PONANT, the world leader in luxury expeditions is pursuing its development strategy, welcoming into its fleet its eighth ship, Le Bougainville, the third in the PONANT EXPLORERS series of six new ships.  

Le Bougainville, represents the embodiment of PONANT expertise

On 5 April 2019, PONANT successfully took delivery Le Bougainville, the third vessel in its exceptional PONANT EXPLORERS series, exactly on schedule. The ship left Søvik in Norway on the morning of 8 April and she is currently sailing to Spain to start her maiden cruise on 15 April from Malaga. She will be officially inaugurated on 4 June. 

 “A dream, firm beliefs, energy and boldness were what created PONANT. It is by drawing on those roots and our expertise that PONANT is preparing today to meet the challenges of tomorrow, to surprise and delight our guests. I wanted the ships in the PONANT EXPLORERS series to embody the very best in expedition cruising. Le Bougainville is the incarnation of that,” said Jean Emmanuel Sauvée, CEO and co-founder of PONANT.

PONANT is delighted with its collaboration with VARD, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Italian shipyard, FINCANTIERI, both in terms of the design and construction of the new vessels as well as the respect for the deadlines of the development schedule.

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 truly the symbol of the new generation of ships flying the French flag. 

As with all the PONANT EXPLORERS vessels, it is fitted with a world first, the “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 into the sea below water-level, non-intrusive underwater lighting, and hydrophones integrated into the keel retransmitting the natural symphony of the deep water, as well as Body Listening sofas, offering a unique sensorial listening experience by corporal resonance.

PONANT is maintaining the course of its development

Enriching the existing fleet (Le Ponant, Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial) and announced in 2016, the development of the new PONANT EXPLORER ships is on schedule. 

• Le Lapérouse – June 2018
• Le Champlain – October 2018
• Le Bougainville – April 2019
• Le Dumont-d'Urville – June 2019 
• Le Bellot – scheduled for April 2020
• Le Jacques Cartier – scheduled for July 2020
• Le Commandant Charcot – scheduled for May 2021

ABOUT PONANT

The world leader in luxury expeditions and the only French-owned cruise line, PONANT was created in 1988 by Jean Emmanuel Sauvée and a dozen officers of the French Merchant Navy. Today, PONANT is leading the way with a new style of luxury cruising through a unique concept of sea travel which combines exceptional itineraries and luxury hotel services, aboard smaller-scale ships. au.ponant.com

PRESS CONTACT:

Michael Corbett

Public Relations Manager

PONANT Australasia

Phone: (+61-2) 4360 1116  

Mobile: 0417 469 228

Email: michael.corbett@bigpond.com

Website: au.ponant.com