Le Laperouse
- capacity
- 184
- year built
- 2018
- crew members
- 110
- length
- 430 feet
- beam
- 26 feet
- draft
- 15 feet
- cruising speed
- 12.5 knots
- flag
- France
- ice class
- 1C
The 184-guest Le Laperouse belongs to a group of carbon copy sister ships consisting of Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Bellot, Le Dumont D’Urville and Le Jacques Cartier. Each of these Ponant Explorer ships offers their guests a private balcony or terraces, eco-minded and modern technology, elegant accommodations and inviting common spaces that open onto the outside. This expedition ship’s refinement permeates among the ethnic-chic decor, rounded out by top-notch service. Guests aboard Le Laperouse will surely enjoy her intimate feel, wherever she’s sailing within her global deployment.
Le Laperouse Review
AdventureSmith Explorations’ Le Laperouse review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our expedition ship experts have been aboard similar luxury expedition vessels firsthand. Please read our Le Laperouse review below then contact our experts to compare Le Laperouse with other small cruise ships sailing on small ship cruises in Northern Europe and Arctic cruises or browse our small ship cruise reviews for insights into many of the ships and trips we offer.
Choose Le Laperouse for her authentic and upscale atmosphere with a refined, passionate crew. She offers marvelous expedition cruising, with graceful staterooms and suites, modern equipment and engaging onboard leaders. At each exceptional destination, Le Laperouse offers exclusive tours to previously inaccessible destinations, special interactions with unique cultures and learning lessons from expert naturalists.
Safety, Sustainability & Accessibility Aboard Le Laperouse
Le Laperouse was built with guest safety and the environment in mind. Le Laperouse is part of a family of sister ships all certified “Clean Ships” by Bureau Veritas, a globally recognized steward of environmentally conscious travel. La Laperouse’s silent electric propulsion system reduces carbon emissions by 40% and her sophisticated GPS and stabilizers relieve the need for anchoring in many locales. Wastewater is treated and recycled through her advanced filtration systems. A recycling program on board ensures items are compacted for later processing ashore. Modern CFR and LED lighting has cut power required by older systems by 90%. And the captain and officers use advanced sonar with continuous 3D ocean floor views to maintain a safe distance from marine life. Le Laperouse is fully ADA compliant, with 2 accessible staterooms, 4 elevators and lifts up and down stairways for easy access to all decks and public areas of the ship, and accessible toilets in common areas.
Common Areas Aboard Le Laperouse
Le Laperouse features upscale art and reference materials native to the worldwide destinations in which she cruises. An abundance of glass throughout the ship’s various common areas reveal stunning locales. A concierge is available 24/7 at the Lobby’s reception/concierge desk, ready to book add-on excursions or even your next cruise aboard Le Laperouse. And a large boutique displays clothing, jewelry, beauty products, postcards and various accessories.
The pool deck’s outdoor bar and indoor solarium are optimal spaces for panoramic views. The infinity pool and its counter-current swimming system is unique among expedition ships. The Panoramic Lounge’s library offers both reference materials and an Internet corner. The Main Lounge has space for the full passengers complement. making it the primary place for organized activities, including afternoon tea and live music. The Theater’s modern sound and lighting includes an LED wall. And the ship’s infirmary is available around the clock for non-emergency treatments. A doctor is available for a nominal fee.
Dining Aboard Le Laperouse
Choose between the upscale Panoramic Restaurant or the casual Outdoor Grill Restaurant. The menu is similar in both restaurants, featuring gourmet French and international cuisine directed by Ducasse Conseil-trained chefs, plus local specialties representative of where Le Laperouse is cruising. Customized menus are available for special diets and groups. A buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses and an extensive selection of fine wine, champagne, beer and top-shelf liquor completes the experience. Additionally, the Main Lounge and Panoramic Lounge offer afternoon tea and well-stocked cocktail bars.
Activities Aboard Le Laperouse
Le Laperouse offers a refreshed daily itinerary, including various onboard activities between guided off-ship outings. Enjoy live jazz, piano melodies, karaoke and dance performances in the Theater. Participate in the Fitness Center’s guided workout, yoga and dance classes. Play organized games or learn photography skills in focused workshops, all in the Main Lounge. And relish in tastings focused on wine, spirits and specialty foods.
Celebrate each day with refreshments, cocktails and conversation in the Main and Panoramic Lounges. Ask questions of photo and video experts staffing the central art gallery and Kid’s Club. Work out with modern elliptical machines, stationary bikes, treadmills and a Kinesis wall. Or treat yourself to rejuvenation at the SOTHYS™ Spa/Beauty Corner with its hair salon, two massage rooms, hammam (Moroccan steam spa), relaxation room and herbal tea bar. Perhaps chat with the ship’s captain and officers in the open Bridge (weather permitting).
The Blue Eye underwater lounge, located within the ship’s hull, offers a unique immersion into the surrounding marine environment. Two large portholes shaped like the eye of a cetacean look out upon the subaquatic world. Projectors designed expressly for Le Laperouse and her sister ships reveal marine life seen by the ship’s non-intrusive underwater cameras. Onboard hydrophones create an aural experience reflecting a three-mile radius, brought to life by the feel of vibrating acoustic waves within Body Listening sofas. These sounds of the sea can be heard during subaquatic concerts and by the ship’s swimming pool.
Le Laperouse deploys a fleet of comfortable Zodiacs ready to help you explore coastlines and shallow water. Entry and exit from the ship’s Zodiacs, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards is made easy by a hydraulic marine platform with stairs that lowers into the water.
Crew & Guides Aboard Le Laperouse
Luxury travelers will appreciate the impeccably trained staff aboard Le Laperouse, who focus on guest comfort with discreet yet attentive service. You will feel as if you’re cruising aboard a private mega-yacht thanks to the ship’s sophisticated crew. And guests can tap into the wealth of knowledge offered by experienced multi-lingual guides and their lectures.
Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard Le Laperouse
All 92 staterooms and suites aboard Le Laperouse are spacious, with touches of luxury throughout. Each cabin features the option of one king-size bed or two twin beds, a private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, minibar, flat-screen satellite TV, desk with stationery, Ipod™ players, on-demand video, a safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, a 110/220-volt outlet, French bath products, 24-hour room service, complimentary WiFi Internet access and added-cost satellite direct-line telephone. Laundry and ironing service is available for a fee.
