Guest of Honour 
Polar Expedition 
Free solo supplement 
Superior Stateroom Deck 3
25% Ponant Bonus
21 m²
3
Expedition to the Thule Region
Kangerlussuaq - Kangerlussuaq
Dates:
5/8/2024
to
21/8/2024
days
nights on board
FLIGHT PARIS/KANGERLUSSUAQ + TRANSFERS + FLIGHT KANGERLUSSUAQ/PARIS
With featured guest Christine Ockrent, journalist specialising in French and international news and geopolitical questions, author of some fifteen books.
Discover the region of Thule, the mythical territory of the Far North, on a PONANT itinerary along the coastline of Baffin Bay. From Kangerlussuaq, set off aboard Le Boréal on a 17-day new expedition cruise to the far reaches of the planet.
From the ice cap to the ice floes, via glaciers, icebergs and brash ice, you will sail among the Northern Hemisphere’s largest ice producers.
North of the Baffin Sea, in the region of Thule, guided by your Captain and your Expedition Leader, you will experience a tricky but spectacular sail between drifting icebergs and sheets of ice floe. If you are lucky you will observe one of the many polar bears that roam this favourable environment.
Between Greenland's west coast with its mountains softened by glaciers to the Arctic mountain range's steep slopes and Thule's high Arctic tundra, you will sail through the polar region's most spectacular landscapes.
Polar bears, musk ox and Arctic wolves: journey to see this amazingly rich fauna.
We are privileged guests in these remote lands where we are at the mercy of weather, ice, tidal and current conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.
Ref : KK2745 - BO050824
Your itinerary
With featured guest Christine Ockrent, journalist specialising in French and international news and geopolitical questions, author of some fifteen books. Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a...
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Included in your cruise
For more peace of mind, PONANT organizes your trip before or after the cruise. This package is included in the price of your cruise.
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L'AUSTRAL
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L'AUSTRAL
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Services provided
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Three ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Christine Ockrent
Christine Ockrent is a columnist and writer based in Paris. She writes regularly for the Washington Post, Prospect, and various other European newspapers. She is also the producer and presenter of a weekly radio programme about foreign affairs on France Culture, and a frequent contributor to the BBC, CNN and other media organisations.
Previously she was COO of the French Radio and TV World service (France 24 and RFI). She was also editor in chief of the weekly news magazine, L'Express.
She has made most of her career in television, both as producer of documentaries and anchor of the evening news, where she shaped a style as the first woman presentor and editor.
Ms. Ockrent was also deputy director general of TF1 Television and an editor with RTL Radio. She began her career in broadcast journalism at NBC News and worked for eight years at CBS' 60 Minutes. She has been awarded several French and international distinctions for her work in TV journalism.
She is a graduate of the Institut d'études politiques in Paris.
She has written 15 books and essays - the last ones : "Russian oligarchs and the Putin system" (Robert Laffont 2014) and "Clinton-Trump: Anger in America " (Robert Laffont 2016)
She is on the board of Havas, the French American Foundation, the European Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for European reform, Human Rights Watch France and Make.Org.
She has been awarded the French Légion d’Honneur (Officer) and the Belgian Ordre de Leopold (Officer).
Languages spoken: French, English
Photo credit: ARR
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Christine Ockrent
Christine Ockrent is a columnist and writer based in Paris. She writes regularly for the Washington Post, Prospect, and various other European newspapers. She is also the producer and presenter of a weekly radio programme about foreign affairs on France Culture, and a frequent contributor to the BBC, CNN and other media organisations.
Previously she was COO of the French Radio and TV World service (France 24 and RFI). She was also editor in chief of the weekly news magazine, L'Express.
She has made most of her career in television, both as producer of documentaries and anchor of the evening news, where she shaped a style as the first woman presentor and editor.
Ms. Ockrent was also deputy director general of TF1 Television and an editor with RTL Radio. She began her career in broadcast journalism at NBC News and worked for eight years at CBS' 60 Minutes. She has been awarded several French and international distinctions for her work in TV journalism.
She is a graduate of the Institut d'études politiques in Paris.
She has written 15 books and essays - the last ones : "Russian oligarchs and the Putin system" (Robert Laffont 2014) and "Clinton-Trump: Anger in America " (Robert Laffont 2016)
She is on the board of Havas, the French American Foundation, the European Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for European reform, Human Rights Watch France and Make.Org.
She has been awarded the French Légion d’Honneur (Officer) and the Belgian Ordre de Leopold (Officer).
Languages spoken: French, English
Photo credit: ARR
Expedition programmes include activities such as zodiac outings and landings (sometimes with "wet landing"), moderate walks to more active hikes, all accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides.
Ports of call, visited sites, outings and landings will depend on weather conditions, position of ice, winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change of plans at any time. The Captain and the Expedition Leader may at any time cancel or stop any activity, or even modify the itinerary. The final itinerary will be confirmed by the Captain, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. His decision will be based on advice from experts and authorities.
Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience in remote areas: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is extremely expensive. Without adequate medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe to full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully, be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive, especially if you are insured by your credit card. PONANT offers an insurance contract with extensive guarantees, please contact us for more information.
Clothing tips:
- A PONANT polar water-resistant parka is offered on board for all departures with an Expedition programme (no children sizes, in case of consecutive cruises, only one complimentary parka).
- Half calf rubber boots with non-slip soles, which will allow you to go ashore in 20 cm of cold water, keeping your feet dry for walks and visits on steep paths. Boot rental will be offered onboard (for adults only) on Expedition cruises.
- Comfortable trousers: classic Winter trousers, warm cotton tracksuit, wool leggings
- Waterproof and windproof over-trousers – MANDATORY
- Winter trousers with waterproof over trousers are the ideal combination: water-resistance and comfort of trousers are essential
- Pullover, sweat-shirt or fleece jacket
- Woollen or thermolactyl Thermal underwear
- A warm hat, woollen ear muffs or fleece ear muffs, fleece or woollen neck warmer (avoid scarves that do not stay in place)- MANDATORY
- Wool or silk glove liners, water-resistant and supple gloves
- Thick warm socks (ideally woollen)
Accessories:
- Small waterproof backpack (to protect your camera from water).
- Binoculars (strongly recommended for wildlife viewing).
- Highly protective sunglasses.
- Walking poles (highly recommended).
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
INSULATED BASE LAYER:
- Wool or thermolactyl technical underwear
- Polar or technical jacket
- Polar sweater or sweatshirt
- Silk or wool glove liners
- Wool leggings
- Warm hiking socks
WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER:
- Waterproof over-trousers - Mandatory
- Waterproof parka - Offered on board (not available in children’s sizes)
- Windbreaker – Mandatory
- A warm woollen hat covering your ears
- Polar or woollen neck warmer
- Waterproof technical gloves
- Hiking shoes
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen
- Lip protection balm
- Mosquito repellent, anti-itch balm and mosquito head net (Greenland)
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
ACCESSORIES:
- Highly protective sunglasses
- Binoculars
- Walking poles
- Small waterproof backpack
- Swimsuit (for the spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
PONANT activities
Highlights
- With featured guest Christine Ockrent, journalist specialising in French and international news and geopolitical questions, author of some fifteen books.
- Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
- Disko Bay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the Northern Hemisphere’s largest icebergs.
- Sail between the ice floes and icebergs in the region of Thule.
- Discover of traditional villages among the northernmost in the world.
- Encounters with the Inuit people.
- Landscapes: tundra, ice cap, glaciers, icebergs, ice floe.
- Wildlife: polar bears, humpback whales, Arctic terns, belugas, bearded seals, orcas, narwhals.
Ports of Call & Excursions
5 August 2024 - Kangerlussuaq
Embarkation 5/8/2024 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Departure 5/8/2024 at 7:00 pm
From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometres from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons and eagles live.
6 August 2024 - Sisimiut
Arrival 6/8/2024
Departure 6/8/2024
During your cruise, we invite you to discover Sisimiut, founded in 1756 and the second largest town in Greenland. This small town is typical of Greenland, boasting bewitching panoramas: here and there, colourful stilt houses dot the undulating landscape, and the small fishing port stands as the gateway to an icy realm. As for the town centre, it is home to a number of historic buildings, a small church and a museum which retraces the history of the Inuit people, as well as many craft shops. When your ship drops anchor here, you will set out to meet the locals in a typically arctic atmosphere.
7 August 2024 - Disko Bay
Arrival 7/8/2024
Departure 7/8/2024
To the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, scattered with countless icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the region’s many humpback whales. The encounters with wild fauna and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile nature will be pure moments of wonder for you.
8 August 2024 - Paul-Émile Victor Base Camp, Eqi Glacier
Arrival 8/8/2024
Departure 8/8/2024
"The most beautiful place in the Arctic" is how Paul-Émile Victor described Greenland, a land of great icebergs and of towering ice formations calved by the giant glaciers of the polar ice cap. The Eqi Glacier is one of the region’s most impressive sights. Here, the silence is broken only by the roaring and cracking of the ice. It is impossible to know if one is shivering from cold or from the sheer thrill of being here... Imagine the vast outline of a glacier, its translucent crystals glowing with an ice-blue fire in the sunlight. Paul-Émile Victor’s shelter cannot be overlooked; it was from here that the French Polar Expeditions’ anthropological and geographic explorations set off in the 1950s.
9 August 2024 - Kuannit Coast
Arrival 9/8/2024
Departure 9/8/2024
Opposite Ilulissat, sailing for a few hours between the majestic icebergs of Disko Bay will allow you to reach the southern coast of the large Disko Island and admire the fields of angelica and the spectacular sculptures formed by the huge volcanic cliffs of Kuannit, where numerous sea birds find refuge. Combining glaciers, snow-capped peaks, flowery valleys, lakes, beaches and volcanic formations, the island’s exceptionally lush environment has inspired local beliefs. The island is believed to have a legendary and distant origin: it is said to have been towed back from the country’s south by fishermen in kayaks, fastened to “the hair of a child”.
10 August 2024 - Akulleq
Arrival 10/8/2024
Departure 10/8/2024
In the curve of Uummannaq Bay, opposite a narrow passage between two islands, you will discover the moonscape of the small desert island of Akulleq. The ochre yellow and orange of this mineral site look ablaze under the sunshine of the polar summer. From the island’s summit you will be able to contemplate a panoramic view of the bay’s magical landscape and its huge icebergs with surprising shapes.
11 August 2024 - Kullorsuaq
Arrival 11/8/2024
Departure 11/8/2024
Well beyond the Arctic Circle, in the majestic landscapes of Greenland’s Northwest, you will find the village of Kullorsuaq, the last bastion of Greenland’s traditional hunters. Here is where you will find Greenland’s true character… Vast mineral expanses, sumptuous mountains, impressive glaciers and, above all, the local population which still lives off fishing and seal or bear hunting. Hospitality and respect for nature are essential elements in the daily lives of these men, who live an austere life. When we drop anchor in this remote part of the world, set off to discover these friendly people who are also talented craftsmen, deftly sewing the furs and skins of marine mammals. This will be a unique and authentic experience.
12 August 2024 - Savissivik
Arrival 12/8/2024
Departure 12/8/2024
Some places in this world are so magical that their beauty cannot be described in words… Savissivik, a small Inuit village with less than a hundred inhabitants, is one such place. Rightly considered to be the biggest iceberg graveyard in Greenland, it is a stunning sight to behold. During your zodiac outing, you will sail between these icy giants. Once on land, you can hike to a viewpoint from which to enjoy breathtaking views over these icebergs, which come in an incredibly diverse range of shapes and colours. Photographers will love it. Savissivik Bay attracts many bears and is also known for having been the home of one of the world’s biggest meteorites, but the latter has now been moved to a museum in New York.
13 August 2024 14 August 2024 - Thule Region
Arrival 13/8/2024
Departure 14/8/2024
Thule, the region located to the northwest of Greenland, is the mythical name used to designate the Far North. The presence of many drifting icebergs calved from the glaciers of Greenland and sheets of ice floe can make sailing tricky - but spectacular - in this region. You will attempt to sail as far north as possible and if you are lucky enough you will perhaps observe one of the many polar bears that roam this favourable environment. You’ll perhaps visit traditional villages such as Dundas (“old Thule”) and Siorapaluk, Greenland’s northernmost native settlement, where you will probably be greeted by a joyous group of children, who are always happy to welcome visitors.
15 August 2024 - Pond Inlet, Nunavut
Arrival 15/8/2024
Departure 15/8/2024
On Baffin Island, located in northern Canada at the mouth of the famous NorthWest Passage, there is a small Inuit settlement at the very bounds of infinity. To get there, cross the Arctic Circle, the imaginary line that separates man from lands of mystery and wonder. It’s not so much the way of life that sets Pond Inlet’s inhabitants apart, so much as the setting. Snow-capped mountains, fjords and glaciers combine in a dazzling natural environment that fills space and expands time. Some discoveries change you forever: this is one of them.
16 August 2024 - Icy Arm Fjord
Arrival 16/8/2024
Departure 16/8/2024
The east coast of Baffin Island is a real lacework of fjords. Among them, in the north, is the spectacular Icy Arm fjord. As you sail these parts, you’ll be dazzled by the immense cliffs that are sometimes over 1,000 metres high. This is a paradise for base jumping (parachute jumping from the top of the cliffs). During your stop here, you will have the opportunity to hike at the feet of these mountains and within the glacial valleys. Keep your eyes open when you get back on your boat: you’ll probably get the chance to observe marine mammals, such as whales, orcas and even narwhals.
17 August 2024 - Sam Ford Fjord, Nunavut
Arrival 17/8/2024
Departure 17/8/2024
All around you is a raw landscape of spectacular beauty. Nothing seems to want to disturb the silence. You are in the Sam Ford Fjord, on the east coast of Baffin Island. Located only a few kilometres away from the Inuit community of Clyde River, this fjord has the kind of world’s end appearance that only the Arctic lands can offer. From your ship, allow yourself to be dazzled by the series of vertiginous cliffs plunging into the waters of the fjord. These impressively high walls of rock, known worldwide to climbing enthusiasts, are reflected in the waters of the fjord, as though to completely shift perspectives and blur the lines between land and sea.
18 August 2024 - Isabella Bay, Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area
Arrival 18/8/2024
Departure 18/8/2024
Welcome to the kingdom of the cetaceans! Here, those who love the giants of the Arctic won’t know where to look. Isabella Bay is in fact part of the Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area, one of the finest places to observe bowhead whales. From your ship, watch the sumptuous ballet performed by these impressive mammals. With undersea faults over 300 metres deep, Isabella Bay, located on the north-east coast of Baffin Island, attracts cetaceans which come here to feed. In addition to the bowhead whales, the uncontested stars of these parts, the Ninginganiq Wildlife Area is also home to ringed seals, narwhals, polar bears, king eiders, little auks and northern fulmars.
19 August 2024 - At sea
Arrival 19/8/2024
Departure 19/8/2024
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
20 August 2024 - Evighedsfjorden
Arrival 20/8/2024
Departure 20/8/2024
Your ship glides slowly along the water towards the west coast of Greenland, to enter Evighedsfjorden, just a few kilometres south of Kangerlussuaq. Evighedsfjorden means “the fjord of Eternity”, and for good reason: just when you think you’ve reached the end of this stretch of sea measuring over 100 kilometres in length, it seems to go on forever, as though to bring even more pleasure to those sailing in it. The spectacular scenery ranges from glaciers to tundra with an abundant flora, and jagged cliffs where numerous bird species have taken up residence. Take the time to observe the white-tailed eagles and the colonies of seagulls and black-legged kittiwakes flying overhead in the area.
21 August 2024 - Kangerlussuaq
Arrival 21/8/2024 at night
Disembarkation 21/8/2024 at 7:00 am
From 1941 to 1992, the town of Kangerlussuaq in Greenland was home to an American military base. Nowadays, thanks to its international airport, it has become a transit point for travellers seeking adventure in the Far North. Located to the north of the Arctic Circle, this town is the starting point of magnificent discoveries surrounded by unspoiled nature. Indeed, just a few dozen kilometres from there it is possible to get close to the Greenland ice sheet, the largest body of ice in the Northern Hemisphere. From Kangerlussuaq, admire also the superb landscapes of tundra in autumnal colours, where Arctic hares, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, reindeer, falcons and eagles live.
Le Boréal
Le Boréal, like its Sisterships L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial, epitomises the unique feel and atmosphere of the ships of the PONANT fleet. Subtly combining luxury, intimacy and serene well-being, the ship has been designed to offer passengers both moments of conviviality and spaces conducive to peaceful tranquillity and a sense of escape and getting away from it all. Its exterior and interior lines testify to the ingeniousness and refinement with which the Sisterships have been designed.
Up to 264 Guests
132 staterooms & suites
145 crew members
Spa
2 restaurants
Decks
FLIGHT PARIS/KANGERLUSSUAQ + TRANSFERS + FLIGHT KANGERLUSSUAQ/PARIS
For your serenity, PONANT selects flights and organises transfers between the airport and the port. This package is included in your cruise fare.
Embarkation day - Paris/Kangerlussuaq
Flight Paris/Kangerlussuaq selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 5 h
We suggest you to be at the check-in counter 2 hours before departure.
We highly recommend you arrive in Paris the day before this flight.
Meet & greet at the airport by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the pier for embarkation.
- Cruise aboard your ship -
Disembarkation Day - Kangerlussuaq/Paris
Disembarkation
Meet and greet at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Kangerlussuaq/Paris selected by PONANT.
Flight Kangerlussuaq/Paris selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 5 h
We highly recommend you stay one night in Paris after this flight.
This programme includes:
- Flight Paris/Kangerlussuaq and Kangerlussuaq/Paris selected by PONANT in economy class.
- Transfers mentioned in the programme. English-speaking assistance.
This programme does not include:
- Personal expenses. Any other service not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
- Flights included in the programme are as of today, operated in economy class, on a European airline.
- Due to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
- For passengers in transit in Paris, we recommend staying one night in Paris before and after these flights.
- Programme and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice.
- PONANT will adapt the content of the transfer offer from and to airport according to your flight schedule.
Polar Expedition
Realise your dream of adventure in the polar regions ! Discover the icy vastness and the fauna of Antarctica (humpback whales, seals, penguins and more) or the Arctic's fjords, glaciers and icebergs in shifting colours, not to mention the polar bears, the variety of wildlife and the special moments shared with the locals. Our team of naturalist guides share their knowledge with you during varied lectures about the fauna, the flora, the history of great explorations, geology and climatology. Thanks to its conscientiousness and to the responsible approach that is its hallmark, PONANT has been a leader and expert in cruises to these destinations for more than 20 years.
Free solo supplement
FREE SOLO SUPPLEMENT *
*The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and staterooms categories.