It was our second journey with Ponant, this time to Madagascar and vicinity. The ship is in great shape and feels very new. We used a regular balcony cabin and found it of a decent size and ample amount of storage space. The food and the service were fabulous. The shore tours were great. The team of naturalists was very good. Local guides were reasonably prepared. The lectures in preparation for the upcoming excursions were given separately in English and French and were very helpful.

As it was one of the first expedition cruises of Ponant to the area, it is likely to improve further. Adding historical sites and lectures may help tremendously, too, and in fact may make the adventure more attractive. Entertainment was somewhat below expectations, even for the small ship. Wifi connection was slow to our taste, and reconnection required every time you moved across the areas of the ship, which became annoying.

The opportunities to swim or snorkel were limited. The gym was too small and was limited to cardio machinery only. Read more