Le Bellot

The 2020-built MS Le Bellot is the 5th of six Ponant-owned polar expedition vessels. Marketed as "expedition yachts," the PONANT EXPLORERS-class also includes Le Champlain (2018), Le Laperouse (2018), Le Bougainville (2019), Le Dumont d'Urville (2019, originally "Le Kerguelen"), and Le Jacques Cartier (2020, originally "Le Surville"). All are named after famous French sea explorers.

The vessel (IMO number 9852418) is France-flagged (MMSI 578001500) and registered in Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.

History - Construction and Ownership

Compagnie du Ponant (CDP) is a French cruise company founded in April 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers. All Ponant ships sail under the French flag. The company specializes in premium adventure cruises aimed primarily at French-speaking markets, offering all-inclusive packages. Most of the fleet is deployed in Antarctica between December and March. These mega-yachts combine modern amenities, premium service by highly trained crews, and 5-star standards. Itineraries include destinations across the Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, South America, Australia, and beyond.

On March 15, 2016, Vard Holdings Ltd (a Norwegian subsidiary of Fincantieri) signed an agreement with CDP to build four 184-passenger Explorer-class ships (delivered 2018–2019). This deal marked VARD’s entry into the cruise shipbuilding market.

On March 6, 2018, CDP signed two additional orders with VARD (delivered in 2020), expanding the fleet to 12 ships by the end of 2021.

Each 10,000 GT Explorer-class superyacht measures 131 m (430 ft) in length and 18 m (59 ft) in beam, carrying 184 passengers and 110 crew across 7 decks, with 92 cabins on 4 accommodation decks. Design highlights include an aft sundeck with swimming pool, retractable marina for water sports and Zodiac launches, and sleek exterior lines by Stirling Design International (SDI). Interiors were created by Jean-Philippe Nuel.

Decks and Cabins

Ponant Le Bellot staterooms (92 total, in 9 categories) include 40 Balcony cabins (205 ft² / 19 m² plus 45 ft² / 4 m² veranda). The largest is the 2-room Owner’s Suite (485 ft² / 45 m² plus 320 ft² / 30 m² terrace). All cabins feature private balconies (with lounge furniture – table and two rattan chairs) and 5-star amenities such as smart HDTV, DVD/CD player, minibar, King-size bed, and contemporary furnishings.

All suites include bathrooms with sliding panels in the shower, opening to reveal a glass wall with unobstructed sea views. The Owner’s and Grand Deluxe Suites (aft on decks 5 and 6) are two-room accommodations with a bedroom (King bed), master bathroom (Balneo bathtub, dual-sink vanity), guest bathroom, lounge (double sofabed), dining area (4-seat table), and private balcony with dual access. Prestige Suites are also two-room layouts, featuring 2 bathrooms (one with shower, the master with bathtub), 2 dressing rooms, a lounge (double sofabed), and a double-width veranda.

The ship has 7 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 4 contain cabins.

Shipboard Dining - Food and Drinks

Dining options on Le Bellot include:

• Lido Grill (outdoor dining aft on deck 3, 70 seats), offering grilled meats, salads, and desserts.
• Main Restaurant (aft on deck 4, 260 m² / 2800 ft², single seating, floor-to-ceiling windows, with outside terrace). Buffet-style breakfast and lunch, waiter-served hot dishes, and a la carte 4-course dinners. Weather permitting, meals are also served alfresco.
• Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
• Afternoon Tea service is available in the Panoramic Lounge (forward on deck 6). Coffee and tea are complimentary 24/7.

Shipboard Entertainment - Fun and Sport

Le Bellot’s entertainment and leisure facilities include:

• The Marina (watersports platform, used when anchored in calm seas)
• Atrium (two-deck-high open space with Swarovski crystal chandelier)
• Main Lounge (200 m² / 2153 ft², LED screen, floor-to-ceiling windows; early breakfast, teas, coffees, Afternoon Tea with gourmet treats, evening live music, and an art auction once per cruise; aft terrace is the only designated smoking area)
• Boutique Shop (40 m² / 430 ft², designer clothing, jewelry, Ponant merchandise, gifts)
• Theatre (188 seats, used for shows, lectures, and films)
• Wellness Centre (Spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, massage, beauty salon, relaxation area, terrace)
• Fitness Centre (gym with panoramic views)
• Leisure Area (kids playroom, Photo Gallery, Internet stations)
• Image and Photo Desk
• Swimming pool sundeck (with loungers)
• Panoramic Lounge and Bar (library, grand piano, Internet corner, terrace, and late-night disco)
• Blue Eye Lounge (underwater lounge with curved porthole windows, hydrophone soundscapes, vibrating sofas, and digital projections of surrounding marine life)
• Sun Deck (open-air area with bar, loungers, chairs, showers, shuffleboard, golf driving net, and mini-golf)
• Zodiacs (inflatable expedition boats).

Stairs and elevators connect all decks. The Navigation Bridge maintains an open-bridge policy (subject to weather and security). Additional facilities include a Doctor’s Office (24-hour service), laundry (no dry cleaning), and Wi-Fi access. Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas.

"Blue Eye" Underwater Lounge

The world’s first underwater cruise lounge, "Blue Eye," was created for Ponant’s Explorer-class yachts. Located 2–3 m (6.5–10 ft) below sea level, it features curved porthole windows shaped like cetacean eyes, hydrophones capturing sounds within a 5 km (3 mi) radius, and "body listening sofas" that vibrate in harmony with ocean rhythms. Digital screens project live footage of surrounding marine life, while non-intrusive underwater projectors illuminate the ocean for viewing from balconies and outer decks.

The ships also feature an infinity swimming pool, spacious sundeck, and a three-position aft marina platform.

Itineraries

MS Le Bellot’s itineraries include unique destinations worldwide: the Caribbean, Europe (Baltic and Mediterranean), East Asia, Australia, Indian Ocean and Pacific islands (Oceania), Canadian Arctic, Brazil’s Amazon (Orinoco River), South America, and Antarctica. Each voyage includes enrichment lectures and presentations by naturalists, focused on regional wildlife and culture.

Between December and March, most of the Ponant fleet operates in polar regions (Arctic and Antarctica).

The shipbuilder VARD (a subsidiary of Fincantieri) constructed the vessel’s hull and superstructure at the shipyard in Tulcea, Romania, after which it was towed to VARD Soviknes Shipyard in Alesund, Norway for outfitting.

Ponant Le Bellot's hull number is 889. The vessel is France-flagged (MMSI 578001500).

Ponant’s new Explorer-class ships feature ice-strengthened hulls and advanced expedition technologies. Among them is the long-range 3D sonar "FarSounder 1000," a forward-looking system installed in the bow and integrated into the bridge navigation suite. This sonar enables the vessel to safely navigate icy waters by detecting and mapping hazards such as icebergs and shallow reefs.

The yacht’s official christening ceremony took place on May 21, 2022, in Port Honfleur, France. The ceremony was led by godmother Adelaide de Clermont-Tonnerre (born 1976, French journalist and novelist), a descendant of Princess Isabelle d'Orléans (1878-1961), Duchess of Guise. The event was also attended by Herve Gastinel (Ponant CEO), Christophe Buisson (Honfleur town counselor, President of the Tourist Office, and VP of the Community of Communes du Pays de Honfleur-Beuzeville), Michele Prevost (great-grandniece of Joseph-Rene Bellot, 1826-1853, the French naval officer and Arctic explorer after whom the ship is named), as well as the vessel’s two Masters, Captains Maxime Benoit and Quentin Dubois.