Latest news with #LeJacquesCartier
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Cruising the Kimberley on board Ponant's luxury small ship Le Jacques Cartier
On board, it's a French affair – from elegant staterooms with private balconies to fine dining and champagne, a spa, and a plunge pool. What sets it apart is its team of expert naturalists who accompany guests on Zodiac excursions along the Kimberley's spectacular coastline, sharing stories about the ancient sandstone cliffs, Aboriginal rock art and abundance of wildlife. The ship's design blends modern elegance with expedition-ready functionality. The ship features 92 staterooms and suites spread across four passenger decks, offering airy, light-filled spaces with ocean views. A hydraulic marina at the stern is the focal point for expertly planned, daily Zodiac excursions. The spaces It might be classified as a small ship but it never feels crowded on board Le Jacques Cartier. With roughly 150 guests on board during my sailing, there's always a spot to relax, drink or dine. Public areas include the observation lounge on deck six, an 188-seat theatre (where daily briefings take place), indoor and outdoor dining across two levels, a wellness centre with spa, sauna and gym, and an infinity-edge pool. A popular gathering point is the main lounge, which opens early for coffee and pastries and transitions throughout the day from the excursion meeting point to a hub for activities like quizzes and French lessons, to afternoon tea and post-dinner dancing. There are plenty of places to seek entertainment on board. Photo / Supplied The Observatory is ideal for enjoying the cocktail of the day, watching the sunset or settling in with a book. Don't miss the unique Blue Eye Lounge on deck zero, a world-first underwater observatory where guests can watch marine life and listen to the ocean through hydrophones – or just enjoy a Curacao-infused Blue Eye cocktail and music. Boarding and check-in The starting point for Ponant's 'Australia's Iconic Kimberley Cruise' is Broome, on the traditional lands of the Yawuru people – a tropical coastal town in Western Australia known for its multicultural heritage, pearling industry and postcard-perfect sights like Cable Beach. Ponant offers an optional one-night pre-cruise package, and it's well worth adding Broome to your itinerary. Airport transfers to the Mangrove Hotel, the official cruise meeting point, are included. Cruising the Kimberley on board Ponant's luxury small ship Le Jacques Cartier. Photo / Supplied Check-in is seamless: guests drop their bags at the Ponant desk, enjoy light refreshments, then receive their cabin keys before boarding a shuttle to the port – all within an hour. By 4pm, we were welcomed aboard by Captain Christophe Dupuy and shown directly to our stateroom, where our luggage was waiting. All that remained was to unpack and head for a welcome cocktail before setting sail. Food and drink There are just two restaurants on board – the fine dining, multi-course Le Nautilus, and the more casual Grill Restaurant on the pool deck – but the offering is so varied (and included in your fare), it feels abundant. The Grill is a go-to at lunchtime when the sun is shining and an elaborate poolside cooking station turns out everything from big pans of paella brimming with chorizo, octopus, mussels, chicken and rice, to a seafood extravaganza complete with prawn towers and trays of shellfish. The fine dining, multi-course restaurant, Le Nautilus. Photo / Supplied In the air-conditioned Le Nautilus, with its crisp white tablecloths and sparkling glassware, expect a six-course French menu designed by executive chef Philippe Morvan, alongside an alternative menu of 'Australian-friendly' options – a rack of NZ lamb one night, chicken parmy the next – a selection of French wines, and attentive service. The tables are designed for socialising, with plenty for six or more, as friendships are inevitably formed during the cruise. For those who prefer a quiet table for two, there's always one to be found. Pastry chef Kevin Tiraboshi's desserts are an absolute standout (think pecan pie, lemon meringue tart, pistachio financier, mille-feuille and big bowls of chocolate mousse) that have most guests indulging at both lunch and dinner. The understated desserts are often the heroes, like the crème anglaise, served from a jug, which caused many a queue. No French cruise is complete without a cheese buffet, and Le Jacques Cartier's offered an astonishing array of French selections and accompaniments, from Coulommiers and ash brie to Morbier, Comté and Cantal. The room Compact yet cleverly designed, our Prestige Stateroom delivers boutique hotel comfort at sea. At 19sq m, it fits a king bed, seating area, wardrobe, mini bar and a private balcony – with thoughtful storage and luxe details throughout. Prestige Stateroom. Photo / Supplied The bathroom, stocked with Clarins products, even offers ocean views from the shower. Daily turndown includes a parade of petit fours, and 24/7 room service means you can enjoy a Ponant burger and a glass of champagne while you watch a movie in bed. Spas, saunas and gyms Don't expect to get your step count up on this cruise. The most walking I did was from the cabin to the breakfast buffet, with daily expeditions often restricted to a Zodiac cruise without touching land. So if you're keen to earn that second slice of lemon meringue pie, the compact gym, with its ocean outlook, is the place to be. The on-board spa. Photo / Supplied You might even spot dolphins while you work out (true story). In lieu of a walking loop on an upper level, I also made the most of the stairwell and long hallways. I loved the spa and salon, with its dreamy menu of facials, massages and hair treatments using Clarins products, perfect for an at-sea day. The crew With 127 crew members to a maximum of 184 guests, Le Jacques Cartier offers impressively attentive service. You quickly get to know the hard-working and personable team, from Agus, who keeps our stateroom impeccably clean, to Iwan, the waiter who remembers our spice preference and ensures Tabasco appears on the breakfast table (even sharing a sachet of sambal from his personal stash). Sommelier Claudelie always has an armful of French wine to match the day's menu, while restaurant manager Jennyfer glides through the dining room with effortless efficiency. Cruise director Johan keeps the schedule running smoothly with charm and precision, and the true stars – the naturalists – are walking encyclopaedias and great company on excursions. Hunter River and Porosus Creek Cruising. Photo / Supplied Expeditions Each day, the ship anchors at a new location in the Kimberley on its way from Broome to Darwin. Expert-led Zodiac excursions take guests into mangrove-lined rivers, to ancient Aboriginal rock art, and zoom right up close to Talbot Bay's Horizontal Falls. A highlight is Montgomery Reef, which appears to rise dramatically from the sea as the tide drops. You will see wildlife, including crocodiles (a real thrill as a New Zealander), green turtles, mudskippers, stingrays and nesting seabirds. Guests are assigned to small expedition groups at the start of the journey, which is a great way to forge bonds across the 10-day voyage. You won't swim (as well as crocodiles, there are sharks, jellyfish and dangerous tides), but you will cruise through dramatic gorges and toast champagne beneath King George Falls. This is not a cruise for independent explorers or active hikers – with only two opportunities to step ashore, walking is minimal (even accounting for those return trips to the buffet and bar). But for lovers of luxury and wild, remote beauty, at a very gentle pace, it's unforgettable. Price From $14,129 per person for a 10-night Australia's Iconic Kimberley. Includes daily expert-led excursions, onboard meals and drinks, including 24/7 room service and mini bar. The writer was a guest on board courtesy of Ponant. She flew courtesy of Qantas and Virgin Australia.
Travel Weekly
22-07-2025
- Travel Weekly
Ponant is adding a second ship in French Polynesia
Ponant Explorations Group is adding a second vessel in French Polynesia for the 2026-27 winter season. Le Jacques Cartier will join the Paul Gauguin in the region from October 2026 through February 2027, marking the ship's first time sailing French Polynesia. It will sail three different 14-night itineraries round trip from Papeete, Tahiti. One will visit the Austral Islands, another will travel to Pitcairn Island and the third will call on the Marquesas and Society Islands. Le Jacques Cartier has 88 staterooms and suites and an onboard marina. "While the m/s Paul Gauguin continues to define immersive, year-round discovery in the region, the winter deployment of Le Jacques Cartier brings a new perspective — more remote and more expeditionary," said CEO of the Americas Samuel Chamberlain.
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Ponant & OzHarvest alliance is food for thought
Luxury small-ship cruise line Ponant Explorations has teamed with a leading food rescue group to support actions against food waste and deliver education programs on sustainability. Ponant's three-year partnership with OzHarvest involves financial, in-kind and hands-on support for the charitable group's northern Australia team in its work getting good food to those who need it most. Financial contributions will also go towards schools outreach in the Northern Territory over three years, including professional development training for teachers. Deb Corbett, CEO of Ponant Explorations Group for Asia-Pacific, says the partnership aligns with the France-founded expedition line's ethos built around giving back to the regions they visit. 'Working with local communities around the globe has been at the core of our vision since our beginning . . . It is only natural we give back as an acknowledgement of their contribution to the humbling experiences we deliver at sea, all around the globe. 'We look forward to contributing to OzHarvest's success in creating a sustainable future for many, the same way Ponant Explorations has led the way towards a more sustainable form of tourism. This alignment is an opportunity for our two organisations to make a great impact.' OzHarvest was founded in 2004 by Ronni Kahn, who put in place a practical solution to the huge amounts of food going to waste from her events business. Starting with a single van, the charitable group says it has grown to become Australia's leading food rescue organisation, with a few hundred staff and more than 3000 volunteers. Ronni says: 'Operating out of Darwin, we rescue and deliver 350kg of essential food hampers each week and run a pop-up store in the Jabiru community, ensuring remote communities have access to fresh, nutritious food close to home.' OzHarvest's striking yellow vans save about 250 tonnes of good food every week from donors, and deliver direct to 1500 food charities. Its goal is to halve Australia's food waste by 2030. Ponant's funding will also support OzHarvest's nutritional and educational development program, FEAST, reaching more than 4400 students in 74 schools. 'Over 10 weeks, students dive into the issue of food waste and its environmental impact, learn about healthy eating, and get hands-on in the kitchen . . . helping young people understand the true value of food and develop practical life skills to become future change makers,' Ronni says. Ponant has sailed in the Kimberley and other parts of northern Australia for more than a decade, limiting guest capacity of its small ships to about 200 people per voyage for low-impact exploration by sea. There are cabins still available on a wide choice of Ponant's 2025 Kimberley voyages. Two of its small ships — Le Jacques Cartier and Le Soleal — will sail the 10-night Australia's Iconic Kimberley itinerary between Broome and Darwin from early June 2025.
