
Le Soléal
Le Soléal
Le Soléal is a luxury-expedition yacht that marries Paris-style refinement with the daring routes of an ice-rated explorer. Hosting just 264 guests (capped at 200 in polar regions), the ship enters secluded fjords, atolls, and archipelagos that larger vessels cannot reach. Panoramic lounges, broad teak promenades, and balconies in 95 % of cabins keep glaciers, coral bays, or Renaissance coastlines always in sight. Add Ducasse-inspired cuisine, a Sothys spa, and an attentive French-international crew, and Le Soléal delivers an indulgent adventure at sea.
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Ship Statistics

2010
Launch Year

10944
Gross Tonnes

142
Length

18
Width

EUR
Currency

14
Max Speed (Knots)

264
Capacity

145
Crew

132
Cabins
Facilities
Accommodation
Cabins and suites echo polar ice and Mediterranean coves in a palette of pale gray, white oak, and soft azure. All feature king-or-twin beds, Diptyque bath amenities, 24-hour room service, interactive entertainment, and complimentary Wi-Fi; 95 % include a private balcony.
Stateroom & Suite Categories
- Owner’s Suite (≈ 45 m² / 484 ft²) — Forward on Deck 6; panoramic lounge–dining room and 12 m² (129 ft²) terrace with sun loungers.
- Prestige Suite (≈ 37 m² / 398 ft²) — Two inter-connecting Prestige Staterooms form a spacious bedroom–salon with dual bathrooms and an extended balcony.
- Deluxe Suite (≈ 27 m² / 291 ft²) — Separate lounge, walk-in closet, balcony on Deck 6; butler service included.
- Superior Stateroom (≈ 21 m² / 226 ft²) — Large picture window on Deck 3 for mid-ship stability and an enclosed view.
- Deluxe Stateroom (≈ 18 m² / 194 ft²) — Private balcony on Deck 3 plus sitting area and generous wardrobe.
- Prestige Stateroom (≈ 18 m² / 194 ft²) — Decks 4–6; floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open onto a teak-furnished balcony.
Dining
In collaboration with Ducasse Conseil, chefs blend classical French technique with seasonal produce from each cruising region—Hokkaidō scallops in Japan, Patagonian lamb in Antarctica. A curated cellar of French and New-World wines complements every course, while open seating keeps the mood relaxed and convivial.
Restaurants & Bars
- Le Restaurant Gastronomique — 268-seat, white-linen venue offering buffet breakfasts and lunches plus multi-course dinners.
- Le Grill — Indoor-outdoor restaurant for casual breakfasts, themed lunches, and alfresco dinners under the stars.
- Main Lounge — Pâtisserie and espresso bar by day, live-music cocktail lounge by night.
- Panoramic Lounge — 180° glass walls, library nook, resident mixologist, and open-air terrace.
- Open-Air Bar — Poolside smoothies at noon, Champagne sunsets after excursions.
Onboard Facilities
Sculpted teak, Carrara marble, and commissioned art create a yacht-club ambience. Floor-to-ceiling glazing and heated outdoor promenades blur the boundary between interior elegance and the seascape beyond.
Indoor & Outdoor Spaces
- Main Lounge — 2,700 ft² social hub with bar, dance floor, and terrace.
- Panoramic Lounge & Terrace — Wrap-around views ideal for wildlife spotting or afternoon tea.
- Theatre — 250-seat auditorium for lectures, films, and evening shows.
- Sothys Spa & Hammam — Sea-view treatment rooms, Turkish bath, balneotherapy suite, and hair salon.
- Fitness Studio — Technogym cardio and weights with ocean-facing windows.
- Heated Seawater Pool & Sun Deck — Loungers, Open-Air Bar service, and occasional deck-top barbecues.
- Boutique — Curated French fashion, jewelry, and expedition gear.
- Medical Center — Full-time doctor and tele-medicine link.
- Marina & Zodiac Platform — Swift embarkation for up to 11 inflatable craft.
Deck Plans
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More Information About Le Soléal
Ship Overview
Entertainment & Onboard Activities
Health, Fitness & Wellness
Family, Kids, and Special Traveler Services
Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship
Testimonials & Passenger Reviews
Brand Heritage
Founded in Marseille in 1988, Ponant pioneered French-style luxury expeditions. Launched in 2013, Le Soléal is the third ship of the Boréal class, marrying boutique elegance with responsible engineering.
Design Description
At 466 ft (142 m) with an Ice Class 1C hull, Le Soléal can navigate lightly ice-covered waters while a sleek, low-silhouette profile minimizes fuel burn and vibration. Interiors by Jean-Philippe Nuel draw on polar blues and warm neutrals to evoke tranquility.
Unique Features
- “Clean Ship” Certification — Advanced wastewater and exhaust treatment exceed IMO standards.
- Dynamic Positioning — Holds station without anchors, protecting fragile seabeds.
- All-Balcony Concept — 95 % of accommodations include a private teak terrace.
- Sothys-Partner Spa — Exclusive French skincare rituals at sea.
Evenings combine cultural sophistication with expedition insight—string quartets after Zodiac landings, wine tastings after glacier hikes.
- Expert Lectures — Naturalists, historians, and photographers rotate throughout each voyage.
- Evening Recaps — Expedition leader reviews wildlife sightings and next-day plans in the theatre.
- Live Music & Dance — Jazz trios and chanson sets in the Main Lounge.
Daily Activity Program
- Zodiac cruises, landings, and coastal hikes—often twice daily.
- Optional kayaking or snowshoeing on select itineraries.
- Citizen-science projects such as seabird counts and plankton sampling.
- Stretch, yoga, and Pilates sessions on deck or in the theatre.
- Sothys Spa & Hammam with massages, facials, and body rituals.
- Sea-View Fitness Studio featuring cardio and strength equipment.
- Heated Seawater Pool surrounded by sun loungers and Open-Air Bar service.
- 24-Hour Medical Center staffed by an onboard doctor.
Families & Solo Travelers
- Connecting staterooms and sofa-bed suites welcome multigenerational groups.
- Solo travelers enjoy open-seating dining and occasional reduced single supplements.
Accessibility & Dietary Needs
- Elevators serve all guest decks; select cabins feature widened doorways and roll-in showers.
- Chefs accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-specific menus with advance notice.
Eco-Friendly Practices
- Low-sulfur fuel and optimized routing reduce CO₂ emissions.
- Advanced wastewater treatment and strict waste segregation.
- Refillable glass bottles in all cabins eliminate single-use plastics.
Certifications & Awards
- Bureau Veritas “Clean Ship” notation.
- Member of IAATO and AECO, adhering to stringent polar-visitor guidelines.
- Overall Experience: “Le Soléal is sleek, elegant and supremely comfortable… staff were outstanding and excursions superb.” — Cruise Critic Review 2023
- Accommodations: “Our Deluxe Stateroom was compact yet beautifully appointed, and the balcony put us eye-level with penguins on ice floes.” — Cruise Critic
- Dining: “Menus rival top Paris bistros; the pastry chef’s mille-feuille was unforgettable.” — Cruise Critic
Le Soléal´s itineraries
Emblematic Antarctica
Discover the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula on this 10-night luxury expedition aboard L’Boreal.
- 8 days
- Le Boréal