Le Ponant
Expedition · built 1991 · 64 guests

Le Ponant

Ponant · Three-masted sailing yacht (one of a kind)

Photo: Ein Dahmer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Is she right for you?

Couples or small groups who want a real sailing-yacht trip with very few other guests.

Think twice if: Very small ship with no pool, spa or theatre; you feel the sea more.

See her Europe sailings ↓ · Where is she now? → · Ponant's page for this ship →

At a glance

What she's like

Size & feelSmall ship · 64 guests

Quiet and personal. Small enough for little harbours big ships can't use. About 23 tons of ship per guest. As a rule of thumb, 40 or more feels roomy and under 30 feels busy.

Who you'll sail with

'The languages spoken on board are French and English.' Signage in French and English (French-owned line).

Price level$$$$$

Our judgment, from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (ultra-luxury).

Included in the fare

All meals; Open Bar (drinks free and unlimited from boarding, including minibar and room service; champagne included on Sisterships/Explorers); free Wi-Fi; port taxes; one included activity at each stop on all cruises; spa and fitness access.

Children

No children under 1 year on Ponant Explorations cruises.

What to wear

Casual-elegant; cocktail attire for gala evenings; white or black-and-white for the Officers' evening; no shorts at dinner in gourmet restaurants.

Where & when

Where she sails in Europe

Mediterranean

Three-masted sailing yacht; 32 cabins.

We don't have her sailing-by-sailing schedule yet. See the line's site for dates.

Your real budget

What it costs beyond the fare

Tips for the crewEUR 10-12 average (discretionary) per person per day; Not added automatically
Drinks packageIncluded (Open Bar).
WifiIncluded (free Wi-Fi in cabins and public areas).
Specialty restaurantsGourmet restaurant included (no surcharge stated).
Money on boardEUR (US dollar also accepted; bills shown in both).

How tipping and money work on a European cruise → · Build a full trip budget →

Her restaurants · 1 included, 0 extra

Where to eatCost
Restaurant (deck 4)Included
Choosing your cabin

Which cabin to book, and which to avoid

The line doesn't publish cabin sizes for this ship that we could find.

Good to know before you pick

  • Deck 2 forward cabins (6, 7) are the most forward on the ship
  • Deck 2 has the window and porthole staterooms; deck 3 has the balcony staterooms and Privilege suites, per the deck plan legend
  • The Owner's Suite (No. 1) is alone on deck 4

If you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty

Ponant's quote form offers an 'I need an accessible stateroom' option; no count of accessible staterooms is published on the ship page Only the Sisterships and PONANT Explorers can accommodate reduced mobility (detail truncated); tender/Zodiac policy not published. Our accessibility guide →

Deck plans

Find your way around

Our own deck plans, drawn from the line's official plan: tap a deck to see it from above, with what's at the front, middle and back of the ship. Use “Find on board” to light up every deck with a pool, a bar or a restaurant. Not to scale.

  1. Deck 5 , Bar; Sundeck
  2. Deck 4 , Restaurant
  3. Deck 3 , Marina; Bar; Lounge Bar; Reception Desk; Fitness
  4. Deck 2 , Cabins

Open Ponant's official deck plan →

Planning your trip

What to book, and when

Booking, check-in and reservations

Pay a deposit or full balance online. Optional paid excursions charged onboard; cancellable up to 48 hours before.

Paying and cancelling

not published (FAQ links to separate policy).

Tips for her Europe sailings

French-English bilingual atmosphere; prices onboard in euros.

Before you go

The details

The ship in numbers

Cruise line
Ponant
Kind of ship
Expedition
Built
1991
Last refit
2021
Guests
64
Crew
33
Cabins
16
Guest decks
3
Gross tons
1,489
Length
88 m (289 ft)
Width
12 m (39 ft)
Flag
France
Class
Three-masted sailing yacht (one of a kind)
Ship number
IMO 8914219
In Europe 2026–27
Mediterranean
Worth knowing

Highlights

  • Three-masted sailing yacht with only 32 guests in 16 staterooms
  • Built 1991 and renovated in 2021, per Ponant's specs
  • Marina on deck 3 for swimming, kayaks and paddle boards
  • Sails plus diesel engine (1,212 m² of sail plus a 1,000 m² spinnaker)
  • Drinks are included on board (champagnes, wines, spirits, beers, cocktails, soft drinks), per Ponant's inclusions list
On board & ashore

More pictures

Sources & what we could not confirm · 5 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
  • Wikipedia (secondary) lists 30 crew and 67 passengers; Ponant's current page says 33 crew and 32 guests
  • Ponant: Cancellation schedule
  • Ponant: Accessibility detail
  • Ponant: Nationality mix (French guests often a majority, not stated by line)
  • Deck plan: Elevator positions not labelled
  • Deck plan: Cabin numbers on the plan are 1-17; only labelled ones listed