Guest Speaker 
Deluxe Stateroom
20% Ponant Bonus
19 m²
2
Treasures of India
Mumbai (ex Bombay) - Colombo
Dates:
30/01/2024
to
08/02/2024
days
nights on board
With featured guest Christian Makarian, French author and journalist.
PONANT invites you to discover the wonders of India and Sri Lanka, during a 10-day cruise from Mumbai to Colombo. Let yourself fall under the spell of these eastern lands bordered by the Indian Ocean and influenced by Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
You will board Le Jacques-Cartier in Mumbai, India’s cultural and economic capital. Make sure you visit the Elephanta Caves, a Hindu sanctuary on an island off the coast, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), a remarkable example of Victorian neo-gothic architecture: both sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Then, you will discover Goa, a former colony of the Portuguese Indies. Goa is prized for its beaches and its rich cultural heritage, in particular a collection of late 16th-century churches and convents, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your ship will then arrive in Kerala, on Malabar Coast, in south-western India. From Cochin, a former royal town where the air is rich with the aroma of cardamom and cloves, this port of call will also be the opportunity to discover, aboard traditional boats, the fishing villages settled along the banks of the “backwaters”, a network of lakes and canals that criss-cross the lush landscapes of Kerala. Then you will set sail towards Trivandrum, where you will have the opportunity to visit Padmanabhapuram Palace, one of the finest examples of traditional Kerala architecture.
In Galle, you will be able to admire the fortifications of the old town, testimony to its Portuguese and Dutch heritage and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Finally, Le Jacques-Cartier will call at Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital located at the crossroads of the sea trade between Europe and Asia.
Ref : EX300124
Your itinerary
With featured guest Christian Makarian, French author and journalist. Discover cultural and natural treasures of Sri Lanka and India. UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the churches and convents of Goa, the...
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Your trip in detail
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LE CHAMPLAIN
24/07/2023 to the 02/08/2023
LE BORÉAL
LE PAUL GAUGUIN
- New
- Last staterooms
LE PONANT
- New
- Last staterooms
LE PONANT
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Services provided
- 24h room service
- Inclusive Wi-Fi Internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar included
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
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Christian Makarian
Christian Makarian joined the French weekly L’Express in 1999 where he was responsible for special reports on cultural issues, interviews and debates. He was deputy managing editor of the magazine, where he wrote a weekly editorial on foreign politic for 15 years.
He is the author of several books – including Marie (Lattès), translated into five languages, Le choc Jésus – Mahomet (Lattès-CNRS Éditions) and Pascal dans sa chambre, méditation sur le désordre planétaire (Cerf Editions, September 2020) – and appears regularly on radio and television, and writes an international column on LCI.
Language spoken: French, English
Photo credit: Éric Garault
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Highlights
- With featured guest Christian Makarian, French author and journalist.
- Discover cultural and natural treasures of Sri Lanka and India.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the churches and convents of Goa, the Elephanta Caves and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station (formerly known as Victoria Terminus) in Mumbai; and in Sri Lanka, the old town of Galle and its fortifications.
- Overnight in Cochin: discover Kerala’s lush landscapes during an excursion in the “backwaters”: rivers edged with palm trees, rice paddies, fishing villages.
- Overnight in Mumbai: visit of the city, its architectural heritage, the Elephanta Caves and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum.
- Before your cruise: possibility of discovering Mumbai.
- After your cruise, possibility of visiting the temples of Colombo.
Ports of Call & Excursions
30 January 2024 31 January 2024 - Mumbai (ex Bombay)
Embarkation 30/01/2024 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 31/01/2024 at 18:30
Mumbai, a fascinating city located on the Arabian Sea, will give you a real immersion in Hindu culture. You will be able to discover the Elephanta Caves that are home to collection of rock art typical of the cult of Shiva. Don’t miss out on visiting the Gandhi Museum and House, dedicated to the memory of the man who played a vital role in the emancipation and independence of India, or the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), the finest example of Victorian architecture in India. In the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum, you will find very fine collections of sculptures, miniatures and portraits of the man who would become King George V.
1 February 2024 - At sea
Arrival 01/02/2024
Departure 01/02/2024
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
2 February 2024 - Marmugao (Goa)
Arrival 02/02/2024 early morning
Departure 02/02/2024 late afternoon
Marmugao is a sub-district of South Goa located in the state of Goa, in India. This is where the state’s main maritime port is to be found. Renowned around the world for its climate, the beauty of its beaches, its rice paddies and its waterfalls, Goa will surprise you with the cultural and religious heritage of its old town. It has a great many 16th- and 17th-century churches, making up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Basilica of Bom Jesus but also Hindu temples and mosques. The Goa Chitra Museum, Goa’s main ethnographic museum, is also worth a visit.
3 February 2024 - At sea
Arrival 03/02/2024
Departure 03/02/2024
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
4 February 2024 5 February 2024 - Cochin
Arrival 04/02/2024 early morning
Departure 05/02/2024 late afternoon
An important port in the South-West of India, Cochin (Kochi) is one of the most beautiful on the Malabar Coast where the scent of cardamom mingles with cloves. It was here that Vasco de Gama disembarked over 500 years ago. But how many Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs and Romans dropped anchor before him in the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea? So many nations, at a time when pepper from Malabar was almost as precious as gold, left these shores laden with precious spices. Today, the city, a surprising metropolis with multiple identities, has a rich cultural and natural heritage combining former colonial residences, ancestral fishing methods and charming landscapes in the backwaters.
6 February 2024 - Trivandrum
Arrival 06/02/2024 early morning
Departure 06/02/2024 early afternoon
Capital of the State of Kerala, Trivandrum boasts a rich and colourful past. Constructed on seven hills, the “green city of India”, as Gandhi called it, is home to sumptuous Victorian buildings, vestiges of British colonisation. You will also be able to admire superb examples of traditional architecture, such as Padmanabhapuram Palace. A former residence of Kerala princes, this elegant wooden palace from the 16th century is composed of three levels evoking the shape of a Far Eastern pagoda. Entering and roaming its maze of galleries, halls and corridors is like plunging into the lavish life of the Travancore kings.
7 February 2024 - Galle
Arrival 07/02/2024 midday
Departure 07/02/2024 early evening
Discover Galle, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest cities. Thanks to its commercial port, from which were exported spices and precious stones, Galle was once the country’s most major city. Colonised by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch, today it still bears traces of this colonial past. When your ship calls here, have a wander around the old town and its fortifications, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Built by the Portuguese at the end of the 16th century, they are perfectly preserved. To learn more about daily and rural life in Sri Lanka, do not miss the visit to the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum in Koggala, not far from Galle.
8 February 2024 - Colombo
Arrival 08/02/2024 early morning
Disembarkation 08/02/2024 at 07:00
A former trading post along the Silk Route, the old quarter of Colombo offers you the fabulous sight of its picturesque streets. The city was known to Arab, Persian and Chinese traders as early as the 8th century and this former village, nestled between two dunes, was a trading post on the mythical Spice Route. Today the economic capital of Sri Lanka, the city offers picture-postcard scenery with its beaches stretching languorously along the south-western coast of the country. Here the sand dazzles you and the sea invites you to dream...
Le Jacques-Cartier
In keeping with the philosophy of PONANT and the PONANT EXPLORERS, Le Jacques-Cartier combines the desire for adventure with five-star travel. A modern ship with slender, tapered lines, it is environmentally friendly and equipped with innovative technology.
Tastefully decorated, Le Jacques-Cartier reflects the universe so dear to PONANT, with its light tones and open-to-the-sea design providing soft light and luminosity at every instant of the day. Its ethnic chic ambiance pays homage to the destinations we visit.
Located below the waterline, the Blue Eye, the first ever multisensorial lounge, offers a unique experience: the opportunity to enjoy undersea views and the sounds of the marine world whilst sharing a glass together.
Up to 184 Guests
92 staterooms & suites
118 crew members
Spa
2 restaurants
Decks
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.