- TypeThree-masted sailing yacht1
- Length88 metres8,9
- GuestsUp to 321
- Staterooms and suites161
- Crew331
- Built1991, France4
- Redesigned2022, Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel3,8
IN SHORT
A private-yacht feel on a ship you can book by the cabin
Le Ponant suits travellers who want to be under sail, close to the water, with very few other guests. The trade-off is space and facilities: there is no lift, no pool and far less to do on board than on a larger ship.1,7
From Nick’s own sailing
Nick has sailed on Le Ponant from St Maarten to the British Virgin Islands, and the photographs on this page credited to him are from his own sailing. The facts below come from Ponant and the other sources listed at the end.
IN NICK’S WORDS
We sailed on Le Ponant from St Maarten through to the British Virgin Islands, and it was honestly one of the best ways I've experienced the Caribbean.
What made it different was the freedom of being on such a small ship. We weren't simply sailing from one port to another and spending the day there. Some days we'd stop two or three times. Wake up somewhere beautiful, swim or explore, back onboard for lunch, then sail off and find another bay or island for the afternoon.
One evening they did a rum tasting on deck as the sun was going down. Nothing particularly complicated about it, just a beautiful setting, a few very good rums and one of those evenings you remember long after the holiday is over.
Another day they took the RIBs straight from Le Ponant onto a beach. No cruise terminal, no coaches, no crowds. Just step off the yacht, into the RIB and a few minutes later you're standing barefoot on a Caribbean beach.
That was really the magic of Le Ponant. It felt much more like travelling around the Caribbean on a private sailing yacht than being on a cruise.
St Maarten to the BVI was a fantastic itinerary, but it was the little moments in between the destinations that made the trip.
The story
Le Ponant is where Ponant began. The company was founded in Nantes in 1988 by Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée and a dozen young merchant navy officers, and its first ship was this three-masted yacht, built in 1991 at the Villeneuve-la-Garenne shipyard in France with 32 staterooms.4
In April 2008 she was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden while sailing without passengers; the crew were released unharmed about a week later.11
The biggest change came in 2022. Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel redesigned the ship completely, and the number of staterooms was halved to 16, for a maximum of 32 guests.3,9 Ponant’s 2022 materials also describe a shore-power connection for use in certain ports to reduce the ship’s environmental impact.4 In July 2023 Le Ponant became the first sailing yacht to receive the Relais & Châteaux label.5
Staterooms and suites
With 16 staterooms and suites, Le Ponant is closer to a small hotel than a cruise ship. Ponant lists these categories:1
- Porthole and window staterooms: 14 m² with a porthole (Mistral Stateroom) or 16 m² with a window (Mistral Prestige Stateroom).
- Upper-deck staterooms with balcony: 16 to 19 m² with a private balcony (Alizés Staterooms).
- Junior Suites: 21 m², two portholes and a lounge area.
- Prestige Suite: 27 m², two portholes and a lounge area.
- Privilege Suite: 30 m² with a private balcony.
- Owner’s Suite: 47 m². Ponant also lists a Grand Privilege Suite of 49 m² for up to five guests.
Ponant lists a king-size bed or two singles, a shower room, air conditioning, a safe, a TV and Wi-Fi as standard. Ask us which exact stateroom you would be in: on a ship this size, position and window type make a real difference.1
Life on board
Dining. Ponant describes the food on Le Ponant as showcasing the produce of the regions visited.1 When the ship joined Relais & Châteaux, Ponant highlighted a dedicated chef, and coverage of the announcement mentioned organic and local ingredients and wines from French artisan producers.5,10
The deck and the water. The sea is the main event. A marina at water level gives access to transparent-bottom kayaks, paddleboards and diving equipment, weather and conditions permitting.1 Ponant includes non-motorised water activities in its fares but not diving.6 There is no swimming pool on board.7
Wellbeing. Ponant describes the ship as a space for rest and wellbeing; 2023 coverage mentioned Biologique Recherche treatments and daily yoga on deck.1,10
Crew and atmosphere. With 33 crew for up to 32 guests, there is roughly one crew member per guest.1 Ponant’s own words for the feel on board are that everyone “feels like they are aboard their own sailboat”.1 With so few guests, expect a quiet, sociable atmosphere rather than entertainment and nightlife.
What is included. Ponant’s fares on this ship include full board, a selection of drinks, 24-hour room service, unlimited Wi-Fi (which can be slow in some areas) and port charges. Excursions and activities included vary by voyage. Premium drinks, diving and optional excursions cost extra.1,6,7 We confirm the inclusions for your specific sailing before you book.
Itineraries and seasons
As published by Ponant, checked October 2026. All voyages listed are 7 nights. Dates and routes change, so we check live availability for you.2
| When | Where | Voyages listed |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Cape Verde, round trips from Mindelo | The many faces of Cape Verde |
| December 2026 to April 2027, and December 2027 to April 2028 | Caribbean (Lesser Antilles), from Marigot, Saint Martin, and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe | Reverie under sail in the heart of the Lesser Antilles; History and culture visiting Caribbean jewels; Gliding the Waters of the Windward Islands |
| May to August 2027 (with summer 2028 departures also listed) | Mediterranean: the French Riviera, Sicily, the Greek islands, Croatia and Puglia | The French Riviera Under Le Ponant’s Sails (from Nice); Under Sail from the Riviera to Sicily; Under Sail from Sicily to the Greek Islands; The Cyclades, in the Wake of Le Ponant (from Athens, Lavrio); Island Hopping Aboard Le Ponant, From Athens to Dubrovnik; Croatia, Under Sail Aboard Le Ponant (from Dubrovnik); Under Sail from Puglia to Sicily |
The pattern: winters in the Caribbean, summers in the Mediterranean, with Cape Verde in between. Many routes start and end in different ports, which makes it easy to add a hotel stay before or after.
Who it suits
- Travellers who want the feel of sailing, not just the view of the sea. This is a sailing yacht with three masts, not a cruise ship with sails painted on the brochure.
- People who like small groups. With no more than 32 guests on board, the group is small enough to get to know.
- Swimmers, paddlers and snorkellers. The marina puts the water right at the stern.1
- Travellers who like more than one stop a day. On Nick’s sailing, some days had two or three stops, and the crew took guests by RIB straight from the ship onto a beach.
- Couples and small groups of friends or family who want a whole week in one place without packing and unpacking.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone with reduced mobility. Ponant states there is no lift and the ship is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.1
- Travellers who want a pool, shows, several restaurants or lots to do on sea days. A ship this size cannot offer that.7
- People who want a large suite with a big balcony. Most staterooms are 14 to 21 m², and only some have a balcony.1
- Anyone very sensitive to motion. A small ship generally feels the sea more than a large one, so talk to us about the route and season.