Founded in 1988 by officers in the French merchant navy, Ponant started with just one ship – the beautiful Le Ponant, a 32-passenger yacht that sails the azure waters of the Mediterranean in the summer and more tropical waters – from Cape Verde to the Caribbean – during the winter. While Le Ponant is the ship that started everything, it also highlights the hallmarks of what has made Ponant such a big deal: a staff-to-guest ratio of one-to-one, food inspired by the greats of nouvelle cuisine (the company started a partnership with Alain Ducasse in 2016) and an appetite for adventure.
After purchasing a couple of ships – Le Levant (1999) and Le Diamant (2004) – the company began building its own vessels in 2010. These luxury yachts, while still comparatively intimate (the first, Le Boréal, has just 132 staterooms) really pack a punch. Not only that but their technical abilities made them capable of sailing to some of the most remote regions in the world, including the Arctic and Antarctica.
Fast forward to today and the company is perhaps better known for its luxury expedition sailings than its warm-weather voyages. Not only does it take guests to the edge of the world, but it is capable of going even deeper into uncharted territory with its icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot. The ship’s hull is so armoured that in 2022 it collaborated with the British Antarctic Survey by leading its ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, through two-year polar ice.
As well as being a Polar Class 2 (PC2) icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot is also one of the most luxurious ships at sea; from its beautifully appointed suites – some of which come with their own whirlpools – to the conference rooms where guests are briefed on the day’s adventures. These are voyages capable of retracing the footsteps of the great explorers, albeit from much more comfortable surroundings.
Guests of Ponant are treated to incredible experiences whether they’re on or off the ship. The Blue Eye Lounge is one such example. Located under the waterline, the multisensory lounge has windows which look out into the ocean – offering an experience like no other at sea. Elsewhere on board, it’s the aforementioned food which often receives rave reviews, perhaps unsurprisingly for a luxury French company. The partnership with Alain Ducasse, the father of nouvelle cuisine, means that the man himself can often be found onboard.
For those who are looking for exploration but don’t want to forego the trappings of luxury, Ponant is a perfect choice. Whether it’s the Antarctic or the Caribbean, a voyage with the French operator will be like no other.
Discover more at uk.ponant.com
Sam Ballard is a trade and travel journalist who has written for Cruise Adviser and Dazed magazine
