Ponant has unveiled the arrival of Le Bougainville: the third ship in the Ponant Explorers series and the eighth vessel in its fleet.

On April 5, Ponant successfully took delivery Le Bougainville, the third vessel in its Ponant Explorers series for the agreed schedule. Le Bougainville left Søvik, Norway, the morning of April 8, and the ship will reach Malaga, Spain on April 15 for the start of its maiden cruise. The official inauguration will take place on June 4.

Le Bougainville has just 92 staterooms and suites, like its sister ships—all with a balcony or private terrace.

It is also fitted with the Blue Eye Lounge: a multi-sensorial underwater salon allowing guests to explore the underwater world through two portholes looking out on to the sea bed. The lounge also features underwater lighting, hydrophones joined into the keel to transmit the natural sounds of the deep water, and body-listening sofas that offer a listening experience by corporal resonance.

Adding to the existing fleet (Le Ponant, Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal, and Le Lyrial), the development of the new Ponant ships is on schedule per the construction timetable.

  • Le Lapérouse – June 2018
  • Le Champlain – October 2018
  • Le Bougainville – April 2019
  • Le Dumont-d’Urville – June 2019
  • Le Bellot – scheduled for April 2020
  • Le Jacques Cartier – scheduled for July 2020
  • Le Commandant Charcot – scheduled for May 2021

In other Ponant news, the company has announced new cruises to Northern Europe and the Atlantic Islands. The new Quintessential Collection itineraries range from seven to 10 nights.

This article was originally posted on www.travelagentcentral.com

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