Cruise Frog guide
Crystal vs Ponant
Crystal rates higher than Ponant on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 4.5 to 3.8 out of 5 across their rated ships. Crystal leads on cabins, entertainment and pools & decks, with the rest level. Pick Crystal for solo travelers; Ponant for adventure seekers.
Comparison updated
| Fact | Crystal | Ponant |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Luxury | Luxury |
| Best for | Food lovers, Couples, Solo travelers, History and culture | Couples, Adventure seekers, History and culture, Food lovers |
| Fleet rating | 4.5 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Cabins | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Dining | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Entertainment | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Service | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Pools & decks | 5.0 | 3.6 |
| Value | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Ships in service | 2 | 12 |
| Ships on the way | 1 | — |
| Largest ship | Crystal Serenity (68,870 GT) | Le Commandant Charcot (31,283 GT) |
| Newest ship | Crystal Serenity (2003) | Le Commandant Charcot (2021) |
| Guests per ship, average | 673 | 201 |
| Usually sails | Caribbean, Mediterranean, Canada and New England, Transatlantic | Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antarctica, Caribbean |
| Solo cabins | Some ships | — |
| Single supplement | The Single Ocean View rooms are sold only for single occupancy at the fare shown. Elsewhere a solo guest pays a supplement over the… | — |
| Loyalty program | Crystal Society | Ponant Yacht Club |
| Owner | A&K Travel Group | Ponant Explorations Group (Artémis) |
| Headquarters | Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States | Marseille, France |
| Founded | 1988 | 1988 |
Ratings are Cruise Frog's editorial scores of each line's ships in service, 1 to 5, averaged; the higher figure is highlighted. How we rate.
Quick answers
Which is better, Crystal or Ponant?
Crystal rates higher than Ponant on Cruise Frog's editorial scores, 4.5 to 3.8 out of 5 across their rated ships. Crystal leads on cabins, entertainment and pools & decks, with the rest level.
Is Crystal or Ponant better value?
They score the same for value, 3.0 out of 5.
Is Crystal or Ponant better for dining?
They score the same for dining, 5.0 out of 5.
Is Crystal or Ponant better for entertainment?
Crystal scores higher for entertainment, 4.0 to 2.0 out of 5 (shows, music, and things to do at sea).
Is Crystal or Ponant better for cabins?
Crystal scores higher for cabins, 5.0 to 4.3 out of 5 (comfortable, quiet, well kept).
Which has bigger ships, Crystal or Ponant?
Crystal's largest ship, Crystal Serenity, measures 68,870 gross tons, against 31,283 for Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant's largest. An average Crystal ship carries 673 guests, a Ponant ship 201.
How many ships do Crystal and Ponant have?
Crystal has 2 ships in service and 1 on the way; Ponant has 12 ships in service.
Are Crystal and Ponant owned by the same company?
No. Crystal is part of A&K Travel Group; Ponant is part of Ponant Explorations Group (Artémis).