Ponant’s resumption of cruising this month and next is set to include inaugural voyages for the recently launched Le Bellot. The ultra-luxury small ship cruise line is proposing a series of all-new expedition cruises circumnavigating Iceland, operating round trip from Reykjavik.

APT has unveiled its 2021 Small Ship Cruising program, comprising three brochures. Next year’s program features APT’s own fleet of expedition ships complete with zodiacs, as well as luxurious cruise ships, including Ponant’s soon-to-launch Le Bellot in the Kimberley.

International expansion, the delivery of a further two new ships in the PONANT EXPLORERS series, and the acquisition of Paul Gauguin Cruises all contributed to Ponant achieving sales of €380 million (approximately AU$624 million) last year.

Ponant’s ninth ship, Le Dumont-d’Urville, has been delivered to the luxury cruise company. Le Dumont-d’Urville is the fourth in the PONANT EXPLORERS series, all of which have been delivered in the last 12 months. She was accepted by the company on 14 June, 2019, departing the port of Søvik in Norway bound for Bergen, ready to commence her maiden cruise.

PONANT successfully took delivery Le Bougainville, the third vessel in its exceptional PONANT EXPLORERS series, exactly on schedule. The ship left Søvik in Norway on the morning of 8 April and is currently sailing to Spain to start her maiden cruise on 15 April from Malaga. She will be officially inaugurated on 4 June.

“Le Lapérouse is a wonderful achievement for the company and the result of intensive teamwork with Vard and Fincantieri. From remarkable nautical performances to technical excellence and offering an extraordinary level of comfort, everything is in place for the PONANT EXPLORERS series to be a huge success,” says Jean Emmanuel Sauvée, CEO and Co-Founder of PONANT.

Le Lapérouse underwent her sea trials at the Vard Shipyard in Ålesund, Norway. The tests, which form part of the last stage of construction, are also the first opportunity the new ship has to show off her elegant lines in open water.