14 / 24
Joie
de Vivre
Small-ship cruising with a generous slice of French style
o many readers, the name Ponant may be
unfamiliar, but in the world of luxury, small
capacity cruising, France’s only cruise company
is luring a growing international clientele with
innovative itineraries to exceptional destinations,
accessing shallow anchorages in sometimes remote
locations that the all too familiar giant cruise liners just
are not able to gain access.
Furthermore, life onboard a Ponant yacht embraces
that unique “Joie de vivre” that symbolises the French
enjoyment of gourmet cuisine and fine wines. The
French touch is also a subtle blend of relaxed elegance
and conviviality, a refined, discreet and welcoming
service on board, the “je ne sais quoi” acclaimed by
passengers – whatever their nationality. Certainly, the
atmosphere created imbues a sense amongst fellow
travellers of being invited onto a private yacht rather
than feeling like a bystander in a Las Vegas casino as is
sometimes the case on the “big” ships.
Ponant are champions of expedition cruising with 15
years experience of sailing in the Polar regions.
Comprising between just 122 and 132 staterooms,
each of Ponant’s four very modern, luxury mega-
yachts, L’Austral, Le Boréal, Le Soléal and Le Lydial
(launching April 2015) is designed to navigate in such
extreme regions and small enough to land passengers
T
14