Ponant Cruises
L'Austral
- Cruises
- 44
- From
- $1,760
Ship comparison
L'Austral vs Seabourn Pursuit
Seabourn
Seabourn Pursuit
- Cruises
- 70
- From
- $4,999
The verdict
Which should you choose?
L'Austral is a small Ponant Cruises ship carrying 264 passengers, in service since 2011. Seabourn Pursuit is a small Seabourn ship carrying 264 passengers, in service since 2023.
Choose L'Austral if you want better-rated dining, a lower starting fare or more culture: it outscores Seabourn Pursuit for dining (8.0 vs 3.0) and cultural (7.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $1,760 (vs $4,999).
Choose Seabourn Pursuit if you want more space per passenger, a newer ship or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores L'Austral for spa & fitness (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it has 87.1 gross tons per passenger (vs 41.5) and its maiden voyage was in 2023 (vs 2011).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| L'Austral | Seabourn Pursuit | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Ponant Cruises | Seabourn |
| Ship size | Small | Small |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2011 | 2023 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 10,944 | 23,004 |
| Passengers | 264 | 264 |
| Crew | 139 | 120 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.9 (better) | 2.2 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 41.5 | 87.1 (better) |
| Cabins | 132 | — |
| Decks | 6 | 10 |
| Length | 465 ft | 558 ft |
| Beam | 59 ft | 85 ft |
| Speed | — | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 44 | 70 |
| Upcoming sailings | 57 | 99 |
| Cruise lengths | 5–19 nights | 8–82 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $1,760 (better) | $4,999 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. L'Austral leads on 2 of the ten, Seabourn Pursuit on 3, with 5 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Ponant Cruises
L'Austral
Launched in 2011, L’Austral from France-based Ponant provides an intimate, luxurious cruise experience. Her small size makes her ideally suited for visiting ports that bigger ships can’t reach.
Highlights
- Three lounges offering evening entertainment, bars and access to the open decks
- Suites featuring ocean views and private balconies
- Multiple observation areas
- French sophistication at every turn
Sailing now
44 cruises on sale, from $1,760.
Seabourn
Seabourn Pursuit
The ultra-luxury expedition ship Seabourn Pursuit debuted in August 2023 with 24 Zodiacs, kayaks and two custom-built submarines, all the better to explore the remote terrain of the South Pacific, Antarctica and spots far off the beaten track.
Sailing now
70 cruises on sale, from $4,999.
Questions
L'Austral or Seabourn Pursuit?
Which is bigger, L'Austral or Seabourn Pursuit?
Seabourn Pursuit is bigger at 23,004 gross tons, against 10,944 gross tons for L'Austral. L'Austral carries 264 passengers and Seabourn Pursuit carries 264.
Which ship is newer, L'Austral or Seabourn Pursuit?
Seabourn Pursuit is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2023 against 2011 for L'Austral.
Which has more space per passenger?
Seabourn Pursuit, with 87.1 gross tons per passenger against 41.5 on L'Austral. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
L'Austral, with one crew member for every 1.9 passengers against one for every 2.2 on Seabourn Pursuit.
Which is better for families?
Seabourn Pursuit scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10, against 4.0 for L'Austral.
Still deciding?
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