Great expedition cruise : very knowledgeable and experienced expedition team with great selection of spots to visit on land; great interactions with locals and landings always so well prepared and fantastic welcome from locals.
Very good talks for review and preparation of excursions.
Great opportunity to learn about the various indigenous population of such great diversity as Papua, Solomon ...
We chose Ponant for its size and so called ‘luxury’ cruising. We found the cabin very small and could not store our bags anywhere. We struggled to move around the cabin without bumping in to one another! We were disappointed in the meals which we expected to be of a higher standard in both restaurants. We felt general information was lacking.
The shore excursions were incredibly over priced for ...
We saw this ship while on a another cruise and was impressed by its look and finish and commented that we should try this company/ship.
When we saw a cruise around French Polynesia we were excited, the online information sounded great, the cost was high compared to other all inclusive lines.
I booked direct with Ponant in Sydney and the staff were very helpful and I was able to obtain the ...
Sailed on Le Soleal before and really like these vessels, not huge , excellent service and well appointed cabins , also around 250 passengers and around 140 crew, no casino or Pokies , these ships cater for a mature audience with a sense of adventure hence the Zodiac inflatables on board to explore and land on remote beaches .
With this in mind we booked on a cruise from Honolulu to French ...
To see paradise in the South Pacific, the Marquesas Islands.
Embarkation and disembarkation very smooth operation.Greeted and farewelled by the Captain and members of the crew.
The ship is small and intimate with luxuriously appointed cabins,complimentery mini bar,and French toiletries.
The crew are friendly and no task is a problem. Would love to have brought some home.
Dining is a ...
Fulfilled a long term ambition to visit Darwin and cruise the Kimberleys in WA. While there were quite a few issues on the vessel which were not the best, my overall rating is quite high just for the fact of my experiences within the Kimberleys. The L'Austral was quite good although I believe it mostly catered for French tastes which is understandable with a French ship & mostly french crew. I ...
I had been to the Antarctic on L'Austral so when the opportunity came to visit the Kimberley I could not pass that opportunity to again travel in 5 star luxury. The ship is quiet, the staff helpful and friendly, they go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your experience. The organization of the zodiac excursions runs like clock work and the expedition leaders are very knowledgeable and ready ...
First time on Ponant but 16th cruise overall. We were totally spoilt like never before. The ship is beautiful and the staff were all so very nice and went the extra mile with everything they did. The rooms were bigger than other cruise lines we have travelled on and the finishing touches were lovely. Very comfortable beds and pillows. Plenty of closet space, an in room safe, good quality ...
For me, Ponant is the perfect mix of intinerary, price and comfort.
It is not for everyone - this was my third Ponant cruise, complaints about the food are common and based on the mis-understanding that the French eat souffle, foie gras and French onion soup every day. Simple, high quality fresh ingredients is the norm. Also expect the Captain, officers, receptionists, spa staff and some of ...
I did back-to back cruises on L'Austral with the first being 10 days in Australia's Kimberly. It was excellent in every way -- itinerary, activities, cabin, food, and especially the expedition team. They worked together beautifully., gave wonderful presentations and were always available for questions. The passenger makeup was mostly Australians, though about 20 French-speaking.
I ...