Napoleon Bonaparte : History And Heritage

HIGHLIGHTS

• An original cruise in the footsteps of the first French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, on the occasion of the bicentenary of the publication of the Memorial of Saint Helena written by Emmanuel de Las Cases (1823).
• Conferences on board by Thierry Lentz, director of the Napoleon Foundation, Michel Dancoisne-Martineau, director of the national domains in St. Helena, South Atlantic, Honorary Consul of France, Peter Hicks, British historian, church musician and a great evoker, Franck Ferrand.
• Two gastronomic dinners inspired by the menus and wines served to the Emperor during his exile.
• A conference and two concerts featuring music of Napoleon’s time, by the historian and musician Peter Hicks.
• Screenings of historical movies and documentaries about the Napoleonic era.
• In Saint Helena, visits “in the footsteps of Napoleon”: La pavilion des Briars, Longwood House, the cottage of General Bertrand and the Valley of the Tomb.
• Discover the natural and cultural heritage of the island: Jamestown village, volcanic landscapes and the natural park.

ITINERARY

14 OCTOBER 2023 - DAKAR

Embarkation 14/10/2023 from 15:30 to 16:30
Departure 14/10/2023 at 17:30

On the tip of the African continent, the buzzing capital of Senegal stretches along the narrow peninsula of Cape Verde. You may be overwhelmed by its sheer size, but Dakar will win you over with its richly diverse districts, appealing cultural scene and rich natural surroundings. In the historic centre, you'll enjoy the pell-mell of colours and tasty delights in Kermel market. Far from the effervescence of the city, Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known as a place of remembrance, having once been a slave trade outpost. On the other side of the plateau, the wild Madeleine islands are protected by a national park.

15 OCTOBER 2023  18 OCTOBER 2023 - AT SEA

Arrival 15/10/2023
Departure 18/10/2023

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.

19 OCTOBER 2023 - GEORGETOWN, ASCENSION ISLAND

Arrival 19/10/2023 early morning
Departure 19/10/2023 early evening

Lost in the heart of the Atlantic, this arid island with a lunar landscape is not as deserted as we may believe. Its position has made it a military base and strategic air bridge for the British and the Americans. The first garrison was established in 1815 to prevent any escape attempt by Napoleon, who was exiled nearly 1,000 kilometres away on the island of Saint Helena. The forts and barracks of the Royal Navy from those times can be visited. Intense marine biodiversity surrounds this island. It is one of the most important breeding sites for tropical marine birds and green turtles , which leave their footprints on the island’s magnificent beaches before heading to the Brazilian coastlines.

20 OCTOBER 2023  21 OCTOBER 2023 - AT SEA

Arrival 20/10/2023
Departure 21/10/2023

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.

22 OCTOBER 2023  24 OCTOBER 2023 - JAMESTOWN, SAINT HELENA ISLAND

Arrival 22/10/2023 early morning
Departure 24/10/2023 mid afternoon

Nestling in the hollow of a volcanic valley, Jamestown retains the charm of a small English village in the tropics. A centre of Napoleonic legend, the French authorities preciously conserved evidence of the Emperor’s exile on the island, including the Briars and Longwood House pavilions, the “valley of the tomb” and Bertrand’s Cottage. Escorted to Saint Helena by the British aboard HMS Northumberland in 1815, Napoléon died there in 1821. Far removed from the arid hell he described in the memoirs dictated to his faithful companions, you will discover that this natural fortress offers a very diverse landscape, from steep cliffs to fertile lands covered with lush nature.

25 OCTOBER 2023  30 OCTOBER 2023 - AT SEA

Arrival 25/10/2023
Departure 30/10/2023

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.

31 OCTOBER 2023  1 NOVEMBER 2023 - RIO DE JANEIRO

Arrival 31/10/2023 midday
Departure 01/11/2023 late evening

Famed for its colourful Carnival and now as host of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazil`s former capital is dubbed the "City of Marvels" by locals. You can`t help being astounded by the panorama that opens up to you from the summit of Corcovado, the rocky peak where the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer has stood for nearly a century. In downtown Rio historic monuments such as the National Museum of Fine Arts sit side-by-side with modernistic buildings such as the cathedral of São Sebastião. On the seafront, Atlântica Avenue runs alongside Copacabana Beach; enjoy a bird`s eye view from the cable car ride to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain.

2 NOVEMBER 2023 - PARATY

Arrival 02/11/2023 early morning
Departure 02/11/2023 late afternoon

To the South of Rio, you will discover the charming village of Paraty. Bathed in the emerald waters of the Ilha Grande Bay, surrounded by verdant hills and islets, it is one of the jewels of Brazil’s Costa Verde. Here, time seems to have stopped in the time of the conquistadors and their gold-laden galleons. You will love the splendour of Paraty’s heritage — its maze of paved streets, the historic beauty of its colonial houses, its baroque churches. Above all, you will be enchanted by its lively terraces where locals and visitors enjoy grilled fish accompanied by glasses of cachaça. It is, quite simply, a little taste of paradise on Earth!

3 NOVEMBER 2023 - SANTOS

Arrival 03/11/2023 early morning
Disembarkation 03/11/2023 at 07:00

Not far from São Paulo, Santos is one of Brazil’s most important and oldest cities. Founded by the Portuguese in 1546, this city in south-eastern Brazil established itself as the economic leader of the time thanks in particular to its coffee trade. However, Santos is far removed from the image we may have of huge port cities surrounded by vast hangars and maritime containers. Crossed by many small bays with emerald water, Santos is enchanting and invites all who venture into its small picturesque streets, whose dwellings still bear traces of its colonial past, on a journey back into time.

WHAT'S INCLUDED