13 nights onboard Le Boréal

From Scotland to Spitsbergen

Set off on a 14-day PONANT expedition cruise that will take you from marvellous Scottish shores to the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. Aboard Le Boréal, you will discover the preserved landscapes of Northern Europe and the boundaries of Norway and its island, which is among the world’s northernmost.

Departing from Glasgow, Scotland's warm cultural capital with a rich artistic and architectural heritage, you will set sail for the Hebrides archipelago. You will make a stop on Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland, home to an impressive abbey, and you will discover Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. This all-new port of call will take you back in time to between 2900 and 2600 BC, the period during which the island’s megalithic site would have been created… Before the circle of standing stones, aligned with the cardinal points, the mystery remains entire, the emotion is palpable.

Le Boréal will then sail towards the Shetland archipelago and the island of Mousa, which is home to Scotland’s best-preserved Broch - constructed in around 100BC, this tower-shaped fortification served to defend against invaders.

Further north, you will marvel at the mysterious charm of the Lofoten archipelago. These islands have landscapes of surreal beauty alternating between sea, spectacular fjords, mountain slopes, fine sand beaches and huts on stilts.

Your Arctic adventure begins with your stopover in Tromso. You will also sail by Bear Island, halfway between the North Cape of Norway and the South Cape of Spitsbergen. You will see many seabirds, such as guillemots or Atlantic puffins, which have found refuge in the vast cliffs of the south of the island.

Even further north, you will reach Spitsbergen, the main island of the Svalbard archipelago. In the land at the end of the world, millennial glaciers, steely mountains and spectacular fjords form the backdrop for whales, arctic foxes, walruses and the kings of their realm, polar bears.

Your cruise will end in Longyearbyen.

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. The itinerary, landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.

Leaving from: Glasgow

Cruise ship: Le Boréal

Visiting: Glasgow • Iona, Hebrides • Callanish • Mousa Island •

Ponant

When searching for a luxury yacht expedition cruise, there’s one name above all else that you need to know – Ponant Cruises. Founded in 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers, Ponant combines succulent luxury with authentic adventures on all seven continents.

From classic Mediterranean itineraries and Caribbean sailings, to bucket-list expeditions around Greenland and Antarctica, Ponant cruises proudly counteract the banality of mainstream voyages with a unique take on the concept of small-ship cruising. It’s the absolute trip of a lifetime.

264

Passengers

140

Crew

2010

Launched

10944t

Tonnage

142m

Length

18m

Width

16kts

Speed

Decks

EUR

Currency

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

Glasgow, Scotland

Day 2

Iona, Hebrides, Scotland

Day 3

Callanish, Scotland

Day 4

Mousa Island, Scotland

Day 7

River travel

Day 7

Reine, Lofoten Archipelago, Norway

Day 8

Tromsø, Norway

Day 9

Bear Island, Norway

Day 10

Isbukta, Spitsbergen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Day 11

Hornsund, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Day 12

Bellsund, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Day 13

Isfjorden, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Day 14

Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Day 1

Glasgow, Scotland

Start your adventure in Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow which is overflowing with historic landmarks and a vibrant culture. The distinct architecture is reminiscent classic 19th-century fused together with modern early 20th-century dubbed ‘Glasgow Style’. The checkerboard layout makes the city easy to navigate with lively street entertainment around every corner.

Day 2

Iona, Hebrides, Scotland

Head up to the Scottish Isles and find Iona, a small island off the southwest coal of Mill in the Inner Hebrides. With just 130 inhabitants, Iona is famed for Iona Abbey, which was once the centre of Gaelic monasticism. The tranquil lands are typical of Hebridean beauty and the approach is particularly spectacular when the weather is sunny.

Day 3

Callanish, Scotland

Callanish is a village on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Callanish is within the parish of Uig. A linear settlement with a jetty, it is on a headland jutting into Loch Roag, a sea loch 13 miles west of Stornoway.

Day 4

Mousa Island, Scotland

Day 7

River travel

Day 7

Reine, Lofoten Archipelago, Norway

Lofoten Islands are considered to be in “another world” and for good reason. The archipelago with its jagged coastline is a majestic setting of high alpine summits, sandy beaches, green prairies and spectacular fjords. Many of the fjords are UNESCO listed, so whichever you manage to see will be a treat. Reine is a picture-perfect village surrounded by blue waters, lush greenery and speckled colour from the fishermen’s cottages. Enjoy hiking, whale-watching and birdwatching from this idyllic setting.

Day 8

Tromsø, Norway

With its centre located on the island of Tromsø, the municipality of Tromsø is more than five times the size of Norway’s capital, Oslo, and is the world’s northernmost university city. Lying 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, it is known as the 'Gateway to the Arctic' because it was used as a starting point for hunters looking for Arctic foxes, polar bears and seals. In the 19th century it was a base for explorers on Arctic expeditions – a history that is remembered in the city’s Polar Museum, which you can visit on an excursion. Also commemorated in the area is the history of Norway’s indigenous people, the Sami. Visitors can learn about the traditions, heritage and modern preservation of the Sami culture at the Tromsø Museum. Nowadays, Tromsø is a charming mix of old and new, with wooden buildings sitting alongside contemporary architecture such as the impressive glacier-like Arctic Cathedral, which features one of the largest stained glass windows in Europe. Looking down on the city is Mount Storsteinen, and a cable car runs to the top, giving wonderful views over the surrounding countryside of forested peaks and reindeer pastures.

Day 9

Bear Island, Norway

Almost half way between Tromsø and Svalbard is isolated Bear Island – considered the southernmost island of the Svalbard Archipelago. The unglaciated island is an impressive Nature Reserve of steep, high cliffs that are frequented by seabirds, specifically at the southern tip. Brünnich’s Guillemots, Common Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, Little Auks, Northern Fulmars, Glaucous Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and even Atlantic Puffins and Northern Gannets nest along the cliffs south of Sørhamna. Because of the large numbers of birds and the isolated location, Bear Island has been recognized as an Important Bird Area. It was once a hotspot for whaling and walrus hunting, and at one stage even mining. Bear Island received its name because of a polar bear encountered by early explorer Willem Barentsz. Today polar bears rarely visit the island and its only settlement is a meteorological station manned all-year round on the north side.

Day 10

Isbukta, Spitsbergen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Isbukta is a bay in Sørkapp Land on the south-east point of the island Spitsbergen. The relatively small bay protects the immense glacier, Vasil’evbreen which is bigger than 20km in length. This stop is the perfect opportunity for a unique Zodiac® outing if the weather permits and get the chance to approach Stellingfjellet.

Day 11

Hornsund, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Day 12

Bellsund, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Bellsund is a 20km sound in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. It is distinctly cut into two branches, the fjords Van Mijenfjorden and Van Keulenfjorden which together offer a stunning journey. You’ll be dwarfed by the high mountains which characterise the landscape along with rich wildlife that thrives in such diverse conditions.

Day 13

Isfjorden, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Day 14

Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Longyearbyen is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen’s airport can be used all-year round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center, where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around Longyearbyen and even in town.

Ship Details

Ponant

Le Boréal

A superb mega-yacht with 132 cabins, she is the fruit of the expertise of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard and French sophistication, as interpreted by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. Le Boreal remains faithful to Ponant's philosophy - to create a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being.

View Full Ship Details

All Prices