Compagnie du Ponant – PONANT

This French cruise company enjoys small luxurious yachts. They have a French crew of whom most speak English. Their attentive service is what one would expect from the best hotels or restaurants. As you might expect, the best chefs and French gastronomy. They invite you to sail in a five-star environment and enjoy a travel experience they ensure is simultaneously authentic and sophisticated. Founded in April 1988 by Philippe Videau, Jean-Emmanuel Sauvé, and other officers of the French Merchant Navy each ship is named after a famous French seafaring explorer.

Paul Gauguin Cruises was purchased by Ponant in 2019.

Barque Class ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Le Champlain is the second 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, and Le Champlain is named after Samuel de Champlain, “The Father of New France”

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Welcome to cruise DORIS VISITS

Here to help you cruise!

We film cruise port guides.

Our first stop 2024 will be Africa.

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Ex-movie makes, we now write thrilling

pace-driven holiday cruise novels

 

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THE DORIS VISITS CHAT GROUPS

AMBASSADOR CRUISE GROUP – UK based cruise line with two ships

    AURORA & ARCADIA P&O GROUP – the adult ships

MARELLA CRUISES GROUP – Explorer style ships

MARELLA CRUISES GROUP – Discovery (Disco 2) style ships

CUNARD CRUISE GROUP – big fav of ours – inclusive – lively – dressy

 FRED OLSEN CRUISE GROUP

P&O AZURA GROUP  – Grand Class family ships –  P&O VENTURA GROUP (no fly)

P&O BRITANNIA GROUP – the mid size family ship

P&O IONA & ARVIA GROUP – the big new family ships

SAGA CRUISE GROUP  – smaller over 50 UK style all inclusive ships 

VIKING CRUISES GROUP – smaller – adult only – US/UK/International ships – great routes

AZAMARA & OCEANIA   VIRGIN ADULT SHIPS – Adult only ships

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In 2024 we are building our AFRICA menu and visiting to film Cape Town and other ports

Dakar, Senegal. Trip to Gorée Island.

Dakar, Senegal. Trip to Gorée Island.

Dakar, Senegal has a very busy port which is always full of ships. Invaded many times it has changed hands over and over until it regained independence in August, 1960.

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Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa

This garden of wine and golf has features that include Robbin Island and Table Mountain but we start with the penguins.

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Freddie Mercury house in Zanzibar

Freddie Mercury house in Zanzibar

Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar. It is a strictly religious country so is not as proud of him as you might expect.

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Tema Accra cruise port

Tema Accra cruise port

Tema Accra is a popular port receiving over 1500 vessels a year. It is popular with cruise ships.

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About Us 

Doris Visits is just a little hobby, and a way of helping people research ports and ships. It is our way of giving back as we are on the ships between 6 and 12 times a year as Guest Lecturers. The site is also supported by other guest lecturers.

Why Doris?  It was a character Jean played in a TV show and we started the port guides as a little spin-off. It took over. I mean, rode into town and said this is it.

Who is Jean?  Jean is a West End and Broadway actress who now has her own one woman show called Royal Mistresses, which she performs at guilds and on ships. Hence, she cruises – a bit. She now presents TV and is known by many cruisers for her Doris Visits port guides.

Who is Stuart?  Featured in a clip in the 2024 Oscars – in the tribute to movie stuntmen – he was the Queen Alien in Aliens. Now, he points the iPhone at Jean when they go and explore ashore. He finished in movies as a director, and now writes cruise thrillers.

The grandchildren who sometimes travel and from their son Luke Aikman. He was the young Colin Firth in Fever Pitch and appeared in Freight. He is now a producer and business entrepreneur. Their daughter helped with the plot of the first four novels and is now writing with comedian Joe Wilkinson. Laura Aikman is known for being the girlfriend in the Christmas Gavin and Stacey, and Dyan Cannon in Archie. Some grew up with her Saturday show, Mysti.

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