Introduction

The restaurants onboard Le Jacques-Cartier

An essential component of French culture, gastronomy naturally has a place of honour onboard this PONANT EXPLORER.

Gastronomy

Faithful to our commitment to spreading the French way of life around the world, we always pay special attention to the meals that we serve throughout the day.

Our talented chefs craft high end menus so you can enjoy the delights of a refined table. They share their passion for premium produce with passengers, enriched with the inspiring flavours from the stopovers that we make.

As we wish to develop sustainable and responsible tourism, we source our food directly from the places we stop at, while committing to respecting the local resources.

The advice and expertise of Ducasse Conseil

In January 2016, PONANT announced it had joined forces with Ducasse Conseil, a catering centre of excellence run by Alain Ducasse Entreprise, continuing its route to excellence aboard our ships. From the conception of the culinary offering to the training of the company’s Chefs, this long-term project aims to ensure that PONANT’s culinary standards are as high as possible and to satisfy the exacting requirements of our passengers.

Fine cuisine

We take care to instil the French 'art of living' even on the other side of the world. We respect the highest standards of cuisine and offer a varied menu, created by our chefs using superior quality ingredients, beautifully presented and flavoursome.

The Le Nautilus

Gastronomic Restaurant - Deck 4

Towards the rear of deck 4 you'll find a panoramic restaurant large enough to accommodate all our passengers at one sitting. Offering a different concept than on our other ships, this space is open to the exterior and serves buffets of salads, desserts and cheeses. Our discreet and attentive staff provide a table service for hot meals

• 260 m2 (2,800 ft²)
• Wine cellar

A la carte meals are served at the table in the gastronomic restaurant. At lunch, a selection of dishes inspired by contemporary French brasseries will be offered. At dinner, it is time to sample the grand traditions of French fine dining, with menus to go with one of the best wines from our cellar, as recommended by our sommelier.

Grill Restaurant

An exterior grill restaurant on deck 3 offering a relaxed ambiance and atmosphere:

• Capacity: 70
• Views out over the pool deck
• Grilled meats and a variety of salads and desserts

Room Service

Whether you wish to have breakfast in the privacy of your stateroom, savour a snack in the middle of the day or enjoy your dinner in an intimate setting, our Room Service is available for you. Have a gourmet interlude and treat yourself from a varied menu at any time of day or night *.

On each of our ships, you can enjoy room service at any hour of the day and night (except at night on Le Ponant). A butler service is also available to passengers:

• on the PONANT Explorers: for passengers staying in one of the Privilege and Grand Deluxe Suites and on the Shipowner’s Suite.

Introduction

The common areas onboard Le Jacques Cartier

Our ship Le Jacques Cartier features a number of spaces designed and arranged to serve your needs and requirements whilst at the same time preserving the privacy of each passenger.

Good times together

During your stay you can enjoy a sophisticated ambiance. Each area has been considered down to the last detail and tastefully decorated. You're invited to enjoy good times with other passengers or to relax in total tranquillity.

The common areas on board have been designed in great detail to make every moment something special. While the private nature of each of these spaces has been preserved, they have also been laid out to let you enjoy some wonderful times together with other passengers and team members throughout the day.

The Pool

The outdoor areas on our ships, comfortable and conducive to relaxation, have been designed to merge into the sublime scenery and surroundings of the sea and horizon. There is a heated seawater pool featuring its own sun lounge on the top deck of our Sisterships (Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial), on the third deck of the PONANT EXPLORERS (Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont-D’Urville, Le Jacques Cartier and Le Bellot) and on deck 8 of Le Paul Gauguin. On Le Commandant Charcot, you can enjoy the Blue Lagoon on deck 9 and on Le Ponant, a solarium on the 400 m² (4,300 ft²) Sun deck.

• A swimming pool offering panoramic views and equipped with a counter-current system

• A pleasant, attractive sun deck
• An exterior bar and lounge equipped with armchairs and sofas

Panoramic Lounge

• Deck 6
• Library, internet space, bar, and live entertainment on certain evenings
• Direct access to the panoramic terrace

Lounges & Bars

The various different lounges allow passengers to meet up and share quality time together.

The cosy piano bar is a panorama lounge with breathtaking views of the horizon.

The outside bar is a great space for relaxing and is handy for accessing the swimming pool* and its solarium.

The main lounge - Deck 3

The main lounge is the ideal place to relax with a drink and enjoy the various activities that have been organised such as dancing classes or theme evenings.

A 200 m² (2,150 ft²) main lounge

Able to accommodate all our passengers at once for moments of shared conviviality, and as a venue for both daytime and evening shows and entertainment

Theatre

Settle comfortably into your seat and enjoy a range of different shows, concerts and performances organised by the professional dancers and musicians onboard.

Special musical evenings, dance evenings and culture and music quizzes are held In the Grand Salon lounge onboard Le Ponant. Additionally, traditional local music concerts, featuring styles such as Corsican polyphony and Caribbean steel band music, are performed out on deck in the open air by bands specially invited onboard for the purpose.

The Theatre* is the most unique meeting space on board. It's the largest space on the ship and regularly accommodates all the passengers. It plays host to shows and entertainment as well as conferences from our experts, naturalist guides and guests of honours. The Theatre makes every cruise unique and enriching thanks to its constant and very accessible events.

There are performers on board all of our ships. Recruited for their talent in Paris and Rome, they star in multiple shows at the Theatre, after dinner. Throughout your voyage, they host the various entertainment events in the Grand Salon, with the support of our on-board musicians.

During Tea Time or before dinner, our musical duos consisting of a singer and an accompanying musician play classical repertoires for you. In the evening, they play in concert at the Theatere or invite you to show off your dance moves. Dance evenings are thus co-led by performance dancers who know just how to keep you in step, under the direction of the Cruise Director.

There's plenty of themed entertainment to enjoy in the evenings. Both a soirée blanche (dress-in-white party) and an officers' evening are held on all long cruises. Other types of parties or evening events may also be on the programme, such as karaoke parties, a Casino parties or games evenings.

Films are regularly shown at the Theatre on giant screens. National Geographic features, documentaries related to our expedition route and feature films contribute to the cultural enrichment that is part of our cruise philosophy.

• 188-seat capacity
• Cutting edge audio and lighting technology
• LED stage background wall enabling the projection of ultra-high resolution media

Shop

On board all our ships, a shop is open during sailing. It offers a selection of presents and souvenirs: clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and accessories.

Leisure Areas

Dedicated to leisure and relaxation, the libraries onboard all our ships stock a range of books and board games. This space is also equipped with Wi-Fi connected computers.

All the ships have a special area for children onboard known as the Le Kids Club. Books, television, board games and consoles (PS4 or Wii™) are all provided for their use and enjoyment.

PONANT Studio

A photography and videography team escort you throughout your trip. These professionals capture the most beautiful moments of your cruise, which you can share with family and friends upon your return.*

Reception

• Deck 3
• A 140 m² (1,500 ft²) space
• A reception/concierge service
• The excursions desk
• The onboard administrative services
• The sales office operated by our Customer Manager
• Our 50m² (540 ft²) shop selling a line of clothing, jewellery, beauty care products, postcards and various accessories.
• The facilities accessible to persons with reduced mobility

Open Bar

From the moment you board and throughout your cruise, your unlimited drinks are included*, at any time of the day. A drink with friends at the bar, refreshments on your return from an excursion or in the calm of your Stateroom’s balcony: enjoy a large selection of beverages (mineral waters, cold drinks, cruise wines, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee, tea). A selection of premium alcoholic drinks is also available "à la carte".

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

The Blue Eye

Every ship** in the PONANT EXPLORERS series features the Blue Eye. Located in the hull, below the waterline, this unique multi-sensory lounge that is unique to Ponant cruises plunges you into the heart of underwater life. Sight, hearing, and sensations... With digital screens, hydrophones and Body Listening sofas, you can experience the complete and unprecedented spectacle offered by the seabed.

Accessible to all passengers and equipped with a bar, the Blue Eye is an exceptional place to share a drink in a unique atmosphere.

• A multi sensorial underwater lounge
• Enough room for 40 passengers

Leisure Area

Dedicated to leisure and relaxation, the libraries onboard all our ships stock a range of books and board games. This space is also equipped with Wi-Fi connected computers.

The Sisterships and The PONANT Explorers have a special area for children onboard known as the Kids Club. Books, television, board games and consoles (PS4 or Wii™) are all provided for their use and enjoyment.

Introduction

The common areas onboard Le Jacques Cartier

Our ship Le Jacques Cartier features a number of spaces designed and arranged to serve your needs and requirements whilst at the same time preserving the privacy of each passenger.

Good times together

During your stay you can enjoy a sophisticated ambiance. Each area has been considered down to the last detail and tastefully decorated. You're invited to enjoy good times with other passengers or to relax in total tranquillity.

The common areas on board have been designed in great detail to make every moment something special. While the private nature of each of these spaces has been preserved, they have also been laid out to let you enjoy some wonderful times together with other passengers and team members throughout the day.

Ocean Young Explorers

Because it’s important to reach new generations and make children aware of environmental protection issues from an early age, PONANT has joined forces with the Maud Fontenoy Foundation to help run its Ocean Explorers club for children. In total this summer, 17 cruises will offer children aged 4 to 13 a programme of activities dedicated to the ocean protection theme.

Raising awareness of oceans protection from an early age

The Maud Fontenoy Foundation is providing PONANT’s activity teams with fun educational kits, activity sheets and videos highlighting why oceans need to be protected. From creative activities (drawing, painting, a giant map of the world to colour in, etc.) to meditation initiation sessions, the programme is very varied. And from 2023, it will also include fun educational workshops on the water cycle, biodiversity, astronomy, and geology.

Excursions and Talks

Children aged 4-13 will have the opportunity to do excursions such as watersports, beach games and swimming, treasure hunts, and even guided tours. For larger groups, a naturalist guide will join the team running the sessions and give a talk on local fauna and flora.