Widgety’s Partnerships Manager, Scott, recently spent the day aboard PONANT EXPLORATIONS L’Austral – read his full review below.
PONANT EXPLORATIONS kindly invited me to view and tour their ship L’Austral when she was docked at Portland, Dorset. As I live in Weymouth, it seemed the perfect opportunity to take a look at this yacht.
L’Austral was built in 2010 and carries 264 guests in 132 suites, looked after by 145 crew. Walking around the ship, I was impressed by the cleanliness and the upkeep. She looked as good as new. The ship has modern boutique-hotel vibes, and the colour palette is warm sand, creams, greys and wood, contrasted with teal accents and stripey cushions, all very modern and chic.
On Deck 3 is the reception and shore excursions desk, and today’s trips included visits to Lulworth Cove and Corfe Castle, Abbotsbury Swannery and Subtropical Gardens, and a Jurassic Coast walk. On Ponant, an activity at each stopover is included, and these are part of your cruise fare. Drinks from the bar, the in-cabin mini bar, Wi-Fi and tips are all included too, making it a great sell for clients that don’t want to pay extra once on board. The ship also filters sea water and provides complimentary water bottles in the suites, and guests can refill them from water stations around the ship, removing the need for plastic bottles. Also on this deck is the small gift shop/boutique and the main lounge, with comfy seating, a small dance floor and bar, and access to the outside deck for smokers.
On Deck 4 is the main theatre that accommodates all the guests at the same time, with a small stage for production shows and lectures, and all the seats had drinks holders too, a personal plus from me!
Deck 5 aft is the spa and fitness centre, and I was impressed by the size of the facility for just 200 or so guests. There were lots of treadmills etc., and a Kinesis device too! Also here are massage rooms and a hammam, very extensive. There is also a small hair salon.
The boutique feel is continued on Deck 6 forward in the Observation Lounge. This venue has a relaxing atmosphere, with a cosy library tucked into the rear, stocked with books and guides pertaining to the waters and destinations in which she is sailing for that voyage.
Aft on this deck is the grill/buffet dining area and the pool area, and up on Deck 7 you have the pool bar. It was an overcast day when I visited, so this area wasn’t open. However, the sun came out as I debarked, typical!
The main focal point of the ship is the crystal-glass sculpture that spans three decks and passes through the reception area, adding to the luxury feel of the yacht.
We dined in Le Coromandel restaurant, where for lunch you help yourself to soups, salads and desserts buffet-style, while your main course is ordered from your waiter. (Note: for dinner, all courses are ordered from your waiter). I opted for Niçoise-style red mullet fillet and my partner had the rib-eye steak from the Always Available menu. Other main courses were yellow chicken leg with morel mushroom sauce, button mushrooms and seasonal vegetables, Ropa Vieja (chickpea stew), and asparagus and mascarpone panciotti with pea, ginger and basil plant-based sauce.
Caesar salad (chicken, smoked salmon or shrimp)
Ponant vegetarian salad
PONANT Club sandwich with French fries
Steamed salmon, rougail sauce
Seared salmon with Cajun spices, rougail sauce
Vegetarian burger
PONANT burger
Soft-shell crab Bun & Roll sandwich, spicy tomato sauce and peanut condiment
Breaded chicken Bun & Roll sandwich, spicy tomato sauce and peanut condiment
Green vegetable curry, basmati rice
Beef rib-eye from Argentina, 9oz
Grilled chicken breast
Chimichurri sauce
Béarnaise
Maître d’Hôtel truffle butter
French fries
Sweet potato fries
Mashed potatoes
Baked potato with sour cream and bacon
Basmati rice
Green beans
Seasonal vegetables
My red mullet was delicious, and I had some sweet potato fries on the side, accompanied by a delicious rosé: AOC Languedoc, Domaine de la Massole (Syrah, Grenache Noir) 2024.
Service was professional and friendly, and our waiter spoke perfect English.
I saw two staterooms (the ship was full!): the lead-in outside and lead-in balcony grade. The outside stateroom could accommodate three guests and was very spacious, with the sofa bed positioned under the large window, and the lead-in balcony grade had a metal-fronted balcony with a table and chair on it. Both came with a Nespresso coffee machine and fully stocked mini bar, updated twice a day, which is also included in the fare. A large shower area and separate toilet, along with a large wardrobe, completed the room, together with a flat-screen TV and drawers for storage. There are no inside cabins on board.
On this cruise there was a good mix of French-speaking and English-speaking guests, hailing from France, Australia, Switzerland, Britain and more, and all signage and information was printed in both French and English, creating a lovely international feel onboard.
The ship has an open bridge policy, which is uncommon on ships these days, and we managed to get a quick visit to chat to the navigation officer and a sea cadet who was graduating to 3rd Officer, having completed her six-month training on board.
The reception staff and all the crew I encountered during the visit were genuinely friendly, and my host, the travel ambassador Gaëlle, was charming and hospitable, showing me around the ship. All staff spoke English, and the ship was spotless, truly looking as good as new. The food was excellent, with plenty of choice, and the Always Available menu offered even more options. The wine served was delicious and free-flowing too.
I would recommend Ponant Explorations to luxury lovers and sophisticated travellers looking for a classy, boutique-style all-inclusive voyage on a cosy, friendly ship with an international clientele.
Thank you to Ant and Marine from the UK office for arranging this, and to Gaëlle for showing us around.
