Cruises aboard L'Austral

L’Austral can accommodate a maximum of 264 guests. The 132 staterooms and suites are spread across four decks. 

Like her three sister ships, L’Austral is designed to sail all the world’s seas and reach the most remote destinations. L’Austral offers a wide range of cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula during the austral summer. The Arctic is also one of the ship’s flagship destinations, with cruises to Iceland, Greenland and Baffin Bay. 

Guests aboard L’Austral can enjoy the following facilities: 

• a gourmet restaurant and a grill restaurant with terrace, 

• a main lounge with bar and dance floor, 

• an observation lounge with bar and library, offering 180° views of the horizon, 

• an outdoor bar overlooking the sea and pool, 

• a heated outdoor seawater pool, 

• a wellness area (steam room, treatments and massages, hair salon and fitness room), 

• a theatre for lectures, shows and concerts, 

• a boutique offering a selection of souvenirs, jewellery and ready-to-wear clothing, and a photo studio. 

Experiences and activities vary depending on the type of cruise.  

• On “Timeless” cruises, one excursion per day, per port of call and per person is included, with a wide choice of options: visits to sites and museums, guided walks through historic centres, craft workshops, food and wine tastings, and more. The experience is enhanced by optional excursions at an additional cost and lectures on board led by a destination expert.  

• On “Expedition” cruises to polar or tropical regions, a team of naturalist guides on board organises excursions and landings. Guests board the ship’s Zodiacs in small groups to explore the environment, observe wildlife and meet local communities.  

• On “Discovery” cruises, the included excursions (one per day per person) and optional excursions at an additional cost are combined with excursions and landings organised by the naturalist guides. The programme is tailored to each destination to offer the best possible experience. 

• On certain cruises, snorkelling excursions, introductory scuba-diving sessions and scuba-diving sessions are organised by the instructors on board, with equipment supplied and maintained by PONANT EXPLORATIONS.  

• Themed cruises are offered each season with renowned partners and guest speakers, including music cruises with exclusive concerts, culinary cruises with guest chefs, and cruises exploring major issues facing society. 

Families are welcome aboard PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ sister ships, including L’Austral. Children are welcome from the age of one, except on “Discovery” and “Expedition” cruises, for which the minimum age is six. Subject to availability, connecting staterooms are reserved for families. On selected departures identified as “Kid Explorers”, experienced activity leaders supervise children aged four to thirteen each day, with fun and educational activities on board and ashore. The programme and timings are adapted to each cruise and confirmed on board. 

A doctor and nurse are available on board to deal with initial medical emergencies, and the ship is equipped with a medical facility for minor surgery. 

However, guests whose health requires special precautions should be aware of the remote nature of some of the regions visited and the lack of specialised medical facilities there. These guests are advised to consult their doctor before considering travelling.