Le Jacques Cartier

The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated MS Le Jacques Cartier (initially named "Le Surville") is the sixth and final vessel in Ponant’s Explorer-class of polar expedition yachts. Marketed as "expedition yachts," her sisterships include Le Champlain (2018), Le Laperouse (2018), Le Bougainville (2019), Le Dumont d’Urville (2019, fka Le Kerguelen), and Le Bellot (2020)—all named after notable French explorers.

The vessel (IMO number 9852420) is currently France-flagged (MMSI 578001400) and registered in Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.

History – Construction and Ownership

Compagnie du Ponant (CDP) is a French cruise operator founded in April 1988 by former Merchant Navy officers. All Ponant ships sail under the French flag. The company specializes in luxury expedition cruising for a primarily French-speaking market, offering all-inclusive fares. Much of the fleet is deployed in Antarctica (December–March). Ponant’s yachts combine modern amenities, five-star service, and exotic itineraries to destinations worldwide including the Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, South America, and Australia.

On March 15, 2016, a shipbuilding agreement was signed with Vard Holdings Ltd (Norwegian subsidiary of Fincantieri) for four 184-passenger Explorer-class ships (delivered 2018–2019), marking VARD Norway’s entry into cruise shipbuilding.

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

Each of Ponant’s 10,000 GT Explorer-class yachts measures 131 m (430 ft) long, 18 m (59 ft) wide, and accommodates 184 passengers with 110 crew. They have 7 decks, 92 cabins (across 4 decks), an aft Sundeck with pool, retractable Marina Platform for water sports, and a fleet of Zodiacs for landings in remote destinations. The exterior design was by Stirling Design International (SDI), with interiors by Jean-Philippe Nuel.

Decks and Cabins

Le Jacques Cartier has 92 staterooms in 9 categories, including 40 Balcony cabins (205 ft² / 19 m² plus 45 ft² / 4 m² veranda). The largest is the two-room Owners Suite (485 ft² / 45 m² plus 320 ft² / 30 m² terrace). All cabins feature private balconies with luxury furniture (table, rattan chairs) and five-star amenities including smart HDTV, DVD-CD player, minibar, King-size bed, and contemporary décor.

All suites have bathrooms with sliding panels that open to glass walls, offering sea views from the shower. Owners and Grand Deluxe Suites (aft on Decks 5–6) are two-room units with bedroom (King bed), master bath (Balneo tub, dual-sink vanity), guest bathroom, lounge (double sofa bed), dining area (4-seat table), and private balcony with dual access. Prestige Suites are also two-room, with two bathrooms (one with shower, master with bathtub), two dressing rooms, lounge with sofa bed, and a double-width veranda.

The vessel has 7 decks, 6 accessible to passengers, and 4 with cabins.

Shipboard Dining – Food and Drinks

• The outdoor Lido Grill (Deck 3 aft) seats 70 and serves grilled meats, salads, and desserts.
• The main Restaurant (Deck 4 aft, 260 m² / 2800 ft²) has floor-to-ceiling windows, single seating, buffet stations for breakfast and lunch, and waiter service for hot dishes. Dinners are 4-course à la carte meals. The terrace allows alfresco dining when weather permits.
• Most dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
• Afternoon Tea is served in the Panoramic Lounge (Deck 6 forward). Coffee and tea are complimentary and available 24/7.

Entertainment – Fun and Sport

• Marina (water sports platform, used when anchored in calm seas)
• Jacques Cartier Atrium (two-deck open space with Swarovski crystal chandelier)
• Main Lounge (200 m² / 2153 ft², LED screen, live music, Afternoon Tea, evening shows, art auctions, aft terrace smoking area)
• Boutique Shop (40 m² / 430 ft², designer clothing, jewelry, Ponant merchandise, gifts)
• Theatre (188-seat show lounge for music and dance performances)
• Wellness Centre (Spa, Balneo Room, Hammam, massage rooms, Beauty Corner, Hair Salon, Relaxation Room, terrace)
• Fitness Center (gym with panoramic windows)
• Leisure Area (kids playroom, Photo Gallery, Internet stations)
• Image and Photo Desk
• Swimming pool with sunbathing area (luxury loungers)
• Panoramic Lounge & Bar (with Internet corner, piano, library, terrace, nightclub/disco)
• Blue Eye Lounge (below waterline, with curved “cetacean eye” windows, live marine projections, hydrophone sound system, vibrating “body listening sofas”)
• Sun Deck (loungers, padded chairs, showers, shuffleboard, golf net, mini-golf)
• Zodiac boats for expeditions.

All decks are connected by stairs and elevators. The open-bridge policy allows visits when conditions permit. Medical services (Infirmary) are available 24/7. Laundry (no dry cleaning) and shipwide Wi-Fi are offered. Smoking is permitted only on designated outdoor decks.

“Blue Eye” Underwater Lounge

The “Blue Eye” lounge, a first-of-its-kind underwater venue, was created for Ponant’s Explorer-class ships. Located 2–3 m (6.5–10 ft) below sea level, it features two giant curved portholes shaped like whale eyes, projecting live underwater views onto digital screens. Hydrophones capture sounds within a 5 km (3 mi) radius, while special sofas subtly vibrate to let guests “feel” the ocean’s rhythms. Non-intrusive projectors also allow viewing marine life from decks and balconies.

Additional features include an infinity pool, spacious Sun Deck, and a 3-position Marina Platform.

Itineraries

Like her sisterships, Le Jacques Cartier offers itineraries to offbeat ports and islands worldwide: the Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean, East Asia, Australia, Indian Ocean, Pacific (Oceania), Canadian Arctic, Amazon River (Brazil/Orinoco), South America, and Antarctica. Each voyage includes lectures and presentations led by onboard naturalists and experts.

From December to March, most of the Ponant fleet is deployed in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Her inaugural Australia season was planned for 2024 with Kimberley coastal voyages, joining Le Laperouse. The Kimberley program (April 2024) offered 22 departures between Broome and Darwin on PONANT’s 10-night “Australia’s Iconic Kimberley” cruise.

In May 2024, Ponant announced Le Jacques Cartier would be deployed to French Polynesia for winter 2026–2027 (October–February), homeporting in Papeete, Tahiti. Two 14-night roundtrips were introduced:

• “Secret Polynesia: Society to Austral Islands” (departures October 18 and December 13, 2026) visiting the Tuamotus, Gambier, and Austral Islands.
• “From French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island” (departure November 15, 2026) visiting the Tuamotus and Gambier Islands.

In May 2025, Ponant confirmed that Japanese travel agency Hankyu Travel International chartered Le Jacques Cartier for three Japan cruises in spring 2027 (March–April). These 12-night itineraries depart from Kobe and Yokohama, exploring western Japan and the Seto Inland Sea.

• “Essence of Japan: Modernity and Tradition” (Yokohama–Kobe) during cherry blossom season, calling at Tagonoura, Yaizu, Toba, Katsuura, Hagi, Busan, Shimonoseki, Miyajima, Mitarai, Inujima, ending in Kobe.
• “Timeless Voyage of Refinement” (roundtrip Kobe), visiting Inujima, Miyajima, Mitarai, Hagi, Shimonoseki, Katsuura, Toba, Yaizu, Tagonoura, Yokohama, and Busan (South Korea).
• “Journey to Hidden Gems in Japan” (roundtrip Kobe), calling at Inujima, Miyajima, Tsushima, Yakushima, Koshikijima, Mitarai, Hagi, Nagasaki, Iki, Amakusa, Kumamoto, and Busan.

The shipbuilder VARD (a subsidiary of Fincantieri) constructed the hull and superstructure at its Tulcea, Romania shipyard. The vessel was then towed to VARD Soviknes shipyard in Alesund, Norway for outfitting.

Le Surville (hull number 890) was officially christened on October 28, 2022. The naming ceremony took place dockside at Port Nice, France and was led by godmother Franka Holtmann (General Manager of Hotel Le Meurice and a member of Ponant's Supervisory Board). The event was attended by Ponant’s CEO Herve Gastinel, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, and the ship’s Masters/Captains Christophe Dupuy and Sylvain Lenormand. The christening featured live performances by soprano Alexandra Marcellier and pianist Antoine Palloc.

Ponant's newbuild series features ice-strengthened hulls and state-of-the-art expedition technologies. Among them is the long-range 3D sonar "FarSounder 1000," installed in the bow and integrated into the navigation system. This forward-looking sonar enables safe maneuvering in icy or shallow waters by detecting hazards such as icebergs and coral reefs.

Interestingly, Le Jacques Cartier was originally named "Le Surville" during the early shipbuilding stages in Romania. Her name honors French explorer Jacques Cartier (1491–1557), who claimed present-day Canada for France and in 1534 became the first European to map the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. The ship was officially delivered on July 10, 2020, as the sixth and final vessel in Ponant's Explorer-class series, with the ceremony attended by CEO Emmanuel Sauvee.

Ponant’s ship also shares her name with the 1924-built (2017 refitted) and Canada-flaggedMS Jacques Cartier. That 68-passenger vessel is owned by the Canadian company Croisières MS Jacques-Cartier and is often chartered by the French river cruise operator CroisiEurope.

Unlike most Ponant vessels, Le Jacques Cartier is flagged in Wallis and Futuna (MMSI 578001400). Another unique feature is a hidden artwork by French graffiti artist Shuck One (born 1970 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe). During construction, he painted graffiti on the steel hull. Once completed, the artwork was concealed inside the ship and can only be viewed through a round porthole.

World Affairs Cruise 2021

In late January 2021, Ponant announced the "World Affairs Cruise" aboard Le Jacques Cartier. The 8-night Baltic Sea voyage was scheduled to depart July 17, 2021, from Stockholm, Sweden and end in Copenhagen, Denmark. This itinerary was part of Ponant's "Quintessential Collection" of themed cruises, designed to emphasize regional culture and intellectual engagement.

The program included lectures and discussions by leading policymakers and experts on U.S. foreign relations. Featured participants included Robin B. Wright (American author, journalist, and foreign affairs analyst), Douglas Lute (retired lieutenant general and U.S. Ambassador to NATO, 2013–2017), and Jane Holl Lute (American diplomat, UN Special Advisor, and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, 2009–2013).

The 2021 itinerary included six countries, with calls at major Baltic ports such as Helsinki, Finland, St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight, two full days), and Tallinn, Estonia, before ending in Copenhagen.