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Ship comparison

Le Bougainville vs Scenic Pearl

The verdict

Which should you choose?

Le Bougainville is an intimate Ponant Cruises ship carrying 184 passengers, in service since 2019. Scenic Pearl is an intimate Scenic ship carrying 167 passengers, in service since 2011.

Choose Le Bougainville if you want more space per passenger, more crew per passenger or a more family-friendly ship: it outscores Scenic Pearl for family friendly (5.0 vs 2.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it has 53.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 16.3) and it has a crew member for every 1.7 passengers (vs 3.3).

Choose Scenic Pearl if you want better-rated staterooms, a more active cruise or more cruises to choose from: it outscores Le Bougainville for staterooms (9.0 vs 7.0) and active (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 63 cruises on sale (vs 5).

Side by side

Specifications

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

Le BougainvilleScenic Pearl
Cruise line Ponant Cruises Scenic
Ship size Intimate Intimate
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted 2019 (better) 2011
Gross tonnage 9,900 2,721
Passengers 184 167
Crew 110 51
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better 1.7 (better) 3.3
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 53.8 (better) 16.3
Decks 6 4
Length 430 ft 442 ft
Beam 59 ft 38 ft
Speed 14 mph 14 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 7 / 10 8 / 10 (better)
Cruises on sale 5 63
Upcoming sailings 11 125
Cruise lengths 9 to 11 nights 7 to 34 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted — $3,088

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 4 of the ten, Scenic Pearl on 2, with 4 level.

  • Active Le Bougainville: 7.0 Scenic Pearl: 8.0
  • Adventure & nature Le Bougainville: 7.0 Scenic Pearl: 7.0
  • Cultural Le Bougainville: 7.0 Scenic Pearl: 4.0
  • Dining Le Bougainville: 8.0 Scenic Pearl: 8.0
  • Entertainment Le Bougainville: 5.0 Scenic Pearl: 4.0
  • Family friendly Le Bougainville: 5.0 Scenic Pearl: 2.0
  • Party Le Bougainville: 5.0 Scenic Pearl: 5.0
  • Romantic Le Bougainville: 8.0 Scenic Pearl: 8.0
  • Spa & fitness Le Bougainville: 7.0 Scenic Pearl: 6.0
  • Staterooms Le Bougainville: 7.0 Scenic Pearl: 9.0

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

5 cruises on sale.

Scenic

Scenic Pearl

The luxury river ship Scenic Pearl from the Scenic fleet voyages is the ideal ship for taking in the Black Sea via a scenic river cruise. The ship features luxury suites with large private balconies and "Sun Lounges," HDTVs linked to Mac mini computers and complimentary Wi-Fi access.

Highlights

  • "Space ship" layout, giving passengers plenty of room to wander & enjoy the scenery
  • Balconies and "Sun Lounge" in most staterooms
  • Plenty of dining options from informal to elegant

Sailing now

63 cruises on sale, from $3,088.

Questions

Le Bougainville or Scenic Pearl?

Which is bigger, Le Bougainville or Scenic Pearl?

Le Bougainville is bigger at 9,900 gross tons, against 2,721 gross tons for Scenic Pearl. Le Bougainville carries 184 passengers and Scenic Pearl carries 167.

Which ship is newer, Le Bougainville or Scenic Pearl?

Le Bougainville is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2019 against 2011 for Scenic Pearl.

Which has more space per passenger?

Le Bougainville, with 53.8 gross tons per passenger against 16.3 on Scenic Pearl. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

Which has more crew per passenger?

Le Bougainville, with one crew member for every 1.7 passengers against one for every 3.3 on Scenic Pearl.

Which is better for families?

Le Bougainville scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10, against 2.0 for Scenic Pearl.

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