Combining discovery and exploration with luxury
In April 2019 Le Bougainville became the third in Ponant’s Explorer series, a new generation of ships designed to combine discovery and exploration with luxury, even in the planet’s most remote and isolated regions.
“I wanted the ships in the Ponant Explorers series to embody the very best in expedition cruise. Le Bougainville is the incarnation of that,” said Jean Emmanuel Sauvée, CEO and co-founder of the French cruise line.
Ponant collaborated with Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Italian shipyard, Fincantieri, both in terms of the design and construction of the new vessel.
Combining an intimate size with just 92 staterooms and suites, all with a balcony or private terrace, taut, sleek lines, refined design, cutting-edge technologies, respect for the environment and major innovations, Le Bougainville is the symbol of the new generation of ships flying the French flag.
As with all the Ponant Explorers, it is fitted with “Blue Eye”. This multi-sensorial underwater salon allows guests to discover and experience the underwater world via two portholes in the form of a cetaceous eye looking out on to the sea bed, non-intrusive underwater lighting, and hydrophones integrated into the keel retransmitting the natural sounds of the deep water.
PASSENGERS : 184
STATEROOMS AND SUITES: 92
CREW : 112
FACILITIES : Panoramic restaurant, grill restaurant, theatre, boutique, show lounge, Blue Eye underwater lounge, fitness room, spa, observatory, library, infinity swimming pool