Le Commandant Charcot

PONANT offers ‘Ultimate Antarctic exploration’ in winter 2021-22 aboard new polar vessel Le Commandant Charcot

PONANT’s commitment to responsible tourism in the polar regions over the past 30 years goes a step further with the introduction in the Antarctic of its new hybrid electric polar exploration vessel propelled by liquefied natural gas. For winter 2021-2022, its inaugural season in the White Continent, Le Commandant Charcot is offering a unique sailing

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Cruise ship Paul Gauguin

Is this a marriage made in heaven as Ponant acquires Paul Gauguin Cruises?

It is certainly a perfect fit, and possibly a marriage made in heaven, as Ponant, the only French cruise line, announces its acquisition of Paul Gauguin Cruises, the renowned specialist in sailings to exotic ports in French Polynesia and the South Pacific. For a start, both cruise lines combine exceptional itineraries with luxury hotel services

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Ponant's Le Dumont D'Urville

Fast-track PONANT takes delivery of fourth ship in its Explorer series

Fast-expanding PONANT, the only French-owned cruise line, has taken delivery of Le Dumont-d’Urville, the fourth ship in the line’s Explorer series to arrive in the past 12 months. The ship, which left the port of Søvik in Norway for Bergen on 14 June ready to depart on her maiden cruise, brings the number of ships in

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Ponant Explorer vessel Le Bougainville

Right on time … Ponant takes delivery of Le Bougainville

Ponant’s expansion continues with the delivery of Le Bougainville, its eighth vessel and the third in its Explorers series. The ship, top of page, left Søvik in Norway as scheduled on 8 April bound for Spain where she sets sail on her maiden cruise on 15 April from Malaga. She will be officially inaugurated on

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Le Commandant Charcot

Construction of Ponant’s polar exploration vessel, Le Commandant Charcot, begins

Construction of Ponant’s polar exploration vessel, Le Commandant Charcot, has begun with the traditional steel cutting ceremony at the Vard shipyard in Romania. Delivery of the new flagship, the most ambitious ever designed both in terms of travel experience and respect for the environment, is scheduled for 2021. The vessel bears the name of the great

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PONANT Winter 2019-2020 programme features new ships and exciting new destinations

PONANT’s Winter 2019-2020 programme features 114 departures, ranging from yacht cruises to polar and tropical expeditions, including 23 brand-new itineraries. New destinations include the Yucatán, bathing in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, and visits to Mayan sites now listed as World Heritage by UnescoThe treasures of the Red Sea from Egypt to Jordan

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Le Commandant Charcot

Ponant names new ship Le Commandant Charcot in tribute to ‘gentleman of the poles’

Ponant’s ground-breaking new polar expedition vessel is to be named Le Commandant Charcot in recognition of the early 20th century explorer known as “the gentleman of the poles”. The world first hybrid electric icebreaker, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), will bear the name of a great French explorer, Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who crossed the

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Le Lapérouse, first vessel in the PONANT Explorers series, christened in Iceland

PONANT has celebrated the inauguration of Le Lapérouse, the first of the line’s new Explorer series of ice-breaking vessels. A Breton-inspired ceremony celebrates the inauguration of Le LapérousePictures courtesy of @Studio Ponant The vessel was christened by her godmother, Mrs François Pinault, in the Icelandic port of Hafnarfjörður, watched by prominent political and cultural figures. Mrs

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PONANT finally gets hands on its first explorer vessel Le Lapérouse

PONANT was today celebrating the arrival of its new vessel, Le Lapérouse, the first of six EXPLORERS-class ships. It successfully took delivery of Le Lapérouse yesterday, and the vessel left the shipyard in Ålesund, Norway, today bound for Reykjavik in Iceland for the start of her maiden cruise on 19 June.  Le Lapérouse begins her

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Ponant’s Le Lapérouse successfully completes first sea trials

Le Lapérouse, the first ship in the PONANT EXPLORERS series, has successfully completed her sea trials at the Vard Shipyard in Ålesund. Le Lapérouse runs through her sea trials in Norway in May, above and below Pictures courtesy of Ponant The tests, part of the last stage of construction, were also the first opportunity to

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