L'Austral
Small ship Bliss scored
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. L'Austral sports six decks and 132 sophisticated staterooms decorated by French…
- 264guests
- 10,944gross tons
- 0cruises now
At a glance
L'Austral is a small-size cruise ship operated by Ponant Cruises, in service since 2011. It carries 264 guests and 139 crew (1.9 guests per crew member) at 10,944 gross tons. It ties with 3 other ships as the 2nd largest of 12 Ponant Cruises ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for adventure & nature (10/10) and lowest for family friendly (4/10).
Builder's plate
Specs
- Guests
- 264
- Crew
- 139
- Gross tons
- 10,944
- Decks
- 6
- Length
- 465 ft
- Beam
- 59 ft
- Maiden voyage
- 2011
- Space ratio
- 1.9
- Gross tons per guest
- Guests per crew
- 1.9
- Staterooms
- 132
- IMO
- 9502518
Bliss scores
What L'Austral is best at
Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.
- Active 9.0
- Adventure and nature 10.0
- Cultural 7.0
- Dining 8.0
- Entertainment 5.0
- Family friendly 4.0
- Party 5.0
- Romantic 8.0
- Spa and fitness 7.0
- Staterooms 7.0
Our review
L'Austral: Luxury expedition cruising from Ponant
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. L’Austral sports six decks and 132 sophisticated staterooms decorated by French designers, all of which have ocean views and a majority of which feature private balconies.
On board you'll find a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and opportunities for well-being, starting with a sleek silhouette softened by elegantly smooth contours and large, arched windows opening up to the sea and the light. The design blends tradition and innovation in a way that contributes to an upscale nautical mood, combining to make you feel as if you are on your own private yacht.
Languages spoken on board are English and French. The crew is bilingual, with many of the service staff from Asia.
Where L’Austral sails
The 264-passenger L'Austral from Ponant offers comfortable sailings to Antarctica and the Arctic regions. Along the way, you'll encounter unique itineraries with ports inaccessible to large ships, chic and elegant yacht-like ambiance, refined and personalized service as well as refined French cuisine.
In addition to Ponant cruises, L’Austral also sails as part of the Tauck fleet a few weeks a year, to Iceland, Scandinavia, St. Petersburg, the Baltic Sea, Antarctica and Southeast Asia.
Read the full review
An all-inclusive experience
Here is what is included in your fare: all drinks, table wine for lunch and dinner, bottled mineral water, port charges and Zodiac excursions when the ship operates special expedition-style cruises.
Here is what is not included: gratuities, Wi-Fi and spa treatments.
Dining & amenities
- Le Restaurant Gastronomique, the elegant main dining room serving French and international cuisine
- Casual Le Grill Restaurant
- Three lounges offering evening entertainment, bars and access to the open decks
- Le Théâtre hosting informative lectures and entertainment
- Fitness and beauty corner
- Medical center
- Multiple observation areas
Staterooms
- Staterooms range in size from 200 to 210 sq. ft.
- Suites range in size from 301 to 398 sq. ft.
- All suites have ocean views and 95% have private balconies
- Staterooms are decorated by French designers and offer individually controlled air conditioning, twin beds converting to a queen-size bed (or one queen bed)
- DVD/CD player
- Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
- Electronic safe
- Minibar
Your take
Have you cruised on L'Austral? What was the highlight? We'd love to hear about your experience.
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Interested in a cruise on this ship?
Interested in a cruise on Ponant's L'Austral? Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate at 1-877-322-3773 or by email.
On board highlights
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Panoramic Lounge
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Well-appointed suites
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Pool
Photos
Inside and out
Destinations 12
A humpback whale breaches the surface, seen on a Ponant cruise. Snorkel and scuba dive to see tropical fish up close as part of your Ponant cruise experience. The cityscape in Reykjavík, capital of Iceland. See nature in a whole new way on a Ponant luxury expedition cruise when you set sail on Le Boreal from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica. See the wonders of Antarctica on Ponant's Le Lyrial. Here's Bongrain Point on Pourquoi Pas Island. Cruise Ponant to Antarctica and get up close and personal with some king penguins. See whales close up on your Ponant cruise to Antarctica. Sail on a Ponant luxury expedition ship from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica. Sail from Argentina to Antarctice on Ponant's luxury expedition ship Le Lyrial. View king penguins on your Ponant cruise from Argentina to Antarctica. Get up close and personal with king penguins on your Ponant cruise to Antarctica. Watch orcas from the deck of a Ponant luxury expedition cruise from Argentina to Antarctica.
Dining 4
Enjoy refreshing sea and land views during al fresco dining on your Ponant cruise. Dine on French fusion cuisine, such as carpaccio of yellow fin tuna or pan-fried filet steak and finish your meal with panna cotta with red berry fruits on your Ponant sailing. Enjoy exquisite foods and well paired wines when dining al fresco on a Ponant cruise. Dining is a gastronomical experience on Ponant voyages.
On board 8
Sunset and a perfectly chilled glass of champagne make for a perfect vacation escape on a Ponant cruise. Stay fit while exploring new vistas on a Ponant cruise. Relax and meet new friends in the lounge on L'Austral, a luxury ship from Ponant. Relax poolside as your Ponant ship slips into small bays and secluded coves. Sip fine Champagne on deck with fellow shipmates as you leave port on deck on your Ponant cruise. Enjoy a good book + cool drink + sunshine on deck on your Ponant cruise. Relax by the pool on Ponant's luxury expedition ship L'Austral. Have a butler pamper yourself on a Ponant cruise with canapes on deck.
Staterooms 2
L'Austral, a Ponant yacht, features luxurious staterooms and first-class service. After a day of shore excursions you'll enjoy relaxing in your luxury cabin on Ponant's L'Austral.
More photos 6
The 264-passenger L'Austral from Ponant offers comfortable sailings to Antarctica and the Arctic regions. L'Austral and Le Boreal are among the luxury expedition ships from Ponant that visit Greenland. A penguin stands guardian as a Ponant expedition Zodiac passes by in Antarctica. Enjoy breakfast in bed in your suite when entering a new port on Ponant's L'Austral. Ponant's L'Austral en route to her next exotic destination. Enjoy scenic ports from the deck of a Ponant Yacht. Book a cruise on L'Austral today.
No cruises on L'Austral are on sale in this week's fares. Tell us when you want to sail and we will find you the closest match.
Side by side
Compare L'Austral with
- L'AustralvsLe Boreal
- L'AustralvsLe Lyrial
- L'AustralvsLe Soleal
- L'AustralvsLe Commandant Charcot
- L'AustralvsLe Champlain
- L'AustralvsSeabourn VentureSeabourn
- L'AustralvsSeabourn PursuitSeabourn
- L'AustralvsSilver WindSilversea
- L'AustralvsStar LegendWindstar Cruises
- L'AustralvsEvrimaThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Overheard
“One of three identical sister ships (the others are Le Boreal and Le Soleal) catering to French speakers, L’Austral (“South Wind”) is a gem of contemporary design — chic and uncluttered. With a dark gray hull and sleek white superstructure, it looks like a large private yacht rather than a traditional cruise ship.”
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