Wake up aboard your Ponant Explorer Series yacht, Le Bougainville – noted for its innovative "green" technology and exemplary service – in a stateroom custom-made for your cruising comfort with a host of sophisticated amenities …. sink-in-soft luxury bedding, fully stocked minibar, pampering French toiletries, and a private balcony. Breakfast tempts… enjoyed à la carte in your room, on deck in the open air or in our elegant gourmet restaurant with a decidedly French twist… from croissants and café as you like it to a buffet of freshly prepared delights. After breakfast, you may venture off the ship for a morning of guided sightseeing ashore on a choice of included excursions, or indulge in the ship's many onboard pleasures. If the spa calls, you can sign up for a massage, a steam bath, aromatherapy treatment or a facial for that "good life glow." Or exercise your options in the fitness center. Lunch as you choose… in the more formal setting of Le Restaurant Gastronomique, or perhaps staying ashore to sample the local fare in today's port of call. Beverages, from soft drinks to house wine and spirits, complement your mood and are always complimentary aboard ship. Afternoon invites more exploration ashore… or relaxation onboard, whether it's lounging at the pool, cuddling up with a good book, attending an insightful lecture by an onboard expert, or enjoying a cocktail with a friend or two in Ponant's groundbreaking Blue Eye underwater lounge – located beneath the water line – that allows you to see, hear and virtually feel marine life in the deep sea! Tonight, dine with new friends in your choice of restaurant, or sneak away for a romantic dinner, candlelit, out on deck. Nighttime brings out the stars – be they in the sky above, or onstage in Le Théâtre. And when it's time to turn in, your bed will be turned down… often with a sweet treat on your pillow. You'll close your eyes and sleep to the rhythm of the seas, enjoying the reverie that's inherent on every Tauck cruise aboard Ponant's new, elegant Explorer Series ship, Le Bougainville.

Blue Eye Lounge
Aquatic wildlife… on the outside looking in…
Exclusive to our Explorer Series small ships, The Blue Eye Lounge is the world's first multi-sensory, underwater lounge. The space's graphical references evoke cetaceans and jellyfish – evident in the lines of the lounge, the positioning of the body, the furniture and the fittings. All focus is drawn towards the two eye-shaped portholes, looking out upon the subaquatic world. The lighting allows the gaze to dive into the spectacle unfolding outside… and on the integrated digital screens projecting images captured live by three underwater cameras placed at the ship's strategic points… enabling guests to witness, for example, the spectacle of dolphins playing in the bow waves.                                    

Elegant Shipboard Dining
Dining pleasures onboard
Fresh products, carefully selected ingredients, refined dishes… throughout your cruise, enjoy outstanding cuisine prepared by talented chefs sharing their passion for the legacy of French cooking. The panoramic Gastronomic Restaurant accommodates all passengers in a single sitting; this dining area, opening to the outside, offers cuisine featuring inspiration drawn from local ports of call. In a more relaxed setting, the outdoor Grill Restaurant serves gourmet and varied cuisine – with the ever-present horizon as a welcome dining companion.

Le Bougainville
From Ponant's new Explorer Series…
Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, life aboard ship evokes a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.