Antarctica is a land of extremes, but also one of incredible natural beauty. The experiences travellers can have in this magical region rival even the most beautiful ports in the Mediterranean or the most exotic cities of Asia.
Remarkably, sailing to this pristine region of the world no longer requires long voyages on uncomfortable “working ships.” Luxury vessels and mainstream cruise ships now offer regularly scheduled seasons of Antarctic voyages, and the newest ship to sail the region is Compagnie du Ponant’s sleek L’Austral.
Launched just this past May, the chic L’Austral is the sister-ship to the immensely popular Le Boreal, which entered service last year. Easily identifiable by their sleek grey hulls and sweeping white superstructure, L’Austral and Le Boreal both sail the polar waters of Antarctica this coming winter.
L’Austral can carry up to 264 guests in the kind of comfort and style that many cruisers wouldn’t think possible in the Polar Regions. Gone are the days when a trip to Antarctica meant “roughing it.”
Russian freighters are out; passengers aboard the L’Austral can revel in designer Jean-Philippe Nuel’s magnificent, French-inspired interior designs as they marvel at the beauty of this mysterious land.
The Gastronomic Restaurant can seat the entire complement of passengers in one seating and serves up international and French-inspired cuisine. The ship also features a full theatre, a spa and several bars.
The smallest staterooms onboard this French ship measure 200 square feet and include a 43-square-foot private balcony. Superior Oceanview staterooms come in slightly larger at 226 square feet; large by mainstream cruise ship standards, where most Oceanview staterooms measure approximately 160 square feet.
On the other end of the scale is L’Austral’s Owner’s Suite, which features a 97-square-foot private balcony in addition to a whopping 484 square feet of living and sleeping space.
L’Austral just might be the hippest ship to sail the Southern Ocean, proving there’s never been a better time to experience the breathtaking beauty of Antarctica.
