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Login Sail on board the world's first sailboat to achieve the Relais & Châteaux label, combining refinement, serenity and navigation in harmony with the elements.
Under the sails of the Ponant, the breeze and the rolling of the waves remind us that every moment on board is a marvel. The thrill of discovering sunny regions is added to that of sailing as close as possible to the elements.
This was our first experience with Ponant, but it probably not be our last. The yacht is exactly what we hoped for, excellently maintained and crewed by a professional staff. We opted for the highest level cabin available at the time of booking, an Alizes privilege suite which was a large cabin with additional sofa seating and a cozy veranda. The yacht has 15 cabins and accommodation for 30 passengers who can spread out over numerous public areas and never feel cramped. Meals were provided in both an indoor dining room as well as a very spacious outdoor covered dining space. The weather was very good to us and almost all the meals were enjoyed al fresco. All the excursions were well curated and included in our fare. Few tourist shops, great nature walks, gorgeous gardens, snorkeling and Zodiac adventures. Ports in the eastern Caribbean were well suited to the intimate nature of the cruise (we didn’t see a single MEGA ship the entire week). It couldn’t have been more idyllic. Meals were local and fresh with breakfast lunch and dinner being offered from a menu (optional continental breakfast was available buffet style). Le Ponant deserves its inclusion in the Relais & Chateaux family. Ambience on board was relaxed and European in style. Think French Chique and you’ve got the right idea. Polos and dressy shorts in the day and collared shirts and slacks at night. Entertainment included a film projected on the sails one night and I believe a Karaoke evening which we skipped. The cruise IS the entertainment, millions of stars undisturbed by ambient light. This cruise is for people who love to be on the water and want the peace of gliding across the sea without the noise or vibration of motors. People who appreciate stimulating conversation and quiet reflection as a break from the madness of daily life. This was a wonderful escape for us to explore areas of the Caribbean with which we were less familiar. We just may do it again to try some new location.
First, there is outdated information on this site. C’mon Cruise Critic. Le Ponant holds only 32 passengers. It was completely refitted & refurbished in 2022. It is also a Relais & Chateaux property. I just returned from a Greece tour on Le Ponant. It is a beautiful sailing yacht, with large bathrooms in the staterooms. The customer service is beyond compare. The staff makes every effort to spoil you. The food is fabulous, beyond my plebeian pallet, ha, ha,ha. Truly magically moments at times. Be prepared to be flexible. Since the winds can change so can activties, many times for the good. One late afternoon, we could take one Zodiak out to watch the sails being raised, otherwise you are on the ship when they are risen. We did an unexpected zodiac ride in the Blue Bay. One eveing, we sat up on the top deck to watch a movie on one of the sails. Once again they pamerpered us with blankets, popcorn, candles, and so much more. Highly, highly recommend. I am not a big cruise ship kind of person. I have taken only one other cruise, and that was in 1988 on a large ship brand.
This is going to be the most difficult review of a ship I have written, I was on Le Ponant for 6 days as part of a Tauck sponsored People to People tour in Cuba which is one of the few ways Americans can visit Cuba. I searched in vein for in-depth comments on Le Ponant on Cruise Critic and there really isn't anything that proved helpful. So I decided to provide one. Le Ponant is primarily a sailing ship, its 3 masts having an acre or so of sail. It has an engine for backup. I believe it is the last cruise ship afloat that relies mostly on its sails. It is a beautiful ship, gorgeous to look at, like a sleek modern yacht. I carries a maximum of about 60 passengers in its 30 or so cabins. Its decor is art-deco, its blue white and mahogany furnishings are a throwback to years gone by. It has three large public spaces an art deco restaurant, again elegant, a large lounge where all enrichment lectures and briefings are held, and another largish area that is outside and covered where breakfast and lunch buffets are served. The restaurant serves all passengers at a fixed time 7:30 pm. ( a couple of times at 7:00) Some passengers might not like the fixed hours. All cabins except 1-5 are off a single long corridor. All are approximately 130 square feet. More on this later. Cabins 1-5 are a deck up and no larger but they afford a greater degree of privacy but are more susceptible to the roll from rougher seas. The crew is predominately French although everyone speaks English. Every member of the crew is helpful, polite, without exception. The captain, David Lemaire clearly loves being at the helm of a sailing ship. He is perhaps the youngest captain of a major cruise ship. So don't be alarmed when you are introduced to the Captain who is probably in his 30's. He does everything, from helping people in and out of zodiacs to having an open bridge which is unheard of. His bridge tour is not to be missed. Also not to be missed is the raising of the sails, a very complicated maneuver which is the high point of the journey. The captain could have a second career as a Hollywood movie star. This voyage was run by Tauck, all the passengers on the ship were Tauck clients. This means that all the enrichment activities and shore excursions were run by Tauck professionals. The tour directors were first rate, a cut above those I sailed with from luxe lines like Silversea and Cunard. I want to single out Laura Nunez and Ronny (?) who made this voyage something very special. They were always there to solve any difficulties. I could not imagine this voyage without them. Le Ponant's small size, around 270 feet enables it visit small ports that larger ships can't navigate. This is a huge plus. But, it is also a problem. And I hope potential passengers take careful notice here. This is not your large ocean liner. In rough seas the ships rolls. As the Captain constantly reminds you "one hand for you, one hand for the vessel". If you are prone to sea seasickness Le Ponant is not the ship for you. Rough seas also prevented us from sailing into Havana which for me would have been a high point of the voyage. But here I have to say the Captain made the absolute right decision, this was the day a huge tornado hit Havana which could have been a disaster. Now for the hard part. First, this review will be totally irrelevant in a year or so, Le Ponant is supposedly going into dry dock for a major retrofit (not confirmed). Which makes this review relevant for only a year or so. The primary purpose of the retrofit is to enlarge some of the cabins. And this is the second problem. Even though the cabins use every inch of possible space they are, after all, only 130 square feet. Hopefully this doesn't sound jaded and elitist but my primary cruise line is Silversea (8 trips) and the size of one of Le Ponant's staterooms is about the size of one of Silverseas closets. Needless to say, Le Ponant doesn't have the amenities of a Siversea, Seabourn, Crystal Regent and the other luxury brands. There are no balconies, no swimming pool, no spa and all the other bells and whistles I have become used to. Le Ponant has a very small sun deck with about a dozen chaises and that is about it. (One major suggestion is for Ponant to put in a whirlpool on the sun deck so you could at least get wet, please) One factor I just don't know about is the quality of Le Ponant's shore excursions. As I noted above, this was a Tauck expedition. The Tauck folks simply could not be any better. Not having sailed with Tauck before I don't know whether Ponant would achieve the same level of excellence. I will write about Cuba in the Trip Advisor forum. It is a time machine, truly fascinating. If Le Ponant is retrofitted with larger cabins and Tauck runs the tour again, it is a trip that seasoned travelers should not miss.
We were incredibly impressed on the quality of our cruise aboard Le Ponant. The ship had been built as a luxury yacht vs. a cruise ship. The cabins had just recently been updated and service was fantastic. However, the best part of our cruise was by far the food! The food was a 5 course meal for almost every meal! There was a full time French pasty chef, which means it was extremely hard to come home. We were waited on constantly. I can't say thank you enough to our spectacular captain and crew! The crew to passenger ration for us was about 1:1 which meant that we had a fantastic relationship with all crew members. All evening events were extremely well thought out and the ship was prepared for everything. One day at sea we had 8-10ft swells however due to the ships sailing hull design, the ride was extremely comfortable as sailing ships have very little roll. Another fantastic attribute about Le Ponant is that its a massive sailing yacht. During one of our day's at sea, we were able to relax under her massive sails and enjoy the tropical sun without any engine power.
16 cabins, 32 guests: the days pass by with the flow of the waves and great tranquility. Within this warm setting, everyone inevitably feels like they are aboard their own sailboat.
The gastronomic experience on board Le Ponant celebrates indulgence and the richness of nature, and showcases the products of the regions visited. Excellence and know-how come together to offer you a daily life full of culinary surprises. Enjoy fresh cuisine and refined dishes, from breakfast to dinner, under the starry sky.
Far from the tourist hustle and bustle, dock in lesser-known ports and experience local adventures. Tailored visits, exclusive tastings, authentic encounters: immersion guaranteed!
From the marina or the bar on deck 5, watch the crew unfurl the sails. Trade winds and sea spray, salty skin, the sun setting on the horizon... Tack and pick up speed, in a wind of absolute freedom.
How not to feel spoiled when the ship has one crew member per passenger? Tailored service adapted to each person's habits, attention to detail: The crew ensures your well-being.
