With all of the new MEGA ships coming out this year and last, very little press is given to a great new 262 passenger small ship that has just entered service, the L’Boreal. While the owning company, Compagnie Du Ponant. is not a name many know, Worldwide has happily known and worked with them since the very beginning, about 22 years ago. If you want to hear about the SEXIEST ship afloat you might want to read this.

L’Boreal has only 132 staterooms and suites, which is a great charter size, but this is not what catches your attention when you first see her. For a ship of this number of cabins she is big. Having been able to see her in port next to a 104 cabin Seabourn ship you can really tell the difference, she is big. Still this is not what really grabs you.

OK here is what catches your attention; the lines and exterior color of the ship are just about the best you’ll ever see other than building your own private mega yacht and have hundreds of millions of dollars to spend like Paul Allen. A recent publication in Cruise Community described the cruise I was on as, “the at sea version of a Lady GaGa tour”. This cruise was partially a revenue cruise and a trade cruise going from Nice to Southampton. At every port all eyes were looking at this ship with envy, and no it’s not a private yacht, but you’ll feel like you’re on one.

Check out the image library.

Let me first give you the pure details:

A total of 132 staterooms and suites, only 8 of which do not have a balcony, this gives you 128 staterooms and 4 suites, or the staterooms can be reconfigured so you can have 88 staterooms and 24 suites, and/or any combination in between.

The staterooms are 200 sq ft with a 43 sq ft balcony (a nice sized balcony).

1 Owners suite is 484 sq ft plus 94 sq ft balcony

3 Deluxe suites are 290 sq ft plus 54 sq ft balcony

You can combine up to 40 cabins into 1 suite which are 400 sq ft plus 86 sq ft balcony.

2 dining venues plus room service and outdoor pool grill.

3 bars and lounges

Great spa facilities with gym

Now here is the great news; the main dining room seats all guests, the main lounge can handle all guests, and the indoor outdoor pool side dining area can seat all guests. Fantastic flexibility for a charter client.

The interior of the ship does not disappoint as well. The best single word I can use is CHIC! The colors flow every where in a similar pattern including your cabin so everything blends and flows together pleasingly. Furnishings are comfortable and new age. There is not one public room on this ship that you don’t want to be in. Again check out our pictures.

Your standard balcony stateroom is sure to please. The bedding is fantastic. While not as large as some of the top luxury ships, which L’Boreal is not trying to be, the staterooms are spacious and pleasing. No problem for room service in your cabin. You have a separate room for the toilet and a separate room for a very large shower and sink area. Now here is a new innovation, half of the wall between the shower/sink area opens up, if you wish, to be a glass wall looking into the room and out your balcony, very cool. A full bathroom amenity package from L’Occitane. Of course all the standards - safe, mini bar, flat screen TV with a good movie package at no charge and safe plus wifi.

The 135 crew are multi-national and all have to speak at least English and French so language is not a problem unless you are watching the French loose in the World Cup like I was. The crew are youngish, friendly and full of energy and pride with their new ship. Service is not up to 100% of what management wants yet but that is to be expected with a small cruise line, but I could see that they are making daily improvements and that is the goal of the entire team. I am betting in 60 days they will have the service down pat and it will be something that our incentive groups will love. Not stuffy, not too formal in attire but very attentive and open.

Of course you have to mention food when speaking about a French owned cruise line. I have to first of all say that the paying passengers were part of a French “Wellness” cruise with lectures and some special menus etc. This cruise line is really known for their cuisine and they do a great job. Depending upon the itineraries you have numerous options for breakfast lunch and dinner from buffets to “a la carte” service. Not to be missed is the pool area grill which does BBQ style lunches with a totally Mediterranean style touch. Don’t think hamburgers and hot dogs. Fantastic!

Lunches in Le Grill Restaurant are great with a large selection of hot and cold dishes and of course outrageous desserts. But the highlight is the executive chef preparing the featured main course of the day for lunch especially for you on what “seems” to be an individual to order basis right in front of you. Great idea and it tastes great as well!

Dinners are offered in the main dining room or on a more casual basis in the Le Grill with a limited menu, great if you have been touring all day. The dinners in the main dining room are a 2 hour affair, on an open seating basis as are all dining venues, and are very French with International touches. Great food from years of experience with this company! As with the rest of the ship spending 2 hours here with great food, wine and a pleasant ambience is a not a bad way to wind down the day. Wine is include in the rates with lunch and dinner.

Entertainment on the ship was more than I expected. They do offer a main show on many nights, not great but work under progress as is the case on most small ships. There is a really fun piano bar for after dinner and the main lounge offers live music and disco for the evening. During the day there is always live entertainment playing in one of the lounges which is a new touch.

Other interesting features include electric diesel engines which means a quiet ship as well as hardly any vibration. Cabins are very quiet as well and you don’t even get any of the normal hallway noise. The ship has two 150 passenger tenders which load at the stern of the ship which means quick disembarkation for tender ports as well as a very safe and easy embark to the tenders.

In summary the L’Boreal and her sister ship coming in May 2011 are really something you should consider. They are not trying to be Seabourn, Silversea or Regent but are just one step below for a younger more hip crowd of people that enjoy good service, fine food and facilities that don’t look like your favorite aunt’s house.

For complete details and itinerary choices - call or email Steve Bloss
 

This report submitted by Steve Bloss - July 2010 and does not necessarily reflect the views of Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc.