“Always with the vision and values of the intimate, personal and individualized.”.
Article from CruisesNews magazine, issue 48 – March 2019
With a background in engineering, Herve Bellaiche joined the company in 2013, holding various positions. Previously, he worked for several companies in the tourism and other sectors, including Carlson Wagon Lit Travel, Kearny, AXA Insurance, and SNCF.
What makes Ponant such a special company?
Four elements make Ponant unique: the small size of our ships, which makes us the leader in very small ship cruises; the high level of luxury experience we offer, which makes us the leader in luxury expeditions; the most modern fleet in the world; and our European and Latin roots, as the only French cruise line.
Simply put, for 30 years, thanks to the small size of our ships, Ponant has been able to access unique locations, offering exceptional destination experiences in a "Luxe à la française" lifestyle with intimacy and authenticity. In doing so, Ponant perpetuates the great French maritime tradition. Furthermore, the company's innovative spirit aims each year to discover new itineraries or develop new technologies to have a positive environmental impact. What our customers say is that traveling with Ponant is a concept, miles away from the general description of a "cruise"—a unique travel and escape experience. That's why we have one of the highest repeat visitor rates (people who come on a cruise every 2 years) in the industry.
The company began with the charming Ponant in 1988 with a single ship. Ponant has grown dramatically since then. Does the spirit still remain?
The spirit of Ponant is based on a clear vision and values. And since the company's inception in 1988, we have maintained the same vision and values… and we even have the same CEO! Our goal is to develop high-end cruises on smaller ships, offering exceptional destinations, excellent onboard service, and the utmost consideration for sustainable development. The company was founded by young officers of the French merchant marine. The spirit of these sea lovers remains at the heart of the company and contributes to our values.
Why should a Spaniard consider sailing with Ponant Cruises?
For hundreds of reasons! A Spaniard who wants to experience an exceptional destination (the Arctic, Antarctic, for example, or secret islands in Europe) with a high level of luxury should consider Ponant. We have one of the most diverse cruise programs in terms of destinations (over 100 cruises). Due to the close relationship between our two nationalities, the onboard atmosphere closely matches what Spanish customers are looking for. We have had some Spanish customers for 10 years, and it works very well. We want to accelerate our presence in Spain, which is our priority for the next two years. That's why, since February 2019, we have hired a team based in Madrid to develop our company's brand awareness in Spain.
Expeditions are in vogue. And full of newcomers. Is there still room for growth?
Yes, because the cruise market, both expedition and non-expedition, is still emerging in Europe. And since almost all the new entrants are based in America or Asia, far removed from our European culture, we believe there is room for PONANT to grow, especially in Spain.
How do you convince someone that an expedition isn't an attractive option?
Expedition cruises offer a unique experience in remote locations, inaccessible by port, where guests disembark via Zodiacs. We bring naturalists and scientists on board who can explain the wildlife and the beauty of the landscapes. This is the case on cruises to polar regions, such as Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. This represents 50% of our program. The other 50% of our cruises are cultural cruises, where there might be a port of access.
For these cruises, we bring on board the most talented experts to explain the culture of the country we are visiting. Enjoying the finest gastronomy and wine, participating in a magical family cruise, or having world-renowned musicians on board—with PONANT, the extraordinary is the norm. Most of the time, we partner with key companies or associations (National Geographic, Christie's, GEO magazine, Radio Classique, etc.).
Many people would consider environmental risks still too high in many parts of the world. How environmentally friendly is the company?
Environmental protection is one of PONANT's highest priorities. From new, smaller-capacity ships and carefully designed itineraries to training for both crew and passengers, PONANT's efforts to have a positive environmental impact are not limited to the processes implemented on board. Conducting environmental impact assessments before offering any new itinerary for sale and partnering with local environmental groups are specific processes we keep very much in mind.
PONANT has also joined forces with partners such as think tanks and global associations working to preserve environments (Le Cercle Polaire and Tourism Care). Our goal is to raise the bar for responsible tourism. We have received several awards in the last year for this, and we have been chosen by National Geographic to be its exclusive partner in Europe because of PONANT's environmental commitment.
Explorers, icebreakers, are there plans for larger ships? What is the ideal fleet for Ponant Cruises?
As previously stated, our Vision and Values will remain the same. PONANT will stay true to its spirit and continue building only smaller ships.
Silversea has become part of Royal Caribbean, Seabourn is part of Carnival, and Regent belongs to NCL. Is it possible to remain independent?
No one really knows what the future holds in this rapidly growing market. In a market with several dominant companies and numerous new entrants, some consolidation is possible. We are the only cruise line owned by the Luxury Group (the Pinault family, owners of Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Boucheron, Bottega Veneta, etc.). Our shared goal is to remain independent in the short, medium, and long term.
Could you highlight the main features of the 2019 and 2020 cruise program? What's your favorite destination?
For 2019 and 2020, PONANT has an incredible selection of destinations to offer: stunning landscapes in Antarctica, exceptional culture in Central America, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. To help you choose among all these destinations, PONANT created a web magazine called ESCALE, which you can find here: https://escales.ponant.com/en/
For example, one of our cruises that I recommend to my network is in Central America, a magnificent cruise from Puerto Vallarta to Fuerte Amador, Flamenco Island, from October 11th to 23rd, 2019, with an exceptional €800 flight credit per person for a limited time.
Are there hidden gems on the planet that are in Ponant's future destination plans?
Ponant is always looking for new destinations, hidden gems, secluded ports, seas, and rivers to explore. A dedicated team works on this three years before a cruise is listed in the catalog. They collaborate with local environmental organizations and conduct Environmental Impact Assessments. We propose around 15 new destinations each year.
The oceans cover 70% of the Earth's surface, so yes, there are still hidden gems.
And finally, what major changes are being implemented at the company? What would an ideal luxury cruise line look like?
The main change is related to the number of ships we are building: with two new ships joining the PONANT fleet in 2019 and three more in the 2020-2021 period, we will have plenty of room for new customers.
We will continue to offer luxury service in exceptional destinations with the utmost care for the environment. We need to maintain our Vision and Values, and we need to grow. I hope this interview, one of the few we have done in Spain, will help spark the interest of Spanish customers!
