Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

FALL/ WINTER 2023 DREAMSCAPES 37 PHOTOS: PONANT / OLIVIER BLAUD | PONANT/GILLES TRILLARD | PONANT/ DOROTHEE MOURAUD | PONANT/TAMAR SARKISSIAN | PONANT/ SERVANE ROY-BERTON | PONANT/LORRAINE TURCI | PONANT/SUE FLOOD | PONANT TRAVEL PLANNER For more information visit https://us.ponant.com/cruises i C'EST LA VIE As befits their explorer mindsets, PONANT captains have free rein to tailor itineraries in ways they see fit. On a recent cruise in the Mediterranean, the captain delayed arrival at Mahon by an hour so guests could enjoy entering the harbour in daylight. Later, on a day at sea with no scheduled stops, he halted the ship in the middle of the Mediterranean so guests could swim! The stern on PONANT's Explorer ships is equipped with a retractable marina that can be extended over the water, allowing guests to easily dive in and climb back. MUST TRY Surprises are good, but so are planned pleasures. Book a treatment in the spa with products from French brand SOTHYS. OH LÀ LÀ Have you ever enjoyed a drink underwater? PONANT's six Explorer ships feature a dramatic lounge called Blue Eye that's about two metres below the water line and equipped with large portholes shaped like whale's eyes. The sensually curved walls and dim blue lighting are part of the unique design created by Jacques Rougerie, a French architect who specializes in underwater habitats. Large screens showcase marine life images captured from underwater cameras. That's not all. A hydrophone attains ocean sounds that transmit this "symphony of the sea" into the lounge. MUST TRY Relax on one of the Body Lis- tening Sofas and feel a subtle vibration in sync with the aquatic acoustics. ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH After you've enjoyed your first taste of PONANT, chances are you'll be back for more. And there's a lot more. This company sails the world, with 261 departures scheduled for 2024. While some cruise lines focus on particular regions and often repeat the same cruise from one week to the next, PONANT ships go everywhere from Africa to the Arctic and Antarctic, leaving no corner untouched. MUST TRY For inspiration, take the seven-question quiz at https://us.ponant.com or click on the interactive map with photos from actual cruises. The map also shows the current position of each PONANT ship with views from its live web cam. DS

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