Sarina Bratton: More ships with ‘sexy French feel’ on the way

Bratton was speaking to industry partners and media aboard Le Soléal in Sydney Saturday when, as reported here, four luxury ships—including Azamara Quest, Silver Whisper and Seabourn Odyssey—were in port.

 

The 142mtr Le Soléal made history by sharing the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay with the 180mtr Azamara Quest to make a dual berthing for the first time since it opened in December 1960.

 

Bratton, who was celebrating the second anniversary of the opening of Ponant’s dedicated office in Sydney, was speaking to guests on a tour of Le Soléal which arrived Saturday morning from New Zealand and sailed that night for Fraser Island, Hardy Reef, Willis Island, Lizard Island, Cairns and Darwin en route to Hong Kong via Asmat in the Papua province of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

 

Bratton said the boutique cruise operator founded in 1988 by Jean-Emmanuel Sauvee and acquired in 2015 by Artemis, the holding company of Francois Pinault whose luxury labels include Gucci, said Ponant will announce its expansion plans in the near future.

 

‘Watch this space,’ Bratton said.