Ponant goes exploring in warmer climes
French cruise line Ponant is to build four expedition ships to sail so-called blue and green adventure cruises in Oceania, South America and the Indian Ocean.
The vessels will be built by Vard, a shipyard majority owned by Italy’s Fincantieri. They will hold just 184 passengers each and be delivered starting 2018. They will have ice-strengthened hulls and carry a team of naturalists to guide Zodiac landings in remote spots and introduce passengers to local cultures, flora and fauna.
Ponant already offers ‘white’ expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic; its ‘blue’ expeditions will focus on islands in the Pacific, while ‘green’ itineraries will take passengers to places such as Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, the Orinoco River and Indian Ocean.
