The great Corsican loop
* Subject to availability.
Highlights
- Possibility of diving with an experienced instructor;
- The privilege of sailing in the Mediterranean aboard Le Ponant, our luxurious three-mast yacht;
- Discovery of the most beautiful places in Corsica: the Palombaggia beach, a true paradise with turquoise waters, white sand and pine forests; the Nature Reserve of the Strait of Bonifacio with exceptional sea life;
- Pre or Post Cruise : discover Nice, one of the most beautiful cities of Côte d’Azur, the old town and the world-famous Promenade des Anglais.
Staterooms & Suites
There are no staterooms available for booking. Please contact our cruise advisors.
LE PONANT
LE PONANT
Mythical destinations and secret ports of call only accessible to small capacity yachts. Ponant’s signature are Frenchstyle cuisine in a welcoming and intimate environment, discreet yet attentive service where no attention to detail is spared, unforgettable moments of relaxation aboard elegant French flag yachts of character. A sophisticated yet friendly atmosphere, in which, emotions, discovery and the quest for authenticity all take priority. Experience cruising in a different way and discover the magic of « Yacht Cruising ».
Given her size, shallow draft and a design that is very open to the sea (large sundeck, outdoor restaurant, easy access to the sea for swimming from her marina), Le Ponant, PONANT’s symbolic flagship gives passengers the feeling they are on a private yacht. The 32 staterooms all have a port hole and are tastefully decorated in a harmony of blues and whites. Two comfortable lounges and two restaurants complete the intimate spaces on this beautiful yacht.
Port of call & excursions
Nice
Embarkation 30/08/2017 from 17H00 to 18H00 . Departure 30/08/2017 at 19H00 .Capital of the Cote d’Azur, Nice is neighboured by the Baie des Anges. You will probably want to explore the Promenade des Anglais, where you can sit on one of the famous blue chairs laid out opposite the shoreline. The Château hill is also a very pleasent place to walk. This is the entrance to the old city, with its bustling markets and regional products along the main street, the Cours Saleya. If you want to plunge into Nice’s diverse cultural heritage, visit the Lascaris palace with its baroque decorations. The museums dedicated to painters Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall are an absolute must.
31 August 2017 – Cargese
Arrival 31/08/2017 mid morning. Departure 31/08/2017 evening.A picturesque South Corsican fishing port and marina port located very close to Ajaccio, Cargèse is known as “the most Greek of Corsican villages.” In fact, during the 17th century, it sheltered a large Greek colony, seeking refuge from the Turkish invasion in Corsica, which, at the time, was under Genoese control. The town preserves the heritage of this historic event. Besides the Saint-Spyridon Greek church, which faces the Baroque-style Latin church, the town’s traditional houses are white and their shutters blue. The town’s Genoese towers, the Tower of Orchinu and the Tower of Ormigna, also reflect its cultural Genoese heritage.
1 September 2017 – Porto Cervo
Arrival 01/09/2017 early morning. Departure 01/09/2017 evening.Porto Cervo is a small and very popular seaside village on the Emerald Coast of Sardinia. Built in the 1960s at Aga Khan’s behest, it now plays host to the world’s biggest fortunes and most stunning yachts. A haven of peace and harmony lined with blooming gardens, this out-of-the-way paradise was built according to the traditional architecture of the region. When your ship drops anchor here, you will have a chance to discover the picturesque streets, beautiful fine-sand beaches and lively port. And the historical heritage here is unique: discover relics from the Bronze Age as you explore the Giants’ grave and the Nuraghe La Prisgiona, megalithic vestiges of the mysterious Nuragic civilisation.
2 September 2017 – Palombaggia, Corsica
Arrival 02/09/2017 early morning. Departure 02/09/2017 mid afternoon.Located on the south-east side of the island, close to Porto-Vecchio, the seaside town of Palombaggia offers some of the most beautiful beaches in Corsica. White dunes, pink porphyry rocks, turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In this dreamlike setting, everything invites you to rest and unwind. From the beaches you have a view of the Cerbicale archipelago, six rocky islands with jagged silhouettes hewn out by winds that, together, form a natural reserve. In the hinterlands, Alta Rocca proposes many possibilities for walks through generous pinewoods.
2 September 2017 – Sailing the Mouths of Bonifacio
Arrival 02/09/2017. Departure 02/09/2017.The Strait of Bonifacio is the stretch of water separating Corsica from Sardinia. Always windy with strong currents, this strait is well known to sailors who are wary of the many reefs that have caused the deaths of so many of their kind, as the moving memorial to the frigate La Sémillante illustrates. To the east lies the Lavezzi Islands, with their airs of a tropical paradise, as large pink granite rocks emerge from a transparent turquoise sea. The area of the Bonifacio Strait has been classified as a nature reserve since 1999 because of its terrestrial and maritime ecological richness.
2 September 2017 – Bonifacio, Corsica
Arrival 02/09/2017 evening. Departure 02/09/2017.The spectacular town of Bonifacio located on the very tip of southern Corsica, clings to a narrow promontory of white rock overhanging the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. You can admire its limestone cliffs hewn out by the wind, before setting off on a cultural tour of its cultural treasures. From the little paved streets in the ancient Haute Ville, to the promenade on the open-air medieval chemin de ronde, this stunning town will take you on a journey back in time. Frequented or secluded, there are numerous beaches to choose from, all in keeping with the high standards of the “Île de Beauté”.
3 September 2017 – Bonifacio, Corsica
Arrival 03/09/2017. Departure 03/09/2017 late afternoon.The spectacular town of Bonifacio located on the very tip of southern Corsica, clings to a narrow promontory of white rock overhanging the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. You can admire its limestone cliffs hewn out by the wind, before setting off on a cultural tour of its cultural treasures. From the little paved streets in the ancient Haute Ville, to the promenade on the open-air medieval chemin de ronde, this stunning town will take you on a journey back in time. Frequented or secluded, there are numerous beaches to choose from, all in keeping with the high standards of the “Île de Beauté”.
4 September 2017 – Roccapina, Corsica
Arrival 04/09/2017 early morning. Departure 04/09/2017 late afternoon.Located in the south-west of Corsica the wild rocky Roccapina headlands covered in pine forest are a conservation area. The headlands embrace two bays of turquoise blue water and powder-soft sandy beaches. You may not see many people but traces of the region’s Genovese past are visible, including a 17th century tower. However, the main attraction is provided by Nature in the form of dramatic rocky peaks sculpted by the wind into the shape of animals and humans. On the top of a rocky outcrop one of the most famous formations strongly resembles a lion lying down, its head up surveying the coast.
5 September 2017 – Calvi, Corsica
Arrival 05/09/2017 early morning. Departure 05/09/2017 evening.Against a rocky outcrop in the north-west of Corsica, the port of Calvi stands out in its whiteness between two sapphire bays. You will most certainly want to stroll around its picturesque old centre, where the gentle clunk of petanque balls can be heard throughout the streets. Amateurs of history can explore the medieval citadel, a small white-stone maze of buildings on the water’s edge, here you can see the house where Christopher Columbus was born. Food lovers will no doubt prefer the covered market, located just behind the charming pink Sainte-Marie-Majeure church; the market regularly proposes a fine selection of local specialities.
Nice
Disembarkation 06/09/2017 at 08H00 .Capital of the Cote d’Azur, Nice is neighboured by the Baie des Anges. You will probably want to explore the Promenade des Anglais, where you can sit on one of the famous blue chairs laid out opposite the shoreline. The Château hill is also a very pleasent place to walk. This is the entrance to the old city, with its bustling markets and regional products along the main street, the Cours Saleya. If you want to plunge into Nice’s diverse cultural heritage, visit the Lascaris palace with its baroque decorations. The museums dedicated to painters Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall are an absolute must.
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.
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.
In order to participate in diving sessions, guests must have with them a medical certificate less than 1 year old and their up to date dive book.
Diving in the Mediterrenean Sea
Diving in the Mediterrenean Sea
Scuba diving
Your dives will be led by Patrick Brissac your instructor. He will take care of your safety and that all goes smoothly.
On some diving sites, as in natural reserves or if the local regulations require it, a local guide will escort the diving.
Thanks to check below.
PORTS OF CALL | CERTIFIED DIVES | FIRST DIVES |
Porto Cervo - Sardinia | No
| No
|
Cargese – Corsica | Yes | Yes |
Palombaggia – Corsica | Yes | No |
Bonifacio – Corsica | Yes | No |
Roccapina – Corsica | Yes | Yes |
Calvi– Corsica | Yes on the morning and on the afternoon | Yes |
The minimum level required for scuba diving on this cruise is 1 star CMAS or the Open Water Diver Padi.
What is a confirmed diver?
A confirmed diver is 1 star CMAS certified diver, or the Open Water Diver (PADI).
The certification card, the diving log book and a recent medical certificate (less than 12 months) must be presented at the beginning of the cruise to our diving instructor Patrick BRISSAC.
How does it work?
The instructor can dive with 4 confirmed divers at a time, according to their certification. The instructor reserves the right to check divers’ ability for maximum safety.
The depth that can be reached will depend of the certification of the divers:
- For those with Level 1 or PADI Open Water Diver certificates the maximum depth can be up to 20 metres.
- If two Level 2 divers wish to dive together alone, they must have a briefing first. They must have dive computers and are allowed to go to a maximum depth of 20 metres.
Duration of the dives
The diving activity lasts from 2 to 3 hours, which includes the journey to the diving site and the diving. This duration is given as an indication and may vary according to the site, the level of divers, weather conditions and the number of participants.
For experienced divers, the duration of dives varies between 35 and 60 minutes depending on the site, the diver’s experience and consumption. As we will dive in remote place, the dives will be done without decompression stop. A safety stop of 3 minutes at 5 meters will be mandatory.
Supplied equipment
- Diving wetsuit
- Stabilizing jacket
- Fins
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Regulator with octopus and pressure gauge
- Diving computer
Rates :
Price per person
- First dive:
- Introductory dive (1 dive): €80
- Ponant Discovery Pack (2 dives): €150
- Certified dive:
- Exploration (1 dive): €70
- Excellence Package (3 dives): €195
- Passion Package (6 dives): €360
