Ponant, the French expedition cruise specialist, said it has taken delivery of Le Bougainville that is the third ship in the Ponant Explorer series of vessels from Vard in Norway.

The ship was delivered on time.

“The ship left Søvik in Norway on the morning of 8 April and she is currently sailing to Spain to start her maiden cruise on 15 April from Malaga. She will be officially inaugurated on 4 June,” the company said in a statement.

Combining an intimate size with just 92 staterooms and suites, all with a balcony or private terrace, taut, sleek lines, refined design, cutting-edge technologies, respect for the environment and major innovations, Le Bougainville is truly the symbol of the new generation of ships flying the French flag.

Like its sister vessels, it is fitted with a world first, the “Blue Eye”. This multi-sensorial underwater salon will allow guests to discover and experience the underwater world via two portholes in the form of a cetaceous eye looking out on to the sea bed, non-intrusive underwater lighting, and hydrophones integrated into the keel retransmitting the natural symphony of the deep water, as well as Body Listening sofas, offering a unique sensorial listening experience by corporal resonance.

Completing the existing fleet - Le Ponant, Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial - and announced in 2016, the development of the new Ponant ships is on schedule according to the construction timetable:

Le Lapérouse – June 2018

Le Champlain – October 2018

Le Bougainville – April 2019

Le Dumont-d’Urville – June 2019

Le Bellot – scheduled for April 2020

Le Jacques Cartier – scheduled for July 2020

Le Commandant Charcot – scheduled for May 2021