Cruiseable Plan my cruise

Ship comparison

Le Bougainville vs Le Jacques Cartier

The verdict

Which should you choose?

Le Bougainville is an intimate Ponant Cruises ship carrying 184 passengers, in service since 2019. Le Jacques Cartier is an intimate Ponant Cruises ship carrying 184 passengers, in service since 2020.

Choose Le Bougainville if you want a better-rated spa and gym or better-rated staterooms: it outscores Le Jacques Cartier for spa & fitness (7.0 vs 6.0) and staterooms (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.

Choose Le Jacques Cartier if you want a lower starting fare: its cruises start from $1,480 (vs $4,180).

Side by side

Specifications

marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.

Le BougainvilleLe Jacques Cartier
Cruise line Ponant Cruises Ponant Cruises
Ship size Intimate Intimate
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted 2019 2020 (better)
Gross tonnage 9,900 9,976
Passengers 184 184
Crew 110 112
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better 1.7 1.6 (better)
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 53.8 54.2 (better)
Decks 6 7
Length 430 ft 430 ft
Beam 59 ft 59 ft
Speed 14 mph 14 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 7 / 10 9 / 10 (better)
Cruises on sale 40 33
Upcoming sailings 53 53
Cruise lengths 4–12 nights 3–16 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $4,180 $1,480 (better)

Bliss scores

How they rate, out of 10

Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Le Bougainville leads on 2 of the ten, Le Jacques Cartier on 0, with 8 level.

  • Active Le Bougainville: 7.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 7.0
  • Adventure & nature Le Bougainville: 7.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 7.0
  • Cultural Le Bougainville: 7.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 7.0
  • Dining Le Bougainville: 8.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 8.0
  • Entertainment Le Bougainville: 5.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 5.0
  • Family friendly Le Bougainville: 5.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 5.0
  • Party Le Bougainville: 5.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 5.0
  • Romantic Le Bougainville: 8.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 8.0
  • Spa & fitness Le Bougainville: 7.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 6.0
  • Staterooms Le Bougainville: 7.0 Le Jacques Cartier: 6.0

Ponant Cruises

Le Bougainville

Featuring innovative and environmentally friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows and lounge areas that open onto the outside, Le Bougainville launched in August 2019 as one of the new luxury expedition yachts from France-based Ponant cruise line.

Sailing now

40 cruises on sale, from $4,180.

Ponant Cruises

Le Jacques Cartier

The 184-passenger Le Jacques Cartier expedition ship from Ponant debuted in July 2020 and offers a superior small-ship cruising experience, complete with stylish interior and exterior spaces, state-of-the-art technology aimed at sustainability, and boutique staterooms and comfortable suites with large windows and either a private balcony…

Sailing now

33 cruises on sale, from $1,480.

Questions

Le Bougainville or Le Jacques Cartier?

Which is bigger, Le Bougainville or Le Jacques Cartier?

Le Jacques Cartier is bigger at 9,976 gross tons, against 9,900 gross tons for Le Bougainville. Le Bougainville carries 184 passengers and Le Jacques Cartier carries 184.

Which ship is newer, Le Bougainville or Le Jacques Cartier?

Le Jacques Cartier is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2020 against 2019 for Le Bougainville.

Which has more space per passenger?

Le Jacques Cartier, with 54.2 gross tons per passenger against 53.8 on Le Bougainville. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

Which has more crew per passenger?

Le Jacques Cartier, with one crew member for every 1.6 passengers against one for every 1.7 on Le Bougainville.

Which is better for families?

They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10.

Still deciding?

Tell us what matters and we will match the sailing

Send your dates, budget and who is travelling, and our partner travel agency will come back to you about Le Bougainville, Le Jacques Cartier or a ship that suits you better.

Plan my cruise

Compare different ships