Ponant launches new festive season sailing through Fjordland and Sub Antarctic islands

Ponant launches new festive season sailing through Fjordland and Sub Antarctic islands
Edited by Travel Weekly


Spend Christmas Day exploring New Zealand’s spectacular Fjordland and New Year’s journeying amongst the wild and remote sub Antarctic islands on Ponant’s latest offering.

What’s more? Book before 31 August and score huge savings through small ship cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller. 

Described as the ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’, the remote outposts of Macquarie Island, Campbell Island, The Snares, Antipodes Islands and the Auckland Islands – all outlying territories of New Zealand and Australia – are among the world’s best preserved and protected environments, with natural features and wildlife seen nowhere else on Earth.

More than 1.5 million penguins, 3.5 million seabirds and 80,000 elephant seals can be found on these isolated islands halfway between Australia/New Zealand and Antarctica. 

The most southern of the islands is Australia’s rugged Macquarie Island, a World Heritage-listed island home to scores of seabirds, huge elephant seals and penguins of several varieties as well as an Australian base staffed by 30 scientists.

Because of its southerly latitude, Macquarie Island is blessed with more than 17 hours of daylight every January with early sunrises and late sunsets, allowing privileged visitors plenty of time to explore the wild outpost.

Cruise Traveller has special offers on two round-trips, all-inclusive sailings from Dunedin, New Zealand, to the sub-Antarctic islands in December 2023, or January 2024, aboard Ponant’s luxury exploration ship, Le Soleal.

The packages begin with two complimentary nights in a deluxe Dunedin hotel before guests board Ponant’s luxury expedition ship, the 264-guest Le Soleal, for a return voyage to Fjordland and the sub-Antarctic islands south of NZ.

Le Soleal boasts private balconies in all staterooms as well as a fine dining restaurant and grill restaurant, panoramic lounge, theatre, library, open-air bar, pool, an expert expedition team and personalised service.

The spectacular 14-night voyage takes in the famous fjords of NZ’s South Island, little-known Ulva Island and the remote sub-Antarctic territories of Macquarie Island, Campbell Island, The Snares, Antipodes Islands and the Auckland Islands – all rich wildlife sanctuaries which guest can enjoy on Zodiac adventure.

Two departure dates are available – December 21, 2023, with a festivities-filled Christmas Day spent amongst the majestic splendour of NZ’s Fjordland and New Year’s Eve spent off Macquarie Island – and also January 4, 2024.

Sub Antarctic Cruise. (Lorraine Turci – Supplied)

Snapshot of inclusions and features – ‘More than Sounds and Mountains’ package

  • 16-night package from either December 21, 2023, or January 4, 2024
  • Free, two-night stay in Dunedin
  • 14-night, round-trip cruise from Dunedin aboard Le Soleal  including onboard beverages and Zodiac excursions

The cruise and stay package is available from A$16,860 per person, twin-share (Dec 21 departure), in a Deluxe Balcony stateroom – a saving of $4405 each. 

Solo travellers can enjoy a hugely reduced single supplement, with the package available from A$24,770 – a big saving of A$16,620.  

Discounts apply to bookings made by August 31, 2023. Early bookings are recommended, with limited space available at these fares.

Latest News

  • Appointments
  • Hotels

Kerzner International announce key leadership appointments

Kerzner International has announced two significant leadership appointments as part of a brand-new management structure designed to position the company for continued growth and success. Brand verticals Kerzner is renowned for creating pioneering brands from the larger-than-life Atlantis to the ultra-luxury One&Only Resorts, and recently an industry-first with the launch of SIRO, the ultimate fitness […]

  • Hotels

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour welcomes Santa Clause

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour has welcomed Santa Clause to bring early Christmas presents to the children of the Royal Far West Charity. Royal Far West is one of the charities supported by hotel owner, Dr. Jerry Schwartz, who organised for high-rise window cleaning entrepreneur Edvaldo Godoy of Updown Access to “sleigh” down the face of […]

  • Travel Agents

Digital marketer says travel operators are missing out on free cash

Travel operators are missing out on free cash for marketing, says Sam Patton, founder of The Social Spider, Australia’s first digital marketing agency dedicated to the travel sector. Some savvy travel companies are successful in accessing “magical” marketing funds from government and private sources but many were unaware of available cash or unwilling to spend the […]

  • Food & Beverage
  • Hotels

Banyan Tree offers special Christmas dining options

Banyan Tree has announced a host of 5-star gourmet Christmas and New Year dining experiences for each of its restaurants across the festive season. Here’s a selection: Banyan Tree Krabi Gala Dinner The Banyan Tree Krabi is hosting a sumptuous Christmas Eve Gala Dinner at its popular restaurant, The Naga Kitchen. Guests can enjoy an […]