Signature highlights
A three-masted sailing yacht with only 32 guests, spacious open-air areas, a marina platform and a highly personalized one-to-one guest-to-crew ratio.
Le Ponant
Le Ponant is a 32-guest PONANT cruise yacht, in service since 1991. This page lists 81 upcoming departures across 16 itineraries, 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 very small sailing yacht
✓ Guests who prioritize outdoor living and watersports
✓ Couples seeking suite-heavy accommodation
Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their authors’ free licenses. Tap a photo for the credit and license.
Le Ponant at a glance
Best for
- Travelers wanting a very small sailing yacht
- Guests who prioritize outdoor living and watersports
- Couples seeking suite-heavy accommodation
- Passengers who enjoy intimate dining and lounge spaces
- Sailing enthusiasts comfortable without stabilizers
Think twice if you want
- Travelers wanting a theater or large entertainment program
- Families seeking a dedicated kids facility
- Guests requiring wheelchair-accessible ship design
- Passengers wanting multiple restaurants or a full-size pool
- Travelers sensitive to ship movement
Live Position ● 39 minutes ago
Heading to: Sao Nicolau IslandCurrently on: The many faces of Cape Verde (7 nights) — En route to Mindelo (Cape Verde) — last stop Mindelo (Cape Verde)
Coming up
- Mindelo end of cruise
5.0 knots
Position via AIS — updated periodically, not real-time.
About Le Ponant
Le Ponant is PONANT’s intimate three-masted sailing yacht, designed for a private-yacht atmosphere rather than a large-ship cruise experience. Following its major redesign and refurbishment, the vessel accommodates up to 32 guests in 16 staterooms and suites, supported by 33 crew members. Its small size enables access to less-visited ports, while sailing, open-air spaces, water activities and regionally focused dining shape the onboard experience.
Ship at a Glance
- Operator
- Compagnie du Ponant (PONANT)
- Builder / shipyard
- Société Française de Construction Navales (SFCN), Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France
- Registry / flag
- France (confirmed by the ship’s AIS identity)
- Call sign
- FGZZ
- IMO number
- 8914219
- MMSI
- 227186000
Onboard Experience
For families
No dedicated children’s programming or family facilities were identified on the current official ship page.
Pools, spa & wellness
The ship includes a wellness area and promotes relaxation, with water-based activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling and diving equipment available from the marina.
Environmental features
PONANT presents Le Ponant as part of its responsible-exploration program. The 2020–2022 redesign included environmental improvements and restored the yacht’s emphasis on sail-assisted navigation.
Deck plans
Venues Cabins only Both · Tap a deck to see what's on it
Deck 5
Sun Deck Bar SundeckDeck 4
Le Diamant Restaurant Owner Suite with BalconyDeck 3
Fitness Room Marina Lounge Bar Reception Desk Alizés Stateroom with Balcony Alizés Prestige Stateroom with Balcony Alizés Privilege Suite with Balcony Grand Privilège Alizés Suite with BalconyDeck 2
Mistral Stateroom Mistral Prestige Stateroom Mistral Junior Suite Mistral Prestige Suite Grand Privilège Alizés Suite with BalconyCabins & suites
Oceanview 47%
Suite 35%
Balcony 18%
| Category | Type | Cabins | Size | Sleeps | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mistral StateroomPorthole staterooms 6 and 16. | Oceanview | 2 | 150 sq ft | 2 | 2 |
| Mistral Prestige StateroomPanoramic-window staterooms 7, 9, 12, 14, 15 and 17. | Oceanview | 6 | 172 sq ft | 2 | 2 |
| Mistral Junior SuiteSuites 8 and 11. | Suite | 2 | 226 sq ft | 2 | 2 |
| Mistral Prestige SuiteSuite 10. | Suite | 1 | 290 sq ft | 2 | 2 |
Dining, bars & venues
6 included 2 extra cost in the fare, by the line's own published policy.
Dining
Le Diamant Restaurant
Included
The ship’s panoramic restaurant occupies indoor and outdoor dining space.
Bars & lounges
Emeraude Lounge & Bar
Varies
The main lounge combines indoor seating, a bar, a stage and an outdoor terrace.
Sun Deck Bar
Varies
An outdoor bar serves the sundeck area.
History & sister ships
- 1991Entered service, built by Société Française de Construction Navales (SFCN), Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France.
- 2020A major dry-dock refit renewed the outdoor areas, public rooms, dining spaces, lighting, flooring and all stateroom interiors, while reducing the ship to 16 staterooms.
- 2021The post-refit configuration introduced the current Mistral, Alizés, Zéphyr and Sun Deck arrangement and removed the former Saphir Lounge, Karukera Restaurant and indoor Observatory.
Where Le Ponant 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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Caribbean | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Africa & Middle East | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Ports it visits most
Explore This Ship
Jump from Le Ponant sailings into the broader destination network with cruise line and region hub pages.
Itineraries & Sailings
Ports of Call
Next: Jan 9, 2027
14 upcoming departures
Ports of Call
Next: Dec 26, 2026
4 upcoming departures
All 16 itineraries and their departure dates
- Corsican Shores, Under Sail Aboard Le Ponant 31 Aug 2027, 7 Sep 2027, 14 Sep 2027, 21 Sep 2027, 19 May 2028, 26 May 2028, 1 Sep 2028, 8 Sep 2028, 15 Sep 2028, 22 Sep 2028
- Croatia, Under Sail Aboard Le Ponant 20 Jul 2027, 27 Jul 2027, 3 Aug 2027, 10 Aug 2027, 21 Jul 2028, 28 Jul 2028, 4 Aug 2028, 11 Aug 2028
- Gliding the Waters of the Windward Islands 2 Jan 2027, 30 Jan 2027, 27 Feb 2027, 27 Mar 2027, 27 Dec 2027, 17 Jan 2028, 14 Feb 2028, 13 Mar 2028
- History and culture visiting Caribbean jewels 9 Jan 2027, 6 Feb 2027, 6 Mar 2027, 3 Apr 2027, 6 Dec 2027, 20 Dec 2027, 3 Jan 2028, 10 Jan 2028, 24 Jan 2028, 7 Feb 2028, 21 Feb 2028, 6 Mar 2028, 20 Mar 2028, 3 Apr 2028
- History and culture visiting Caribbean jewels 26 Dec 2026, 23 Jan 2027, 20 Feb 2027, 20 Mar 2027
- Island Hopping Aboard Le Ponant, From Athens to Dubrovnik 13 Jul 2027, 14 Jul 2028
- Reverie under sail in the heart of the Lesser Antilles 19 Dec 2026, 16 Jan 2027, 13 Feb 2027, 13 Mar 2027, 13 Dec 2027, 31 Jan 2028, 28 Feb 2028, 27 Mar 2028
- The Cyclades, in the Wake of Le Ponant 15 Jun 2027, 22 Jun 2027, 29 Jun 2027, 6 Jul 2027, 16 Jun 2028, 23 Jun 2028, 30 Jun 2028, 7 Jul 2028
- The French Riviera Under Le Ponant’s Sails 4 May 2027, 18 May 2027, 5 May 2028, 12 May 2028
- The many faces of Cape Verde 7 Nov 2026, 14 Nov 2026, 21 Nov 2026, 26 Oct 2027, 2 Nov 2027, 9 Nov 2027, 16 Nov 2027
- Under Sail Aboard Le Ponant from Sicily to the Riviera 25 Aug 2028
- Under Sail from Puglia to Sicily 17 Aug 2027, 18 Aug 2028
- Under Sail from Sicily to the Greek Islands 8 Jun 2027, 9 Jun 2028
- Under Sail from the Riviera to Sicily 2 Jun 2028
- Under Sail from the Riviera to Sicily 24 Aug 2027
- Under Sail from the Riviera to Sicily 1 Jun 2027
All Upcoming Departures
Le Ponant FAQ
What flag does Le Ponant sail under?
Le Ponant is registered in France.
How many passengers does Le Ponant hold?
Le Ponant carries about 32 guests with roughly 33 crew.
How old is Le Ponant?
Le Ponant entered service in 1991 and was last refurbished in 2021.
What is the dress code on Le Ponant?
PONANT recommends casual-elegant clothing, with cocktail attire for gala evenings. Shorts and bermudas are not permitted in the evening at gourmet restaurants.
Is dining included on Le Ponant?
Full board is included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served aboard Le Ponant, with meals generally offered à la carte rather than as a buffet.
Is Wi-Fi included?
Free Wi-Fi is available in staterooms and common areas, although service can be slower or interrupted depending on navigation conditions.
Is Le Ponant accessible for passengers with reduced mobility?
PONANT states that Le Ponant was not designed to accommodate passengers with reduced mobility. Guests must be able to travel independently or with a companion able to provide assistance.
Are children allowed on Le Ponant?
Children are permitted subject to PONANT’s cruise-type age rules, but the Kid Explorers club is not offered aboard Le Ponant.