Natural Wonders of Greenland and Canada

Description

Succumb to the charms of this brand-new 14-day cruise aboard Le Bellot, sailing between Iceland and Canada via the stunning landscapes of Greenland.

You will embark in Reykjavik, the most northerly capital in the world, lying slightly above the 64th parallel.

You will first travel through the narrow Prins Christian Sund passage, which connects the south-east of Greenland to the south-west. Jagged mountains, rocky cliffs, waterfalls and floating ice form a wonderful wild landscape in which frolic colonies of bearded seals.

After passing in front of the impressive Kujalleq Glacier, you will call at Aappilattoq, a small Inuit village with some one hundred inhabitants, dotted with colourful houses typical of this faraway land.

Le Bellot will head to Canada to call at l’Anse-aux-Meadows, a Viking archeological site from the 11th century listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located north of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Your ship will then sail into the Saint Lawrence river, a prodigious waterway home to exceptionally beautiful nature.

Your cruise will continue in the heart of the magnificent Saguenay River and you will get the chance to admire the surrounding cliffs that form a majestic fjord. At the mouth of Saguenay River, you will reach Tadoussac. This National Park is also an unmissable site for whale watching as the mammals gather to feed before winter.

In the estuary of the St. Lawrence River, you will also visit Quebec City, capital of Canada’s Beautiful Province, founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Do not miss discovering this charming and lively city where the historic neighbourhood of Old Québec, with its ramparts and fortifications, is listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.

On the shore of Lake Ontario you will discover Toronto, your disembarkation port. Cosmopolitan and dynamic, Canada’s largest city will charm you with its museums, parks and gardens.

Trip Name

Natural Wonders of Greenland and Canada

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 131 metres Passenger Capacity: 184 Built: 2019-2020 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 first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Bellot 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 Bellot 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.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 REYKJAVÍK

Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.

Day 2 - Day 2 AT SEA

During your day 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 day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, 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.

Day 3 - Day 3 PRINS CHRISTIAN SUND & KUJALLEQ GLACIER

PRINS CHRISTIAN SUNDYour ship glides silently towards the Greenland coast, in a setting punctuated by pointed peaks and majestic glaciers… You are on the verge of crossing the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow channel that stretches out and zigzags over some one hundred kilometres between Greenland’s south-east and south-west. Fall under the spell of the primitive beauty of these unique landscapes, including rocky cliffs and waterfalls that are fed by the ice sheet and plunge into the icy waters. Here, bearded seals love to lie on the floating ice to soak up the sunshine.

Day 4 - Day 4 AUGPILATOK

Augpilatok, is a small Inuit village of around one hundred inhabitants, whose name means “sea anemone” in Greenlandic. Located in a mountainous region inaccessible by road, its picturesque, colourful houses stretch out to the southern tip of Greenland, on the banks of the spectacular Prince Christian Sound. Some one hundred kilometres long, the sound connects the Labrador Sea to the Irminger Sea, meandering through stunning landscapes such as majestic glaciers, craggy peaks, and rocky cliffs with waterfalls fed by the ice sheet. This region was uninhabited in the 19th century. The village was created in the 1920s and the main activities revolve around hunting, fishing and livestock farming.

Day 5 - Day 5 & 6 AT SEA

Day 6 - Day 7 L'ANSE-AUX-MEADOWS, NEWFOUNDLAND

Located at the Northern extremity of the island of Newfoundland, L’Anse aux Meadows is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only site known to have been established by the Vikings in North America. Its ancient vestiges provide the very first traces of European presence in the new world. The remains found on this splendid 11th century Scandinavian archaeological site are identical to those found in Iceland. Aboard your ship, cruise in the wake of those first Vikings who discovered the tip of North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus arrived on the shores of the American continent. A memorable adventure in a setting punctuated with coastal peat bogs, grass and many varieties of shrubs and lichen.

Day 7 - Day 8 & 9 SAILING RIVER SAINT LAWRENCE AND GOING THROUGH ITS LOCKS

Linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes region inland, the Saint Lawrence Seaway was inaugurated in 1959, more than 250 years after the initial construction aiming to avoid the rapids obstructing navigation in these parts. This large engineering project, which required four years of huge work, offers a unique sailing experience, punctuated by the passage of the different locks marking out this corridor, which is almost 4,000 km long.

Day 8 - Day 10 SAILING SAGUENAY RIVER & SAGUENAY

Sailing on the Saguenay River is your guarantee of majestic sights in the heart of Quebec. This river, which originates in the Laurentian Highlands of Lac Saint-Jean and reaches the famous Saint-Laurent River, offers unforgettable landscapes to those who cross it. The river’s trajectory moves between cliffs that rise up over 500 metres tall (1,640 feet). Sculpted during the last ice age, the lower part of the Saguenay forms a fjord whose spectacular beauty will surprise you.SAGUENAYThe city of Saguenay nestles in a valley through which flows the eponymous river, one of the region’s treasures. As it joins the Saint-Lawrence, the Saguenay River forms a spectacular fjord boasting extraordinarily differing landscapes. From Saguenay, you can explore the attractive Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, which is a paradise for those who love the great outdoors. You can combine country walks with boat trips within the various national parks studded throughout this extraordinary natural kingdom.

Day 9 - Day 11 TADOUSSAC

The Quebec village of Tadoussac stands at the confluence of the Saguenay River and the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence, in south-east Canada. The village is bright with multicoloured houses nestling in an emerald-green pine forest. From the waterfront, it’s easy to spy out Tadoussac Chapel, thanks to its bright red roof. Not far from this church built of wood, one of the oldest in North America, stands a century-old village holiday resort, Hotel Tadoussac. Treat yourself to tea on the terrace overlooking the shoreline. In addition, at the marine mammal interpretation centre, you can hone your knowledge of the cetaceans that regularly frequent Tadoussac bay.

Day 10 - Day 12 QUÉBEC

The capital of ﾓLa Belle Provinceﾔ sits at the confluence of the St Charles River and the Gulf of St Lawrence in south-east Canada. Founded in the 17th century, the city still has an encircling wall ﾖ a historic civil engineering work and the only one of its kind remaining in North America. You will love the postcard-perfect stone houses of Old Quebec, the historic district listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shopping is a pleasure in pedestrian streets such as Petit-Champlain Street, or you can relax over a spruce beer, seasoned with pine buds. Dufferin Boardwalk, an esplanade near the emblematic Château Frontenac, is the perfect place for views of the river and old city.

Day 11 - Day 13 SAILING RIVER SAINT LAWRENCE AND GOING THROUGH ITS LOCKS

Day 12 - Day 14 TORONTO

The largest city in Canada and capital of the province of Ontario, Toronto fascinates as much by its incredible diversity as by its size. Make sure you visit the CN Tower, the tallest tower in the western hemisphere, as well as the St. Lawrence Market whose stalls reflect the multicultural wealth of this city known as the global city. Not far from there, the historic Distillery District unveils its brick-paved streets imbued with romantic charm and its myriad of small restaurants, cafés, boutiques, theatres and art galleries. The Royal Ontario Museum and its impressive collections devoted to the world’s natural and cultural history will also be an unmissable stop during this port of call.

Day 13 - Please Note:

itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

The magician Alain Choquette will be on board.
A brand-new cruise between the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, and the cosmopolitan Canadian city of Toronto, to discover the beautiful scenery of Greenland and Canada.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Anse-aux-Meadows, a Viking archeological site from the 11th century, the old city of Quebec.
The scenery: fjords, rugged mountains, glaciers, wild tundra, sheer cliffs and the polar ice cap.
The wildlife: Arctic terns and other seabirds, caribou, musk oxen, whales and orcas.
Sail along the Prins Christian Sund, a narrow, 100-km long passage that winds its way through cliffs and glaciers.
Travelling up the Saint Lawrence, one of the largest rivers in the world, with an immense and wild shoreline.
Observation of marine mammals in Tadoussac, at the mouth of the Saguenay River.