Le Soléal To Transit the full Northwest Passage in the Summer of 2013

Compagnie du Ponant have announced the projected itinerary and fares for its intended full transit of the Canadian Northwest Passage in August and September of 2013 by the new Le Soléal . The 224-berth vessel, now being built in Ancona, Italy,  is scheduled to depart Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, on August 26 and arrive at Anadyr, Russia, on September 14. She will make her transit by way of the west coast of Greenland, Pond Inlet, Beachey Island, the Bellot, Larsen and Franklin Straits, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Coronation Gulf, Prince of Wales Strait, Franklin Bay, the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean before crossing the Bering Strait into the Pacific.

Le Soléal is the third of a trio of French-flag sister ships that have been built for operation in both polar and tropical regions and are rated four stars by the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Measuring 10,944 gross tons, the 466-foot trio (the others are L’Austral and Le Boréal) bring a completely different, more intimate, approach to the world of cruising and are of a standard sufficient to have been chartered by the likes of Abercrombie & Kent and Tauck Tours of the United States. With their small numbers of passengers the ships offer more sophisticated travellers a more yacht-like environment and along with the French cuisine, drinks, table wine and bottled waters are included in the fare. Follow in the dreams of the explorers in this lost passage to China, where only a few ships and passengers have passed before.

Fares run from €7,795 up to €23,975 per person in the Owners Suite, plus €1,050 port and security charges and €455 air taxes. Direct charter flights are included from Paris to Kangerlussuaq and from Anadyr to Düsseldorf.

For further details please call Gay Scruton at The Cruise People Ltd in London on 020 7723 2450 or e-mail cruise@cruisepeople.co.uk.

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