Le Champlain
Le Champlain: Ponant expedition ship offers stylish adventures
Snapshot
Featuring innovative and environmentally friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows and lounge areas that open onto the outside, Le Champlain is a luxury expedition yacht from France-based Ponant cruise line that boasts just 92 cabins and suites. The ship launched in September 2018.
Le Champlain's sleek design allows access to smaller ports for exploration of hidden gems not accessible to larger vessels. Featuring two restaurants, two lounges including an open-air poolside bar, a theater, fitness center, spa and plenty of private space for rest, reflection and relaxation, this lovely ship will offer an unparalleled cruising experience.
As the second ship in Ponant's new Explorers Class, Le Champlain embodies the atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Le Champlain follows by a few months the launch of its twin sister, Le Laperouse.
Where Le Champlain sails
Le Champlain sails expedition routes to far-flung corners of the globe, such as a voyage from the Amalfi Coast to Malta as well as cruises to Sicily, the Canary Islands, the Amazon, Panama Canal and ports farther afield.
Ponant's new expedition vessels are designed for high-end expedition voyages in Oceania, South America, Amazon's Orinoco River, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica and the Indian Ocean. They will introduce passengers to regional wildlife and local cultures with the help of onboard naturalists.
For those wondering about Lake Champlain, the ship does offer the occasional 7 Night Voyage Along the Great Lakes with Smithsonian Journeys.
Dining on board
Modern French cuisine will be a centerpiece of the new ship. Dining venues include:
- A restaurant on deck 3 seats 70 in a relaxed atmosphere. The venue serves grilled meats along with salads and desserts.
- At the rear of deck 4, passengers will find a sprawling 2,800-square-foot panoramic restaurant, capable of accommodating all passengers in single sitting. This venue, with an opening to the outside, features a buffet of salads, cheeses and desserts. The attentive crew provides table service for hot meals.
Le Champlain comes equipped with a multi-sensory underwater space called Blue Eye.
Entertainment
The centerpiece of Le Champlain is Blue Eye. It's an underwater chamber that consists of two large, eye-shaped portholes to get you close up to sea creatures. The screen comes equipped with large screens broadcasting live images from three underwater cameras while a hydrophone captures the sounds of the ocean.
Le Champlain boasts an assortment of entertainment venues for adults, teens and children, including:
- A retractable marina water sports platform, used only when the ship is anchored and the sea is calm
- The Atrium, a two-deck-high open-floor area featuring a chandelier with Swarovski crystals
- A 2,150-square-foot Main Lounge with a large LED screen and floor-to-ceiling windows. Evening entertainment there will feature live performances by a resident singer and pianist and an art auction once per Le Champlain cruise.
- A 188-seat Theatre for music and dance shows
- Wellness Centre, offering a Spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, Massage Room, Beauty Corner, Hair Salon, Shower Room, Relaxation Room and spacious terrace
- Fitness center with panoramic windows
- Leisure Area offering a playroom for small kids playroom as well as Internet stations
- A swimming pool with luxury loungers
- Panoramic Lounge & Bar with an Internet corner, grand piano, library, Panoramic Terrace and Panoramic Bar, the ship’s late-night disco
- Sun Deck with bar, luxury loungers, padded chairs and deck games, including shuffleboard, golf driving net and nine-hole mini-golf
Staterooms
Le Champlain features two standard cabin categories: Prestige and Deluxe, both at 205 square feet. Suites range from 291 to 484 square feet and feature large windows and lounge areas that open onto the outside. Privilege Suites have a bathtub and can hold up to four people. Grand Deluxe Suites also have bathtubs and can accommodate two passengers.
All cabins have balconies, air conditioning, two twins or king-size bed, shower, mini-bar, flat-screen TV with satellite TV and video on demand, a desk with stationery, safe, hair dryer, bathrobes and French bath products. Each cabin is outfitted with 110/220-volt outlets and Internet access. Room service is available 24 hours per day.
Fun fact
Each ship in the new expedition class pays homage to a famous French explorer — in this case, Samuel de Champlain. Lake Champlain, which straddles the border between northern New York and Vermont, is named after him.
Your take
How about you? Are you planning to cruise on one of Ponant's luxury expedition yachts? Let us know!
Interested in a cruise on this ship?
If you're interested in a cruise on Le Champlain, contact a Cruiseable travel advocate at 1-877-322-3773 or by email. You'll get a better deal than you can get by contacting the cruise line directly.
