Signature highlights
Third ship in PONANT’s six-vessel Explorers series, with a marina platform, Blue Eye underwater lounge, outdoor pool, open-air spaces, and an intimate 184-guest scale.
Le Bougainville
Le Bougainville is an 184-guest PONANT cruise ship, in service since 2019. This page lists 50 upcoming departures across 35 itineraries in Mediterranean, day by day and port by port. Its live AIS position is plotted on the map below and refreshed through the day.
✓ Travelers wanting a small passenger complement
✓ Guests preferring balcony accommodations
✓ Expedition travelers valuing lectures and performances
Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their authors’ free licenses. Tap a photo for the credit and license.
Le Bougainville at a glance
Ship size
Bigger than 44%
A small expedition-size ship at 9,976 gross tons — #309 of 566 ships we track. 54 tons of ship per guest.
Best for
- Travelers wanting a small passenger complement
- Guests preferring balcony accommodations
- Expedition travelers valuing lectures and performances
- Couples seeking included dining and drinks
- Passengers interested in water access and marine observation
Think twice if you want
- Travelers seeking large-ship nightlife
- Families wanting extensive children’s facilities
- Guests who prefer inside or non-balcony cabins
- Passengers wanting many specialty restaurants
- Travelers needing a broad range of cabin price tiers
Live Position ● 25 minutes ago
Heading to: Porto EmpedocleCurrently on: Ancient shores of the Mediterranean (10 nights) — En route to Málaga (Spain) — last stop Valletta (Malta)
Coming up
- Málaga end of cruise
12.0 knots
Position via AIS — updated periodically, not real-time.
About Le Bougainville
Le Bougainville is an intimate PONANT expedition yacht designed for small-group exploration in coastal and remote destinations. The 184-guest ship combines French-inspired hospitality with open-air observation areas, a marina platform for water activities, an infinity-style pool, and the Blue Eye underwater lounge. Its 92 staterooms and suites are ocean-facing, with private balconies, while onboard programming includes destination lectures, naturalist presentations, live performances, and relaxed dining in a compact, elegant setting.
Ship at a Glance
- Operator
- PONANT
- Builder / shipyard
- VARD Tulcea, Romania (hull); VARD Søviknes, Ålesund, Norway (outfitting)
- Registry / flag
- Mata Utu, Wallis and Futuna; French flag
- Call sign
- FLDT
- IMO number
- 9814040
- MMSI
- 578001300
- Draft
- 4.6 m
Onboard Experience
Pools, spa & wellness
The ship offers a spa with treatments, a hammam, hairdressing services, and a fitness room, plus an outdoor pool and sun deck.
Accessibility
The builder lists two fully ADA-accessible cabins.
Environmental features
The ship was designed with environmental technologies and holds Bureau Veritas CLEANSHIP-related certification within PONANT’s modern fleet; the operator states that environmental performance is periodically improved.
Deck plans
Venues Cabins only Both · Tap a deck to see what's on it
Deck 7
Spa Fitness SundeckDeck 6
Art Gallery Studio PONANT Library Prestige Stateroom Deluxe Suite Prestige Suite Privilege Suite Grand Suite Owner's SuiteDeck 5
Bridge Prestige Stateroom Deluxe Suite Prestige Suite Privilege Suite Grand SuiteDeck 4
Restaurant Prestige Stateroom Deluxe SuiteDeck 3
Grill Pool Shop Theatre Marina Excursion Desk Bar Medical Centre Deluxe Stateroom Deluxe SuiteCabins & suites
Balcony 72%
Suite 28%
| Category | Type | Cabins | Size | Balcony | Sleeps | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe StateroomOperator booking category; deck-plan category 2 is Deluxe Balcony Stateroom. | Balcony | 13 | 204 sq ft | 43 sq ft | 2 | 3 |
| Prestige StateroomOperator booking category; deck-plan category 3 is Prestige Balcony Stateroom. Some adjoining staterooms can be sold together as Prestige Suites. | Balcony | 66 | 204 sq ft | 43 sq ft | 4 | 4, 5, 6 |
| Deluxe SuiteDeck-plan category 4 is Deluxe Balcony Suite; suite guests receive butler service. | Suite | 5 | 290 sq ft | 65 sq ft | 3 | 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Prestige SuiteFormed from two connecting Prestige Staterooms; deck-plan category 6 is Prestige Two-Room Balcony Suite. | Suite | 18 | 409 sq ft | 86 sq ft | 4 | 5, 6 |
Dining, bars & venues
8 included 3 extra cost in the fare, by the line's own published policy.
Dining
Restaurant
Included
The main restaurant serves full-board meals in a dining room on Deck 4.
Grill
Included
The casual grill serves informal meals beside the pool.
Bars & lounges
Panoramic Lounge
Varies
A forward lounge provides panoramic views and a social seating area.
Main Lounge
Varies
The main lounge provides seating and evening social space with bar service.
History & sister ships
Other PONANT EXPLORERS ships
Where Le Bougainville sails, month by month
| Nov 26 |
Dec 26 |
Jan 27 |
Feb 27 |
Mar 27 |
Apr 27 |
May 27 |
Jun 27 |
Jul 27 |
Aug 27 |
Sep 27 |
Oct 27 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbean | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mediterranean | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Ports it visits most
Explore This Ship
Jump from Le Bougainville sailings into the broader destination network with cruise line and region hub pages.
Itineraries & Sailings
All 35 itineraries and their departure dates
- 13th Piano Festival at Sea 29 Mar 2028
- 6th Opera Festival at Sea, with Benjamin Bernheim 13 May 2027
- Ancient shores of the Mediterranean 30 Oct 2027
- Andalusia and Moroccan shores 10 Nov 2026, 15 Nov 2026
- Authentic Mediterranean Shores 8 Apr 2027
- Break between Provence and Catalonia 8 Aug 2027
- Caribbean Flavours 16 Dec 2026
- Central America Jewels & Panama Canal 29 Dec 2027
- Corsica and the French Riviera 24 Aug 2028
- Costa Rica by Sea: Wildlife and Rainforests of the Pacific Coast – with Smithsonian Journeys 16 Feb 2028
- Cruising the Caribbean's Windward Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys 17 Feb 2027
- Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea: Venice to Athens – with Smithsonian Journeys 14 Jun 2028
- Cruising the Mediterranean: Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca – with Smithsonian Journeys 12 Aug 2027
- Culture and islands of the Mediterranean 6 Apr 2028
- Escapade between Greek islands and Italian treasures 3 Aug 2028
- From Malta to the shores of the Adriatic 15 May 2028
- From Malta to the shores of the Adriatic 19 Aug 2027
- Hidden gems of the Western Mediterranean 21 Jun 2027
- Historic cities and Mediterranean shores 14 Aug 2028
- Isle of Beauty, Italian Shores & Malta 29 Aug 2028
- Jewels of the Italian coastlines 11 Jun 2027
- Ocean Voyage: Cadiz - Fort de France 4 Dec 2026
- Ocean Voyage: Malaga - Fort de France 8 Nov 2027
- Pacific Coast of Costa Rica 12 Dec 2027
- Panama and Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America – with Smithsonian Journeys 12 Jan 2028
- Panama, Colombia & Caribbean Islands 4 Mar 2028
- Pearls of the Caribbean 24 Feb 2027, 3 Mar 2027, 10 Mar 2027, 17 Mar 2027
- Pearls of the Caribbean 30 Dec 2026, 6 Jan 2027, 20 Jan 2027, 3 Feb 2027
- Renaud Capuçon’s Caribbean Celebration: 50 Years in Paradise 23 Dec 2026
- Secrets of Central America 2 Dec 2027
- Secrets of Central America 19 Dec 2027, 23 Feb 2028
- The Cyclades, in the Wake of Le Ponant 22 Jun 2028, 29 Jun 2028, 6 Jul 2028, 13 Jul 2028, 20 Jul 2028, 27 Jul 2028
- Tuscany, Liguria and the French Riviera 19 Aug 2028
- Wandering the Mediterranean 31 Jul 2027
- Wonders of the Caribbean 13 Jan 2027, 27 Jan 2027, 10 Feb 2027
All Upcoming Departures
Le Bougainville FAQ
What flag does Le Bougainville sail under?
Le Bougainville is registered in Mata Utu, Wallis and Futuna; French flag.
How many passengers does Le Bougainville hold?
Le Bougainville carries about 184 guests with roughly 118 crew.
How old is Le Bougainville?
Le Bougainville entered service in 2019.
How big is Le Bougainville?
At 9,976 gross tons and 132 m long, Le Bougainville is a small expedition-size ship — larger than 44% of the 566 cruise ships cruises.to tracks.
What is the dress code on Le Bougainville?
PONANT recommends casual-elegant clothing, with cocktail attire for gala evenings and white or black-and-white clothing for an Officers' evening when scheduled. Shorts and bermuda shorts are not permitted in the evening at the gourmet restaurants.
Are dining and drinks included on Le Bougainville?
Full board is included, as is the Open Bar with mineral water, soft drinks, selected wines, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee and tea. Some premium alcoholic beverages and premium wines may cost extra.
Is Wi-Fi included on Le Bougainville?
Wi-Fi is included throughout the ship, although connection quality can vary with location and navigation conditions.
Are gratuities mandatory?
Gratuities are left to the passenger's discretion. PONANT places an anonymous envelope in the cabin at the end of the cruise for optional gratuities.
Does Le Bougainville accommodate passengers with reduced mobility?
The PONANT Explorers have accessible cabins and ramps in common areas. Le Bougainville has two accessible cabins, on Decks 4 and 5, and passengers must be able to travel independently or with a companion who can assist them.
Are children allowed on Le Bougainville?
Age rules depend on the cruise type. Children are generally accepted from age one on classic cruises and from age six on expedition cruises; the Kid Explorers program is offered on selected sailings.