Ship Visit: A smaller ship, a different perspective: my time aboard PONANT’s Le Lapérouse

There is something immediately appealing about a ship that feels manageable from the moment you step aboard. On Le Lapérouse, that sense of intimacy comes through sleek interiors, a warm welcome, and the reassuring impression that someone has thought carefully about your comfort.

My first impression was of understated Scandinavian styling with a distinctly French personality. The interiors are elegant, but the crew's welcome and the little extras in my cabin made the strongest impression. Together, they set the tone for a ship where being well looked after is part of the experience.

Le Lapérouse belongs to the PONANT EXPLORERS series and accommodates up to 184 guests, with private balconies across her 92 staterooms and suites. Those numbers help explain her appeal: this is cruising on a scale where the ship feels personal.

For me, the attraction of a smaller ship goes well beyond finding my way around easily.

A vessel of this size opens up possibilities for visiting smaller ports and secluded places that would be difficult for larger ships to reach. That matters when choosing a voyage built around discovering a destination.

Le Lapérouse carries Zodiacs for exploration, and PONANT’s itinerary choices are an important part of the proposition. However comfortable the cabin or accomplished the cooking, I still want the journey to give me a reason to step ashore.

There are compromises, of course. You cannot expect the range of facilities found aboard a much larger vessel. The gym struck me as small, although on a ship carrying relatively few guests I would be surprised if waiting for an exercise bike became a defining feature of anyone’s holiday.

I also looked for a public washroom on the dining-room deck without success. It was a minor frustration, but these practical details belong in a review alongside the things a ship does particularly well.

One of Le Lapérouse’s most distinctive spaces lies below the waterline.

The Blue Eye lounge brings an entirely different perspective to being at sea. Whale-eye-shaped windows look into the surrounding water, while underwater sounds form part of the experience. It is an unusual place to spend an evening, and one that makes the sea itself part of the ship’s interior.

What appeals to me is the change in viewpoint. We spend so much time on ships looking across the surface that the opportunity to look beneath it feels rather special. Any wildlife encounter will depend on what happens to be outside; the fascination is in having that window into another world.

Back above the waterline, the theatre deserves a mention for a simpler reason: its seats were among the most comfortable I have encountered on a cruise ship. When settling down for an evening lecture or presentation, that is an unexpectedly welcome detail.

Food was a highlight of my time aboard.

French culture runs through the dining experience, from the menus to the sense that a meal deserves time and attention. I found the cooking exceptional and the dining-room service excellent: professional, welcoming and attentive.

The evening atmosphere onboard encourages a little dressing up. Many guests generally embrace the occasion and enjoy that sense of making something of dinner after a day of discovery.  

Yet some of my favourite moments involved eating outside.

There is something about a meal in the open air aboard a ship that I find difficult to beat. Le Lapérouse offers inviting opportunities to do just that, with outdoor dining adding another dimension to life on board. Sometimes the setting contributes as much to the memory as what is on the plate.

Exploration provides the purpose, but there is plenty to appreciate between outings.

The infinity pool, sauna, and spa offer opportunities to unwind, while the stern marina adds another way to enjoy the water when conditions and the itinerary allow.

A private balcony is another pleasure I value. It gives you somewhere to step outside quietly, take in the surroundings and enjoy a little time to yourself.

The crew contributed enormously to the atmosphere. I found them welcoming and professional, and communication in English was easy. Although the ship’s French identity is clear, the experience felt accessible to an international mix of guests.

For travellers who enjoy smaller ships, good food and attentive service, I think Le Lapérouse has considerable appeal.

What stayed with me was how comfortably those elements fitted together. The intimate scale, the pleasure of dining well, the welcoming crew and the opportunity to explore by Zodiac all contributed to a convincing whole.

No ship is perfect, and personal preferences will always shape the experience. But I came away feeling that Le Lapérouse offers a particularly appealing way to travel: close to the places you have come to discover, with a very comfortable ship waiting when you return.

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