Ponant Cruises
L'Austral
- Cruises
- 44
- From
- $1,760
Ship comparison
L'Austral vs Silver Wind
Silversea
Silver Wind
- Cruises
- 42
- From
- $8,900
The verdict
Which should you choose?
L'Austral is a small Ponant Cruises ship carrying 264 passengers, in service since 2011. Silver Wind is a small Silversea ship carrying 274 passengers, in service since 1995.
Choose L'Austral if you want more of a party, a newer ship or a lower starting fare: it outscores Silver Wind for party (5.0 vs 0.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its maiden voyage was in 2011 (vs 1995) and its cruises start from $1,760 (vs $8,900).
Choose Silver Wind if you want more space per passenger, more crew per passenger or better-rated dining: it outscores L'Austral for dining (10.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it has 63.5 gross tons per passenger (vs 41.5) and it has a crew member for every 1.2 passengers (vs 1.9).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| L'Austral | Silver Wind | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Ponant Cruises | Silversea |
| Ship size | Small | Small |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2011 (better) | 1995 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2021 |
| Gross tonnage | 10,944 | 17,400 |
| Passengers | 264 | 274 |
| Crew | 139 | 222 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.9 | 1.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 41.5 | 63.5 (better) |
| Cabins | 132 | — |
| Decks | 6 | 7 |
| Length | 465 ft | 514 ft |
| Beam | 59 ft | 70 ft |
| Speed | — | 21 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 44 | 42 |
| Upcoming sailings | 57 | 72 |
| Cruise lengths | 5–19 nights | 6–27 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $1,760 (better) | $8,900 |
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 3 of the ten, Silver Wind on 5, with 2 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 Wind
The 274-passenger Silver Wind was converted in summer 2021 into a luxury ice-class ship, the fourth expedition ship in the Silversea fleet.
Highlights
- Gaming in the onboard casino
- Cocktails with a view in the Panorama Lounge
- Full-scale productions in the Show Lounge
- High-end shopping in the onboard boutiques.
Sailing now
42 cruises on sale, from $8,900.
Questions
L'Austral or Silver Wind?
Which is bigger, L'Austral or Silver Wind?
Silver Wind is bigger at 17,400 gross tons, against 10,944 gross tons for L'Austral. L'Austral carries 264 passengers and Silver Wind carries 274.
Which ship is newer, L'Austral or Silver Wind?
L'Austral is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2011 against 1995 for Silver Wind.
Which has more space per passenger?
Silver Wind, with 63.5 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 Wind, with one crew member for every 1.2 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 Wind.
Still deciding?
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