Following the launch of the Lapérouse and Le Champlain in 2018 and the Bougainville and Dumont-D'Urville in 2019, it is now the turn of Le Bellot and Le Jacques Cartier to join the Ponant Cruises fleet in 2020. Like their predecessors, these new ships belong to the “Explorers” class of the French cruise line, Ponant Cruises, which has revolutionized the concept of ocean travel with six new ships featuring innovative technology, added to a total fleet of 12 ships.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 53 – July 2020
Ponant now presents the new Le Jacques Cartier, a limited-capacity yacht with innovative and environmentally friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows and living rooms that open to the outside, inviting you to enjoy a unique cruising experience and maximizing the relationship between the ocean and nature with the onboard experience of the passengers.
The sixth ship in a new series of six expedition cruises and true to the spirit of Ponant Cruises, Le Jacques Cartier embodies a unique atmosphere, a hallmark of the cruise line: a subtle combination of refinement, intimacy and comfort.
The shipbuilder VARD, part of the Fincantieri group, constructed the hull and superstructure of the new vessel at its Tulcea, Romania, facility. It was then towed to the VARD Soviknes shipyard in Ålesund, Norway, for outfitting. This ship, initially named Le Surville when the order was placed and during the early stages of construction in Romania, was ultimately named after the French explorer Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), the first European to chart the St. Lawrence River and Gulf.
Aboard the French-flagged Le Jacques Cartier, you can experience the unparalleled pleasure of an intimate cruise, exploring an ever-expanding range of destinations in an ethnic-chic setting with luxurious service. This expedition ship combines features to ensure you make the most of destinations like the Arctic, Antarctic, or even the Amazon, while offering limited space for only 184 passengers—perfect for intimate expedition cruises.
The conservation of the marine ecosystem, a priority for Ponant.
Marine ecosystem conservation is a priority for Ponant, and the company's latest ships have been awarded the international Cleanship label by Bureau Veritas for their commitment to environmental protection. Nature is ever-present on board thanks to some extraordinary innovations, found only on the “Ponant Explorers” class vessels.
Technology at the Service of a Luxury Cruise
: To achieve this goal, Ponant incorporated its desire to blend seamlessly into the ship's design. As a result, the 92 cabins and suites feature expansive windows and private balconies, allowing guests to admire the horizon at any time of day or night. At the stern of the ship is the sun deck, with a panoramic swimming pool featuring a counter-current system. At marina level, guests can dive directly into the ocean and experience marine life firsthand. Finally, a submerged mini-port provides access to a fleet of 10 Zodiacs for incredible expeditions.
Ponant's new series of expedition cruise ships features ice-strengthened hulls and world-class technologies for marine expedition vessels in extreme environments.
Among this technology is the "FarSounder 1000" long-range 3D sonar, installed on the bow of the ship, which allows maneuvering through icy waters, scanning for potential hazards such as icebergs or shallow coral reefs.
The “Blue Eye” – a world first.
Located on the lower deck, this multi-sensory underwater space is accessible to all passengers, offering a truly immersive experience. Thanks to two large portholes reminiscent of whales' eyes, passengers can enjoy a unique view of the seabed without disturbing its flora and fauna. From this underwater lounge, they can observe and listen to marine life through a high-definition hydrophone system. For a more realistic experience, a series of high-definition hydrophones capture the sounds of the sea, many of which passengers have never heard before, creating a unique interaction with the ocean.
Le Jacques Cartier: The sixth ship in the Ponant Explorers series, designed for expedition.
Environmental awareness and protection are priorities for the company, which has created the Ponant Foundation for Environmental Protection. The Jacques Cartier is therefore an intermediary between the environment and the stakeholders in this change and evolution. Raising awareness of the current situation is thus the primary objective of the Blue Eye, available on all ships in the Ponant Explorer fleet.
A unique feature for Le Jacques Cartier compared to its sister ships is a hidden artwork by Shuck One, an acclaimed French graffiti artist. During the ship's construction, the artist created an allegorical diptych on the ship's raw steel, depicting the oceans and nature. Shuck One's piece was covered upon completion and is now only accessible to Le Jacques Cartier passengers through a porthole.
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reception, infotainment system with pay-per-view movies), a hairdryer, an iPod docking station, Wi-Fi, a personal safe, a direct-dial telephone, power outlets (110/220 V), and individual air conditioning. Complimentary 24-hour room service is also available.
Cabin types:
• Deluxe, with 19 m2 and a 4 m2 balcony.
• Prestige, with 19 m2 and a 4 m2 balcony.
• Deluxe Suite, with 27 m2 and a 6 m2 balcony.
• Privilege Suite, with 38 m2 and an 8 m2 balcony.
• Prestige Suite, with 38 m2 and an 8 m2 private balcony.
• Grand Deluxe Suite, with 45 m2 and a 30 m2 private balcony.
• Owner Suite, with 45 m2 and a 30 m2 private balcony.
• Two accessible cabins for passengers with reduced mobility, with larger balconies (6 m2) located on deck 4.
Public areas
Le Jacques Cartier offers common areas designed and equipped to meet the needs of its passengers, while preserving their privacy.
A 140 m² reception area on deck 3 which includes: reception desk, administrative services and sales office, as well as a 50 m² boutique where you can buy clothes, jewelry, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility, etc.
The "blue eye" has high-definition hydrophones that allow it to capture sounds.
A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, as well as easy boarding and disembarking by Zodiac for expeditions, and also easy access to the sea for swimming and practicing various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding.
A pool deck offering panoramic views on deck 3, equipped with a counter-current swimming system and a transparent glass wall, a pleasant solarium, and an outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas.
A 200 m² main lounge on deck 3 can accommodate all passengers at once for socializing and hosting organized activities during the day or evening. It features daily events and a grand piano for live music performances in the evenings.
A panoramic lounge located at the front of deck 6 with 180º views over the bow of the ship, with its own bar and floor-to-ceiling windows, plus an outdoor sunbathing area with sun loungers.
A medical center with doctors and nurses on call 24 hours a day. General health insurance policies are not applicable, so it is recommended to purchase cruise medical insurance
Spa, gym/fitness center and beauty salon, on deck 7.
Finally, there's a theater on deck 3 with a capacity of 188 people, equipped with the latest sound and lighting technology, and an LED wall as a stage backdrop for projecting high-resolution images and videos. It's used during the day for conferences about the cruise itinerary and transforms into a movie theater at night.
Restaurants:
As an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will have a special place on board the ship. Le Jacques Cartier features two restaurants: the Nautilus, a panoramic restaurant on deck 4, spanning 260 square meters, which will offer a wonderful buffet of salads, desserts, and cheeses, while the crew will provide table service for hot meals; and an outdoor grill on deck 3, the Grill, which will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts, as well as offering outdoor views.
Le Jacques Cartier Itineraries
: Departing from Saint-Malo on September 20, 2021, Le Jacques Cartier will sail along the French Atlantic coast, visiting the islands of Hoëdic, Groix, Sein, Molène, Ouessant, and Bréhat. Belle-Île-en-Mer, in southern Brittany, will be one of the main ports of call, as it was once home to the Impressionist painter Claude Monet. The ship will also stop in Concarneau.
On September 27, Le Jacques Cartier will sail from Nantes to Lisbon on an 8-day cruise, visiting San Sebastián, Bilbao, the city of Vigo and Porto.
Gastronomy has a special place on board Le Jacques Cartier.
During the month of October it will carry out itineraries through the Mediterranean and in November, in addition to the Mediterranean, it will carry out cruises between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, which will continue during the month of December, in 9-day itineraries visiting Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Muscat.
During January 2021, it will continue to operate itineraries between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, and from February 13th, it will offer a 9-day itinerary through the Seychelles Islands, followed by a 13-day cruise through Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius, with departures also until the end of March.
Starting on March 29, he will embark on a 15-day Indian Ocean itinerary, from Tanzania to Mauritius, visiting Zanzibar, Madagascar, and Reunion.
In April he will sail along the African coast on several routes from Madagascar to South Africa and up to Dakar, and in May he will sail from Dakar to Honfleur.
In August 2021, it will offer an itinerary through Iceland with departures on different dates.
