Adventure in the Bissagos Islands

PONANT ships are non-smoking, even on the stateroom balconies. Smoking is only allowed in the exterior parts of the ship designated for the purpose.

A number of electrical outlets are provided for our cruise guests to use in our common areas.

European power sockets

the 220 volt 50 hertz alternating current is distributed by sockets meeting European standards. Onboard power is 200 volt AC (European standard) and 110 volt AC (North American standard). For safety reasons, hair irons and clothes irons cannot be used in staterooms. Please note that on Le Ponant, 110 volt AC is only available in stateroom bathrooms.

Children under one year of age shall not be authorised to embark on the ships.

On classic cruises, children are accepted from the age of one, with a maximum of 5 children between 1 and 6 years old on board.

On “expedition” cruises children are accepted from 6 years old (except cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot) and must be fully independent during all the outside activities organised and during disembarkation in rubber boats, be sufficiently tall to sit on the inflatable sides of the boats, and old enough to understand, and immediately respond to the orders given by the persons in charge. As a result, children’s participation in any activity in an inflatable boat shall be subject to the agreement of the Captain and of the Expedition Head, depending on the sea conditions, and the difficulty of disembarking at each location visited. The ships do not carry Parka’s in children’s sizes. Parents must arrange to bring a suitable Parka for children. In all cases, children and young people under the age of 18 are at all times on board or on land under the full and total responsibility of their parents or carers.

For all “expedition” cruises on board Le Commandant Charcot, children are accepted from 8 years old only.

Children aged 4 years or more can be welcomed in the Kid’s Club when the service is offered on board (consult the list of cruises concerned).

The crew are bilingual in French and English. All signage and announcements made are in French and English. On certain cruises, crew members also speak other languages.

On board our vessels you can enjoy the following services:

• Reception desk 24/7 on our Sisterships, Le Paul Gauguin and PONANT Explorers, and 7:00AM to 11:00PM on Le Ponant,
• Customer Service Office,
• Excursions Office,
• Breakfast in your stateroom,
• Butler service on Sisterships: for passengers staying in one of the suites on deck 6.
• Stateroom service (Free & available 24/7),
• Wake-up service by the reception,
• Laundry,
• Boutique,
• Fitness room,
• Wellness area,
• Group sessions of gym,
• Outdoor pool (except for Le Ponant),
• Photography/video service (except for Le Ponant),
• Bars,
• Postal service,
• Restaurant,
• Only onboard Le Commandant Charcot :
• Alain Ducasse restaurant (Deck 5)
• Brasero and Blue Lagoon
• Indoor pool
• Snowroom
• Cigare Lounge
• Private fitness sessions (depending on the availability of the coach, non included, priority for the passengers of the Owner Suite, Duplex Suites, Prestige and Grand Prestige Suites).

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available on all of our ships, in both the staterooms and the communal areas. One or several computers are at your disposal in the recreation centres. Please note that the Wi-Fi connection may be discontinued depending on the navigation area and landscapes that may block the vessel from satellite coverage, especially at high latitudes (no connection possible beyond 80° North or South), or for technical reasons beyond our control.

All the ships have a doctor and a nurse available on board, except Le Ponant, on which there is a nurse and a telemedicine service available:

• The schedules of consultation are listed each day in the log book (emergency consultation 24/7).
• The Sisterships, PONANT Explorers, Le Paul Gauguin and Le Commandant Charcot also have a hospital for any small surgery.
• During excursions, cruise guests are accompanied by a doctor or a nurse to provide first aid when away from the ship.

Medical Consultations

Consultations, medical or surgical treatments, and laboratory-based or medical imagery-based (radiology) analyses carried out on board by the doctor or the nurse have to be paid for. The price can vary according to the time and place of the consultation (hospital or stateroom). The prices for all treatments and procedures are displayed in the waiting room. Any medication must also be paid for by the passenger. If using medications on a regular basis make sure to bring adequate supplies for the duration of your cruise.

The doctor on board is not authorised to distribute sick leaves and prescriptions. Only accounts and invoices are provided which may be used by the passenger to obtain a refund from his/her health insurance if his/her contract allows.

Special Medical Treatment

If you have any special treatment, we ask you to inform the reservation service when you register for the cruise, to note it on the information sheet before departure, then inform the on-board crew at the moment of departure and always keep your medication with you for the duration of the cruise.

Seasickness

Our ships (except Le Ponant) have stabilisers equipped with dynamic fins which adapt to the movements of the ship. This system allows the ship to anticipate and compensate for the pitching and tossing of the sea to achieve greater stability. Passengers suffering from seasickness will see their symptoms alleviated and are pleasantly surprised to not feel uncomfortable during their journey. However it is wise to bring travel motion medication with you for peace of mind.

Our Sisterships, PONANT EXPLORERS, Le Paul Gauguin and Le Commandant Charcot were designed for people with reduced mobility in mind:

• Posters, signage and stateroom numbers are translated into Braille.
• Specially designed staterooms;

Access ramps allowing easy movement in communal areas:
– Decks 3 (307), 4 (407) and 5 (509) on board the Sisterships: three 18 m² double cabins adapted for wheelchair access and fitted with either a double bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm), a bathroom with shower and toilet, and in the case of the cabins on decks 4 and 5 only, a 4 m² balcony fitted with a small exterior wheelchair access ramp.
– Decks 4 (431) and 5 (527) on board the PONANT Explorers: two 27.5 m² double cabins adapted for wheelchair access and fitted with either a double bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm), a bathroom with shower and toilet, and a 4 m² balcony with a small exterior wheelchair access ramp.
– Decks 6 (626 and 628) and 8 (818) on board Le Commandant Charcot: three 28 m² double cabins adapted for wheelchair access and equipped with either a double bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm), a bathroom with shower and toilet, and a 7.5 m² balcony with a small exterior wheelchair access ramp.
– Deck 4 (415 and 416) on board Le Paul Gauguin: two 21 m² double cabins adapted for wheelchair access, with cabin 416 fitted with a queen size bed (160 x 200 cm) and cabin 415 fitted with two single beds (90 x 200 cm), and with both cabins featuring a panoramic window and a bathroom with shower and toilet.

Despite these arrangements, each passenger should be able to be independent or travel with a close family member or friend who can give them whatever assistance they require during their trip.

If a person has not been judged suitably fit for travel in complete safety, the company reserves the right to refuse their embarkation. Disembarkation in difficult places or in a Zodiac® is subject to the approval of the Captain, who will always have the safety and wellbeing of the passenger in mind.

We advise our passengers to wear casual and elegant outfits at their convenience, and more formal attire for the Captain’s Dinner.