PONANT: The Essence of French Luxury and Intimate Exploration
PONANT offers a different kind of voyage—one where the spirit of exploration is paired with the sophistication of French luxury and the assurance of international standards. With over three decades of expertise, Ponant invites you to experience travel at sea as it should be: refined, enriching, and intimate.
The PONANT Fleet: A World-Class Collection
The diverse fleet is a showcase of innovation and comfort, purpose-built for their unique roles in exploration: The High Polar Exploration Vessel
The world's first luxury polar exploration vessel with hybrid-electric and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion, and a PC2 Polar Class hull. Designed for extreme exploration to the furthest latitudes, including the North Pole and unchartered Arctic/Antarctic areas. It features two onboard laboratories for scientific research and an intimate, refined atmosphere with only 135 staterooms and suites.
The PONANT EXPLORERS Series (Designed for expedition cruising and equipped with the unique Blue Eye underwater lounge.)
Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont d'Urville, Le Bellot, Le Jacques Cartier
Six innovative sisterships carrying a maximum of 184 guests. They embody the spirit of exploration and feature the Blue Eye, a multi-sensory underwater lounge that offers a unique perspective on the marine world. They are equipped with the latest environmental technologies and a three-position hydraulic platform for easy water access and disembarkation in remote areas.
The Sisterships (The historical foundation of the fleet, known for their subtle alliance of luxury and intimacy.)
Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal, Le Lyrial
Four elegant yachts, each accommodating up to 264 guests. They are faithful to the PONANT spirit, offering a blend of intimacy and well-being. Their size allows them to operate both classic and light-expedition itineraries, accessing isolated ports and remote locations.
The Three-Masted Sailing Yacht
The ship that launched the PONANT adventure over 35 years ago. This elegant three-masted sailboat features only 32 cabins, providing an exceptionally intimate and friendly atmosphere. It was the first sailboat in the world to be awarded the prestigious Relais & Châteaux label in 2023.
The ships are purposefully designed on a human scale, carrying only a select number of guests to preserve an atmosphere of privacy and tranquility. This intimate size allows us to reach places larger vessels simply cannot access, offering you rare opportunities to anchor in secret harbors, remote archipelagos, and protected ecosystems around the globe.A
board, the French touch is unmistakable. Fine cuisine prepared by French chefs is enhanced by exclusive partnerships with prestigious names in gastronomy, wine, pastry, tea, and wellness—ensuring every aspect of your experience reflects our commitment to excellence. Interior design by world-renowned architects and the use of exceptional French brands in linens, bath products, and décor contribute to a sense of understated elegance and refinement.
Ponant is also truly international. The guests hail from across the globe, and our multilingual crew ensures every guest feels understood, welcomed, and at ease. All services, excursions, and briefings are conducted in both French and English, maintaining a warm and inclusive atmosphere onboard.
Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation
Ponant is committed to sustainability. The fleet incorporates cutting-edge technologies to minimize environmental impact, from dynamic positioning systems that protect marine life to advanced waste management and eco-efficient engines. To sail with PONANT is to choose a voyage where luxury and discovery go hand in hand—a journey shaped by expertise, guided by conscience, and elevated by the art of French living. The itineraries are unique by design. From the crystalline waters of the Seychelles to the icy silence of Antarctica, from Japan’s ancient shores to the fjords of Scandinavia, Ponant brings you to destinations both iconic and unexpected—always with privileged access, expert guidance, and respect for the cultures and environments encountered.

PONANT EXPLORATIONS • THE NORTH POLE FROM $36,199/€29,995
Heading for 90 degrees North! Set off from Spitsbergen to sail to the edges of the Earth and reach the North Pole, the Holy Grail of adventurers in search of “the end of the world”. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a technological cocoon designed for exploration, you will encounter a wild and silent world. Single supplement waived on select sailings. Contact Cruise Norway for expert advice and best price.

PONANT EXPLORATIONS • SAIL AROUND THE WHITE CONTINENT
Le Commandant Charcot will be the first ship of its category to complete a total circumnavigation of Antarctica, covering nearly 23,000 km of coastline. This complete circumnavigation of Antarctica pushes the boundaries of modern polar exploration. Be part of history! Inquire about Cruise Norway savings to save thousands.
Le Jacques Cartier
Le Jacques Cartier
Le Boréal
Le Boréal
Le Dumont-d'Urville
Le Dumont-d'Urville
Le Bellot
Le Bellot
Spirit of Ponant
Spirit of Ponant
Le Commandant Charcot
Le Commandant Charcot
Le Bougainville
Le Bougainville
Le Lapérouse
Le Lapérouse
L'Austral
L'Austral
Le Champlain
Le Champlain
In keeping with the philosophy of PONANT and the PONANT EXPLORERS, Le Jacques-Cartier combines the desire for adventure with five-star travel. A modern ship with slender, tapered lines, it is environmentally friendly and equipped with innovative technology.
Tastefully decorated, Le Jacques-Cartier reflects the universe so dear to PONANT, with its light tones and open-to-the-sea design providing soft light and luminosity at every instant of the day. Its ethnic chic ambiance pays homage to the destinations we visit.
Located below the waterline, the Blue Eye, the first ever multisensorial lounge, offers a unique experience: the opportunity to enjoy undersea views and the sounds of the marine world whilst sharing a glass together.
Le Boréal (Ponant)
Le Boréal, along with its sister ships L’Austral, Le Soléal, and Le Lyrial, embodies the distinctive atmosphere of the PONANT fleet, subtly combining luxury, intimacy, and serene well-being. The ship’s ingenious and refined design, evident in both its exterior and interior lines, offers passengers spaces conducive to peaceful tranquility and conviviality.The vessel features an innovative design, sleek profile, and refined interior decoration—a unique style and signature created by French designers. Combinations of fine materials, colors, and elegant lines create a unique on-board atmosphere: the chic, naturally relaxing ambiance of a veritable private yacht. Sailing in the polar regions, Le Boréal accommodates less than 200 guests. Cruise Norway, boasting 27 years of polar expedition experience, is a preferred travel partner of Ponant for worldwide expeditions. Contact us for the best advice and exclusive pricing.
Le Soléal (Ponant)
Le Soléal further reaffirms PONANT's signature approach: taking passengers to the farthest reaches of the planet onboard five-star ships that offer top-of-the-range services. The vessel subtly combines luxury, intimacy, and serene well-being, designed to offer guests moments of both conviviality and peaceful tranquility.
Key characteristics of the ship include:
Design and Ambiance: Le Soléal presents an elegant appearance and a refined interior design, combining them with cutting-edge technology to offer "adventure in a luxury setting." The ingenious and refined exterior and interior lines testify to the design of the sister ships. The overall ambiance is the chic and naturally relaxing atmosphere of a veritable private yacht, achieved through a unique style created by French designers and decorators.
Color Palette: The interior decoration draws inspiration from the tones and colors of its destinations, using a palette of blues that ranges from the soft, luminous grey-like tones of polar ice to the vivid notes and turquoises of Mediterranean inlets and coves.
Capacity: She sails in the polar regions with less than 200 guests.
Cruise Norway Worldwide Expeditions, with 27 years of polar expedition experience, is a preferred travel partner of Ponant. Contact us for the best advice and exclusive pricing.
Le Dumont-d’Urville belongs to a new generation of ships fitted with innovative equipment and designed to be environmentally friendly, and which come equipped with lounges that are largely open to the exterior, an outdoor swimming pool and a Blue Eye, an underwater lounge. Everything is in place for an extraordinary cruise experience. It's now possible to depart for adventure to the most remote places on the planet onboard a ship offering luxury services.