Lagoon Seventy 7 Spirit Of Ponant

The Ponant exploration cruise company undoubtedly plays the luxury card, but it is also committed, as far as possible, to respecting the environment. Its flagship vessel is, of course, the sailing ship Le Ponant, launched in 1991—it was the first ship in the world to be awarded the Relais & Châteaux label. The Commandant Charcot, meanwhile, made headlines in 2021: this hybrid electric polar exploration icebreaker is powered by liquefied natural gas. These two ships, which sail the oceans and seas allow their passengers to discover all sorts of wonderful destinations, in their luxury rented cabins or suites, all with first class onboard service. The Commandant Charcot is home to Alain Ducasse’s first gourmet restaurant at sea, Luna, and his team of chefs advise the cooks on the culinary creations served in the restaurants onboard the company’s dozen exploration ships. “In line with this spirit of exploration, the idea of offering customers an even closer and more intimate experience with nature and local culture took root,” says Guillaume Le Brec, the project manager. They decided on a fuel-efficient leisure boat—specifically, a Lagoon Seventy 7. This catamaran is able to offer services similar to those of the company’s large cruise ships while facilitating access to the sea and water sports. Living close to nature and sharing a true sailing experience but in complete comfort: the name for this large Lagoon had to be —Spirit of Ponant.

An All-inclusive Service on a Yacht

The comfort and vibe of the cabins are vital to Ponant, whose decorative signage is highly codified. Although the Seventy 7 was developed as a production yacht, it retains the option of highly personalized and exclusive customization. This has enabled Pascale Dexidour, Director of Design & Customer Experience, to work with the shipyard teams to create a unique atmosphere that reflects Ponant’s image. In terms of layout, the Spirit of Ponant has been configured with six cabins - Spirit, Grand Spirit or Prestige, depending on the space allocated. The 12 privileged guests are looked after by four crew members, consisting of a captain, a sailor, a chef selected and trained by Ponant, and finally a cabin attendant or hostess whose mission is to ensure the well-being of the passengers. Nothing very original in the world of multi-yacht charters, you might say, except that here, prices start at €7,500 per person. “Ponant’s signature cuisine, wine cellar, and cocktails, room service, and water sports are all included,” says the company. This approach, which has made Ponant an undisputed leader in the world of luxury cruises, has been transposed to the world of luxury yachting with this completely new offering. “The clientele is very diverse, but more than 70% are regular customers of the company who are attracted by the size of the vessel, the high standard of finish, and its sailing qualities,” adds Guillaume Le Brec.

Authentic Cruises

The Spirit of Ponant, launched last ...