Do you want to know what it feels like to sleep and eat on one of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world? Well, you are in the right place. Ponant is known for its elegance and French flair, and this translates very well into their cruise ships. Most of their staterooms provide a private balcony and a cozy bed to sleep in, and all their restaurants are included in your fare and considered excellent. In fact, they might have one of the best restaurants you can find at sea, but we will not spoil it for you just yet.
Do keep in mind that you can always click the Request a Quote button and send us a message with any questions related to Ponant. We can help you choose the perfect ship, itinerary, and cabin, and answer all your questions about the all-inclusive fare, onboard experiences, and more. Even better, booking through us doesn’t cost a dime more, and we might even help you secure some great deals!
Ponant Cruises Room Options
Before getting into the room options offered by Ponant, it is important to refresh our memory and review the four classes of ships they have, along with how many passengers each one carries.
Their fleet is divided into:
- Sailing Ships (carry 12 to 32 guests)
- Sisterships (264 guests)
- Explorers (184 guests)
- Icebreaker (245 guests)
As you can see, these are small ships compared to the sea giants we see out there, especially those owned by companies like Norwegian or Royal Caribbean that can carry more than four thousand passengers.
You may think that staterooms on Ponant ships are small, even more so on their tiny Sailing Ships. But you know what? Their staterooms are actually quite spacious considering the size of the ships, and you will not find a traditional indoor cabin in any of them. Most of their ships offer only balcony cabins, and even the Sailing Ships have entry level cabins that feature at least a window with a view of the ocean.
Staterooms on Ponant Cruises can be divided into the following categories:
- Window or Porthole Stateroom
- Balcony Staterooms
- Suites
Let us check them out.
Window or Porthole Stateroom
- Good for: travellers looking for a simple stateroom; if you are planning on staying outside your stateroom a lot.
Only two classes of ships feature these types of cabins: Sailing Ships and Sisterships. These cabins are similar to the oceanview cabins you see on most cruise lines, meaning they have a porthole or a window with views of the ocean that allow natural light to come in. On the Sailing Ships, these rooms measure about 150 ft² (161 ft² on Spirit of Ponant) and can accommodate up to two guests, while on the Sisterships they measure about 226 ft² and can accommodate up to three guests.
These are the most affordable stateroom options on Ponant cruises. Rooms feature a coffee maker, a king size bed and a bathroom with a shower. They are excellent choices if you want to save a little on your Ponant cruise or if you plan to use your stateroom mostly as a place to relax and sleep at the end of the day. Window or Porthole Staterooms are actually quite rare on the Sisterships and there is a limited number of them, so it is a good idea to book early if you want one.
Balcony Staterooms
- Good for: if you want a private balcony/verandah to relax; if you want a safe and great pick of stateroom.
Almost all of Ponant's ships have a balcony cabin. They make up the majority of staterooms in their classes, and only the small Spirit of Ponant does not have a traditional balcony cabin. Balcony Cabins have the following measurements depending on the class of ship:
- Sailing Ships (Le Ponant): 172 ft², 43 ft² balcony
- Sisterships: 193 ft², 43 ft² balcony
- Explorers: 204 ft², 43 ft² balcony
- Icebreaker: 215 ft², 53 ft² private balcony
These rooms are usually divided into two subcategories: lower deck balcony stateroom and upper deck balcony stateroom. They are essentially the same but, as the name suggests, they are located in different areas of the ship. All balcony cabins on Ponant cruises accommodate a maximum of two guests.
Suites
- Good for: if you want nothing but luxury; if you are interested in some interesting perks for suite guests; if you are travelling with a bigger party.
Suites are the most luxurious rooms you can find on Ponant Cruises, and every single one of their ships has at least one suite option. In fact, there are several subcategories of suites, even on small ships like Le Ponant. The different categories not only affect the size of your room and its location on the ship, but some suites also come with extra perks to make your trip even better, like butler service included in some subcategories. Every suite has at least a balcony, except the Junior Suites on Le Ponant and the Owner’s Suite on Spirit of Ponant.
Let us explore the types of suites you may find on your next Ponant vacation by looking at each class of ship.
Le Ponant Suites
The Sailing Ship Le Ponant has a whole category of suites that do not appear on any other ship. These suites range from the Junior Suite measuring 226 ft², which comes with two portholes, all the way up to the Owner’s Suite that measures 505 ft² and includes a 96 ft² balcony. The most luxurious suites on Le Ponant accommodate up to five guests and include perks such as two one hour treatments per person in the wellness area.
Sisterships Suites
Sisterships have three categories of suites: Deluxe Suite (290 ft², two guests), Prestige Suite (398 ft², four guests) and Owner’s Suite (498 ft², two guests). Suites here come with private butler service, a complimentary bottle of champagne and priority boarding. The Owner’s Suite also gives you access to premium spirits and cocktails at the bar.
Explorers Suites
The Explorer class has several subcategories of suites, including:
- Deluxe Suite (290 ft², 3 guests): comes with a 32 ft² private balcony and a complimentary bottle of champagne. No butler service.
- Prestige Suite (409 ft², 4 guests): comes with an 86 ft² balcony. Perks include priority boarding, butler service and a bottle of champagne. It also has two bathrooms with showers.
- Privilege Suite (344 ft², 3 guests): a smaller version of the Prestige Suite. It includes all the same perks but has a smaller layout with a single bathroom.
- Grand Suite (484 ft², 4 guests): comes with a private 344 ft² terrace with two deck chairs and a dining table for four people, plus a single bathroom with shower and spa bathtub. Perks are the same as the Prestige Suite.
- Owner’s Suite (484 ft², 4 guests): comes with a private 430 ft² terrace with a hot tub and a lounge area with two deck chairs, a sofa and an armchair. Perks are the same as the Prestige Suite, plus a one hour treatment per person for two guests in the wellness area and access to a selection of premium spirits at the bar.
Icebreaker (Le Commandant Charcot) Suites
The Icebreaker class has only one ship, the amazing and luxurious Le Commandant Charcot. This ship has more suites than any other Ponant vessel, and they are spacious rooms that feature a private balcony and a living room area. The suite subcategories include:
- Deluxe Suites (301 ft², 2 guests): come with a 53 ft² private balcony. No butler service.
- Prestige Suites (430 ft², 4 guests): come with a 107 ft² private balcony and two bathrooms with showers. No butler service.
- Grand Suites (452 ft², 3 guests): come with a 53 ft² private balcony and perks such as a private butler, priority boarding, a complimentary bottle of champagne, binoculars in your room and a single bathroom with a bathtub.
- Privilege Suites (516 ft², 4 guests): a larger version of the Grand Suites with the same perks and a 134 ft² private balcony.
- Duplex Suites (1011 ft², 4 guests): this huge stateroom includes a dining room with a six seater table, a minibar, a bathroom with a bathtub and a private 279 ft² terrace with an outdoor lounge featuring a sofa, armchairs and a jacuzzi. It also includes the same perks listed above plus private return transfer.
- Owner’s Suite (1237 ft², 6 guests): an even larger version of the Duplex Suites. It also includes a one hour spa treatment for two guests in the wellness space, a living room with a steam fireplace, a telescope and a 2002 ft² terrace with an outdoor lounge featuring deckchairs, a hot tub, two sofas and a dining table.
Does every suite on Ponant Cruises come with butler service?
No. This is a question that appears from time to time, but butler service is only available in specific suite categories. The Sailing Ships do not offer butler service.
Ponant Cruises Dining Options
Ponant is one of the best cruise lines out there when we are talking about food. I mean, where else will you find wild boar, roasted duck and escargots at a simple buffet? The variety of meals is truly impressive, and you can get anything from a traditional late night burger with twenty four hour complimentary room service to some of the fanciest dishes at sea.
Most ships have two restaurants: a gourmet option that serves a buffet at lunch and offers a formal à la carte menu at dinner, and another venue that provides a more casual buffet throughout the day. Most ships also have three or more bars where you can enjoy a drink or grab a quick snack. Food is always complimentary on Ponant Cruises, although some specific dining venues may require a reservation.
The Sailing Ships have only one restaurant and a single bar, but that is perfectly fine considering they carry fewer than forty guests. For now, let’s explore the dining options on the other classes of ships.
Sisterships Dining Options
These ships have two main restaurants: a gourmet restaurant on Deck 2 offering French and international cuisine, and a more casual grill on Deck 6. Both venues serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The grill offers a relaxed atmosphere with outdoor seating, buffets and themed dinners. There are also three bars onboard, including a main lounge with a tea room, bar, live music and a dance floor.
Explorers Dining Options
The Explorer class also has two main restaurants, similar to those on the Sisterships. The main Gourmet Restaurant changes names from ship to ship, but it is essentially the same: located on Deck 4 and offering French and international cuisine. The Grill Restaurant, called Le Nemo, serves breakfast, buffet lunches, and themed dinners. There are also bars similar to those on the Sisterships, including a main lounge.
The star of the show, however, is The Blue Eye. This bar is exclusive to the Explorer class. Located below the waterline, The Blue Eye is a breakthrough in design and atmosphere. If you are onboard an Explorer class ship, it is a must-visit.
Icebreaker (Le Commandant Charcot) Dining Options
Le Commandant Charcot also has two dining options: Nuna and Sila. Nuna is considered one of the best restaurants at sea, offering a menu created by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. It is a brand new restaurant, barely a year old, and has already made waves in the cruise industry. Sila is a more relaxed venue, open for breakfast, buffet lunches and themed dinners.
Bars include a main lounge with a cigar lounge, an observatory lounge with a small library, and an outdoor bar called Inneq, where you can also enjoy snacks and a quick meal.
What are the best dining venues onboard Ponant Cruises?
Every meal is excellent on Ponant, but if we had to pick our favorites, we would say that the Nuna restaurant onboard Le Commandant Charcot and The Blue Eye bar on the Explorer ships are the best dining venues Ponant Cruises has to offer. For Nuna, it is especially important to make a reservation in advance. Nuna is complimentary, and in theory, you can dine there as many times as you like, as long as you secure a reservation ahead of time.
Dietary Needs
Ponant Cruises states that if you follow a specific diet (vegetarian, diabetic, low-calorie, gluten-free, or have allergies) you should mention it when making your reservation. You will then receive adapted menus throughout your cruise. Famvia can definitely help you with that.
Room Service
24-hour room service is available free of charge on most Ponant Cruises.
Are all drinks included in my cruise fare?
No, although the vast majority of drinks are included in your base fare and available all day, like mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee and tea. Some premium alcoholic beverages listed on the menu are not included in the open bar. Guests staying in top-tier suites may have access to these premium drinks as well.
Are reservations needed for restaurants on Ponant Cruises?
Most of the time, you will not need to book a restaurant onboard Ponant Cruises, as they all offer open seating and plenty of space. One of the few occasions where a reservation is recommended is to secure a spot at Nuna if you are traveling onboard Le Commandant Charcot.
Why book Ponant Cruises with us?
At Famvia, we are luxury cruise specialists. We proudly partner with some of the world’s most prestigious cruise lines, including Seabourn, Silversea, Explora Journeys, and of course, Ponant. We also have hundreds of guides and reviews on our website, the result of years of research and a strong commitment to bringing you valuable content completely free of charge.
Ponant Cruises is an excellent choice for a vacation, but the large number of itineraries and pricing options can feel overwhelming at first. That is where we come in. Famvia can help you secure the best deals as soon as new itineraries are released and save money by booking well in advance. Better yet, booking through us does not cost a dime more, and you might even save in the process, since we often have access to exclusive deals you will not find anywhere else.
With deep expertise in Ponant’s all-inclusive fares and luxurious ships, we are here to guide you every step of the way. Simply click the Request a Quote button to get in touch. Our personalized planning services are completely complimentary, and we look forward to crafting an unforgettable journey just for you.
