Pittwater Life March 2019 Issue

Travel Life
Travel Life
Le Laperouse calls Asia Pacific home
Modern, sleek and stylish, the beautifully
appointed Le Laperouse – the first ship
in a new series that remains true to the
PONANT spirit – has arrived locally after
many adventures since her maiden voyage
last July from Norway.
She has cruised through the Corinth Canal
and visited some amazing destinations
such as the Stromboli Volcano off the north
coast of Sicily, the Maldives and Greece
but now she will call our own Asia Pacific
region home, taking guests to the Sub
Antarctic Islands; Indonesian Archipelago;
New Zealand; the ancient cultures of Papua
New Guinea and the Kimberley.
Pittwater Life was fortunate to experience
a familiarisation onboard Le Laperouse last
month. Our tour of this astoundingly luxurious
new small expedition ship revealed
incredibly innovative and environmentally
friendly equipment, elegantly designed
staterooms and spacious suites (just 92 in
total) – all with their own private balcony.
She features six passenger decks, a
choice of two dining venues and all-included
bar and restaurant beverages throughout
the day.
A standout is Le Laperouse’s world-first
PHOTOS: Philip Plisson
multi-sensory underwater lounge – ‘Blue
Eye’ – with glass windows embedded into
the hull to offer guests a truly unique
cruising experience. (Not to mention the
underwater microphones piping sounds
from the deep.)
Its ‘Wellbeing Centre’ (onboard spa) is
equipped with massage booths, a hair
salon and fitness rooms – with incredible
panoramic ocean outlooks.
Plus there are numerous lounges and
bars, onboard shopping, a pool and solarium
– with a state-of-the-art theatre providing
an intimate space for both expedition
lectures and downtime entertainment.
PONANT says Le Laperouse will embody
the unique atmosphere that is PONANT’s
hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement,
intimacy and comfort. “Aboard you will
experience the incomparable pleasure
of an intimate cruise, with the possibility
of exploring an ever-increasing range of
destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance
with luxury service,” said Travel View’s Gail
Kardash.
Top trips departing in 2019 and 2020 include:
The Antarctic Odyssey (21 days from
19 November – 9 December 2019); Ancient
cultures of Northern Australia and Papua
(11 days from 6 - 16 December 2019); and
Exploring the Kimberley (14 Days from 26
August – 8 September 2020).
* Want to learn more? Join the Travel View
Cruise View team at Mona Vale Golf Club
on March 26 from 6-8pm to awaken your
sense of wonder. Bookings essential.
Phone Travel View Cruise View on 9918
4444 (Avalon) or 9999 0444 (Collaroy).
74 MARCH 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991