A Great Time on a Classic Small Ship with an Amazing Crew

Le Champlain Cruise Review to Other (Asia/Africa/Middle East)

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 23

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5
Verified Review
Le Champlain

8 Night The Essential Seychelles (Victoria Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 28, 2023

Ship: Le Champlain

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 404

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

This being our first cruise with Ponant, invariably there are comparisons with other luxury trips we have taken and at first, the French-first experience was intriguing yet somewhat frustrating. However, we quickly got used to the rhythms of the ship and started feeling quite at ease- and well-taken care of. Intriguingly, this was our second expedition-style cruise within the past 3 months (Antarctica being the first) so we were delighted by the on-board culture of daily event briefings and unexpected changes in itinerary to accommodate the tides and currents, etc. The expedition team on board was amazing; we had first hand experiences with David Beaune, Expedition Leader, Jennifer Ailloud and Alessandro who each made our experiences exceptional. They each ensured that we now know more about sea cucumbers, hermit crabs and the coral reef ecosystem than ever before- and a new appreciation for each and how they contribute to the amazing aqua environment. Giuliano, Shore Excursion Manager was a whirlwind of energy and activity, focused on ensuring all efforts were top-notch; and ensuring that us English-speakers were well taken care of. One gorgeous spot on the ship is the spa, with treatment rooms and the sauna featuring large windows overlooking the ocean. Christelle, Spa Manager we met on day one and booked services with her team and we were not disappointed. It’s a calm, quiet oasis on the ship that gently lulls you into submission. As expected on a French flagged ship, the cuisine was wonderful, with classics and local options expertly prepared. We did celebrate two special occasions while on board, and each was met and surpassed in my expectations. Judicael, Head Pastry Chef is singularly responsible for my weigh-gain on board with his astonishing creations, including a delightful meringue based anniversary cake I am still thinking about. Virginie, who heads the dining room as Matire ‘d keeps a close eye on the staff and ensures that everyone is where they need to be and that dishes flow alongside wine and spirits. She was a delight, always checking in and making sure our dining experience was top-notch. We should also note the attentions of two servers, Marcus and Rizal, both of whom we had the pleasure of their attentive service repeatedly and who quickly learned our likes and idiosyncrasies. That was also carried out in the two main bars on the ship, the Main Lounge and our personal favorite, the Observation lounge where our new best friend and bartender Maria learned our fave cocktails and made sure those glasses were never empty. Quite dangerous in fact- she makes a really good gin martini… Lastly, two other key leaders made our cruise completely memorable. Johan, Cruise Director and his team were charming and funny, and were exceptional at engaging the passengers in a variety of events and activities. Smaller ships usually feature smaller experiences, and this was no exception. However, a few nights of fun engagements, like karaoke and “casino night” broke the mold and were fun and frolicksome. And all this would not be possible with out the careful guidance of Fadi Mehadji, Hotel Manager whose steady guiding hand is apparent in all the efforts undertaken by the teams making sure each effort truly worked. By the end of this cruise, we’re delighted we did this and would without hesitation book again on Ponant.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Super easy and fast; even the captain turned out to welcome everyone on board. Embarkation was swift and painless, with luggage delivered quickly and champagne freely flowing.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5
On a small ship, dining choices were limited- in fact, to exactly 2 restaurants (and room service, which we did not take advantage of). For lunch, both restaurants served the same menu where as for dinner there was a bit more variety. The Main Dining Room featured French and international classics alongside several nights of “gala” dinners with fixed choices and full white tablecloth service. The Grill served more regional specialities, alongside grilled meats and fish with both buffet and table services. We enjoyed both equally, although admittedly service times could get lengthy between courses- an issue quickly rectified during the cruise itself. The ship included classic drinks and wines in the offer, and each night options were available to suit the coursing. There is also a bottle menu at additional cost, heavy on French wines but incredibly well-priced. The main lounge was the scene for evening events, although we preferred the observation lounge on deck 6 and its forward facing vistas and timely service.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5
Let-s face it- this ship is focused upon expedition and is a small ship, so an intimate environment doesn’t offer a huge variety of big-ship options. But this we prefer; the popular activity daily was the expeditionary briefing and recaps, and enrichment was lectures and chats about flora and fauna. The single pool is small and heavily used, and admittedly the only issue had was the incredibly small gym focused only upon cardio equipment. There is a sun-deck to practice yoga or stretching, but a gym-focused trainer might be a nice addition.

Entertainment

3 out of 5
The musical performances are amusing and passable, but the real fun is when the Cruise Director gets the crowds going with karaoke and dance-offs. I commend the team for truly engaging the passengers directly and having a great time doing it. “Casino night” was a particular fave, although let’s work on some better prizes… lol

Children's Programs

No children

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Everyone was focused upon exceptional service, and never let that slip the entire time. Room teams were extraordinary, turning the room and supplying whatever was needed super fast. Bartenders remembered drink orders- from the very first night all the way until the end- and glasses were always full at dinner. Obtuse breakfast orders were spot on. The only issues were quickly recalibrated and fixed with a smile and a bottle of champagne. This is one well-trained crew!

Ship Quality

4 out of 5
The ship was immaculate, with hallways crisp and carpets vacuumed. Public spaces might need a revamp as the ship is showing a bit of age, but the ship looked lived in- not tired. I would ask for (1) public hot tubs and (2) a larger gym but those are not deal breakers!

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5
Well designed overall, with the usual compromises for smaller cabins. The veranda was delightful- and essential- and the room itself clean and tidy. The bathroom is small but having a separate room for the toilet is a clever and effective use of space. I did constantly rack my shins on the bed frame (perhaps a slightly larger mattress to hide that may work?) but the room is spacious enough and well-appointed.

Ship tip

The observation lounge has limited hours for service, so keep those in mind. It is a fantastic space however, for both pre and apres dinner to relax and watch the stars.

Ports of call

Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles

5 out of 5

SAINTE ANNE ISLAND, SEYCHELLES

5 out of 5

Ile Desroches, Seychelles

5 out of 5

Curieuse, Seychelles

5 out of 5

ARIDE ISLAND, SEYCHELLES

5 out of 5

Praslin, Seychelles

5 out of 5

La Digue, Seychelles

5 out of 5

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
Again, easy and well- organized. The passengers are assigned times but as there are far fewer than mega-ships this was easy and relaxed. Also a bit sad as we already missed this ship and team!
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