The world's newest mega-yacht will sail in Antarctica starting in November on 10- and 15-night voyages.
Guests aboard Compagnie du Ponant's Le Boreal will have a front-row seat to view penguins, icebergs and glaciers during four Antarctic cruises from Nov. 24, 2010, to Feb. 8, 2011.
The 264-passenger Le Boreal is a 466-foot yacht, providing a chic but informal atmosphere. During the Antarctica voyages, the yacht's fleet of zodiacs will provide guests an up-close view of the continent's marine life and natural beauty, as naturalists provide in-depth understanding of these sights.
The first sailing, South George and Antarctica: The Penguin Kingdom, sails Nov. 24 from Buenos Aires. The 15-night voyage calls at Montevideo, the colonial capital of Uruguay, and then it's on to South Georgia, an island that is part of the Scotia Arc, a submarine mountain range stretching from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Disembarking at Gold Harbour or Fortuna, clients visit the Salisbury Plain, a glacial expanse that's home to some 250,000 king penguins. The expedition continues on to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, then to Deception Island, where the largest colony of chinstrap penguins live.
Le Boreal then sails through the Drake Passage, heading to its last port, the scenic city Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
For its Antarctic sailings, Compagnie du Ponant will restrict the number of guests to 200.
The French company, with a sales office in Miami, said it is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. Le Boreal has an advanced wastewater treatment system, reduced fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions. The electric propulsion system is quiet and economic, and the diesel engines use marine gas oil, a lighter, cleaner-burning biofuel. Its underwater detection system enables it to avoid collision with whales and ice floes, the company said.
Rates for the South Georgia & Antarctica itinerary begin at $5,440. Compagnie du Ponant offers agent commissions ranging from 10% to 15%.
The company's website is www.ponant.com.