L'Austral  has been criss-crossing the globe taking passengers to the remotest parts of the planet since 2011.

Innovative design, sleek shape and profile, refined interior decoration, friendly, intimate atmosphere: French designers and decorators have managed to give this ship a unique style and veritable signature of its own. Combinations of fine materials, colours and tones harmoniously livened up with touches of bright colour, elegant lines, discreet and subtle refinement... everything has been designed to create a unique atmosphere onboard, a veritable personality: the chic style and naturally relaxing ambiance of a veritable private yacht.

Pool & Sun Deck

The spacious, comfortable outdoor areas of our ships offer superb ocean panoramas. A heated seawater pool and solarium are located on the uppermost deck of our sisterships (Le Boreal, L'Austral, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial) and on the deck 3 of our PONANT EXPLORERS.

Shop

On board all our ships, our shop is open during sailing. It features a selection of gifts and souvenirs: clothing, jewelry, beauty treatments, postcards and accessories.

Theatre

The Theatre* is the most unique meeting space on board. It's the largest space on the ship and regularly accommodates all the passengers. It plays host to shows and entertainment as well as conferences from our experts, naturalist guides and guests of honours. The Theatre makes every cruise unique and enriching thanks to its constant and very accessible events.

Leisure Areas

A choice of books and board games is available on board our fleet. The library on Deck 6 on Le Boreal, L'Austral, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial is also equipped with computers with Wi-Fi. On Deck 5, you will find an image and photo corner, as well as our Kids Club offering various games and a Wii console. All staterooms and suites on our ships are equipped with direct access to video on demand.

Lounges and Bars

The various different lounges allow passengers to meet up and share quality time together. The main lounge is the ideal place to relax with a drink and enjoy the various activities that have been organised such as dancing classes or theme evenings.The cosy piano bar is a panorama lounge with breathtaking views of the horizon.The outside bar is a great space for relaxing and is handy for accessing the swimming pool* and its solarium.

Onboard events

There are performers on board all of our ships. Recruited for their talent in Paris and Rome, they star in multiple shows at the Theatre, after dinner. Throughout your voyage, they host the various entertainment events in the Grand Salon, with the support of our on-board musicians.

During Tea Time or before dinner, our musical duosconsisting of a singer and an accompanying musician play classical repertoires for you. In the evening, they play in concert at the Theatere or invite you to show off your dance moves. Dance evenings are thus co-led by performance dancers who know just how to keep you in step, under the direction of the Cruise Director.

There's plenty of themed entertainment to enjoy in the evenings. Both a soirée blanche (dress-in-white party) and an officers' evening are held on all long cruises. Other types of parties or evening events may also be on the programme, such as karaoke parties, a Casino parties or games evenings.

Films are regularly shown at the Theatre on giant screens. National Geographic features, documentaries related to our expedition route and feature films contribute to the cultural enrichment that is part of our cruise philosophy.

Excursion Reception and Office

On board the sisterships (Le Boreal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial) and PONANT EXPLORERS, the reception desk and the excursion desk are arranged side by side to facilitate all your requests. 

Reception: our receptionists can accommodate you 24 hours a day on all our ships (from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Le Ponant) to answer all your needs, such as room service, etc.

The excursion office: the excursion team is available at all times to tell you about the onshore programmes, organise group or private excursions and to manage transfers at the start or end of the cruise. 
On Le Ponant, the receptionist will answer all your questions about excursions.

The Blue Eye

Every ship** in the PONANT EXPLORERS series features the Blue Eye. Located in the hull, below the waterline, this unique multi-sensory lounge that is unique to Ponant cruises plunges you into the heart of underwater life. Sight, hearing, and sensations... With digital screens, hydrophones and Body Listening sofas, you can experience the complete and unprecedented spectacle offered by the seabed. 
Accessible to all passengers and equipped with a bar, the Blue Eye is an exceptional place to share a drink in a unique atmosphere.

The Main Lounge: Tea rooms, bar, programme of live musical entertainment, dance floor, and access to the exterior terrace.

The Theatre: Conference room, concert hall/multi-purpose auditorium, and audiovisual equipment.

The Wellness Area: Spa in partnership with SOTHYS: massage and treatment cubicles, beauty salon cubicle, balneotherapy cubicle, KERASTASE / L'Oreal Paris hair salon, free access hammam, fitness studio.

Recreation Area: Studio Ponant: Special area for viewing and ordering photos/videos; Kids Club (games area + Wii and PS4).

The Panoramic Lounge: Library, internet space, bar, live entertainment on certain evenings, and direct access to the panoramic terrace.

Exterior Bar: Lounge area with seating for 50 and overlooking the pool deck.

Gastronomic Restaurant
A la carte meals are served at the table in the gastro restaurant. At lunch, a selection of dishes inspired by contemporary French brasserieswill be offered. At dinner, it is time to sample the grand traditions of French fine dining, with menus to go with one of the best wines from our cellar, as recommended by our sommelier.

Grill Restaurant
The atmosphere is more casual at the grill restaurant with its set buffet menu. From breakfast to dinner, there is a range of healthy, gourmet, hearty and sophisticated buffet options to satisfy all tastes.

The Spa

All our ships feature an onboard spa. Equipped with massage cabins and a Turkish bath (Sisterships) or a sauna (Explorers), the spa offers a wide choice of top-of-the-range treatments provided in association with SOTHYS™ or CLARINS (Le Bellot and Le Jacques-Cartier only), leading French spa and wellness centre brands.
Discover a range of facial treatments, aromatic baths, exfoliation and body massage treatments designed to provide moments of complete relaxation. You can also supplement your beauty ritual with additional services such as hair-removal, makeovers, manicures and pedicures.

The Hairdressing Salon

Provided in partnership with KÉRASTASE® and L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL®, the hairdressing salon offers a complete range of top quality treatments designed to strengthen, nourish and reinvigorate hair's shine and brilliance. Our stylists are available to serve all your styling, highlighting, colouring, cutting and tailored hair advice needs.

The Gym

The gyms on our ships are equipped with the very latest Technogym© equipment and machines. Treadmills, exercise bikes, Kinesis Wall© strength training machines and many other types of equipment are all provided in a laid-back relaxing environment. The wide floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the sea add undeniable charm to the exercise sessions.
Each day also begins with organised morning workout sessions, either out in the open air or in the theatre. These are supplemented by water aerobics in the pool, or in the sea off the beach for PONANT passengers, when the situation allows it.