L'Austral

The 2011-built MS L'Austral cruise ship is the 2nd in a series of four identical/same-designed Ponant-owned superyachts, with sisterships Le Boreal, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial. All these vessels feature ice-strengthened hulls, sleek-design superstructures, Zodiacs (for ship-to-shore landings and coastal cruising), longer itineraries with overnight port stays and late-evening port departures.

The vessel (IMO number 9502518) is currently France-flagged (MMSI 578000700) and registered in Mata-Utu/Wallis and Futuna.

History - construction and ownership

Compagnie du Ponant (CDP) is a French cruise shipping company founded in April 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers. All Ponant ships are France-flagged. The company specializes in premium adventure cruise travel targeting the French-speaking source market with all-inclusive deals. Most of CDP's fleet is based in Antarctica (December through March). All these mega-yachts offer modern amenities, premium service by highly-trained staff and crew, 5-star hotel amenities onboard. Exotic, offbeat itineraries visit popular travel destinations worldwide, including Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, South America, Australia.

The 264-passenger ship L'Austral has been part of the fleet of Compagnie du Ponant since May 2011. The vessel was built with French style in the well-known Italian shipyard Fincantieri, the design was made by Jean-Philippe Nuel. The mega-yacht has 132 cabins and represents the view of the company - unique atmosphere, luxury and intimacy.

Decks and Cabins

Ponant L'Austral staterooms (132 total, in 9 categories) are predominantly Prestige cabins (92) sized 205 ft2 / 19 m2, with step-out balconies 45 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest is the Owners Suite (485 ft2 / 45 m2 plus 95 ft2 / 9 m2 terrace). All staterooms have been decorated by French designers and offer 5-star hotel amenities, including smart HDTVs, DVD-CD player, minibar, King-size beds, contemporary furniture.

The boat has 7 decks, of which 6 passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins (33 suites plus 99 cabins).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

L’Austral cruise ship is small enough and provides a truly intimate experience. This special yacht is ideally suited to visit ports of call that bigger ships cannot reach. Onboard restaurants are two - the casual Le Grill and the Gastronomic restaurant (MDR-main dining room serving international and French cuisine). 

Follows the complete list of L'Austral restaurants and food bars.

• Gastronomic Restaurant (“Le Coromandel”, 268-seat, ship’s MDR; serves International upscale cuisine; offers open-seating dining, with buffet-style breakfast and lunch, the waiter served dinner)
• Grill Restaurant (“Le Rodrigues”, offers open-seating buffet breakfast and lunch, served dinner; has an outdoor seating area).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

L’Austral represents indubitably, luxury, the French style, the combination of tradition and innovations. The vessel is elegant and combines a balance between chic and casual. L’Austral has three lounges with bars and evening entertainment. Le Theatre hosts informative lectures. The yacht has one pool, a library, and an internet station. Alongside this, L’Austral also boasts a beauty center, spa and fitness equipment.

Follows the complete list of L'Austral lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• The Marina (water sports platform; offers mostly swimming; it is used only when L’Austral is anchored and the sea is calm)
• L’Austral Atrium (2-deck high open-floor area; features a chandelier with Swarovski crystals)
• Main Lounge (“Karikal Lounge”, with large-size LED screen and floor-ceiling windows; offers early breakfast, specialty teas and coffees, Afternoon Tea complemented with gourmet cookies and fine chocolates; evening entertainment features live performances by resident singer and pianist and an art auction, once per L’Austral cruise; the outdoor aft terrace is the only smoking area on board)
• Boutique Shop (designer clothing, luxury jewelry, Ponant logo merchandise, special occasion gifts)
• Theatre (main show lounge for music and dance shows)
• Wellness Centre (Spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, Massage Room, Beauty Corner, Hair Salon, Shower Room, Relaxation Room, a spacious terrace)
• The Fitness (gym room with panoramic windows) 
• Leisure Area (has a small kids playroom, Photo Gallery, Image & Photo desk via a partnership with Philippe Plisson, and Internet stations)
• Image and Photo Desk
• Swimming pool’s sunbathing area (with luxury loungers)
• Panoramic Lounge and Bar (with an Internet corner, grand piano, Library, “Panoramic Terrace” - served by the Panoramic Bar, it is the ship’s late-night “disco”)
• Sun Deck (open-air sunbathing area, served by the “Le Comptoir” bar, with luxury loungers, padded chairs, showers, deck games - Shuffleboard, Golf Driving Net, 9-hole Mini-Golf)
• Zodiacs (inflatable boats).

Itineraries

L'Austral itinerary program is based on Alaska and Antarctica cruises. The ship also operates in Asia with departures from Japan and China, and in the South Pacific leaving from French Polynesia/Tahiti, Australia, and New Zealand.

L'Austral cruise ship is the second in a three megayachts series commissioned by the Compagnie du Ponant line, with sistersships Le Boreal (2010), Le Soleal (2013), and Le Lyrial (2015). Compagnie du Ponant is originally French-owned, aimed exclusively at the French cruising market. In 2006, the company was acquired by the CMA CGM (a cargo shipping giant) and in 2012 was sold on to Bridgepoint Capital (pan-European equity investor). With the launch of the three new cruise ships, Compagnie du Ponant has been targeting an international market, though the essence of its product remains unchanged, with strong French influence.

The L’Austral ship differs from other luxury cruise vessels with adventurous itineraries. The three sisters have ice-strengthened hulls and can sail in the Arctic and Antarctica regions. Each of them carries a fleet of Zodiacs for sightseeing. The Ponant company emphasizes on coastal cruising, long days in port, and late departures.

The vessel is a certified "Cleanship" (like the sisterships), featuring a modern marine propulsion system. It provides smooth and quiet navigation by creating reduced engine noise and little vibration. The modern vessel positioning system eliminates the need for the ship to anchor in order to remain stable, thus preventing contacts with seabeds in environmentally sensitive areas, such as coral reefs.