- access to all the common areas:
- fitness room, steam room, hair salon, swimming pool (sea water, heated), solarium, lounges, theatre, boutique & leisure area.