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Like the rest of the PONANT EXPLORERS series, Le Champlain successfully manages to subtly combine the desire to explore the remotest regions of the planet with the comfort and privacy of a cosily intimate ship.
To the innovative and environmentally friendly equipment are added elegant design and a unique atmosphere in keeping with the whole PONANT universe. Your dream of a cruise onboard a cosily intimate ship is thus made possible through the combination of an authentically genuine voyage experience together with discreet luxury.
This 7-day trip was the perfect blend of relaxation, exploration and education. Le Champlain sailed from Puntarenas CR and then on to Panama, to include the very remote Dairen region of Panorama, and then to the San Blas islands via a daylight transit of the Panama Canal. Just a few notes: The food is ever present and thankfully served in reasonably-sized portions that are not overwhelming. The food is uniformly excellent. My wife is vegetarian and did not need to make any compromises at all. Deserts are beyond excellent! The included wine choices are fine for me, although you could splurge on recommendations from the on-board Sommelier. Dining at the casual grill is just as good as the main dining room. All selections are available everywhere. Neither my wife, nor I gained any weight, although we very easily could have. The ship is in excellent condition, as was our stateroom. The " lower" cabin categories are fine on this trip, and do not leave anything to be desired. They are compact, but well planned. Everything is as good or better than Grills on Cunard, save for cabin size. The stateroom refrigerator was stocked with various juices and a selection of alcohol, which we did not use. Others said it was restocked, when used. Use the pool! Visit the Bridge! Visit the "Blue Eye," but don't have any expectations. All of the excursions seemed very easy, even when some are marked as moderate." I would not hesitate to choose any of them. The Smithsonian connection makes the trip a learning experience as well. We had two excellent speakers, who were fully available and always around (just like other guests). Dennis Willie Saenz and Ralph Nurnberger both get universally stellar reviews. The Smithsonian tour directors - Sandra and Julie - were also a great help and very much appreciated. It is a small ship. You will likely meet everyone before the trip is over. I generally do not like meeting people, but had a great time here. As a side note - if you have shipboard credit, check 48 hours before the end of the cruise to make sure you have time to use it, as the shop closes a day before disembarkation. All-in-all, a wonderful experience and very much worth doing. We stayed on for the two night Panama excursion in the rain forest directly adjacent to the canal route which also offered visits to historical and ecological sites.
This was our first cruise with Ponant. Our previous cruise experience was with Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity, and, for the past eight years, with Silversea. We chose this cruise because it was a expedition overseen by Smithsonian Journeys, focusing on the Panama Canal and the flora and fauna of Panama and Costa Rica. Significantly, the cruise was only 7 days, which appealed to us as every other Canal cruise left from either Miami or California and required ten to fourteen days with numerous stops in Mexico and the Caribbean. The Smithsonian-sponsored speakers gave lectures on the political situation in Central America, the history and current operation of the Canal, and the animal and bird life. They were all excellent and you had the opportunity to dine with them (at tables of 6) at various times during the week. The ship itself is beautiful and well maintained, having been launched in 2018. It is somewhat more casual in decor than Silversea, but still elegant. We had a standard veranda cabin, which at 204 sq.ft seemed pretty small compared to the 387 sq.ft. standard veranda on, say, the Silver Moon. There was enough storage, but two people definitely had to plan their movements if they were both in the room at the same time. You did not have to walk sideways to get between the end of the bed and the bureau, but two people definitely could not pass each other. I would say that the room was definitely too small for in-room dining. And on the topic of dining...one reason we chose Ponant was the excellent reviews we read about its food, especially compared to other lines in the ultra-luxury and luxury class. Ponant's bread and desserts were top notch - you could tell that many of them were made right on board every day. As to the entree's, I would say they are about the same quality that you will find on Silversea. However, where Silversea does beef better, Ponant excelled in seafood. The excursions on this Smithsonian itinerary were included, and included a stop in Darien to meet with the native Embera community. Only a few ships stop there every year. Other excursions included visits to the natural history museum in Panama (designed by Frank Geary) and hikes at national and private animal preserves in Costa Rica. We also had a "beach day" at the San Blas Islands with a beach barbecue. Several of the locations were wet landings, so bring water shoes. The entertainment was excellent, consisting of three fabulous female dancers and two singers. The shows were put on in the main lounge (not the theater), so it was like attending a supper club with a floor show - fun, energetic and very French. This cruise was geared toward English speakers, so there was no problem in communication, although hearing the French accents everywhere gave things an exotic touch.
My first Ponant , and it was pleasent , mostly French passengers , my French os not that good , I like to mention thatI never seen a captain so involved on excursion , Christmas was very well organized , food was above average , the ship is missing Jacuzzi , the pool is small and has a jet to swim , so all and all it was above average , the cabin was small in comparison to other expedition ships , the bleu Eye bar really never seem to produce real animal views under water life except jelly fish , the expedition team was excellent full of high quality guides . zodiacs , and sail boat , etc , I am smoker and the smoking area was the local spot but not the best area for my taste , the cruise was a pleasent voyage and with visiting this remote locations of Central America
Just like on a private yacht
The 92 staterooms and suites of Le Champlain are the very embodiment of the PONANT spirit and approach: to offer a combination of finesse, cosy intimacy and well-being. Equipped with private balconies, they benefit from soft and gentle light and radiance throughout the day. You'll be delighted to have the elegant ambiance of your cabin to return to after a trip out in a Zodiac® inflatable or a refined restaurant dinner.
The restaurants onboard Champlain
An essential component of French culture, gastronomy naturally has a place of honour onboard this PONANT EXPLORER.
Marvel at the sun rising over the pristine glaciers of Spitsbergen, set out to discover the mysteries of Scotland, enjoy enriching encounters in Alaska∘ or just relax, take your time, and choose a sun kissed journey through the Mediterranean.
The trip of a lifetime, a romantic getaway or a family holiday: cruising the PONANT way allows∘ you the freedom to organise your Odyssey∘ as a unique experience and tailor it according to your desires. Whether you have the spirit of a refined adventurer, a meditative mind or you love the great outdoors, Ponant will fulfil all your travel desires.
Take the time to extend the pleasure of a stay in a country before boarding your yacht, get to the heart of a culture or simply have fun for a while: the guides, lecturers and travel advisers are there to assist you. Music, golf, gastronomy; from port to port, the themed cruises allow passengers∘ to live their hobby to the full - or to discover a new one.
Carefully designed itineraries, quality guest speakers, attentive service: for more than 25 years, on land and at sea, or teams and their crews have been there to help you get the most out of your cruise.
The common areas onboard Le Champlain
Our ship Le Champlain features a number of spaces designed and arranged to serve your needs and requirements whilst at the same time preserving the privacy of each passenger.
Good times together
The common areas on board have been designed in great detail to make every moment something special. While the private nature of each of these spaces has been preserved, they have also been laid out to let you enjoy some wonderful times together with other passengers and team members throughout the day.
Lounges and bars
The various different lounges allow passengers to meet up and share quality time together.
Leisure and well-being
Our ships* have many spaces designed to offer guests privileged moments of relaxation and comfort.
Because a cruise offers the ideal environment in which to take time for yourself, our ships offer special spaces dedicated to wellness and relaxation.#
Wellness area - Deck 7
Kit De Bienvenue
Year-round, on all the company’s ships and voyages, children will receive a welcome kit that includes reusable water bottles, pencils and games, plus a book by Maud Fontenoy suited to each age group with key messages that are dear to the Foundation.
