On May 21, 2022, one of the latest ships in the PONANT EXPLORER series, Le Bellot, was christened during its first stop in Honfleur, France.
The ceremony was attended by the ship's godmother, Adélaïde de Clermont-Tonnerre, a writer—winner of the Grand Prix de la Académie Française for *Le Último de los Nuestros* (The Last of Ours)—and editor-in-chief of the magazine *Point de Vue*, which is part of PONANT's Board of Directors. Music was provided by the Finistère Regional Orchestra. Also present were Hervé Gastinel, CEO of PONANT; Christophe Buisson, municipal councilor, president of the Tourist Office, and vice-president of the Community of Municipalities of the Pays de Honfleur-Beuzeville; Michèle Prevost, great-niece of Joseph-René Bellot; and Captains Maxime Benoit and Quentin Dubois, who joined the godmother of *Le Bellot*.
The ship will now depart for the American continent. After an ocean crossing through Europe, Iceland, and Greenland, Le Bellot is scheduled to arrive in Canada in September.
The PONANT EXPLORERS, a new generation of French-flagged vessels equipped with the latest technologies, comply with the most recent environmental regulations and have received the “CLEANSHIP” label. The ships offer 92 cabins, including four suites; all cabins feature a picture window and a private balcony. With a limited capacity—the PONANT EXPLORERS can accommodate up to 184 guests and 118 crew members—they are designed to access the most inaccessible locations, where others cannot reach.
