Review of an expedition cruise to the Seychelles with Ponant from January 25 to February 2, 2026 (page 7 of 11)

Hi Catherine,

I’m still following your trip report. That forest walk was amazing—nothing to say but great!

And the beach, still so lovely. Not crowded at all, we’re far from the crowds. These are the Seychelles beaches—always stunning. Honestly, such beautiful beaches, no complaints at all.

Hi Catherine,

I caught up on my backlog (since I wasn’t notified by VF about new messages) and rediscovered Curieuse... in a much more in-depth way than we did before (I should mention we had several snorkeling stops nearby during that outing). The other islands also seemed really interesting to visit. Thanks for sharing—it lets me relive some great moments and discover new things too! 😉.

Thanks Jérôme, It’s all said in one sentence. Sharing is a pleasure when everything is so beautiful.

Hi Alfred, Thanks for still being around—I’m not really a “beach person,” but I absolutely loved these ones and enjoyed spending time there.

Hi Muriel,

I imagine there are many ways to explore each island. They’re so different from one side to the other depending on their exposure. And for those who snorkel, it’s a whole other experience.

I haven’t been receiving notifications for new messages for several months either. I reported it, but nothing’s changed, and I never got a response.

Friday, January 30, Grande Sœur

The end of the cruise is fast approaching, and I still haven’t received an answer to the administrative issue I raised at the beginning of the cruise regarding my loyalty program status. I’ve been worrying about it every day, and today it’s starting to seriously annoy me. I warn the reception desk that I’m about to get angry. The young woman listens very politely and tells me: "I understand, but it’s not me who handles this." I explain that I won’t let it go and that I expect an answer by the end of the day—otherwise, I’ll go see the captain. The expected answer can only go one way, so why the delay?



Grande Sœur remained uninhabited for a long time. It was occasionally used for fishing and copra production but never had a permanent population.

Today, Grande Sœur belongs to the man who makes the small chocolate cookies that were featured in the ad: "Couldn’t you make them just a little longer?"

The property is very well maintained and seriously guarded.





Ponant privatized it for us for the whole day, and the dangerous dogs were locked up.

The two sides of the island are very different: one beach on the east is for swimming, and the other is for diving. We land on the west side for diving.



To reach the swimming beach, which is among the most beautiful in the Seychelles, we have to cross a palm grove where the grass is neatly mowed. We’ll come across the robotic lawnmowers a little later...

Friday, January 30, Grande Sœur (continued)

The beach is very typical of the Seychelles with its large granite rocks rising on either side.





The waves are stunning—they approach like great blue walls, rising before crashing into big foam rollers on the sand.







The swimming area is closely monitored, with a Zodiac offshore and several activity leaders on the beach. Ponant is always very vigilant and never compromises on safety. The waves are strong, and the lifeguards come to the rescue of several people who get rolled by the waves. The current also tends to pull you out to sea.

This morning, it’s a bit overcast, so the colors aren’t as vibrant, but it’s still really beautiful.



On our way back to the rocky beach for snorkeling—a much more sheltered spot—we meet the local "lawnmowers."



Along the rocky beach, there isn’t much to discover. No seaweed in the water, no small fish—you need to be equipped and swim farther out to observe marine life. Only a few small crabs scurry away as we approach.

Friday, January 30, Grande Sœur (continued)

As we were about to board the Zodiac to return to the ship for lunch, a large, flat, vertical fish was swimming along the edge of the beach, right at the water’s edge in very shallow water.





It was funny because to get over the flat rocks where there were only a few centimeters of water and reach deeper water, it would lie on its side and swim flat.

The return trip on the Zodiac across a glassy sea was effortless.





Lunch included, among other things, a lovely Asian specialties buffet.



Not to mention the desserts, which were always very, *too* good.

Renting a private island—so classy! And the beach—wahoo! As someone who loves beaches without too many people, it’s a dream, too bad it’s so far away...

Love the lawnmowers 😉

Hello Catherine,

So much beauty in this preserved nature. Thanks a lot for sharing. Guylène

During a snorkeling excursion from La Digue, we stopped near one of the beaches on Grande Soeur. The guide told us it was private and could be rented out... but didn’t mention it belonged to Mr. Ca....ry ;) 😏

Thanks, Guylène, Catherine, and Muriel, for joining in. 😉

Friday, January 30, Grande Sœur (continued)

During this midday break, the sun came back, and since I’m curious to see the sea’s colors lit up by this beautiful sunshine, we head back to the beach in the early afternoon, even though it’s really hot.

I couldn’t resist this swing…



The little turtle helpers contribute to maintaining the green spaces.



The sun transforms the park.





At the park’s exit, at the end of the little path, when the beach comes into view, the scene is almost surreal—this deep navy blue on the horizon…



The waves keep rolling in, but the sea’s color has completely changed. It’s incredible, almost unreal, to the point of seeming artificial—like an entire palette of blues was poured into the water, their shades so intense.





We’re lucky—the sun has shifted, and a big tree gives us a shady spot on the sand. How lucky we are to be here—it’s stunning!

Friday, January 30, Grande Sœur (continued)

As we return to the ship, the mountainous silhouettes in the distance provide a beautiful backlit scene.



On board, the young woman at reception calls out to me with a big smile—the issue with my status is resolved! Marseille finally found the documents confirming my status. It took six days and numerous follow-up emails, but my new card is printed at last.

Later in the afternoon, a surprise is being prepared for the early evening.

The ship’s marina is extended in its high position above the sea. At the top, a colorful buffet is being set up.



Another appetizer buffet is also being arranged on the terrace by the pool.



At the appointed time, we’re invited to the marina to enjoy a *ti punch* or another drink. It’s magical to be suspended above this beautiful, warm, calm sea.



It’s a timeless, magical moment in a paradise setting, after a wonderful day—a surprise just like Ponant does best.

When the party ends, the marina is folded back up.



The ship gently sets sail again—we’re not going far. Tomorrow, we’ll be in Praslin.



It’s still quite warm, but our table of six unanimously decides to dine outside on the upper terrace.

Hi Catherine,

I’m glad to hear your status issue is finally resolved. You did the right thing by not giving up and following up with them regularly.

Otherwise, there’s nothing to say— the beaches are still just as beautiful and stunning. It’s the Seychelles, after all! It brings back so many memories.

The park is gorgeous; we felt like we were in Rangiroa. Seriously, there’s nothing to complain about— it’s absolutely stunning.

The evening buffet was super nice, set up at a higher level. So impressive!

Here for the next part (Praslin).

Hey Catherine,

The stars aligned with the Seychelles looking like a postcard and your admin issue sorted out 🎉🥂

Hey Alfred,

The issue with my card (or so they told me ) was that they hadn’t linked this cruise to my account—total nonsense, and I don’t buy it for a second since I was already at this loyalty level during my last cruise 😛. That still represents a 10% discount on cruise fares, 25% off in the ship’s boutique, plus an onboard credit of 150 € per person and other little perks. Enough to not let it slide.

The evening on the marina was a lovely surprise—I really enjoyed it because it was unexpected and unique.

Hi Jérôme,

Everything is truly beautiful, magnificent, and perfect—what more could you ask for? Just hoping it lasts a little longer! 😉 It’s not in the plans for us, but there are some lucky folks who continue the cruise all the way to Zanzibar, stopping by Aldabra.

Saturday, January 31, Praslin

Back to civilization after all these days in natural reserves far from the world. Today’s disembarkation is dry-footed since we reach Sainte Anne Bay in Praslin by longboats from our anchorage.

The tropical forest of Vallée de Mai is a must-see. It covers 19 hectares, and we visit it with small buses waiting for us on the quay. We quickly arrive at the park entrance, which welcomes tourists.



The visit is interesting and pleasant, even though we’ve already done it a few years ago. The palm trees are immense, and their fronds are gigantic.



We learn a lot about palm trees, sea coconuts, the trees, and the resources the forest offers. Sea coconuts take 6 to 7 months to reach maturity. The leaves of a tree—whose name I’ve forgotten—smell like four spices: clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper. Another, the Takamaka, produces hard and solid wood, and its sap provides glue. We receive a lot of other information that, unfortunately, I don’t always remember. Our young guide is very friendly and passionate about her island.

After this visit, the bus takes us across Praslin. The beaches are beautiful, most often hidden behind buildings and luxury hotels, but the environment and road conditions aren’t any better than on Mahé.

We’re dropped off at Anse Lazio beach for 1.5 hours of free time and swimming.





It’s a beautiful and very large beach, lined with trees that offer some shade. Swimming is easy here without the big waves we had on Grande Sœur Island.







The souvenir shop near the beach has astronomical prices. The small "turtle" soaps I paid 40 rupees for at Victoria Market are priced at 125 rupees each here (7.50 €).



Despite the late hour of our return to the ship and the heat, we have lunch on the terrace. The semi-raw tuna on today’s menu is excellent.

The ship remains anchored in front of Praslin all day. Unusually, we don’t feel like going back ashore this afternoon. What we saw this morning through the bus windows reminded us so much of Victoria that it took away our desire to stroll around town.

We prefer to quietly enjoy the ship—the cruise is already coming to an end...

We made the right choice; the people who went ashore quickly returned disappointed... Everything is closed on Saturdays.

In the afternoon, we attend a very interesting and detailed lecture on corals. I didn’t know that cold-water corals exist at depths of 2,000 meters all over the world—they don’t only inhabit warm seas. Four thousand species of fish depend on corals to survive and reproduce. Only eleven of us attended this lecture.

The Farewell Gala dinner is already tonight... The days have flown by so quickly.

Hi Catherine, Great review and such beautiful photos—it makes me want to see all these islands someday. So much left to explore! 😉 Mich74

Hi Catherine, The cruise is going to end better than it started, and personally, I would’ve been tempted by the swing too. Thanks for sharing and for these beautiful discoveries of places I wouldn’t be able to see. Have a great rest of your day! Guylène