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Ponant Cruises

Le Soleal

Small ship Bliss scored

Le Soleal is the third ship from French luxury cruise line Ponant, specializing in smaller ships, also known as mega-yachts. With smaller ships, guests enjoy a higher staff to crew ratio, have simpler embark and debark procedures, and can visit smaller ports…

  • 264guests
  • 10,944gross tons
  • 1cruise now

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Ponant's Le Soleal has 132 cabins and suites for 264 passengers and 140 crew members.

At a glance

Le Soleal is a small-size cruise ship operated by Ponant Cruises, in service since 2013. It carries 264 guests and 140 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 cultural (10/10) and lowest for entertainment, family friendly, party and spa & fitness (5/10). It is rated 4 out of 5 by Cruiseable and 4 out of 5 by Berlitz. It has 1 cruise on sale.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable
4 / 5
Berlitz
4 / 5
Guests
264
Crew
140
Gross tons
10,944
Decks
6
Length
466 ft
Beam
59 ft
Maiden voyage
2013
Space ratio
1.9
Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew
1.9
Draft (feet)
16
IMO
9641675

Bliss scores

What Le Soleal 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 8.0
  3. Cultural 10.0
  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 5.0
  10. Staterooms 7.0

Our review

Le Soleal: Luxury cruises on a mega-yacht

Le Soleal is the third ship from French luxury cruise line Ponant, specializing in smaller ships, also known as mega-yachts. With smaller ships, guests  enjoy a higher staff to crew ratio, have simpler embark and debark procedures, and can visit smaller ports that do not have facilities for larger ships. Think of this more as a boutique experience.

Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 132 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, joined the fleet in July 2013. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the luxury yachting world, with fluid lines and a modern color scheme combining natural wood with shades of grey and white.

You can enjoy the wonderful French cuisine on your cruise, be pampered in the spa, and retain your workout schedule while sailing in style. The crew is English- and French-speaking with many service staff from Asia. 

Where Le Soleal sails

Le Soleal skips about to different regions of the Asia-Pacific region, from the South Pacifc, Australia and New Zealand to Japan and even Antarctica now and then. 

Read the full review
The staff on Le Soleal will cater to your every whim.
The staff on Le Soleal will cater to your every whim. François Lefebvre / Courtesy of Ponant

Your take

Have you cruised on Le Soleal? What was the highlight? We'd love to hear about your experience.

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

If you're interested in a cruise on Le Soleal, contact a Cruiseable travel advocate 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 SOLEAL SAILINGS

On board highlights

Photos

Inside and out

Destinations 12

  • A winter view across to West End in Vancouver, British Columbia
  • The Four Courts on the River Liffey in Dublin. The Four Courts houses the Irish Supreme Court, High Court and the Central Criminal Court.
  • A view from high above Juneau. See? It's not all snow.
  • After strolling the through picturesque Gamia Stan (the old town of Stockholm), take a moment to relax in Stortorget.
  • A serene stretch of beach on Martinique.
  • Snorkel and scuba dive to see tropical fish up close as part of your Ponant cruise experience.
  • 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.
  • A humpback whale breaches the surface, seen on a Ponant cruise.
  • 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.

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 11

  • 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 in the lounge of Le Soleal. The Ponant ship sails the world from Easter Island to Copenhagen to Tahiti.
  • Relax poolside as your Ponant ship slips into small bays and secluded coves.
  • The classy reception area of the Ponant luxury ship Le Soleal.
  • Experience attentive service on your cruise aboard Ponant's Le Soleal.
  • Sip fine Champagne on deck with fellow shipmates as you leave port on deck on your Ponant cruise.
  • Order a drink and meet interesting new people in the bar on the Ponant luxury ship Le Soleal.
  • The Reception area of Le Soleal provides a meeting place as well as an informational hub for your voyage.
  • Enjoy a good book + cool drink + sunshine on deck on your Ponant cruise.
  • Have a butler pamper yourself on a Ponant cruise with canapes on deck.

Ship exteriors 3

  • Ponant's luxury expedition ship Le Soleal docked in port.
  • Ponant's Le Soleal cruises into Venice.
  • Explore Canada's Bellot Strait and other unique locations on Le Soleal, a Ponant ship.

Staterooms 3

  • Your cabin on the Ponant luxury ship Le Soleal is your home away from home.
  • Book a stateroom on Le Soleal for quiet luxury on a Ponant expedition cruise.
  • Your stateroom on Le Soleal is your sanctuary at sea. One popular itinerary is a cruise to Rangiroa, Bora Bora and Huahine in French Polynesia.

More photos 4

  • Ponant's Le Soleal has 132 cabins and suites for 264 passengers and 140 crew members.
  • Spend time in the Library on Ponant's Le Soleal for some quiet reading.
  • The lounge on Le Soleal is a meeting place for passengers traveling to French Polynesia and Easter Island.
  • Ponant's Le Soleal in Venice.

Sailing now

Cruises on Le Soleal

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  1. 13 Night Sakura Seas: South Korea & Japan - Eastbound 13 nights · from Seoul Next Apr 12, 2027 Fare on request

Side by side

Compare Le Soleal with

Overheard

“Le Soleal is contemporary – chic and uncluttered. With a dark gray hull and sleek white superstructure, the ship looks more like a large private yacht rather than a traditional cruise ship.”

Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships

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