PONANT has successfully taken delivery of Le Lapérouse, the brand-new vessel and the first of the six exceptional PONANT EXPLORERS series. Construction of the other five ships is currently underway.
Le Lapérouse left the shipyard in Ålesund, Norway, on 16 June after a recent series of sea trials. Having sailed to Reykjavik, Iceland the ship is now on her maiden cruise. The inauguration of the ship will take place on 10 July in Reykjavik.
“Le Lapérouse is a wonderful achievement for the company and the result of intensive teamwork with Vard and Fincantieri. From remarkable nautical performances to technical excellence and offering an extraordinary level of comfort, everything is in place for the PONANT EXPLORERS series to be a huge success,” says Jean Emmanuel Sauvée, CEO and Co-Founder of PONANT.
Of a smaller capacity with just 92 staterooms and suites all with a balcony or private terrace, the ship boasts an elegant design, a long sleek line, state-of-the-art technology and major innovations. Also designed to respect the environment, Le Lapérouse is a symbol of a new generation of ships flying the French flag.
The six PONANT EXPLORERS will feature a world first: the “Blue Eye”. The innovative multi-sensorial underwater lounge will allow passengers to discover and experience the underwater world via two portholes in the form of a cetaceous eye. The eye looks out on to the sea bed, non-intrusive underwater lighting, and hydrophones integrated into the keel that retransmit the natural symphony of the deep water. Additionally, Body Listening sofas, offer a unique sensorial listening experience by corporal resonance.