expedition Vessel

L'Austral

Ponant

1B / IMO Polar Class C

Ice Class

Expedition Team

Zodiacs

264

Passengers

Crew

132

Cabins

10,944GT

Tonnage

142.1m

Length

4.7m

Draft

About L'Austral

5 photos

12,000t

Displacement

Active fin stabilizers

Stabilizers

Diesel-electric, two azimuth thrusters

Propulsion

220V / 50Hz; European Type C/E + US Type A sockets

Voltage

Three-masted sailing ship intimacy and convivial atmosphere crafted to respect the tradition of famous sailing yachts.

Deck Plans

Deck 2

Deck 3

Deck 5

Deck 6

Deck 7

Good to Know

Polar Parka & Boots

On polar voyages (Arctic, Antarctica, Greenland), every guest receives a complimentary 3-in-1 PONANT polar jacket to keep, plus polar boots issued to your stateroom for the duration. Other voyages: bring weather-appropriate outerwear; rubber boots are provided when shore landings require them.

Dress Code

Smart casual throughout the day. Evening dress is elegant smart casual, with two formal Captain's Cocktail / Gala Dinner evenings on most cruises (a jacket for men, cocktail dress for women). Polar expedition voyages remain smart casual throughout.

Smoking Policy

All staterooms, restaurants, lounges and indoor public areas are non-smoking. Smoking and vaping are permitted only in designated outdoor areas (typically the upper aft deck). E-cigarettes follow the same restrictions.

Electrical Outlets

Staterooms are fitted with 220V AC outlets — European Type C/E (2-pin round) and a US Type A (2-pin flat) socket at each desk. UK and Australian plugs need an adaptor. USB charging is available next to each bed and the desk.

Currency & Payment

Onboard accounts are settled in Euros (EUR). Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted at reception, the boutique, the bar and for spa services. ATMs are not available onboard. Cash transactions are kept to a minimum.

Gratuities

Gratuities for the crew, expedition team and dining staff are included in the cruise fare on PONANT voyages — no additional tipping is expected. If you wish to recognise outstanding service, an envelope can be left at reception at voyage end.

Wi-Fi & Connectivity

Satellite Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout the ship for all guests. Bandwidth is suitable for messaging, email and standard web browsing; high-bandwidth streaming may be throttled in remote regions. Mobile-phone roaming is unavailable in polar regions.

Health & Medical Form

Every guest must complete and submit PONANT's confidential medical form before final payment. A doctor and infirmary are on every voyage with consultation and basic care included. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical, evacuation and trip cancellation is mandatory (minimum €150,000 medical / €300,000 for polar voyages).

Main Restaurant

Open-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner with a daily-changing French menu curated by an Alain Ducasse advisory kitchen. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available with advance notice.

restaurant

Boutique

Onboard shop selling PONANT-branded merchandise, French jewellery, perfume, expedition-essentials clothing, sun creams and souvenirs from the destination.

entertainment

Outdoor Grill / Buffet Restaurant

An open-air aft-deck venue offering relaxed buffet lunch and themed BBQ dinners, weather permitting. Often the venue for the Polar Plunge BBQ on expedition voyages.

restaurant

Medical Centre

Onboard infirmary with a doctor and nurse on every voyage. Consultation and basic care included; medication and procedures billed at standard rates.

medical

Sothys Spa

A spa centre with treatment rooms, hammam, sauna and a relaxation lounge. Massages, facials and body rituals use the French Sothys product line.

spa

Theatre / Conference Room

Dedicated venue for daily expedition lectures, recap briefings, guest-speaker presentations and evening performances.

entertainment

Library

A reading lounge stocked with destination-specific literature, polar reference books, French art-de-vivre titles and board games.

entertainment

Sauna & Hammam

Complimentary access to dry sauna and steam hammam (Turkish bath), open during spa-centre hours.

spa

Hair Salon

Onboard hair salon with cut, colour, blow-dry and grooming services. Advance booking recommended.

spa

Fitness Centre

Cardio machines (treadmill, elliptical, stationary bikes), free weights, yoga mats and stretching space — sea-view windows on most ships.

gym

Satellite Wi-Fi

Complimentary satellite Wi-Fi throughout the ship. Suitable for messaging, email and standard browsing; high-bandwidth streaming may be throttled in remote regions.

wifi

Outdoor Pool & Sun Deck

Heated saltwater pool on the upper aft deck with sun-loungers, towel service and an adjacent pool bar. Open year-round, weather permitting.

pool

24-Hour Suite Service

Complimentary in-suite dining and concierge service available 24 hours. Suite-category guests benefit from dedicated butler service for unpacking, garment pressing, dinner reservations and shore-excursion booking.

butler

Tipping Policy

Gratuities for all crew, expedition team and dining staff are included in the cruise fare on PONANT voyages — no additional tipping is expected.

tipping

Laundry Service

Same-day laundry, dry-cleaning and pressing service available. Self-service is not available onboard.

laundry

Lounge & Bars

Open-seating lounges and bars throughout the ship serve premium spirits, French wines and Champagne. Afternoon tea with house-baked pastries; complimentary espresso and pour-over coffee on demand.

entertainment