747FC

I'm thinking of cruising on the Ponant L'Austral, and wondered whether anyone has sailed on this line or on this L'Austral?

If so, I'd really appreciate benefiting from your insights on this line and ship.

Thanks!

Kagehitokiri

L'Austral is also sometimes chartered/etc by other operators (who resell cabins)

also has 32-cabin http://us.ponant.com/le-ponant-po-4 (smallest besides crystal)

Randyk47

We've never been on a Ponant ship or cruise but were docked next to the Le Lyrial last year in Kotor. Even though we were on the relatively small Silversea Spirit, something like 600- passengers, our ship looked like a bus next to the 240 +/- passenger Le Lyrial that looked like a sports car. Beautiful ship that was only on her fourth or fifth cruise when we saw her. So far we've only cruised with one other couple who have been on a Ponant cruise and they didn't like the service but thought everything else about the ship was great. They were a German couple on basically a French cruise line and there may have been something there. So far Ponant has not caught on with many Americans so hard to get much input or comparisons to better known lines.

fozziedoggie

Will this help?

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/...cfm?ShipID=578

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberre...hip&ShipID=578

Hoyaheel

I've noticed a couple of US university sailings on Ponant (I noticed because my alumni magazine was promoting one - it's when I first noticed the line a couple years ago) So maybe they're expanding into the US market slowly. Don't they have relatively new ownership too?

hedoman

Not jaded responses can be found on Cruise Critic.

Kagehitokiri

US market does have awareness of the ships because they are used by other operators (package tour operators) especially to antarctica for example

YVR Cockroach

I sailed on a ship run by a company that once used to own Ponant though that's in a dfferent league (very boutique and exclusive, fewer than 1,000 pax a year). Ponant's since been purchased by the Pinaults.

As for CC, it's very english-oriented so any cruise lines that are not primarily english language are not well covered (e.g., Aida).

Hoyaheel

Yep, Antarctica is why the line caught my eye at first as well, and then we saw it on Mighty Cruise Ships (we like small boats, but many are out of our budget and/or have mostly long itineraries that don't work for us at this stage of life). I have a wish list a mile long ;-) Knocking it out as we can....

747FC

Many thanks to all for their insights, links, etc.

justforfun

Took L'Austral to Antarctica in December/January. Amazing ship, crew and experience. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

Let me know any specific questions you may have.

Points Scrounger

I'm booked on Le Soleal next spring (Dublin - Southampton), via Tauck. I speak decent French, my mother and brother do not. How are the meals? Breakfast a typical buffet? Dinner assigned seating at a larger table?

747FC

You might check reviews an threads on Cruise Critic. They were bad enough that I canceled my planned Japan itinerary.

Points Scrounger

I've read those, not putting much stock in the opinions.

747FC

Why?