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Ponant Cruises

Le Bougainville

Intimate ship Bliss scored

Featuring innovative and environmentally friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows and lounge areas that open onto the outside, Le Bougainville is an upcoming luxury expedition yacht from France-based Ponant cruise line…

  • 184guests
  • 9,900gross tons
  • 40cruises now
  • $4,180fares from

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The 184-passenger boutique ship Le Bougainville from Ponant offers sailings to charming out-of-the-way destinations.

At a glance

Le Bougainville is an intimate-size cruise ship operated by Ponant Cruises, in service since 2019. It carries 184 guests and 110 crew (1.7 guests per crew member) at 9,900 gross tons. It ties with 5 other ships as the 6th largest of 12 Ponant Cruises ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for dining and romantic (8/10) and lowest for entertainment, family friendly and party (5/10). It is rated 3.5 out of 5 by Cruiseable. It has 40 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $4,180 to $10,140.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable
3.5 / 5
Guests
184
Crew
110
Gross tons
9,900
Decks
6
Length
430 ft
Beam
59 ft
Maiden voyage
2019
Space ratio
1.7
Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew
1.7
Speed (mph)
14
IMO
9814040

Bliss scores

What Le Bougainville 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.

  1. Active 7.0
  2. Adventure and nature 7.0
  3. Cultural 7.0
  4. Dining 8.0
  5. Entertainment 5.0
  6. Family friendly 5.0
  7. Party 5.0
  8. Romantic 8.0
  9. Spa and fitness 7.0
  10. Staterooms 7.0

Our review

Le Bougainville: Intimate sailings on Ponant's stylish expedition ship

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.

The pretty little ship holds just 184 passengers in 92 cabins and suites, making voyages a friendlier, more intimate experience.

Le Bougainville's sleek design allows access to smaller ports for exploration of hidden gems not accessible to larger vessels. Featuring two restaurants, two lounges including an open-air poolside bar, a pool equipped with a counter-current swimming system, solarium, theater, fitness center, spa and plenty of private space for reflection and relaxation, this lovely ship offers an upscale small-ship experience with an international vibe.

Following in the steps of twin sister ships Le Laperouse and Le Champlain, Le Bougainville embodies the qualities for which Ponant is known: sophisticated styling, innovative green technology and attentive service. We've heard complaints from some passengers about poor translations and communication during public announcements on some sailings, which Ponant is addressing.

Where Le Bougainville sails

Le Bougainville sails around the Mediterranean — including the Aegean and Black Sea to the east and Iberian region to the west — as well as more farflung corners of the globe, including the Seychelles, Madagascar and Arabian Gulf. The expedition vessel, part of Ponant's Explorers Class, will include polar expeditions at some point.

Read the full review

Dining on board

Modern French cuisine takes center stage during a sailing on Le Bougainville. Dining venues include:

  • A restaurant on deck 3 that seats 70 in a relaxed atmosphere. The venue serves grilled meats, along with various salads and desserts.
  • At the rear of deck 4, passengers will find a sprawling 2,800-square-foot panoramic restaurant, capable of accommodating all passengers in single sitting. This venue, with an opening to the outside, features a buffet of salads, cheeses and desserts. The attentive crew provides table service for hot meals.

 

Le Bougainville comes with a multi-sensory underwater space called Blue Eye.

Entertainment & amenities

Le Bougainville boast an assortment of lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for adults, teens and children, including:

  • A retractable marina water sports platform, used when the ship is anchored and the sea is calm, has adjustable heights that allow for easy access to the sea for swimming, water sports and embarkation/disembarkation for on-shore excursions.
  • A swimming pool with luxury loungers
  • The Atrium, a two-deck-high open-floor area featuring a chandelier with Swarovski crystals
  • A 2,150-square-foot Main Lounge with a large LED screen and floor to ceiling windows. Evening entertainment features live performances by a resident singer and pianist and an art auction once per Le Bougainville cruise.
  • A 188-seat theater for music and dance shows
  • Wellness Center offering a Spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, Massage Room, Beauty Corner, Hair Salon, Shower Room, Relaxation Room and spacious terrace
  • Fitness center with panoramic windows
  • Leisure Area offering a playroom for small kids playroom as well as Internet stations
  • Panoramic Lounge & Bar with an Internet corner, grand piano, library, Panoramic Terrace and Panoramic Bar, the ship’s late-night disco
  • Sun Deck with bar, luxury loungers, padded chairs and deck games, including shuffleboard, golf driving net and 9-hole mini-golf

Staterooms

Le Bougainville features two standard cabin categories: Prestige and Deluxe, at 204 to 296 square feet. Suites range from 296 to 484 square feet and feature large windows and lounge areas that open onto the outside. Most suites come with private balconies. Privilege Suites have a bathtub and can hold up to four people. Grand Deluxe Suites also have bathtubs and can accommodate two passengers.

Decorated by French designers, staterooms offer individually controlled air conditioning and two twin beds that convert to a queen-size bed and come equipped with video on demand, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, electronic safe, hair dryer, iPod Dock and minibar. Room service is available 24 hours per day.

Fun fact

Each ship in the new expedition class pays homage to a famous French explorer — in this case, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, who took part in the American Revolutionary War against Britain.

Your take

How about you? Are you planning to cruise on one of Ponant's new luxury expedition yachts? Let us know!

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

If you're interested in a cruise on Le Bougainville, contact a Cruiseable travel advisor at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. You'll get a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.

SEE ALL LE BOUGAINVILLE SAILINGS

Photos

Inside and out

Dining 1

  •  Dining is a gastronomical experience on Ponant voyages.
    Dining is a gastronomical experience on Ponant voyages.

Ship exteriors 1

  • Guests can use complimentary water sports equipment such as kayaks launched from the marina of Le Bougainville.
    Guests can use complimentary water sports equipment such as kayaks launched from the marina of Le Bougainville.

More photos 5

  • The 184-passenger boutique ship Le Bougainville from Ponant offers sailings to charming out-of-the-way destinations.
    The 184-passenger boutique ship Le Bougainville from Ponant offers sailings to charming out-of-the-way destinations.
  • The expedition ship Le Bougainville makes its debut off the coast of Marseille, France.
    The expedition ship Le Bougainville makes its debut off the coast of Marseille, France.
  • A reindeer seen on a Ponant polar expedition to the arctic.
    A reindeer seen on a Ponant polar expedition to the arctic.
  • Polar bears seen on a Ponant expedition sailing to the arctic.
    Polar bears seen on a Ponant expedition sailing to the arctic.
  • An aurora borealis seen off Victoria Island during a Ponant cruise.
    An aurora borealis seen off Victoria Island during a Ponant cruise.

Sailing now

Cruises on Le Bougainville

Plan my cruise
  1. 10 Night Ancient Shores of the Mediterranean 10 nights · from Valletta Next Oct 31, 2026 from $9,780
  2. 5 Night Andalusia and Moroccan Shores 5 nights · from Malaga, Costa Del Sol Next Nov 10, 2026 2 dates from $4,410
  3. 12 Night Ocean Voyage Cadiz to Fort de France 12 nights · from Cadiz Next Dec 4, 2026 from $4,960
  4. 7 Night Caribbean Flavors 7 nights · from Fort De France Next Dec 16, 2026 from $6,350
  5. 7 Night Renaud Capucons Caribbean Celebration Fifty Years in Paradise 7 nights · from Fort De France Next Dec 23, 2026 from $8,360
  6. 7 Night Pearls of the Caribbean 7 nights · from Fort De France Next Dec 30, 2026 4 dates from $5,910
  7. 7 Night Wonders of the Caribbean 7 nights · from Fort De France Next Jan 13, 2027 2 dates from $6,510
  8. 7 Night Wonders of the Caribbean 7 nights · from Fort De France Next Feb 10, 2027 from $5,910
  9. 7 Night Cruising the Caribbeans Windward Islands with Smithsonian Journeys 7 nights · from Vieux Fort Next Feb 17, 2027 from $7,980
  10. 7 Night Pearls of the Caribbean 7 nights · from Vieux Fort Next Feb 24, 2027 4 dates from $5,310
  11. 7 Night Authentic Mediterranean Shores 7 nights · from Valletta Next Apr 8, 2027 from $5,940
  12. 8 Night 6th Opera Festival at Sea with Benjamin Bernheim 8 nights · from Valletta Next May 13, 2027 from $9,970
Show 28 more
  1. 10 Night Jewels of the Italian Coastlines 10 nights · from Venice Next Jun 11, 2027 from $9,960
  2. 10 Night Hidden Gems of the Western Mediterranean 10 nights · from Nice Next Jun 21, 2027 from $8,490
  3. 8 Night Wandering the Mediterranean 8 nights · from Athens (Piraeus) Next Jul 31, 2027 from $8,360
  4. 4 Night Break between Provence and Catalonia 4 nights · from Nice Next Aug 8, 2027 from $4,380
  5. 7 Night Cruising the Mediterranean Sicily Sardinia and Mallorca with Smithsonian Journeys 7 nights · from Tarragona Next Aug 12, 2027 from $7,100
  6. 8 Night From Malta to the Shores of the Adriatic 8 nights · from Valletta Next Aug 19, 2027 from $7,190
  7. 9 Night Ancient Shores of the Mediterranean 9 nights · from Valletta Next Oct 30, 2027 from $8,080
  8. 12 Night Ocean Voyage Malaga to Fort de France 12 nights · from Malaga, Costa Del Sol Next Nov 8, 2027 from $4,590
  9. 12 Night Panama Colombia and Caribbean Islands 12 nights · from Fort De France Next Nov 20, 2027 Fare on request
  10. 10 Night Secrets of Central America 10 nights · from Colon Next Dec 2, 2027 from $8,640
  11. 7 Night Pacific Coast of Costa Rica 7 nights · from Puntarenas Next Dec 12, 2027 from $5,540
  12. 10 Night Secrets of Central America 10 nights · from Puntarenas Next Dec 19, 2027 from $8,640
  13. 7 Night Central Americas Jewels and Panama Canal 7 nights · from Colon Next Dec 29, 2027 from $6,050
  14. 7 Night Central Americas Jewels and Panama Canal 7 nights · from Puntarenas Next Jan 5, 2028 Fare on request
  15. 7 Night Panama and Costa Rica by Sea the Natural Wonders of Central America with Smithsonian Journeys 7 nights · from Colon Next Jan 12, 2028 from $7,100
  16. 7 Night Costa Rica by Sea Wildlife and Rainforests of the Pacific Coast with Smithsonian Journeys 7 nights · from Puntarenas Next Feb 16, 2028 from $6,930
  17. 10 Night Secrets of Central America 10 nights · from Puntarenas Next Feb 23, 2028 from $10,140
  18. 12 Night Panama Colombia and Caribbean Islands 12 nights · from Colon Next Mar 4, 2028 from $9,250
  19. 8 Night 13th Piano Festival at Sea 8 nights · from Malaga, Costa Del Sol Next Mar 29, 2028 from $8,140
  20. 11 Night Culture and Islands of the Mediterranean 11 nights · from Tarragona Next Apr 6, 2028 from $9,200
  21. 9 Night From Malta to the Shores of the Adriatic 9 nights · from Valletta Next May 15, 2028 from $8,470
  22. 8 Night Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea Venice to Athens with Smithsonian Journeys 8 nights · from Venice Next Jun 14, 2028 from $8,650
  23. 7 Night At the Heart of the Greek Islands 7 nights · from Athens (Piraeus) Next Jun 22, 2028 6 dates from $5,860
  24. 11 Night Escapade between Greek Islands and Italian Treasures 11 nights · from Athens (Piraeus) Next Aug 3, 2028 from $9,770
  25. 5 Night Historic Cities and Mediterranean Shores 5 nights · from Palermo Next Aug 14, 2028 from $4,180
  26. 5 Night Tuscany Liguria and the French Riviera 5 nights · from Civitavecchia Next Aug 19, 2028 from $4,440
  27. 5 Night Corsica and the French Riviera 5 nights · from Nice Next Aug 24, 2028 from $4,440
  28. 9 Night Isle of Beauty Italian Shores and Malta 9 nights · from Nice Next Aug 29, 2028 from $8,000

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