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Login Equipped with an underwater lounge, the Blue Eye, and the latest technologies limiting the impact on the environment, Le Bellot offers you a different way to experience the expedition.
Combining sleek lines with a welcoming atmosphere, Le Bellot offers a modern experience and high-end facilities for an unforgettable cruise.
We enjoy small ship cruising and desired to try a ship/cruise line new to us and we’re taken with starting on the Thames. The ship is new. The physical plant is excellent. The excursions are average to excellent depending on the sites and guides. We had two average and one excellent guide on at three excellent sites. The food is average. The service is impersonal. Waitstaff’s English is spotty at best. Unless you are clear and specific anything may be served. I asked for waffles and received a toasted bagel. Unless you buy the premium wine pass you will never see the sommelier. The waitstaff know nothing about the wine. The buffets are excellent for fruit and salads. The eggs at the breakfast buffet are always cold. If you want scrambled eggs the waitstaff point at the buffet. The bacon is barely cooked. Room service is excellent. The Wi-Fi is spotty, inconsistent, with terrible downloading capability. It is very frustrating. In the end we enjoyed our trip because we went where we wanted to go. The on board experience was between three and four star.
This was our 14th cruise, the second on Ponant, and we sought it out because we are tired of the large ship cruises. Ponant offers expeditionary experiences, rather than the traditional "rest, relax and party" cruise, so we approached our time with that expectation. We were incredibly impressed. The ship is graceful, beautiful and very comfortable. Appointments are sophisticated and of the highest quality. Cabins are a bit smaller than you might encounter on a huge ship, but actually better laid out than most and are attractive, comfortable, with plenty of storage, and very luxurious beds. (The toilet might have felt a little cramped, if you are a larger person, but was still quite functional.) We were very happy. The entire Ponant team, from the Captain on down, were friendly, personable and attentive. The food was very, very good - especially the deserts - and the "always available" menu was good too, if you didn't care for beef cheeks or some of the other more exotic offerings. The poolside luncheon options were really fun, also. There were a couple of options that still make me salivate, just thinking about them. The ham & egg galette is one example. Wine offerings were wonderful too. Bartenders remembered your drinks and were happy to try something they'd never heard of before. Here is the real Ponant differentiator: There were onboard naturalists who gave daily lectures about the following day's schedule and accompanied us, on Zodiacs, on every day's activity - whether exploratory or recreational. These folks were absolutely knowledgeable, spontaneous, informative and fun to be with. Wonderful.
We wanted to see Maya sites and wanted to try Ponant. We have sailed on Cunard, Celebrity, Oceania, Windstar, Seabourn, Holland America and Viking - 20+ cruises in all, 6 on Seabourn. I would say 80-90 percent of the passengers spoke French as their primary language. We enjoyed that. The officers are French, the staff Indonesian or Filipino. We were rather taken aback to see the captain and some officers having cocktails before and wine with dinner. I have never seen that before; some other passengers also remarked on this. Our cabin steward was very good. The service in the dining room was spotty. I wonder if they needed more staff. Sometimes I had to get up and ask for someone to bring us beverages. Unlike any ship I have ever been on, they expect you to order the entire meal at once, including dessert. I find that I don't know if I want dessert until after I have eaten the intial courses. But that is a minor point. The food was generally good, sometimes very good. Soups are good, but not served hot enough. Breads, as on all cruise linesI have been on, are very good. there was exceptional selection of French cheeses with descriptions of each cheese at the buffet. I tasted many types of cheese I have never had before. Excellent desserts, and the best ice cream I have had on any ship - intensely flavored, both the creams and the sorbets. The ship is small and has very little space to stretch your legs. Our cabin on deck four was comfortable but tiny. Plenty of space for clothes, however. Furniture aboard, while fashionable and elegant, seemed to be designed for short people - the sofas and armchairs are too low, though deep enough. They do provide plenty of cushions to help one adjust. The bar service in the main lounge was excellent. Ponant offers free alcohol, but only the basic brands. You have to pay quite a bit extra if, for instance, you want Hendricks gin in your martini. You do get high quality mixed nuts served along with your drinks, which is a nice touch. Why don't all premium lines provide them? The outdoor pool is tiny, but we enjoyed it. It was a refreshing temperature and had a strong jet enabling a sort of "endless pool" experience. We usually "swam" twice per day. The gym is tiny with the usual stuff. I never saw anyone there. The sauna looks nice, but too small except for a couple; one sauna for both men and women. Not my cup of tea, but the French, I think, don't mind. Might be nice in a colder part of the world! There was a Paris Match (the sort of Life Magazine of France) theme to this cruise. There were about 10 people from the magazine on the ship running around, partaking in photo shoots in self-regarding poses. They seemed to be especially catered-to by the staff. I suspect it was all an advertising gimmick for Ponant. I don't see that their presence offered any benefit to the regular passengers. We got to visit some terrific Maya archaeological sites. I thought the excursions were a bit overpriced. The guides were local, rather amateurish and occasionally contradicted each other's narratives of Maya culture. Would have been a lot better if there had been professional archaeologists/Maya historians to lead the tours. But I understand why they would use local guides as tourism is a huge part of the econmies of Mexico and Central America. A couple of the excursions included lunch. The food wasn't good at either one. On one excursion. we were taken 20 miles up the New River in a speed boat and most passengers were out in the rather intense sun for over an hour without any overhead protection. Not well thought out. That said, the river was nice to see. I thnk this was the first time Ponant has offered this cruise, and they hopefully will work out some of the kinks. We generally avoid the shows on ships. Went to one which was silly and way too loud. They had a French classical pianist on the ship who I heard was quite good. The only child on the ship was her daughter who was an obviously bright and happy child, poised around adults, and carefully brought-up by loving parents. Overall, I would say that Ponant delivers a good product in elegant surroundings. And it was fun to be immersed in a bit of France. I suspect we won't return to Ponant, except maybe the Paul Gauguin for a Polynesian cruise. I would say that Seabourn provides a superior experience with better food, drink, service and space, for a similar or even smaller price.
Refined service
The onboard service embodies French elegance, combining personal attention and exceptional gastronomy. Every detail is designed to afford an unforgettable experience.
Private balconies
Most staterooms and suites are equipped with private balconies to enjoy panoramic views of the ocean, whether you are sailing through tropical waters or icy landscapes.
Personalised service
Featuring 6 to 165 cabins, our ships prioritise an intimate experience and attentive, personalised service.
Customized pillow
All our teams pay attention to the smallest details. That's why you can choose from our "pillow menu" the one that suits you best.
Butler
Attentive and discreet, your butler offers you a fully personalized service. The butler service is reserved for passengers traveling in one of the suites located on deck 6 aboard the Sisterships, as well as in all suites of the Shipowner, Deluxe Suites, Privilege Suites, and Prestige Suites located on deck 6 aboard the PONANT EXPLORERS.
Excellence in gastronomy
Delicious breakfasts, à la carte dishes, varied buffets, and gourmet tea times offer delightful experiences designed in collaboration with Ducasse Conseil.
Our restaurants invite you to explore: a sensory journey where flavors reveal themselves with boldness and finesse.
Whether you're dreaming of relaxation, exploration, or a far-flung escape to the heart of breathtaking nature, there's a trip for every desire. Timeless, Discovery, or Expedition: each collection offers a distinct and tailored approach, allowing you to experience your chosen destination up close.
The common areas onboard Le Bellot
Our ship Le Bellot features a number of spaces designed and arranged to serve your needs and requirements whilst at the same time preserving the privacy of each passenger.
Good times together
The common areas on board have been designed in great detail to make every moment something special. While the private nature of each of these spaces has been preserved, they have also been laid out to let you enjoy some wonderful times together with other passengers and team members throughout the day.
Lounge and bars
The cosy and refined atmosphere of the lounges and bars are perfect for relaxing, socialising or simply enjoying the moment – whatever your mood.
Take care of yourself, simply.
A conference that awakens your mind, a spa treatment that soothes your body, or a fitness session that revives your energy? On board, time seems to stand still for a moment of self-care.
Thanks to the Kid Explorers Club, children aged 4 to 13 enjoy activities organised by a team of dedicated and passionate carers.
Physical activities, board games, movie nights and learning about onboard professions, as well as supervised outings and shore walks for children (six years+).
