MISSISSAUGA — Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the way of the future and PONANT will have a brand new ship to prove it.

At a trade dinner last night, Sept. 28, at the Glenerin Inn & Spa in Mississauga, ON, the French-owned, small-ship luxury cruise line shared new details of its previously announced new-build transoceanic ship, set to debut by 2030. 

Called ‘Swap2Zero,’ which stands for ‘Sustainable, Wind Assisted Propulsion, Zero Emission Ready,’ the future ship will feature an unprecedented eco-design that will allow it to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, manoeuvring, in port or at anchor. Using renewable energy supplied by the wind and sun, and combining low-carbon, non-fossil energy associated with fuel cells, the ship will be considered a major advancement in shipbuilding that will support the evolution towards carbon neutrality.

“We are entering into a world where energy will become rare and very expensive,” says Mathieu Petiteau, PONANT’s Newbuilding and R&D Director. “What’s coming now is a new generation of vessels that will be able to sail without emitting a single particle of carbon. Swap2Zero will be built and designed to be an efficient vessel that will be able to sail only with wind.”

The new ship will be the focal point of PONANT’s long-term sustainability goals, which Petiteau says are actually more ambitious than those set by global authorities. 

“International and UK/European rules are pushing for a roadmap that focuses on net zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, we have our own decarbonization roadmap because it’s in our DNA to always be innovative and better than the rules,” says Petiteau. 

The first date set on PONANT’s roadmap is 2026, with the goal of reducing fleet carbonization by 15%, which Petiteau says can be reached by reducing the speed and modifying the design of its vessels.  By 2030, PONANT hopes to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by implementing biofuel made from waste. And by 2040? Petiteau says the cruise line will achieve a staggering 90% reduction in carbon emission.

While this schedule may put PONANT ahead of other cruise lines and organizations in terms of sustainability goals, Ellen McIlvaine, VP of Sales, North America, insists that it’s not a race, telling Travelweek it’s going to take a global effort to make a real difference.

“Sustainability has to be a permanent factor in travel because we don’t really have a choice; the energy that we enjoy in our lives right now is limited,” says McIlvaine. “We have to change the way we think about everything, and it all starts with a conversation. It’s not a competition of who can be the most sustainable – it is a group effort for every single cruise line, every single travel company to move in that direction. It just takes a company that’s willing to take on the risk to be first.”

McIlvaine adds that PONANT’s entire fleet is purpose-built, which proves just how innovative the cruise line has been in its 35-year history. 

“Every PONANT ship was the first of its kind in some way, at the time. Even Le Boreal, which we started designing in 2007, is hybrid electric. And with Le Commandant Charcot, we started coming up with its concept around liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2016-2017, when it wasn’t even available yet, when there wasn’t even a supply chain for it. And now when we see other companies launch small expedition ships, it’s with LNG,” says McIlvaine. 

She adds: “The other night we were at an event in New York and somebody said to Mathieu, ‘Are you worried about the competition taking your ideas?’ And he said, ‘That’s the whole point.’”

Swap2Zero

SUSTAINABLE AND LUXURIOUS?

Make no mistake, PONANT is a luxury cruise line. Its fleet of 12 ships, including six explorer ships and one icebreaker, sails all around the world – from Australia, the Caribbean and Europe, to the Arctic, Antarctica and, most recently, the North Pole – in the lap of luxury. Onboard the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, for example, guests can rest easy in split-level suites equipped with private terraces and jacuzzis, take a dip in a heated outdoor lagoon while sailing in the polar regions, and marvel over passing icebergs and polar bears from heated decks featuring heated chairs.

But for many travellers, the notions of sustainability and luxury don’t often go hand in hand. Terms like ‘grassroots,’ ‘off-the-beaten-path,’ and ‘eco-friendly’ come to mind, which may deter luxury clients from booking anything remotely sustainable. 

So how does PONANT merge the two concepts?

“They’re not in conflict with each other,” says McIlvaine. “We are luxury – but it’s not the point. The destination, the exploration, the travel experience is the point.

“With expedition in particular, it’s something that is rare and expensive, not everybody gets to do it. With our luxury ships, it actually makes this experience more appealing to more types of people. Not everybody would be comfortable on a rugged expedition ship to go do something super tough. The luxury element makes us appealing to a broader audience. We have the adventure and we also have the luxury.”

“WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THIS MARKET”

For a company like PONANT, whose biggest ship has only 132 rooms, the goal is not to be a “mega-commercial cruise brand,” but one that offers a boutique experience for a specific clientele. This is why it’s targeting Canada, a small market with big potential.

“We need to find the right travel advisors who have the right clients, who would be interested in doing what we’re doing because it’s really thoughtful and different. We’re offering this combination of exploration, sustainability and luxury,” says McIlvaine.

“As far as Canada goes, it’s growing consistently every year. We want Canadian advisors to know that we’re investing our resources in this market. We really believe in this market and believe in the work that Canadian advisors do. From my point of view, I’m consistently impressed with the Canadian agencies I work with,” she adds.

PONANT’s team in Canada includes Erica Barbour, Business Development Manager for Eastern Canada, who’s supported by Sandra Lowe-Brown, Inside Sales Manager and the team at Cruise Strategies covering all of Canada. Business development directors in the central, northeast and northwest of the United States are also changing their business plans to provide more support for Canadian advisors. 

Ellen McIlvaine

FAMS AND GIFT CARDS

Travel agents will be thrilled to learn that PONANT is slowly but surely working on FAM programs, something that up until now has proven difficult due to PONANT’s small ship sizes. 

“Yes, we’re starting to offer more FAMS because we understand how important advisors are. And we also have advisor rates so please reach out to us to get access to those,” says McIlvaine.

In addition, in celebration of PONANT’s 35th anniversary this year, the company has launched ’35 days of incredible savings,’ which includes a 10% discount for clients on select 2023, 2024 and 2025 itineraries, plus up to an additional 30% with Early Booking Savings. Travel advisors, meanwhile, will earn a $250 e-card for every stateroom booked on select itineraries. The offer runs between Sept. 26 and Oct. 31, 2023. 

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS

Starting with Winter 2024-2025 departures, PONANT will offer guests one included excursion per port of call. Between the 17 itineraries and 32 departures scheduled, these immersive experiences include sailing the Arabian fjords aboard a traditional dhow boat, learning how the Panama Canal was built through expert-led talks, embarking on a Northern Lights expedition in the Arctic, marvelling at Buddha statues within Sri Lanka’s Dambulla Cave Temple, and more.

As capacities are limited, pre-booking will open around two months before departure; requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served bases. Optional paying excursions will also be offered for each departure.

For more details, click on the ‘Included Excursions’ tab at www.ponant.com.