The World is Your Oyster

French-flagged small-ship line Ponant is cementing itself as the world leader of luxury expedition cruising, with six new state-of-the-art vessels.

The allure of small-ship expedition cruising is changing the world of travel as never before. Driven by customers’ quest for spectacular exotic scenery and extraordinary wildlife encounters, pioneering adventure-cruise lines such as Ponant have responded with class-leading ships capable of delivering these unforgettable experiences along with cut-above comfort.

With 30 years of maritime experience, Ponant is now one of the world’s leaders in boutique cruising, its gleaming vessels possessing state-of-the-art technological and environmentally sensitive inclusions.

Steering clear of crowded, commercialised ports, Ponant vessels are designed to reach remote locations inaccessible to larger cruise vessels, where guests are likely to be greeted in local cultural fashion, such as by a flotilla of indigenous canoes and the songs of traditional people.

Ponant’s modern fleet includes four sister ships—Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial. More recently, Ponant has embarked on a build program, turning out dedicated expedition vessels—the ‘Explorer’ class includes new ship Le Lapérouse—designed to be as much at home within the sheer gorges of the Kimberley as they are in the balmy waters of the Caribbean or French Riviera.

The pièce de résistance on these Explorer ships is, without doubt, the much-lauded multi-sensory Blue Eye lounge, which is actually below the waterline and is fitted out with special projectors and audiovisual equipment, delivering a hitherto-unimaginable ‘submarine’ experience to guests, which Ponant calls “bionic and biomimetic”. Imagine listening to your favourite symphony interspersed with the natural music of the ocean, while mesmerising marine creatures cavort outside the giant portholes or are projected onto the walls of the lounge via underwater cameras.

Travellers already familiar with the Ponant style will feel immediately at home within the subtly elegant interior of the Explorers. While the new ships are only slightly smaller in outward dimensions than Ponant’s existing ships, passenger numbers have been reduced, from a maximum of 264 per vessel in the current fleet to just 184, housed in 92 suites and staterooms, in the Explorer ships, further enhancing the feeling of space and privacy. Each of Ponant’s Explorers will also have a relatively light 1C ice rating, making them theoretically capable of operating in some polar regions.

On each of the six new ships, seven styles of all-exterior cabin are spread across four decks, ranging from the opulent Owner’s Suite, with 75sqm of exclusive space—and a hot tub—to the entry-level Deluxe Staterooms, each totalling 23sqm including the private balcony that adorns every stateroom. Numerous amenities and conveniences ©PONANTare included, such as a flat-screen TV with an airline-style entertainment program, an iPod player and wi-fi.

Dining takes place in either of the two restaurants on board each Explorer ship. The expansive and elegant Panoramic Restaurant seats all guests in a single sitting, with a French-inspired à la carte menu, full table service and an outdoor area. The smaller, convivial Grill is where you can enjoy more casual buffet dining and, as the name suggests, grills and carvery. Naturally, each offers full bar service and an extensive wine selection. While a jacket and evening gown may be worth packing for the captain’s cocktails, most times you can leave your tuxedo and sequins at home. Dress code is typically ‘resort chic’, reflecting more comfort and practicality than high fashion. All documentation and announcements are bilingual: in French and English.

The high-tech theatre on each Explorer vessel can seat the full complement of passengers, who gather here to enjoy itinerary-focused lectures—as well as live entertainment on some voyages. A fitness and spa facility is located on the topmost sundeck.

Le Lapérouse will spend a full season in Australia’s ancient north-west, where she will explore the majestic waterways of the Kimberley.

Public spaces aboard include a plush main lounge and bar adjoining the outdoor pool area at the stern, which leads down to the marina. On some older ships in other fleets, access to Zodiac excursion tenders and watersport facilities can be troublesome. But the Ponant Explorers employ a unique, three-position hydraulic platform for easy loading of the inflatable boats and deployment of paddleboards and kayaks.

A second panoramic lounge is located forward and above the bridge for superb viewing of spectacular vistas in the exotic lands the vessels will visit. There’s even a small kids’ club for junior adventurers.

As you read this, the first of these new vessels, Le Lapérouse, will be setting out on her debut voyages through Europe and the Mediterranean en route to Australia. Notably, Le Lapérouse will spend a full season in Australia’s ancient north-west, where she will explore the majestic waterways of the Kimberley. Renowned for its awe-inspiring waterfalls, savage gorges, harsh savannah and an Indigenous heritage dating back tens of thousands of years, the Kimberley region of Western Australia is fast gaining a reputation as an authentic wilderness experience of global significance. Cruise fares for a 10-night voyage departing on July 22, 2019, start at $11,150 per person, twin share in a Guaranteed Deluxe Stateroom.

After cruising the Kimberley waterways, Le Lapérouse will return to waters explored by its namesake mariner—whose full name was the unwieldy Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. After ranging widely in the South Pacific and Australia, the brave and well-liked French seafarer was lost somewhere in the Solomons in 1789, with his ship and all his men—though recent evidence suggests that some crew may have escaped in a smaller vessel, surviving for long enough to make it to northern Australian waters.

Australians will be spoiled by getting early access to this thoroughly modern vessel, but it won’t be long before Le Lapérouse is joined by her five intrepid sister ships. By 2020, all six will be plying the oceans far and wide, affording unprecedented global coverage to Ponant guests with a thirst for adventure.

Cruise line: Ponant, Yacht Cruises & Expeditions Ships: Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain (2018); Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d’Urville (2019), Le Surville and Le Bellot (2020) Max. guest capacity: 184 Facilities: 2 restaurants, outdoor bar, panoramic lounge, underwater lounge, theatre, infini y pool, solarium, spa and fitness entre, Zodiacs and other watersports equipment, boutique.