Along the Dalmatian and Greek Shores
* Subject to availability.
Highlights
- Discovery of the Adriatic Sea and the Aegean Sea, featuring exceptional cultural sites, beautiful landscapes and ports with a unique charm.
- Numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the lagoon of Venice (embarkation port), the old towns of Dubrovnik and Kotor, the historic centre of Corfu, Delphi from Itea, the Mycenae ruins and the Epidaurus theatre (from Napflion), the Acropolis of Athens (disembarkation port).
- The visit of Hvar, Dubrovnik and Kotor, three unmissable spots in the Adriatic.
- Sailing in the Bay of Kotor.
- Crossing the Corinth Canal.
- Charming port of call: Hydra, the St Tropez of Athenians.
- The possibility of visiting Venice (before your cruise) and Athens (after your cruise).
Staterooms & Suites
Deluxe Stateroom $4,230 Available Prestige Deck 4 $4,710 Available Prestige Deck 5 $4,940 Available Prestige Deck 6 $5,170 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 5 $7,140 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 3 $7,140 Available Deluxe Suite Deck 4 $9,310 Not Available Deluxe Suite Deck 6 $7,140 Available Prestige Deck 5 Suite $9,610 Available Prestige Deck 6 Suite $10,070 Available Privilege Suite Deck 6 $10,560 Available Privilege Suite Deck 5 $10,560 Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 6 $15,250 Not Available Grand Deluxe Suite Deck 5 $11,590 Available Owner's Suite $16,000 Available
LE BOUGAINVILLE
LE BOUGAINVILLE
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 third ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Bougainville will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of 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.
Port of call & excursions
Venice
Embarkation 03/09/2020 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 03/09/2020 at 18H00 .Proud and eternal, Venice has reigned on its lagoon ever since the 6th century. You may think you know this city before even setting foot here. You will inevitably fall in love with the charm of the innumerable treasures of the Serenissima: Saint Mark’s square, the basilica, Doges palace, the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Yet, secret Venice is also waiting for you to explore its little interlacing streets and canals, to ramble through its squares and to push open the doors of its churches. The city’s extraordinary heritage shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a glass of Spritz and a few tramezzini.
4 September 2020 – Hvar
Arrival 04/09/2020 early afternoon. Departure 04/09/2020 evening.Off the coast of Split, Hvar will surprise you by its traditions that haven’t changed since Antiquity. The country’s oldest town, Stari Grad, is here on this Dalmatian Island. The town nestles by a cove on the north-west coast, surrounded by dry stone wall structures on the Stari Grad plains. These have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site because they were built in the time of the Ancient Greeks. From these parcels of land come wines and olive oil manufactured manually. In the upper part of town, you will discover hams and cheeses made by local producers. The picturesque village of Vrisnik is a good place to try some of local produce.
5 September 2020 – Dubrovnik
Arrival 05/09/2020 early morning. Departure 05/09/2020 late evening.Emblem of the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is magnificently positioned on a rocky spur. History is sovereign here, in this ancient city, now a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. You will perhaps be surprised by the proportions of La Placa, the central drag through the city. The sheer width of it can be explained by the fact that it straddles a former lagoon. The elegant houses along La Placa are built in the legendary travertine stone. At Pile gate, you will be greeted by the statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, and you can admire the coastline as you walk along the ramparts. But what’s inside Fort Saint John, adjoining the outer walls? A maritime museum and an aquarium featuring rare fish from the Adriatic.
6 September 2020 – Kotor
Arrival 06/09/2020 early morning. Departure 06/09/2020 late afternoon.Situated in one of Montenegro’s most beautiful bays, the medieval city of Kotor is a small town full of charm, truly imbued with the traditions and stories of another time. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, this village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has preserved many historical monuments from this epoch. During your stop, be sure to admire the impressive castle that dominates the town, and let yourself fall under the charm of its maze of small streets and intimate squares on which folk festivals featuring magnificent colourful costumes are often organised.
7 September 2020 – Corfu
Arrival 07/09/2020 midday. Departure 07/09/2020 early evening.Named after the island, Corfu is the most famous city in the Ionian islands. Protected by citadel fortifications, its old city, designated UNESCO World Heritage, displays unusual Greco-Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Above the water stands Saint George’s church, looking uncannily like a classical temple. Close by, you will be won over by the lively atmosphere of Spianada Square with its arcades and cafés. You can head for the legendary island where Odysseus landed: picturesque Pontikonisi, a stone’s throw from the southern point of the town.
8 September 2020 – Itea
Arrival 08/09/2020 late morning. Departure 08/09/2020 late afternoon.Tucked away in the Gulf of Corinth, this little port is situated in continental Greece, north-west of Athens. Take an easy stroll along the old cobblestone quays, while gazing at the summits encircling the Bay of Itea. We wouldn’t be surprised if you are tempted by a visit to the Delphi Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located on a plateau on the slope of Mount Parnassus, just ten kilometres from Itea. A listed UNESCO World Heritage site, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The ancient ruins are surrounded by steep mountains, and their Archaeological Museum is chock-full of cultural delights.
8 September 2020 – Crossing the Corinth Canal
Arrival 08/09/2020. Departure 08/09/2020.The Corinth Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth, turning the Peloponnese into an island as it separates the region from the Greek mainland. Inaugurated in 1893, the canal is a little over six kilometres long and enables merchant vessels and passenger to avoid a long 400-km detour around the peninsula. The two sides of the canal reach a height of approximately fifty metres. From the exterior decks, don’t miss this unique opportunity to watch the ship as it navigates along the narrow strip of water encased between tall, ochre cliffs. What an experience!
9 September 2020 – Nafplion
Arrival 09/09/2020 midday. Departure 09/09/2020 late evening.The engaging town of Nafplion is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Don’t be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. For instance, you’ll see the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.
10 September 2020 – Hydra
Arrival 10/09/2020 late morning. Departure 10/09/2020 late evening.This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-coloured caïques along the quays. Further along the shore, within the walls of the “Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary” is a museum of Byzantine art. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.
Athens
Disembarkation 11/09/2020 at 07H00 .The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. Don’t miss anything of the city’s cultural past. Pay a visit to the National Archaeological museum, or the Cycladic Art Museum.
Formalities
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot’s licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, PONANT will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Guest(s) Lecturer(s)
Xavier Darcos
With a higher teacher's diploma in classical literature and a PhD in the arts and humanities, Xavier Darcos began his career teaching preparatory classes. In 1992, he was appointed senior school inspector at the Ministry of National Education. Then from 1993 to 1995 he was chief of staff to Education Minister, François Bayrou, and then advisor on education and culture to Prime Minister Alain Juppé.
From 1995 to 1998 he was head of the school inspection department in the Ministry of National Education. He was also Professor of Comparative Literature at the Paris IV-Sorbonne University.
He is the author of books on history and schooling theories, the culture of diplomacy and Latin authors, and he is a member of the Académie française and the Académie des sciences morales et politiques.
Elected Mayor of Périgueux in 1997 and Senator in the Senate for the Dordogne in 1998, he was a member of the Aquitaine Regional Council from 2004 to 2014.
He has been a minister four times: Minister of School Education (2002-2004); Minister of Development, Cooperation and Francophony (2004-2005); Minister of National Education (2007-2009); and Minister of Labour, Social Relations, Family and Solidarity (2009-2010).
Nominated “Ambassador, entrusted with France’s external action abroad” in 2010, he was tasked with creating the Institut français and served as its first Executive Chair from 2011 to 2015. He has since become an “Ambassador for the development of the French language abroad” and has been the Chancellor of the Institut de France since December 2017.
Xavier Darcos is a Commander of the Legion of Honour, an Officer of the National Order of Merit, a Commander of the Academic Palms and a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Language spoken: French
Photo credit: All rights reserved
Possibility of withdrawal in case of force majeure.
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