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Ponant Cruises

Ponant’s aim is offer you a truly bespoke, luxury service from beginning to end. Their unique travel philosophy will allow you to discover cruising your very own way. You’ll be culturally enriched by the secrets you’ll discover in the destinations you visit and you’ll enjoy it all from the complete luxury of your ship with impeccable service. You can even enjoy a journey into exciting and dramatic regions with their expedition cruises – you’ll see the world in a whole new way. Ponant is the only cruise line which sails under the French flag and you’ll feel the French way of life wherever in the world you travel regardless of the ship you choose.

Featured Cruises

Ponant Itineraries

Our Cruise Expert

Gary Buchanan has sailed the Seven Seas during his 33-year career as an award-winning specialist cruise writer. Author of four books about cruising, he regularly contributes to prestigious newspapers such as The Telegraph and magazines including American Express Departures. He is a pundit on all things cruise and is looking forward to enhancing the content library for Panache Cruises.

Gary Says...

“Ponant vessels’ style is best described as ‘coastal chic’ with a profusion of natural fabrics and voguish art adorning the décor. Flaunting a streamlined superstructure the colour of taupe, each bijou yacht has an ice-hardened hull. The convivial mélange of international passengers are happy to indulge in a style of cruising where the motto is vive la difference! The ‘Explorer’ vessels offer thrilling and intrepid global expedition cruising par excellence.”

What's included with your Ponant Cruise?

Ponant Cruises experience represents the epitome of where luxury meets value. There are many amenities and experiences included within the price of your cruises, including:

Dining

Delicious French cuisine is included throughout the duration of your voyage from the buffet breakfasts to a true gastronomic experience in the evening

Complementary drinks

Guests onboard Ponant ships enjoy ‘Open Bar’ which allows you unlimited free drinks throughout including mineral waters, cold drinks, cruise wines, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee and tea. This also applies in your minibar

Room Service

Take breakfast, perhaps savour a mid-day snack or dine à deux at night all in the privacy of your suite

Butler Service

An attentive butler providing personalised service is provided for guests in the suites situated on Deck 6 aboard Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal or Le Lyrial, in addition to the Owner suites, Deluxe Suites, Privilege Suites and the Prestige Suites on Deck 6 of Ponant Explorer ships.

Unlimited Wi-fi

This is complimentary for all staterooms and throughout the Ship

Evening entertainment

Nightly entertainment as well as other leisure activities onboard are included

There are other services available on your Ponant cruise which are payable onboard including laundry and Spa treatments.

Things to do onboard

Food and Drink

Indulge in the French way of life during your time with Ponant and enjoy gastronomy at its finest. The chefs embrace France’s culinary heritage whilst enriching menus with the products and traditions found in the destinations visited on your itinerary to ensure a localised dining experience. Refined meals on high end menus will delight you every day, all supported by the partnership with Ducasse Conseil which is a catering centre of excellence run by Alain Ducasse Enterprise. They support in the conception of culinary excellence onboard and train the ship’s chefs to exacting standards enjoyed by all who sail with Ponant.

The mega yachts benefit from two restaurants onboard – the Gourmet and the Grill – whilst other ships have one main restaurant.

Your meals are all included on your cruise, you will experience:

  • Breakfast – a buffet style is served in the restaurant or you can take advantage of the room service offering and start your day with a delicious meal in your stateroom or suite.
  • Lunch – this will also be served buffet style.
  • Dinner – an à la carte French-style dinner is served every evening.
  • Room service – a varied menu is available all day every day, except onboard Le Ponant.
  • Snacks – tea and pastries are available during hours when the restaurant is not open .

There is an ‘Open Bar’ policy onboard meaning you can enjoy selected wines, champagnes, beers, spirits, cold drinks, mineral waters, tea and coffee anywhere on the ships, including in your minibar. There is also an à la carte drinks menu if you wish to purchase something a little extra special.

When it comes to a Ponant expedition cruise, you can rest assured this will be all-inclusive too, meaning you will enjoy your adventure with complete peace of mind. Everything you require is included from your outings on a Zodiac boat, to shore visits, excursion, informative lectures as well as clothing including parkas and boot hire in polar regions.

Onboard Accommodation

Ponant offer a range of ships including Le Ponant, their unique sailing ship, a range of sister ships and their explorer vessels too. Accommodations are similar in nature on the sister and explorer ships with many options available. Le Ponant has just 16 staterooms and suites all of which are spacious and include a large picture window or porthole to allow light in. They provide you with a tasteful, calming and luxurious setting from which to enjoy your cruise.

The staterooms and suites on the other ships offer the following:

  • In-room air-conditioning
  • King-sized or twin beds
  • Children welcome in certain interconnecting staterooms
  • Flat screen TV with satellite
  • Minibar
  • Bose™ Bluetooth speaker
  • Desk including stationery
  • Safe
  • Designer brand toiletries
  • Dressing table
  • Bathrobes
  • Hairdryer
  • Telephone
  • Plug sockets are 110V American (two flat pins) or 220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
  • Room service (24 hours)
  • WiFi

Stateroom types and sizes differ and include:

  • Deluxe Stateroom – 194 to 215 sq ft
  • Prestige Decks – 194 to 215 sq ft
  • Superior Stateroom – 226 sq ft
  • Deluxe Suite – 291 sq ft
  • Prestige Suites – 387 to 430 sq ft
  • Suite Duplex – 517 sq ft
  • Owner's Suite – 484 sq ft to 1,227 sq ft

Explorer and Expedition ships have a reduced capacity owing to their smaller size to reach the destinations larger ships cannot get to.

Spa, Health and Wellness

Not only can you experience indulgent luxury on your Ponant cruise, you can also spend time to work on your overall wellness thanks to the range of facilities onboard including a Spa, salon and fitness centre.

Take time for yourself to unwind with a massage or detoxify in a Turkish bath or sauna and benefit from top-of-the-range treatments all with the very best products (SOTHYS™ or CLARINS) to enhance your holiday experience.

You can choose from a broad range of treatments including facials, aromatic baths, exfoliation and massages of your body, all designed to give you a moment of total relaxation. You’ll also find beauty procedures are available from hair removal to a full makeover, and also manicures and pedicures.

If you would like to extend your beauty regime further, why not take a trip to the onboard hair salon? Working in partnership with Kérastase® and L’Oréal Professionnel®, they provide premium treatments to nourish, strengthen and invigorate your hair in addition to styling, cutting and colouring options.

You’ll also find a gym onboard with the latest Technogym© equipment and machines to keep your fitness levels up. This relaxing environment provides bikes, treadmills and Kinesis Wall© strength training machines amongst other equipment against the backdrop of the stunning view of the ocean thanks to floor to ceiling windows. There are even organised sessions to enjoy, out in the open air, in the theatre or even in the pool for water aerobics.

Excursions, Entertainment and Activities

No cruise is complete without a range of excursions to explore the destinations you visit and Ponant offer thoughtfully created ones just for you. You will discover ancient cities, hidden creeks and UNESCO world heritage sites along your route all chosen by Ponant experts. The excursions are put together thanks to the cultural value and historic insight they offer and can last from a few hours to several days! If you stay ashore overnight, rest-assured Ponant will care for all your needs until you re-join your ship. With a Ponant cruise, you can ensure you don’t miss any of the incredible sites further inland.

With regards onboard activities, there are several to choose from in addition to the health and wellness of offer. Browse the library to find the perfect read or game to play, or surf the Internet on one of the computers. If you’re travelling with children, they can enjoy the fun at Le Kids Club where they will find games and consoles such as a PS4 or Wii™.

Outside, you can recline in the sun lounge to enjoy the incredible views or take a refreshing dip in the heated seawater pool when it gets a little too warm.

Of an evening, you can enjoy a range of performances, shows and concerts to entertain you. These are organised by the professional dancers and musicians you will find onboard and include special musical, dance or cultural events and even music quizzes. You can learn more about local culture with traditional music concerts too, featuring performances such as Corsican polyphony and Caribbean steel band music out on the deck to create a wonderful atmosphere.

When it comes to the expedition cruises offered by Ponant, you will visit the far reaches of the globe including polar, tropical and sub-tropical regions from the Antarctic to Papua New Guinea. You will see unspoilt nature and be introduced to ancient cultures which a standard cruise cannot get to. Your excursions are included so you can take a Zodiac to remote destinations to search for Inuits, you will be able to dive into the clear waters of the Indian Ocean around the Seychelles and you will trek through the Central American jungle.

Enrichment Programmes

Depending on your choice of ship and itinerary, you can experience the wonders of your destination in different ways, tailored to your bespoke requirements if you so desire. Perhaps add some additional days to the start or end of your cruise to see Paris, the Grand Canyon or even the Pyramids of Giza. Take a safari in South Africa or kayak through the dramatic Norwegian fjords as part of your yacht cruise.

If you’re taking an exploration/expedition cruise, you can go deeper into the destinations with Zodiac© excursions and kayaking trips. Have a magical moment on the outside deck too where you will listen to experts and special guests talk and present about the places you are visiting from cultural, environmental, scientific and historical perspectives. They will also educate you about the local wildlife, flora and fauna and natural phenomena. Recognised experts and professionals formulate your schedules of shore visits and outings and will adapt it all to take advantage of any other opportunities that arise to make the most of your time in the destinations you visit. You will live these exceptional moments of the regional lands you vision and share in the passion for travel with like-minded individuals.

Sustainability

Ponant aims to be a leading force in the sustainable development of the cruise industry to ensure there is no negative impact on the destinations and cultures visited. Of the utmost importance are the environment and ethical behaviour in the places they sail to and also the relationships held with partners across the globe.

Ponant Ships