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Le Lapérouse

Le Lapérouse

Environmentally friendly, fitted with innovative equipment and complete with lounges designed to be largely open to the exterior, this new and intimately sized yacht offers a unique type of cruise experience.

Onboard this ship sailing under the French flag, you'll experience the incomparable pleasure of a cosily intimate cruise offering the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic chic ambiance and with five-star service.

The Blue Eye, a multisensorial underwater lounge offering a unique experience unlike anything else in the world. 

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Ship Reviews

It is my second attempt to explore and visit the New Zealand subantarctic islands. 2 years ago, I was on the Spirit of Enderby which I am going to call "SoE". That trip was booked by a travel agent which I trusted. The result however was something I never do again. I can't handle SoE. Sharing a small room, small shower, toilet that isn't allowed to flush toilet paper etc etc.. well, you get the idea. I am 6'10" tall and diabetic and after just 1 day and actually nice weather: Seasickness, hypo's, bad pain in the back, not good. I was able to leave the SoE expedition. If anyone is okay with that ship, that's fine. I find the ship something you can't relax on and that did it for me. So here we go, Le Laperouse which took most of the destinations SoE offered on their voyage. The Le Laperous expedition went way better. You have the room for yourself, no sharing with other travellers, a balcony which is actually great to do some birdwatching and photographing from. In comparison with SoE though... yep, we obviously don't have 50 people on board but 150 on Le Laperouse. That means that when you go on a shore excursion or zodiac cruise, you'll be split into groups. That unfortunately means, less time to actually be out of the ship. Nothing the crew could do about it, but something to think about when choosing a cruise. A ship with 50 people on board (SoE) may be too small for some (including me) but having more then 150 people probably means less excursion time. Excursion time, actually "being out there" is the most important thing for me. I don't really care how diverse the menu is. I go on holiday to watch birds first, and other wildlife / landscape second. Everything else..., yeah it needs to be comfortable so I can: Eat well Sleep well Work on my laptop to download, store and edit pictures which I have just taken. Stay clean (shower and toilet) Everything else, lectures, dancing classes, luxury dinners etc. etc. are a non priority for me. On the cruise itself, yeah it was great that we were able to go to Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island, since the Australian Government shut down the entire island because of Corona virus but through some tough negotiations we were still able to go to Sandy Bay, not to the Adare Station. Unfortunate that we couldn't do zodiac tours around The Snares but being close to the Snares was still very nice. We saw plenty of birds, seals as well as stunning landscape in the Fjords. The crew was excellent. I am certainly looking forward to one's in a few years visit a remote place on a cruise and Ponant's Le Laperouse or the other Exploration vessels do come recommended for certain.

Our recent cruise on Ponant's Le Laperouse around New Zealand went way beyond our expectations. We hadn't sailed with Ponant before, but are avid cruisers, having enjoyed several with Seabourn, Silversea, Regent and Viking, all of which have been wonderful, but we would have to say that our experience on Le Laperouse has most definitely been the best to date. The ship is stylish, comfortable, and well sized (with only 180 passengers), making it possible to call into every port on our itinerary without the need for tenders. Our beautiful suite was spotlessly clean, spacious, well equipped and extremely comfortable (as were all areas throughout the ship). The service in the restaurant and bar was impeccable, with highly professional and friendly staff and the food was delicious, varied and beautifully presented. One of the highlights of the ship is a unique 'Blue Eye Lounge' in the hull of Le Laperouse, offering a multi sensory underwater viewing experience in a beautiful space-age style bar. Well worth a visit. We also very much enjoyed the entertainment, attending several impressive shows with talented dancers, singers and musicians. Talks on board were offered in both French and English and there were several opportunities during the cruise to participate in quizzes and dance lessons etc. The itinerary was superb, with Le Laperouse journeying us through several of the sounds of the South Island, including the idyllic Milford Sound, Our zodiac adventure into this fjord was just amazing and made very easy with the ability to board the zodiacs directly from the back deck. Our stops at various ports as we journeyed from Dunedin to Auckland included some interesting excursions, with our favourite being a visit to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony. We should also mention that our Captain, Fabien Roche, and his crew, did a wonderful job ensuring the passengers enjoyed comfortable sailing throughout the trip and keeping us well informed of the ships whereabouts, schedules, and local conditions. Our original itinerary was to include White Island, but due to the tragic volcanic incident just a few weeks earlier the schedule was changed. But a further issue with high seas in the aftermath of cyclone Tino meant the replacement stop (Gisborne) was also not a possibility. The captain managed the situation perfectly, keeping us all comfortable. We did, as it turned out, sail by White Island, whilst the captain made a fitting tribute, with one minutes silence , for those who had lost their lives in the spirit of adventure there. It was an emotional experience well handled in a surreal landscape. Needless to say, we highly recommended Ponant, if you are considering a cruise.

Accommodation

A bubble of peace and calm

In keeping with the very DNA of PONANT, the cabins onboard Le Lapérouse offer complete and absolute comfort. Tastefully decorated, the ship's 92 cabins and suites combine light tones and touches of blue with a softly muted, refined atmosphere. With their private balconies and terraces, all cabins benefit from high levels of light and luminosity and offer breathtaking views out towards the horizon.

Accommodation Types

Owner's Suite
Grand Deluxe Suite
Prestige Suite
Privilege Suite
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom

Dining

An essential component of French culture, gastronomy naturally has a place of honour onboard this PONANT EXPLORER.

Dining Types

Le Nautilus
Grill Restaurant
Room Service

Enrichment

Marvel at the sun rising over the pristine glaciers of Spitsbergen, set out to discover the mysteries of Scotland, enjoy enriching encounters in Alaska∘ or just relax, take your time, and choose a sun kissed journey through the Mediterranean.

The trip of a lifetime, a romantic getaway or a family holiday: cruising the PONANT way allows∘ you the freedom to organise your Odyssey∘ as a unique experience and tailor it according to your desires. Whether you have the spirit of a refined adventurer, a meditative mind or you love the great outdoors, Ponant will fulfil all your travel desires.

Take the time to extend the pleasure of a stay in a country before boarding your yacht, get to the heart of a culture or simply have fun for a while: the guides, lecturers and travel advisers are there to assist you. Music, golf, gastronomy; from port to port, the themed cruises allow passengers∘ to live their hobby to the full - or to discover a new one.

Carefully designed itineraries, quality guest speakers, attentive service: for more than 25 years, on land and at sea, or teams and their crews have been there to help you get the most out of your cruise.

Enrichment Types

Excursions
The Hydraulic Platform

Entertainment

Our ship Le Lapérouse features a number of spaces designed and arranged to serve your needs and requirements whilst at the same time preserving the privacy of each passenger.

Entertainment Types

Panoramic Lounge
The Pool
Lounges & Bar
The Theatre
Shop
Leisure Areas
PONANT Studio
Excursion Reception and Office
The Blue Eye
Open Bar

Health & Fitness

Leisure and well-being

Our ships* have many spaces designed to offer guests privileged moments of relaxation and comfort.

Because a cruise offers the ideal environment in which to take time for yourself, our ships offer special spaces dedicated to wellness and relaxation.

*As Le Ponant has a different layout due to its smaller size, it cannot accommodate certain equipment.

Wellness area - Deck 7

  • Spa in partnership with SOTHYS™: massage and treatment cubicles, beauty care cubicle
  • KÉRASTASE / L’Oréal Paris hair salon
  • Free access sauna(open during the day)
  • Gym (open during the day)

Health & Fitness Types

The Spa
The Gym
The Hairdressing Salon

Kids & Teens

Kit De Bienvenue

Year-round, on all the company’s ships and voyages, children will receive a welcome kit that includes reusable water bottles, pencils and games, plus a book by Maud Fontenoy suited to each age group with key messages that are dear to the Foundation.

Kids & Teens Types

Ocean Young Explorers
Excursions and Talks