Ponant is close to being sold as US and Australia markets boost results

'At mid-September, we were already ahead of our 2015 targets and have already booked 80% of our 2016 budget,' underlines Hervé Bellaiche, commercial and marketing deputy general manager.

Whilst the company's French clientele is increasing rapidly a couple of other source markets are also expanding, he noted.

'Since the acquisition last year of New-York based Travel Dynamics, considered as a leader for cultural cruises in the North American market, we have great

expectations and ambitions for this division now operating under the Ponant name and offering special packages for English-speaking passengers,' comments Bellaiche.

'Our company has a French origin, sails under French flag and promotes French culture, but we have an international dimension,' he added.

Both French and English are used on-board our ships and all films are subtitled,  excursions are conducted for both languages, even if there is only one English-speaking passenger.

Ponant, which operates a fleet of five luxury ships, has increased its staffing levels in the US to 30, 'increasing five-fold our strike force there', Bellaiche remarks.

Australia is the other source market on the rise: 'it has a very strong potential and we will intensify our sphere of activity there.'