Double bubble: New ship orders for French and Norwegian cruise lines
Expedition cruise specialist Compagnie du Ponant is to build another new ship. The yacht, which will debut in spring 2015, joins the line's Le Soléal (above), launched only last month, and Le Boréal and L'Austral. The boutique ships, which each carry 224 passengers in 132 cabins, are specialists in Polar travel. Compagnie du Ponant also operate the 64-passenger sailing vessel, Le Ponant. The company was bought last year by venture capitalists Bridgepoint, which has substantial investments in the Pret a Manger sandwich shops and Hobbycraft retail chain. The new vessel, as yet unnamed, will operate in Alaska in summer and [...]