Ponant's full 12-ship fleet is back in service, summer 80% booked

On May 28, Le Soléal became the last in the fleet to resume operation, embarking from Darwin on a cruise to Australia's Kimberley.

More last-minute bookings

As different regions emerge from the health crisis, Ponant reports shorter booking windows and an increase in last-minute bookings. The company also reports high guest satisfaction scores.

'Our customers are expressing a strong desire to travel. Bookings are steadily coming in again with requests for quotes up compared to 2019 and a higher conversion rate,' said Hervé Bellaïche, chief sales, marketing & communication officer at Ponant.

Masks are no longer required onboard but are recommended. Masks are still compulsory where required by local authorities.

Explore to inspire

This year, Ponant has a new 'Explore to inspire' initiative, affirming its commitment to offer inspiring and meaningful voyages for a discerning clientele with environmental awareness.

'"Explore to inspire" embodies our philosophy to travel with a purpose,' said Ponant CEO Hervé Gastinel. 'Explore to better understand, learn, share and protect is the very essence of our values. Small capacity ships, eco-design, slow travel, an awakening to knowledge, and working closely with local players are the ingredients of tomorrow’s cruise model as exemplified by Ponant.'