PONANT: World leader of luxury expeditions announces a fleet of 12 ships by 2021

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As PONANT celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, the company announces an order for two additional ships in the PONANT EXPLORER series. The only French cruise ship owner is consolidating its position as the world leader of luxury expeditions with a fleet that will consist of 12 ships by 2021.

A fleet of 12 ships in 2021 for unique travel experiences on all the world's seas.

With a fleet of 12 ships, 2000 crew members and 460 departures planned for 2021, PONANT, the world leader of luxury expeditions, will cover all the world's seas. The company is remaining loyal to its philosophy of sailing to places where others do not venture, offering an ever-richer selection of authentic journeys to exceptional destinations, even the most remote: Antarctica, Arctic, Alaska, the Amazon, the Orinoco, or the Scattered Islands, Kimberley, Papua New Guinea, and even the roof of the world, the Geographic North Pole and the North-East Passage.

Two new expedition ships in the PONANT EXPLORERS series: Le Bellot and Le Surville

The latest order has been placed for two additional sisterships, delivery of which is scheduled for the first and second quarters of 2020. Like the four previous vessels, the construction of these two new ships will be entrusted to Norwegian shipyard Vard, part of Fincantieri Group. Combining moderate size (just 92 staterooms and suites, each with a balcony), refined design, cutting-edge technology and respect for the environment, they will comply with the international CLEANSHIP label (Bureau Veritas).

The six PONANT EXPLORERS will be fitted with a world first: the "Blue Eye." This multi-sensorial underwater lounge, a major innovation, will allow passengers to discover and experience the underwater world via two portholes in the form of a cetaceous eye, looking out on to the sea bed, non-intrusive underwater lighting, and hydrophones integrated into the keel that retransmit the natural symphony of the deep water, as well as Body Listening sofas, offering a unique sensorial listening experience by corporal resonance.

ABOUT PONANT
Established in 1988 by Jean Emmanuel Sauvée and a dozen officers from the French Merchant Navy, PONANT is the world leader of luxury expeditions and the only French-owned cruise line. Today, PONANT is leading the way with a new style of luxury cruising through a unique conception of sea travel which combines exceptional itineraries and luxury hotel services, aboard luxurious smaller-scale ships. www.ponant.com

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SOURCE PONANT