Mediterranean , Greek Islands
Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
With this exceptional itinerary, PONANT invites you to enjoy a wonderful interlude discovering the cultural and natural treasures of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. From Athens, set sail aboard Le Jacques-Cartier for an 8-day cruise to the most beautiful Greek islands of the Aegean Sea and delight not only in the rich cultural heritage but also in refreshing dips in the turquoise waters of the archipelago.
You will discover Patmos, known as the “Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea”. This island, where Saint John is said to have written the Apocalypse, offers unique landscapes combining white sandy beaches and rocky coves.
After a stopover on the small island of Symi, which will not fail to dazzle you with its discreet beauty and Italian-style neoclassical houses, you will head for the Cyclades. Amorgos, or the island of the Big Blue as it is known, is a raw gem. You will admire its volcanic and mountainous landscapes that rush into the crystal clear waters that surround it.
Le Jacques-Cartier will then approach the Santorini archipelago in an incredible cruise along the foot of its caldera formed during an eruption in around 1600 BC. Sublime white villages such as Thera and Oia are built on top of the cliffs falling vertically into the sea.
You will then make a stopover on the authentic and picturesque Folégandros before reaching Delos, a minuscule island in the Cyclades archipelago. According to mythology, Apollo was born here. Like an open-air museum, Delos offers unique testimony of the civilisations that followed one another in the Aegean world.
Next comes Mykonos, its beaches and windmills, with Alefkandra, a district that is typical of the island, with houses built right on the water’s edge. Le Jacques-Cartier will make a final stopover on the island of Hydra, famous for its incomparable light, before heading towards the Greek capital.
Your cruise will end in Athens, the mythical city dominated by the Acropolis and its monuments that form the most extraordinary architectural and artistic collection bequeathed by Ancient Greece to the rest of the world.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
With this exceptional itinerary, PONANT invites you to enjoy a wonderful interlude discovering the cultural and natural treasures of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. From Athens, set sail aboard Le Jacques-Cartier for an 8-day cruise to the most beautiful Greek islands of the Aegean Sea and delight not only in the rich cultural heritage but also in refreshing dips in the turquoise waters of the archipelago.
You will discover Patmos, known as the “Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea”. This island, where Saint John is said to have written the Apocalypse, offers unique landscapes combining white sandy beaches and rocky coves.
After a stopover on the small island of Symi, which will not fail to dazzle you with its discreet beauty and Italian-style neoclassical houses, you will head for the Cyclades. Amorgos, or the island of the Big Blue as it is known, is a raw gem. You will admire its volcanic and mountainous landscapes that rush into the crystal clear waters that surround it.
Le Jacques-Cartier will then approach the Santorini archipelago in an incredible cruise along the foot of its caldera formed during an eruption in around 1600 BC. Sublime white villages such as Thera and Oia are built on top of the cliffs falling vertically into the sea.
You will then make a stopover on the authentic and picturesque Folégandros before reaching Delos, a minuscule island in the Cyclades archipelago. According to mythology, Apollo was born here. Like an open-air museum, Delos offers unique testimony of the civilisations that followed one another in the Aegean world.
Next comes Mykonos, its beaches and windmills, with Alefkandra, a district that is typical of the island, with houses built right on the water’s edge. Le Jacques-Cartier will make a final stopover on the island of Hydra, famous for its incomparable light, before heading towards the Greek capital.
Your cruise will end in Athens, the mythical city dominated by the Acropolis and its monuments that form the most extraordinary architectural and artistic collection bequeathed by Ancient Greece to the rest of the world.
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. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.
Patmos is one of the legendary must-see islands in the Dodecanese. This is where Saint John resided, presumed author of the last book in the Bible. The cave of the Apocalypse and the Saint John Monastery are dedicated to him. These sites, which are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, are located at the top of a hillside planted with vines and orchards. On the shore, the crystalline coves of Kambos and Lampi offer absolutely gorgeous swimming areas.
A simply ravishing gem in the Dodecanese, Symi is located north-west of Rhodes. This island of cypress forests, vineyards and olive orchards, possesses a capital city of the same name that is as colourful as the surrounding countryside. The charm of the port district of Gialos is not to be missed: its quaysides are lined with picturesque houses with multi-coloured facades. You can get to the upper town by car or climb the 500 steps up the Kali Strata ramp. The second option offers superb viewing points of the coast and gorgeous turquoise waters.
It’s no accident that the island of Amorgos was chosen as a shooting location for Luc Besson’s film, The Big Blue. You too will fall under the charm of this island as your ship edges closer. Amorgos is the most easterly island in the Cyclades and stands out for its rocky inlets with crystal-clear water and its small, picturesque villages. This port of call will be your chance to visit one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades, Chora, and discover its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses overlooked by a castle. Byzantine churches, windmills and courtyards brimming with flowers complete this typical tableau of timeless Greece.
SAILING IN THE SANTORINI CALDERA
Sailing in the waters of Santorini caldera is breathtaking. The gigantic scale of the unique setting, the majesty of the high cliffs surrounds this ancient crater that was flooded in 2000 years before Christ, is one of the highlights of the cruise. The colourful whites, greys, reds of the volcanic rocks, the blue of the Aegean Sea and the immaculate perched villages form a unique and marvellous spectacle.
FOLEGANDROS
Folegandros is a treasure concealed in the Cyclades archipelago. You approach this mountainous island from the south-east side of continental Greece. The blue and white houses built on a steep plateau in its main town, Chora, is a feast for the eyes. Why not climb up to the belvederes and admire the view of the Aegean and the port of Karavostasi. The jetty in Karavostasi port leads to a lovely beach where you can have fun in the turquoise water. Higher up, Ano Meria, a village surrounded by terrace farms, offers a magnificient panorama over the sea.
DELOS
This legendary Cyclades island of Delos stands just a few miles southwest of Mykonos. The ceremonial solemnity of this ancient holy sanctuary will not leave you indifferent. The sheer size and importance of this UNESCO World Heritage site which covers over half of the island is thrilling in itself. From the Stoa of Antigonos, the Terrace of the Lions, to the carved marble animal statues, you will make discovery after discovery, against a backdrop of the Aegean stretching to the horizon. The theatre steps on the hillside are a particularly good place from which to enjoy the expansive view.
MYKONOS
Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
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, you will discover the Historical Archives Museum. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.
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. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.
Itineraries are subject to change.
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In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
DELUXE STATEROOM
$7,800 AUD pp
Area : 19 m²
Capacity : up to 2 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet acces wifi.
PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 6
$9,520 AUD pp
Area : 19 m²
Capacity : up to 2 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet acces wifi
2 staterooms of 27
5 m² with a private balcony of 6 m² for people with reduced mobility.
PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 4
$8,620 AUD pp
Area : 19 m²
Capacity : up to 2 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet acces wifi
2 staterooms of 27
5 m² with a private balcony of 6 m² for people with reduced mobility.
PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 5
$9,040 AUD pp
Area : 19 m²
Capacity : up to 2 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet acces wifi
2 staterooms of 27
5 m² with a private balcony of 6 m² for people with reduced mobility.
DELUXE SUITE
$13,120 AUD pp
Area : 27 m²
Capacity : up to 3 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
1 sofa
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet acces wifi.
PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 5
$17,610 AUD pp
Area : 38 m²
Capacity : up to 4 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
1 tall sofa
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet access wifi
Butler service.
OWNER'S SUITE
$22,350 AUD pp
Area : 45 m²
Capacity : up to 2 guests per stateroom
30m2 private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed
or twin beds
Shower & Bathtub + Jacuzzi on terrace
Minibar
Flat screen
satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet acces wifi
Butler service
1 private transfer (round trip): Airport - Hotel - Port
1 free hour of Spa treatments
GRAND DELUXE SUITE
$21,280 AUD pp
Area : 45 m²
Capacity : up to 2 guests per stateroom
40m² private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
Bathtub
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet acces wifi
Butler service.
PRIVILEGE SUITE
$19,400 AUD pp
Area : 32 m²
Capacity : up to 3 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
1 sofa
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet access wifi
Butler service.
PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 6
$18,510 AUD pp
Area : 38 m²
Capacity : up to 4 guests per stateroom
Private balcony
Individually-controlled air-conditioning
King-size bed or twin beds
1 tall sofa
Shower
Minibar
Flat screen
Satellite TV
Desk with stationery
Ipod(TM) players
Video on demand
Safe
Hairdryer
Bath robes
Satellite direct line telephone
110/220 volts outlet
French bath products
24hr room service
Internet access wifi
Butler service.
Additional charges:
Port Charges. From: 520 AUD pp
Vessel Type: Luxury
Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins
Built: 2018/2019
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 sixth ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Jacques Cartier 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.
RESTAURANTS
As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship.
To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals.
In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts.
PUBLIC AREAS
Le Jacques Cartier has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger.
A 140 m² reception area includes:
A reception/concierge desk,
An excursions desk,
The ship’s administrative services,
The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer,
Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories,
Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.
A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides:
Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship,
Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions,
Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding.
A pool deck offering:
A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system,
A pleasant solarium,
An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas.
A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening.
Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with:
The latest sound and lighting technology,
A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.
Optional Tours & Excursions Available. Please Contact Us for More Details.
Up to 30% Off - Ponant Bonus
Up to 30% Off - Ponant Bonus. Prices online do not show the discounted rates. Terms and Conditions apply, special offer is subject to availability, please contact us for more details.
Inclusions
• Voyage on board in selected cabin category
• All meals while on board
• Non-alcoholic and Alcoholic beverages included (Excluding Premium Brands)
• Free wifi (Subject to coverage)
• Shore excursion or activity in each port of call + transfers
Exclusions
• Flights other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Passport and visa costs if applicable
• Premium beverages package (Can be purchased on board)
• Optional Excursions where applicable
• Spa treatments on board
• Pre and post cruise accommodation unless otherwise stated
• Transfers unless specified
• Gratuities
Luxury Expedition
8 Days from
$7,800 AUD pp
Highlights
• A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion or activity in each port of call.• A cruise in the Aegean Sea to discover the Greek Islands.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Acropolis in Athens (embarkation port), Delos, the sacred island, the monastery of Saint John and the Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos.
• Discover the pearls of the Cyclades: Amorgos, the Santorini Caldera, Folegandros, Delos, Mykonos and their ancient ruins, typical landscapes and beaches.
• Exceptional sailing in the Santorini caldera.
• Swimming opportunity.
Our Associates Include
