With its fleet of five intimate luxury yachts, Ponant offers passengers an exclusive and refined cruising experience with a sophisticated French flair to remarkable destinations around the globe, creating a privileged feeling of being on board a private yacht. With carefully designed cruises, quality guest speakers and attentive service, Ponant ensures unforgettable memories during your trip of a lifetime, romantic cruise or family cruise holiday.

Ponant is a French cruise line, which has been offering luxury yacht cruising for more than 25 years. The line’s small capacity yachts and cruise ships are perfect for exploring new and unique destinations, which are only accessible to smaller vessels.

Ponant’s fleet comprises sophisticated character, from an intimate three-mast yacht that caters to 64 passengers to luxurious mega yachts with discreet elegance with a capacity of just 264 passengers.

Over the years, Ponant has become recognised for its distinguished collection of themed cruises, with themes including musical, golf, diving, celebrities, gastronomic, literary and family.

Accommodation

Your beautiful stateroom or suite provides an ideal retreat, equipped with modern facilities for your comfort and convenience.

The accommodation has a unique French touch with interior design by Jean-Philippe Nuel and fabrics by Pierre Frey. All staterooms have complimentary beauty kits by L’Occitane. Exclusively onboard L’Austral, Le Soléal, Le Boréal and Le Lyrial, a butler service is offered to guests residing in one of the thirteen suites on Deck 6. The butler looks after every element of your comfort throughout your cruise, from shoe shining to laundry and more

Dining

As you would expect aboard a French-owned cruise, the gourmet cuisine is on a par with top fine dining restaurants. With a delicate French touch, every menu is inspired by specialties and local produce from various ports of call and, naturally, accompanied by excellent wines. Your French chefs introduce daily delights such as delectable cheeses chosen by expert cheese affineurs or delicious specialty breads and sweet pastries. All the ships have two or three restaurants from which every single diner can enjoy magnificent panoramic ocean views.

Entertainment

The intimate size of the luxury yacht Le Ponant offers the opportunity to mingle with new and old friends in the intimate atmosphere of piano bars and chic lounges. On Ponant’s larger ships, the cabaret-style theatre plays host to small groups of entertainers and performers. Guest speakers join every cruise to talk on select topics, such as regional geography, conservation and local wildlife. And special events typically include a Captain’s cocktail party and farewell dinner celebration.

Family Fun

Ponant’s Kids Club has lots to offer for children including fun tea parties and games, piano lessons and more. Special children’s menus and interconnecting rooms ensure children get a warm Ponant welcome. The club is complimentary for one child aged 8-12, sharing a cabin with two adults.

Hoist those Sails

Cruising is a marvellous way to discover new destinations, a unique opportunity to access sites that are sometimes not accessible by land… a carefree lifestyle… and the best way to travel in style.

Between land and sea, all the riches and originality of a cruise

On board…

As the mood takes you, enjoy the comfort and facilities on our ships, the peace and quiet in your staterooms, and quite simply the magic of being at sea.

Leisure activities and relaxation
From the auditorium to the beauty salon, the library to the deckchairs by the pool, everything is there for your pleasure and entertainment. Your cruise will not be long enough to enjoy them all !

Opportunities to socialise as well as relax
The communal areas provide the perfect ambiance to socialise with other passengers if you wish. However, our spacious yet small capacity ships in terms of number of cabins also offer an ideal setting for a peaceful break.

A varied and international clientele
Families, couples or groups of friends, our passengers come from all age groups and backgrounds.

Technology to guarantee your wellbeing at sea
Finally, the state-of-the-art technology on our ships guarantees optimum sailing conditions and reduces any risk of seasickness.

Ashore…

Once ashore, enjoy every port of call
Alone or in a group
Depending on your wishes, you are free to explore each new port of call, alone or on one of the excursions we organise for you.

Onboard Ponant

On-deck relaxation: Between ports, guests can relax on the beautiful sundeck or enjoy the water sports facilities in the heated pool onboard Le Boreal, L’Austral and Le Lyrial.

Leisure activities: Everything onboard a Ponant cruise is designed for guests’ pleasure and relaxation. The onboard communal areas, lounges, sun deck and bars form the perfect havens to relax or make new friends. And when you need some well earned “me time”, you can retreat to the library, beauty salon or indulge in the tranquility of your luxurious stateroom.

Fitness and recreation: Prepare for your on-shore excursion or keep your daily fitness regime in check with time in the fully equipped gym or a few laps in the outdoor heated swimming pool. Alternatively you can relax in one of the plush deck chairs or rejuvenate in the spa, which is equipped with rejuvenating sauna and steam rooms.

Entertainment: The intimate size of the luxury yacht Le Ponant offers the opportunity to mingle with new and old friends in the intimate atmosphere of piano bars and chic lounges. On Ponant’s larger ships, the cabaret-style theatre plays host to small groups of entertainers and performers. Guest speakers join every cruise to talk on select topics, such as regional geography, conservation and local wildlife. And special events typically include a Captain’s cocktail party and farewell dinner celebration.

Body and mind: Relax in the tranquil environment of the onboard spa and indulge your senses with a personalised spa treatment. Beauty experts will pamper to your needs and, exclusively onboard L’Austral, Le Boreal and Le Soleal, Ponant offers an exclusive “Beautiful Break” beauty treatment in association with French beauty brand Sothys.

Onshore Excursions

Ponant has chosen unique excursions, which are available at most ports of call, and include amazing terrain hikes and tours around historic coastlines. All Ponant’s ships are furnished with speedboats to ensure you are transported to shore quickly.

Ponant Destinations

Ponant sails to many destinations with cruises departing from ports in Africa, Canada, South America, Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Australia and New Zealand. Cruise to

• the last frontier of Alaska
• the warm waters surrounding the islands of Pacific and Oceania
• unique untamed paradise of remote Eastern Russia
• explore the authentic culture of Africa
• the secrets of the vast polar region of the Artic with its stunning landscapes
• Latin America, rich in cultural heritage
• unspoiled natural environment and relaxing Caribbean islands
• discover historical treasures found in the Mediterranean with its turquoise waters and beautiful landscapes
• mythical and magnificent architectural masterpieces in Greece & Turkey
• rugged coastline and hidden marvels found in the Adriatic
• the charm of the Baltic States and follow in the footsteps of the ancient Vikings in Northern Europe
• mysterious and enchanting Asia with its own unique traditions and culture
• expeditions to the extraordinary Antarctica and its abundant array of wildlife and spectacular icy landscapes

Ponant Ships

Le Ponant is a three-masted French luxury yacht, which carries 67 passengers and has 32 outside staterooms.

Le Boreal, L’Austral and Le Soleal are identical state-of-the-art cruise ships featuring all-outside staterooms or suites, with a maximum of 264 passengers. The majority of cabins have a private balcony and some are interconnecting to appeal to groups or families with children.

Le Lyrial is the latest addition to the Ponant fleet in 2015 and boasts 122 staterooms or suites.

Themed Cruises with Ponant

For travellers who want to indulge in their favourite interest or discover new interests, Ponant offers a diverse range of themed cruises. The cruise line invites renowned artists, elite athletes and sports personalities, Michelin-starred chefs, and distinguished speakers such as playwrights and journalists, to share their passion and knowledge as part of a unique themed program.

Ponant’s themed cruises are exceptionally well presented with programs that encompass onboard and onshore activities spanning world-class golf courses, concert hall performances, private museum invitations, and much more.

Selected from an extensive list, the following are three examples of Ponant themed cruises:

Musical Cruise: A musical cruise through the Aegean Sea aboard Le Lyrial has a program typical of Ponant’s musical themed cruises. Travellers discover historical cities and explore the richly contrasting architecture of the region, while accompanied by onboard musical entertainment from a number of talented musicians. The world-renowned pianist Gilles Vonsattel highlights the quality of performers on such cruises.

Gastronomic Cruise: A gourmet cruise through the Adriatic accompanied by some talented chefs and sommeliers, of no less reputation than Alain Passard from the 3 Michelin-starred Parisian restaurant, l’Arpege. This is regarded as one of the premier cruises of its kind.

Golf Cruise: Cruise “Golf in the Mediterranean” or “Golf in the Caribbean” to tee off from some incredible courses, with a different course every day.