Le Champlain, Jewels of the Caribbean ex Fort de France Return – 28 Feb 2021

8 Night cruise departing roundtrip from Fort de France onboard Le Champlain.

PONANT invites you on a brand new 9-day cruise to the heart of the West Indies. From Fort-de-France, you will sail the idyllic waters of the Caribbean Sea to discover stunning islands, as well as historical and architectural landmarks.

An experienced diving instructor is on board for the entire cruise, enabling you to safely enjoy swimming and scuba diving.

You will first sail to St. Kitts, a volcanic island with fine sandy beaches and a rich colonial heritage.

Your ship will then call at Saint-Martin, a small cosmopolitan island that is half French, half Dutch.

Further west, between the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles, the British Virgin Islands will offer you idyllic landscapes. During a stop at Virgin Gorda, you will discover The Baths National Park and its huge blocks of granite, surrounded by caves and rock pools.

Then you will discover Saint Barthélemy, an idyllic land that offers a happy blend of modernism and traditions and Antigua and Barbuda, renowned for their sumptuous white sandy beaches.

Before reaching Fort-de-France, your final port, you will enjoy the enchanting setting offered by the island of Dominica, known as the Nature Island.

Highlights of this cruise:

Fort-de-France
Located on the western coast of Martinique, Fort-de-France will amaze you by the splendour of its bay, a magnificent cut-out in the coastline, considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. At the harbour mouth, on its strip of land, fort Saint-Louis overlooks the capital city of Martinique. If you climb up to it, you can see some breath-taking views. Saint Louis Cathedral and the Schoelcher library bear witness to a secular history, intimately linked to the island’s story. Why not try some fresh coconut at the colourful Grand Marché. Two really pleasant places you can take a breather in, right in the heart of the city, are the garden of Balata and the Aimé Césaire park.

South Friars Bay, Saint Kitts
Nestling along the peninsula of Saint-Kitts Island, South Friars Bay shelters one of the Kittitians’ most popular beaches. You’ll find this sumptuous stretch of golden sand perfect for a pleasant spot of sunbathing, while its clear and calm waters make it an ideal site for swimming and snorkelling. The rich and preserved sea bed will let you admire a huge variety of reef fish and stunning aquatic flora.

Marigot
Located on the west coast of the French side of Saint Martin, an island in the north-east of the Caribbean Sea, Marigot has stunning discoveries in store for you. Its streets are home to old Creole huts, the traditional dwellings in the 19th century, as well as a host of luxury boutiques and artist studios. Overlooking Marigot Bay and facing Anguilla, Fort Louis is an ideal spot from which to admire the Simpson Bay Lagoon and the surrounding small, lush mountains. For those who enjoy walking, taking a lovely stroll from the Fort Louis marina via the market, is an opportunity to fully enjoy the easy way of life in this charming, picturesque town.

Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda is one of the British Virgin Islands archipelago’s largest islands. There, you will discover The Baths National Park and its well-renowned picture-postcard beaches. Gigantic volcanic boulders sit surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, creating spectacular geological formations. Indeed, over the years a network of basins, caves and natural pools has formed, resulting in a sublime aquatic maze in which it is enjoyable to lose oneself before heading to the stunning Devil’s Bay Beach. On the island’s south-eastern tip, Copper Mine National Park is still home to many ruins of an abandoned copper mine that looks out over the sea.

Gustavia
Lovers of this island call it Saint-Barth. This French island in the Lesser Antilles was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Ever since, this tiny mountainous volcanic gem with its unspoilt nature has been enchanting visitors. You will enjoy the beauty of its large paradisiacal beaches, plus the charm and refinement of its old wooden houses and its sumptuous colonial manors. Although, as you saunter through the rues de Gustavia or Saint-Jean, you’ll come across jewellers, top fashion boutiques and fine restaurants, there is also a simplicity that money can’t buy…

Portsmouth
With its mountainous terrain, vast tropical forest, hot springs, rivers and spectacular waterfalls, Dominica is undoubtedly the wildest island in the Caribbean. Protected by several national parks, this little-known land, located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, between Guadeloupe and Martinique, will inspire adventure and exploration. During your port of call, do not miss out on discovering the enchanting landscapes of the Indian River: navigating through this dense mangrove, in which creepers, ferns, forest trees and giant roots are interweaved, is a magical experience, a fascinating voyage into the heart of an almost mystical natural universe.