Le Jacques Cartier -Luxury Cruise Ship

Wednesday 5 February 2025

This month the luxury Cruise Ship Le Jacques Cartier arrived from New Zealand on Wednesday 5 February 2025, with 75 passengers and approximately 118 crew. The cruise ship arrived on Norfolk Island on a stunning sunrise and anchored in Sydney Bay, at Kingston. I drove downtown early in the morning and took photos with Phillip Island as a backdrop. Early afternoon I took more photos as passengers were transferred to the Kingston Pier onboard the cruise ship zodiacs. There was a small swell rolling in with lovely waves and there was also a jet ski in the water near the pier as a safety vessel.

The Le Jacques Cartier has 7 decks with 5 passenger decks, 92 staterooms, Spa, and 2 Restaurants. This passenger ship is sailing under a French flag. Her length overall (LOA) is 131.5 metres, and her width is 18 metres. The attractive vessel was built in 2018 and delivered to Le Ponant in 2020.

Le Jacques Cartier is the sixth ship of the Ponant Explorers class of cruise ships operated by Ponant. Each member of the class has been allocated the name of a famous French explorer. Initially, the sixth ship in the class was named Le Surville, after Jean-François-Marie de Surville, a French trader and navigator. However, before entering service she was renamed Le Jacques Cartier, after Jacques Cartier, a French-Breton explorer.

Check out these internet links for additional information.

https://us.ponant.com/le-jacques-cartier

In keeping with the philosophy of PONANT and the PONANT EXPLORERS, Le Jacques-Cartier is 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 offers a unique experience: the opportunity to enjoy undersea views and the sounds of the marine world whilst sharing a glass together.

Le Jacques-Cartier is equipped with 92 staterooms and suites designed to enable passengers to enjoy moments of tranquil calm and exotic escape. Featuring a balcony or terrace together with large sliding glass doors, they each open out towards the horizon. The combination of refined decoration and comfort they offer simply invites relaxation.

If you would like to follow the voyage of the cruise ship, Le Jacques Cartier, check out this website, which has the current position details included.

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Le-Jacques-Cartier-1526?tab=itinerary#itinerary

I did not find the current cruise voyage details, only that the Le Jacques Cartier sailed from New Zealand to Norfolk Island and headed North as it departed later in the day.

2025 Schedule ships

The last cruise ship was the Azamara Cruises which arrived on Norfolk Island on 31 January 2025, which was on a 14-day voyage of New Zealand and Norfolk Island. This vessel had an estimate of 670 to 777 passengers with 375 crew, I am unsure how many passengers disembarked during the visit.

This week’s cruise ship on Wednesday 5 February 2025 – the Le Jacques-Cartier, a Le Ponant cruise ship with 75 passengers.

The next cruise ship on my schedule, please note these are to be confirmed

10 March 2025 – Monday - Scenic Eclipse – approx 228 passengers - to be confirmed

17 March 2025 – Monday - Heritage Adventurer – to be confirmed

Here are a few of the photos and images I took this week on Wednesday 5 February 2025 of the lovely cruise ship Le Jacques Cartier, as the ship anchored at Sydney Bay, Kingston on a partly cloudy, warm sunny day on Norfolk Island.

We hope you enjoyed your day exploring Norfolk Island, your bus tours and museum visits and time in the Kingston World Heritage Area. We wish Le Jacques Cartier passengers safe travel as they sail on their South Pacific Cruise adventure. We hope to see you again on your next travel adventures.

Betty Matthews

14 February 2025