Ponant Cruises
L'Austral
- Cruises
- 44
- From
- $1,760
Ship comparison
L'Austral vs Silver Cloud
Silversea
Silver Cloud
- Cruises
- 21
- From
- $10,250
The verdict
Which should you choose?
L'Austral is a small Ponant Cruises ship carrying 264 passengers, in service since 2011. Silver Cloud is a small Silversea ship carrying 254 passengers, in service since 1994.
Choose L'Austral if you want more of a party, a newer ship or a lower starting fare: it outscores Silver Cloud for party (5.0 vs 0.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its maiden voyage was in 2011 (vs 1994) and its cruises start from $1,760 (vs $10,250).
Choose Silver Cloud if you want more space per passenger, more crew per passenger or better-rated entertainment: it outscores L'Austral for entertainment (7.4 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it has 66.1 gross tons per passenger (vs 41.5) and it has a crew member for every 1.1 passengers (vs 1.9).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| L'Austral | Silver Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Ponant Cruises | Silversea |
| Ship size | Small | Small |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2011 (better) | 1994 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2017 |
| Gross tonnage | 10,944 | 16,800 |
| Passengers | 264 | 254 |
| Crew | 139 | 222 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.9 | 1.1 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 41.5 | 66.1 (better) |
| Cabins | 132 | — |
| Decks | 6 | 9 |
| Length | 465 ft | 514 ft |
| Beam | 59 ft | 71 ft |
| Speed | — | 21 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 44 | 21 |
| Upcoming sailings | 57 | 29 |
| Cruise lengths | 5–19 nights | 9–23 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $1,760 (better) | $10,250 |
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, Silver Cloud on 7, with 1 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.
Silversea
Silver Cloud
Silver Cloud debuted as Silversea's first ship back in 1994. But the ship received a $40 million makeover in 2017 and a relaunch as an expedition ship.
Highlights
- Gaming in the onboard casino
- Relaxing spa services at the Spa at Silversea
- Enjoying a book in the library
- Swimming in the temperature-controlled pool
Sailing now
21 cruises on sale, from $10,250.
Questions
L'Austral or Silver Cloud?
Which is bigger, L'Austral or Silver Cloud?
Silver Cloud is bigger at 16,800 gross tons, against 10,944 gross tons for L'Austral. L'Austral carries 264 passengers and Silver Cloud carries 254.
Which ship is newer, L'Austral or Silver Cloud?
L'Austral is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2011 against 1994 for Silver Cloud.
Which has more space per passenger?
Silver Cloud, with 66.1 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?
Silver Cloud, with one crew member for every 1.1 passengers against one for every 1.9 on L'Austral.
Which is better for families?
L'Austral scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 4.0 out of 10, against 2.0 for Silver Cloud.
Still deciding?
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