Cruise Frog guide
Le Ponant
Le Ponant is a Ponant cruise ship, in service since 1991. She measures 1,489 gross tons and carries 32 guests with a crew of 33. She sails Mediterranean, Caribbean itineraries.
About Le Ponant
Le Ponant is a three-masted sailing yacht and the ship that started the company: she was built in France by the SFCN yard and went into service in 1991. At 88 metres she is the smallest ship in the fleet, with 16 staterooms for up to 32 guests, one restaurant and a crew of about 33, and she sails under canvas whenever conditions allow. In April 2008 Somali pirates seized her in the Gulf of Aden with only her crew aboard; the hostages were released after about a week. After serving as a test bed for a prototype rigid sail in 2018 and 2019, she was rebuilt to a Jean-Philippe Nuel design with exhaust filters and 16 staterooms, returning in 2022. Her schedule pairs winter cruises in the Lesser Antilles with summers in the Mediterranean, plus spells around Cape Verde.
Ratings
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- Dining
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Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews.
Deck plans
Where she sails
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates Le Ponant?
Le Ponant is operated by Ponant.
How big is Le Ponant?
Le Ponant measures 1,489 gross tons and 88 metres in length, with 3 decks.
How crowded does Le Ponant feel?
Le Ponant has a passenger space ratio of 46.5: 1,489 gross tons for 32 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Le Ponant feels comfortable for her size.
How many passengers does Le Ponant carry?
Le Ponant carries 32 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 33 (about 1.0 guests per crew member).
When did Le Ponant enter service?
Le Ponant entered service in 1991 and was last refurbished in 2022.
Where does Le Ponant sail?
Le Ponant sails Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries.
Where can I find the deck plans for Le Ponant?
Ponant publishes the deck plans for Le Ponant; this page links to Deck plans.
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