The first of Ponant's Explorer-class of six expedition ships, Le Laperouse combines sleek and attractive Scandinavian design with French flair and luxurious extras that are unusual in the adventure cruising space.
The 184-passenger ship debuted in 2018, with destination-intensive itineraries that take it to Iceland and Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, the Seychelles, and the Maldives. It's built for active exploration; the vessel has a reinforced hull for polar exploration as well as a fleet of Zodiacs and an aft marina for water sports. But if you simply want to laze, Le Laperouse has spaces for that too: There's an infinity pool that's great for warm weather destinations and a terrific sauna when you're cold (not to mention a spa and an onboard store full of French goodies).
If you're sailing on Le Laperouse, you may not have booked with Ponant directly; the company has a partnership for full and partial small ship cruise charters with Tauck, as well as Abercrombie & Kent and Gohagan, which runs university alumni trips. The group you booked with might influence your experience, as well as your inclusions. Tauck, for example, has its own cruise directors onboard and gives a choice of included excursions, while only those that use Zodiacs are complimentary to Ponant passengers. If you're on a charter, it's best to check with your tour operator to see exactly what's included.
No matter how you book, design lovers will appreciate the airiness and attention paid to details throughout the ship. In the cabins, white leather fronts the closets, the bathrooms are attractively modern with glass-enclosed showers and every stateroom has a balcony. Suites have Hermes products, butler service and expansive verandas, including one that boasts its own hot tub.
One of the most anticipated features of Ponant's Explorer-class ships is the Blue Eye Lounge, an underwater bar/enrichment space aimed at exposing passengers to marine life. The tone is set as soon as you walk off the elevator; you're engulfed in deep blue light and the space itself has curvy decor meant to evoke a whale skeleton. The windows, shaped like whale eyes, let you see what's going by, while hydrophones, integrated below the ship's keel, capture ocean noises up to 3 miles away; the sounds also vibrate on the room's sofas. Images of sea creatures are projected onto digital screens.
On a typical cruise, the Blue Eye Lounge is used twice for marine shows, one during the day and one in the evening. The space only seats 30 people, so passengers are divided into groups and provided designated show times. When shows aren't going on, the Blue Eye Lounge is open as a bar in the evenings. We predict it will be most popular in warm water destinations with good visibility; on our trip, for the ship's christening in stormy Iceland, you couldn't see much.
One final note on Ponant: While the company has become global with all cruises being bilingual, the atmosphere is unapologetically French. Expect French food rather than regional specialties or American favorites, with menus designed in partnership with Ducasse Conseil, a company headed by famed Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. Choices may be fewer than you find on a typical American-helmed ship, and your fellow passengers, unless you're on a full charter, will likely be an international mix. If you're the type of person who likes things exactly as you have them at home, Ponant may not be your best option. But the line does offer outstanding expedition itineraries and with Le Laperouse now in service, ships that will make you comfortable indeed.
