Ponant Cruises

On a Ponant cruise, the "all-inclusive" includes:

• Accommodation in stateroom
• All meals
• Open Bar beverages (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Henri Abelé BRUT 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 (note service interruptions can occur)
• Access to all the common areas as follows:
  on board the sister ships (Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial) and Ponant Explorers - fitness room, steam room, hair salon, swimming pool (sea water, heated), solarium, lounges, theatre, boutique & leisure area
• Port taxes

• Any ground services before and/or after the cruise other than the ones mentioned in each "Cruise, Flights & Transfers" package and for which details are available upon request. Speak to your Global Journeys Cruise Advisor for more information
• The optional pre and post cruise programs, overlands and excursions offered
• Visa expenses (which may include additional administrative charges imposed by the authorities of a country) and/or immigration reciprocity taxes if applicable
• Gratuities to onboard crew, local guides and drivers
• Luggage handling
• Optional Spa package to be booked prior your departure
• Beverages other than the ones mentioned
• Dives when authorized by local authorities and feasible with ship equipment and Zodiacs®. Rates: €70 per standard dive; €80 per dive when local equipment or staff must be used, €80 fora "discover scuba dive" course, on some cruises a dive package might be on offer. In order to participate to diving sessions, guests must have with them a medical certificate less than 1-year-old and their up to date dive book
• Laundry services, hair salon and à la carte Spa treatments
• Personal expenses, on board medical consultations and drug prescriptions
• Cancellation/luggage/assistance/repatriation/medical insurance

For most Arctic and Antarctic cruises, Ponant charter aircraft and transfers in order to facilitate the arrival and the departure of our passengers.

Thus, Ponant offer air packages with the following benefits: direct flights, baggage transported on a single flight to ensure its delivery at the arrival point, ship's departure delayed in the event of a flight delay & personalised service on board. Charters depend on where the cruises start and finish & sometimes the charter is just one way. Guests also have the option to book "cruise only".

For cruises outside of Arctic and Antarctic, some flights are included in the rate shown. These cruises are identifiable by the notation "round-trip flights included", "domestic flight for arrival included", or "return domestic flight included". Please consult your Global Journeys Cruise Advisor for more information.

Excursions offered are not included in the price of the cruise. Some cruises, however, offer excursions and you will find the details in the itinerary concerned.

Access to the steam room and the fitness room is free. Spa treatments such as scrubs, facials, hair care, hair styling and body care are at cost.

When you book a Ponant cruise on our site, you can make your payment by Visa or Mastercard. Online payments are fully secured and protects your information when you make the transaction.

Children must be three years of age to embark Ponant's ships. Children must be six years of age to embark on the ships for Polar Expedition cruises.

In the case of all the Expedition Cruises, children must be fully independent during all the outside activities organised and during disembarkation in rubber boats, be sufficiently tall to sit on the inflatable sides of the boats, and old enough to understand, and immediately respond to the orders given by the persons in charge. As a result, children's participation in any activity in an inflatable boat shall be subject to the agreement of the Captain and of the Expedition Head, depending on the sea conditions, and the difficulty of disembarking at each location visited. The ships do not carry Parka's in children's sizes. Parents must arrange to bring a suitable Parka for children.

Ponant offer a Kids Club on a select number of Mediterranean cruises. This means the cruise program is child-friendly, family cruise, with specific entertainment that is structured for children. Kids Club cruises are identified as such in the itinerary.

Onboard Ponant's sister ships (Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial) as well as the Ponant Explorers, there is a door between some prestige staterooms to transform them into prestige suites.

For security reasons when at sea, the door is locked in the opened or closed position and cannot be opened by guests.

If two prestige staterooms have been purchased as a suite, the door between them is unlocked and cannot be closed. For more information on the plans of Ponant vessels visit here or consult your Global Journeys Cruise Advisor.

All the deck plans for Ponant's ships can be viewed here.

A medical file is requested for Antarctic cruises, in the sub-Antarctic regions, traversing the Northwest Passage and for all trips at sea.

Ponant will not allow women who are over six months pregnant to sail. Please consult your Global Journeys Cruise Advisor for documentation if you are pregnant.

• There is a doctor on board available to the guests on all Ponant ships
• The schedules of consultation are listed each day in the logbook (emergency consultation 24/7)
• Ponant sister ships and Ponant Explorers also have a hospital for any small surgery
• During the excursions, the passengers are accompanied by a doctor or a nurse
• There is a fee for consultations on board. The price may vary according to the time and place of the consultation (hospital or stateroom)
• You must pay for all medications
• The doctor on board is not authorized to distribute sick leave and prescriptions
• Only accounts and invoices are provided, which may be used by the guest to obtain a refund from his/her health insurance if his/her contract allows

For more information on Ponant's cancellation policy, please consult the General Terms and Conditions or consult your Global Journeys Trip Advisor.

Once your booking has been paid in full and you have completed your online check in/guest information form, your cruise documents will be released to us approximately 21 days prior to sailing. We will check these over and forward on to you. If you require documentation prior to this time, please advise your Global Journeys Cruise Advisor well in advance.

On the boarding day of your cruise, your vessel leaves the port mentioned on the first day of the itinerary.

A few weeks before your departure, you receive your travel book with all the information necessary for your cruise, including a reminder of your itinerary and the name of the port of embarkation.

Global Journeys can help you book your return flights to the point of embarkation / disembarkation of your Ponant cruise.

The embarkation schedule is indicated on the first day of your cruise itinerary.

A few weeks before your departure, you receive your travel book with all the information necessary for your cruise, including the embarkation schedule.

Ponant chefs and their brigade interpret and share their passion for the French culinary heritage, enriched with the products and traditions of the countries visited. Menus are constantly renewed according to the destination and the route chosen.

Ponant guides guests to book their treatments at the spa after they are settled on board. It is not possible to make a reservation before your departure.

Ponant guide that the most important consideration for packing is being aware of the seasons and the environment you will be exploring. They recommend that you wear relaxed, lightweight clothing that you can layer up so as to adapt to different temperatures.

Onboard life - Ponant recommend comfortable, relaxed clothing onboard, being mindful the ship is air conditioned and might be either cool or warm indoors depending on the outside climate. Pack shorts, tops, swimwear and light jumpers for day wear on board.

For dining and evening Ponant recommend that you wear smart, casual clothing, shorts and t-shirts are not permitted in the restaurants. Women can consider dresses, long trousers, blouses and skirts. Men, chino or trousers, shirts, polo shirts and jackets.

For Gala evenings – It is recommended you bring two formal outfits for the two Gala evenings held on each cruise. Women can bring formal dresses or long gowns and men should pack a dark suit, tie or bowtie and shirt. Should a Captains dinner be held on your cruise guests are recommended to have white or black and white smart casual wear for the event.

Polar regions - polar jackets are provided free of charge for use on polar cruises and rubber boots are available for hire. Items to consider might include fleece hats, vests, neck warmers, waterproof trousers and gloves.

Warmer climates - consider UV vests and tops, hydration backpacks, sunhats that cover the neck, water shoes. Don't forget high quality UV sunglasses for all destinations and your binoculars.

You should pack an appropriate supply of essential items in your cruise luggage, including film and batteries for your camera, as well as over the counter medications and prescription drugs.

It is important that you bring sufficient supply of any prescription medicine you may need. Prescriptions cannot be refilled on board, and usually cannot be refilled overseas. To prevent delays in clearing Customs, it is also a good idea to travel with a doctor’s letter explaining that your prescription medication is required for your continued health. It is also recommended that the medicine remain in its original container with the original pharmacy label intact.

Ponant offers a bathrobe, slippers, towels & French luxury toiletries.

Most staterooms on Ponant ships have a private balcony or window offering a view of the sea.

Explorer ships have all balcony staterooms, these are Le Laperouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont-D'Urville, Le Bellot and the Le Jacques Cartier. Le Commandant Charcot also has all balconies.

Ponant's sister ships - L'Austral, Le Boreal, Le Lyrial and the Le Soleal - have 6 ocean view cabins found on deck 3 at the front of the ship.

On each of Ponant's ships, you can enjoy room service at any hour of the day and night. A butler service is also available to guests:

• On the sister ships: for passengers staying in one of the staterooms on deck 6
• On the Ponant Explorers: for passengers staying in one of the two large suites located to the rear of deck 5

From the moment you board the ship and throughout your cruise, drinks will be complimentary and unlimited*. Choose from a selection of wine, champagnes, spirits, mineral waters and non-alcoholic drinks.

This Open Bar service will also apply to your minibar and room service drinks.

*It doesn't include premium alcoholic drinks indicated in the Bar Menu. It is valid only for individual personal consumption, without limitations.

Adapters are provided on board; they are available at the reception office of our ships.

Electrical outlets are available to guests in the common areas.

On Ponant vessels you can enjoy the following services:

• Reception desk 24/7 on our sister ships & Ponant Explorers
• Customer Service Office
• Excursions Office
• Breakfast in your stateroom
• Butler service reserved to our passengers traveling in the suites of Deck 6 of the sister ships and the two large rear suites on Deck 5 on the Ponant Explorers
• Stateroom service (Free & available 24/7 on all ships)
• Wake-up service
• Laundry
• Fitness room
• Photography/video service
• Bar
• Postal service
• Restaurant

You may leave letters and postcards at Reception and they will be posted for you. Please note your cabin number where you would normally place the stamp. The postage fee will be added to your account.

A satellite telephone system is at your disposal for contacting anyone, anywhere in the world. The cost of the call is added to the cabin account (€6/minute).

Calls that you receive can be transferred directly to your cabin or to any other communal area on the ship. To receive or send faxes, please see Reception.

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available on all Ponant ships, in both the cabins and the communal areas. One or several computers are at your disposal in the recreation centres.

Please note that the Wi-Fi connection may be slower or even interrupted in certain geographic regions or due to circumstances outside of our control.

In order to maintain your fitness, and following the program of stopovers in your itinerary, mild fitness sessions will be offered to you during your cruise. If navigation and weather permit, guests can take a dip in the heated swimming pool of the sister ships and Ponant Explorer ships, or directly in the clear waters traversed by your vessel.

Some stopovers will offer fee-based activities such as tennis, golf and SCUBA diving (remember to bring your licenses, handicap cards or dive logs).

Finally, all ships have a fitness room.

Ponant offers various relaxation areas on board their ships. Guests can enjoy lounges, a spa with massage rooms and a steam room, a hair salon, a fitness room, a swimming pool, a theatre and a boutique.

Guests who travel more than once with Ponant can become a member of the loyalty program, The Ponant Yacht Club. As a valued Ponant Yacht Club member, you will receive discount on cruise fares, personalised attention, exclusive services on board and on land, shipboard credit, and receive special offers not available to non-members.

Benefits increase with each of the four levels of membership which is defined by the number of cruises you have booked.

Major
After you confirm your 2nd cruise:

• The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club's private cruises.
• 5% discount on all your future bookings.
• Onboard credit amounting to € 50 per cruise.
• Complimentary laundry service aboard.

Admiral
After you confirm your 4th cruise:

• The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club's private cruises.
• 7.5% discount on all your future bookings.
• Onboard credit amounting to € 100 per cruise.
• Complimentary laundry service aboard.
• 20% discount in the onboard boutique and for beverages listed on the bar menu (except for the wine menu), except for excursions.
• Complimentary upgrades subject to availability.

Grand Admiral
After you confirm your 7th cruise:

• The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club's private cruises.
• 10% discount on all your future bookings.
• Onboard credit amounting to € 150 per cruise.
• Complimentary laundry service aboard.
• 25% discount of all your onboard expenses, except for excursions.
• Complimentary upgrades subject to availability.
• Change your choice of cruise without incurring charges up to 90 or 150 days before departure.

Commodore
After you confirm your 20th cruise:

• The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club's private cruises.
• 12.5% discount on all your future bookings.
• Onboard credit amounting to € 200 per cruise.
• Complimentary laundry service aboard.
• 25% discount of all your onboard expenses, except for excursions.
• Complimentary upgrades subject to availability.
• Change your choice of cruise without incurring charges up to 90 or 150 days before departure.

*The new benefits presented here are applicable beginning 1st April 2019. The PONANT Yacht Club card is presented to each adult guest aged over 18 and eligible for the PONANT Yacht Club programme. The benefits and status are acquired upon confirmation of the reservation unless it is cancelled prior to departure, and may be modified without notice. Free-of-charge or cancelled cruises, regardless of the reason for the cancellation, are not taken into consideration when calculating loyalty status.

The discount on your future bookings applies to port-to-port prices, and excludes taxes, discretionary expenses and transfers. This discount can only be combined with the PONANT Bonus discount, the discount applied to onboard cruise sales, the sponsorship offer, the friends and family offer and with the back to back cruises discount. The discount for all onboard expenses, except for excursions, applies to everything other than "Prestige" products. The complete list of these products is available at reception and at the shop during the cruise. Onboard credit is non-exchangeable, non-refundable and non-transferable. It is valid for all expenses on board (excursions included), once all eligible discounts have been applied. Not valid on pre-bookable and pre-payable tours, excursions or cruise programmes or for gratuities. Laundry service is free on board, within the limit of 5 items per day and per person. Complimentary upgrades offered on board are subject to availability, and offered within a maximum of 48 hours after boarding. You may change your cruise free of charge the first time you change your cruise package, provided that the request is made 90 days or more before the cruise's departure date (and 150 days or more for Expedition Cruises). The new departure date must be within 12 months of the original planned departure. Only one change can be made free of charge per calendar year per person with Grand Admiral and Commodore status, regardless of the cruise in question, and can only be applied to the first change only. Dedicated phone line is only available to French-speaking guests, as well as Australian and New Zealand guests. Priority boarding is subject to availability and only applies to certain ports of embarkation.