Luxury French-flagged cruise line Compagnie du Ponant has launched its newest expeditions in Antarctica for the season of 2014/2015. The cruise line has offered Antarctic voyages since 1999, and is a trusted specialist in this part of the world.

For the new itineraries, guests will be sailing on the company’s newest luxury yacht, Le Soléal, which is designed with the latest technology designed specifically for polar cruises. South Pole experts are also joining the cruise to guide guests on the different tours and activities — from scouting penguins to trekking to the whale station in Whaler’s Bay on Deception Island.

From November 2014 to January 2015, Compagnie du Ponant offers three different Antarctic itineraries, stopping at several ports known for their unique flora and fauna. These strictly protected sites can only be reached by small ships, which in this region must limit their onboard guests to 200 maximum. All the new cruises depart from the Ushuaia port in Argentina. The three new, all-inclusive, itineraries are:

Emblematic Antarctica: A full immersion in the Great White Antarctic Peninsula, discovering tabular icebergs and the drifting pack ice where fur seals and colonies of Gentoo, Adélie, and Chinstrap penguins live. The cruise is 10 nights with seven different departures from November 2014 to February 2015

Historic Antarctica: Sail along the Antarctic Peninsula and explore the grassy moorlands of the Falkland Islands. The cruise is 15 nights and departs Feb. 28, 2015.

The Great Southern Loop: Highlights of three regions including the Falklands with the black-browed albatross, South Georgia with its emperor penguins, and the northern side of the Antarctic Peninsula with its majestic icebergs. The cruise is 15 nights and departs Dec. 19, 2014.

For more information on the new Antarctic cruises, go to Compagnie du Ponant’s

Source: Yahoo Travel