le boreal cruise ship

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Le Boreal current position

Le Boreal current location is at North Canada (coordinates 68.48909 N / -110.64421 W) cruising en route to EDINBURGH. The AIS position was reported 24 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Le Boreal

Le Boreal current cruise is 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Canary Islands Land of Contrasts Cruise , themed as "Easter". Prices start from USD 3900 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 16 Apr, 2025 and ends on 23 Apr, 2025 .

Specifications of Le Boreal

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Le Boreal Itineraries

Le boreal review, review of le boreal.

The 2010-built MS Le Boreal is the 1st in a series of four identical/same-designed Ponant -owned superyachts, with sisterships L'Austral ,  Le Soleal , and  Le Lyrial . All these vessels feature ice-strengthened hulls, sleek-design superstructures, Zodiacs for ship-to-shore landing and coastal cruising itinerary routes (featuring overnight stays, long port days and late evening departures).

The vessel (IMO number 9502506) is currently France- flagged (MMSI 578000500) and registered in Mata-Utu/ Wallis and Futuna .

History - construction and ownership

Compagnie du Ponant (CDP) is a French cruise shipping company founded in April 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers. All Ponant ships are France- flagged . The company specializes in premium adventure cruise travel targeting the French-speaking source market with all-inclusive deals. Most of CDP's fleet is based in Antarctica (December through March). All these mega-yachts offer modern amenities, premium service by highly-trained staff and crew, 5-star hotel amenities onboard. Exotic, offbeat itineraries visit popular travel destinations worldwide, including Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, South America, Australia.

The 264-passenger ship Le Boreal was launched in May 2010 and impresses with elegance, personality, eco-friendly technologies, and high standards. The sailing vessel was planned for the French market and looks more like a big private yacht rather than a cruise ship. Le Boreal was pronounced "Best New Ship of the Year " in 2010. The reward was received from the European Cruiser Association. This impressive mega-yacht was designed with 132 cabins and was constructed in the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. Onboard guests could enjoy the luxury of the French style created by Jean-Philippe Nuel.

On November 18, 2015, an engine fire on Ponant luxury cruise yacht Le Boreal caused hundreds of travelers to be evacuated while the vessel was sailing on an Antarctica cruise. The ship issued a distress call just after 2 a.m. while close to Cape Dolphin, north of the Falkland Islands. 90 of the ship's 347 passengers and crew were airlifted to safety from life rafts, while the rest were transferred to another ship. The Falkland Island Government Emergency Services responded to the fire, in collaboration with local vessel agents and British Forces South Atlantic Islands Emergency Services. HMS Clyde changed course in order to help the evacuation. No one was injured in the incident. The ship had just started a 15-night round trip Antarctica sailing from  Ushuaia , Argentina, on November 15. The cruise was supposed to visit South Georgia before landing on the continent's peninsula and visiting Deception Island. The remainder of the cruise has been canceled. 

After the engine room fire in November 2015, Le Boreal was back in service on May 24, 2016. Ponant's 264-passenger yacht had been undergoing repairs at Fincantieri shipyard in  Genoa , following a blaze that broke out while the vessel was sailing off the Falklands. Ponant originally hoped its ship would resume sailings from  Lisbon  on May 9. However, a company statement noted that Le Boreal would sail from Glasgow later in the month. Ponant has carried out other work on the ship in addition to repairing the fire damage, and given it up some updates.

Decks and Cabins

Ponant Le Boreal staterooms (132 total, in 9 categories) are predominantly Prestige cabins (92) sized 205 ft2 / 19 m2, with step-out balconies 45 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest is the Owners Suite (485 ft2 / 45 m2 plus 95 ft2 / 9 m2 terrace). All staterooms have been decorated by French designers and offer 5-star hotel amenities, including smart HDTVs, DVD-CD player, minibar, King-size beds, contemporary furniture.

The boat has 7 decks , of which 6 passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins (33 suites plus 99 cabins).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Le Boreal cruise ship is small enough and provides a truly intimate experience. This special yacht is ideally suited to visit ports of call that bigger ships cannot reach. On board, Le Boreal offers two restaurants – the casual Le Grill and the Gastronomic restaurant (the main dining room serving international and French cuisine). 

Follows the complete list of Le Boreal restaurants and food bars.

• Gastronomic Restaurant (“Le Coromandel”, 268-seat, ship’s MDR; serves International upscale cuisine; offers open-seating dining, with buffet-style breakfast and lunch, the waiter served dinner)
• Grill Restaurant (“Le Rodrigues”, offers open-seating buffet breakfast and lunch, served dinner; has an outdoor seating area).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Le Boreal is the first all-balcony vessel sailing in Antarctica. She also boasts alfresco dining, Le Club (entertainment lounge), a Casino, a Theatre (for film screenings and lectures), a Library and Internet lounge. Le Boreal has a spa, fitness center, outdoor heated swimming pool, full-service salon. The ship is equipped with Zodiacs and outfitted with an advanced stabilizing system for minimizing the effects of rough seas and keeping guests comfortable in remote areas. This ship creates a unique atmosphere of well-being and intimacy.

Follows the complete list of Le Boreal lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• The Marina (water sports platform; offers mostly swimming; it is used only when Le Boreal is anchored and the sea is calm)
• Le Boreal Atrium (2-deck high open-floor area; features a chandelier with Swarovski crystals)
• Main Lounge (“Karikal Lounge”, with large-size LED screen and floor-ceiling windows; offers early breakfast, specialty teas and coffees, Afternoon Tea complemented with gourmet cookies and fine chocolates; evening entertainment features live performances by resident singer and pianist and an art auction, once per Le Boreal cruise; the outdoor aft terrace is the only one smoking area on board)
• Boutique Shop (designer clothing, luxury jewelry, Ponant logo merchandise, special occasion gifts)
• Theatre (main show lounge for music and dance shows)
• Wellness Centre (Spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, Massage Room, Beauty Corner, Hair Salon, Shower Room, Relaxation Room, a spacious terrace)
• The Fitness (gym room with panoramic windows)
• Leisure Area (has a small kids playroom, Photo Gallery, Image & photo desk via a partnership with Philippe Plisson, and Internet stations)
• Image and Photo Desk
• Swimming pool’s sunbathing area (with luxury loungers)
• Panoramic Lounge and Bar (with an Internet corner, grand piano, Library, “Panoramic Terrace” - served by the Panoramic Bar, it is the ship’s late-night “disco”)
• Sun Deck (open-air sunbathing area, served by the“Le Comptoir” bar, with luxury loungers, padded chairs, showers, deck games - Shuffleboard, Golf Driving Net, 9-hole Mini-Golf)
• Zodiacs (inflatable boats).

Itineraries

Le Boreal itinerary program is based on cruises in Northern Europe, including Iceland and the Baltic Sea region. The ship also sails in Alaska and Greenland.

Photos of Le Boreal

Le Boreal ship related cruise news

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Walt Disney is planning its first cruises to Antarctica beginning later this year, using a chartered ship. The company also plans its first...

French company Ponant Cruises has 8 ships back cruising

The premium French brand Ponant Cruises recently announced that it had 8 ships back sailing, with 4 of them offering itineraries within France. These...

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Ponant announced a new schedule of Northern Europe and Atlantic Islands' voyages. The itineraries include ports that only small vessels, such as the...

Romanian Crew Member Dies After Dry Dock Accident

An accident occurred during dry dock refurbishment of Ponant's superyacht Le Boreal in port Valparaiso Chile on November 19, which resulted in the...

Bookings Open for Ponant's Antarctic Cruises 2019-2020

Today, March 22, the only French-owned cruise line and world leader in expedition cruising to the polar regions, Ponant, opened bookings for over 22...

Fire on Le Boreal - Due to Human Error

French maritime authorities BEAmer released the final report into fire on cruise ship Le Boreal in 2015, which forced an evacuation of around...

Fire on Le Boreal Causes Evacuation

An engine fire on the Ponant-owned luxury cruise yacht Le Boreal caused hundreds of travellers to be evacuated earlier today while the vessel was...

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Other Ponant Cruises cruise ships

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Le Boreal Wiki

Le Boreal cruise ship is the first in a three megayachts series commissioned by Compagnie du Ponant. Its identical sistersships are L’Austral  (2011),  Le Soleal  (2013) and  Le Lyrial (2015). Compagnie du Ponant is originally French-owned, aimed exclusively at the French cruising market. The whole ambience onboard Le Boreal is French and chic. Black-and-white photo art of Philip Plisson lines the corridors, glittering Swarovski crystals light up the atrium. The passengers are well-heeled and experienced.

Le Boreal ship differs from other luxury cruise vessels with adventurous itineraries. The three sisters are with ice-strengthened hulls and can sail to the Arctic and Antarctica, each of carrying a fleet of Zodiacs for sightseeing. The Ponant line emphasizes on coastal cruising, with long port days and late departures.

The vessel is a certified "Cleanship" (like the sisterships), featuring a modern marine propulsion system. It provides smooth and quiet navigation by creating reduced engine noise and little vibration. The modern vessel positioning system eliminates the need for the ship to anchor in order to remain stable, thus preventing contacts with seabeds in environmentally sensitive areas, such as coral reefs.

Fun fact is, that the Le Boreal yacht was used in the 3rd episode of the "Mighty Ships" TV series (season 5) and was shown taking tourists to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia.

Le Boreal was the first France-flagged marine vessel (together with Le Soleal) with a  Northwest Passage Cruise . The unique itinerary started on August 26, 2013, when the ship left  Kangerlussuaq Greenland  to arrive in  Anadyr Russia  (Siberia) on September 16. Among the ports of call along the route were  Beechey Island  and  King William Island (Gjoa Haven).  During these voyages, Ponant cruise passengers enjoyed seeing hundreds of beluga whales and narwhales, and around 60 polar bears. Charles Hedrich (French sportsman and adventurer) was also there as a special guest - being the world's first man to solo cross the Northwest Passage (in September 2009) in a rowing boat.

For 2019, the US-based travel company Tauck chartered the ship for “Arctic Allure - Spitsbergen and the Midnight Sun” cruise. The 10-day itinerary (departure date June 24) includes a pre-cruise hotel in Oslo , follows the charter flight to Spitsbergen island (Longyearbyen) for embarkation on Le Boreal for 7-day cruise around Spitsbergen. fares started from USD 11,000, inclusive of international airfare, overnight in Oslo, roundtrip flights to Longyearbyen, 7-day Le Boreal cruise, all shore excursions, gratuities, unlimited drinks (including liquor, beer, house wine), onboard meals, port charges, Gov taxes, luggage handling.

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Discover all our cruises on LE BORÉAL . To help you to prepare your next trip, find out more about the LE BORÉAL ship .

Ocean Voyage: Honolulu - Papeete

Polynesian Expedition

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Polynesia and Easter Island

Ocean Voyage: Hanga Roa - Ushuaia

Expedition to Southern Lands

Emblematic Antarctica

Falklands, South Georgia & Valdes Peninsula: in the heart of the wilderness

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• Experience French sophistication at the ends of the Earth, with a unique blend of luxury and adventure that sets it apart from other expedition vessels.
• Sail responsibly aboard one of the world's most eco-friendly expedition ships, the only one in its class certified as a "Clean Ship" by Bureau Veritas.
• Intimately explore the polar realms with a maximum 200 fellow explorers in Antarctica for a more personalized and less crowded expedition experience.

Le Boréal, the first of a series of luxurious sisterships including Le Lyrial, Le Soleal and L’Austral, paved the way for a new generation of cruise ships combining cutting-edge technology, intimate sizing and top-of-the-range services.

This elegant vessel, with its sleek design and French-inspired sophistication, provides a unique and comfortable platform for experiencing the wonders of the White Continent, offering an unparalleled blend of luxury and expedition cruising and making it a standout choice for discerning travelers seeking to explore Antarctica in style.

Luxurious Amenities

Le Boréal boasts an impressive array of amenities that set it apart from other Antarctic expedition ships. The vessel features spacious and well-appointed staterooms, with 95% offering private balconies for breathtaking views of the passing landscapes. Indulge in gourmet cuisine at the Gastronomic Restaurant, savor casual meals at the Grill Restaurant, or enjoy alfresco dining with breathtaking views by the pool. For relaxation, the ship offers a full-service spa, fitness center, and heated pool, allowing passengers to unwind in luxury after exciting Antarctic excursions.

Life on Board

Specifications.

• Guests 264 (200 in Antarctica)
• Staff & Crew 145
• Guide & Crew to Guest Ratios 1:8 & 1:1.8
• Guest to Space Ratio 1:41
• Number of Decks 6
• Number of Cabins 132
• Zodiacs & Loading Bays 11
• Year Built 2010 (upgraded 2018)
• Ice Class 1C
• Length 466.0 ft (142.1 m)
• Beam 59.1 ft (18.0 m)
• Draft 15.3 ft (4.7 m)
• Cruising Speed 14kn
• Stabilizers -

About the Le Boréal

Life aboard Le Boréal is characterized by elegance and comfort. The ship’s intimate size, accommodating only 200 passengers on Antarctic voyages, fosters a convivial atmosphere while maintaining a sense of privacy. Evenings come alive with entertainment in the theater and main lounge, where guests can enjoy live music and dancing. The panoramic lounge and observation decks provide perfect vantage points for wildlife spotting and taking in the awe-inspiring polar scenery.

Activities Off-Ship

Le Boréal’s expedition team leads a variety of thrilling off-ship activities, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the Antarctic environment. Passengers can embark on Zodiac cruises to explore ice-filled bays and get up close to wildlife. Shore landings provide opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, and visiting research stations. For the more adventurous, some itineraries may offer kayaking excursions, allowing for a unique perspective of the Antarctic landscape.

Get ready to experience expedition cruising paired with French-inspired elegance and impeccably trained staff aboard this 7-deck, ultra-modern ship, renowned for her blend of luxury, gastronomy, wellness, entertainment and active programming.

Owner's Suite

Prestige suite deck 6, prestige suite deck 5, deluxe suite deck 6, prestige stateroom deck 6, prestige stateroom deck 5, prestige stateroom deck 4, deluxe stateroom deck 3, superior stateroom deck 3, description, itineraries.

• Emblematic Antarctica

Departure Dates

• 2024 Departures
• 2025 Departures
• 2026 Departures

No Single Supplement on Selected Cabins

The supplement for single usage of a double cabin is waived, according to availability and staterooms categories.

Itineraries with Deal

Anja Blacha is the youngest German to have climbed the Seven Summits. Moreover, she wrote history as the first woman ever to ski solo and unsupported from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole. Accelerated by her love to travel, she climbed the highest mountain on each continent within less than three years since her very first mountain expedition.

Languages spoken: German and English

Moroccan mountaineer Bouchra Baibanou is the first North African woman to have climbed Everest in 2017, and the first Moroccan to have climbed all seven of the world’s peaks. She has also climbed Mount Vinson, the highest peak on the Antarctic continent. Today, she is dedicated to the empowerment and development of young girls.

Spoken language: French

Laurent Mayet is the co-founder of the think tank Le Cercle Polaire which focuses on developing a greater knowledge and better governance of the polar regions (political lobbying and cultural and educational actions). He is the co-director of the revue  North and South Poles  with Stéphane Hergueta and returns regularly to both the Arctic and the Antarctic, including the geographical Poles.

He held the positions of Special Advisor and the assistant to the former Prime Minister Michel Rocard, Ambassador for Polar Affairs, and Interministerial Coordinator of the National Roadmap for the Arctic from 2009 to 2016, Special Representative on Polar Affairs (2016-2017) and Deputy Ambassador in charge of Ocean Affairs (2018) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is currently in charge of Polar Issues at the Ministry of Education and Youth.

An engineer and oceanographer, he holds the superior teaching degree in physical sciences in France and a postgraduate degree in the philosophy of science.

Languages spoken : french, english and spanish

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