More Australians than ever are embracing the French elegance of Compagnie Du Ponant’s yachts, according to Stephen Winter international sales director for Ponant. BASED in Paris, Winter is currently Down Under for a week to spread the news and amp up sales for the company’s 2013/14 Asia season on the...
More Australians than ever are
embracing the French elegance
of Compagnie Du Ponant’s
yachts, according to Stephen
Winter international sales
director for Ponant.
BASED in Paris, Winter is currently Down
Under for a week to spread the news and amp
up sales for the company’s 2013/14 Asia
season on the cruise line’s new Le Soleal.
Speaking to CW yesterday, Winter confirmed
that Australia is a very important sector for the
French line, having recently become the fourth
biggest market for the company.
“The growth has not been gradual, its been
quite quick,” he said, adding that “between
2011 and 2012 there has been a 40% increase
in the business out of Australia”.
Discussing the reasons for the company’s
growth in Australia Winter said “we’re
competing with Silversea and companies that
have been in the market much longer than we
have, but we have newer ships, and we’re
competing head on with all the destinations,
plus we’re the only French cruise line”.
Winter also noted that the casual-luxury
style and atmosphere onboard Ponant’s
vessels is a particular draw card for Aussies,
saying “a lot of the time people confuse luxury
with a stuffy atmosphere onboard, but for us
it’s very relaxed”.
“It’s a real success when guests see just how
well we do luxury,” he added.
Speaking on the company’s move into Asia,
Winter said that whilst up until now most of
Ponant’s business has been the Antarctic and
the Mediterranean, the company has now
recognised and is acting on the huge potential
for growth in Asia.
“Flights are less expensive and the costs are
low,” he said.
“And the destinations of Myanmar, Malaysia,
Vietnam, Thailand, and India- these are places
that are very exciting for us,” he added.
Itineraries in the line-up for Asia 2013/14
include an eight-night roundtrip departing
Singapore on 02 Dec 2013 to Malaysia and
Thailand, taking in Port Kelang, Langkawi,
Phuket, Penang, Pangkor and Malacca (from
$4,433pp).
Other itineraries include a 13-night
adventure from Ho Chi Minh on 01 Mar 2014
to Kuala Lumpur, with visits to Phu Quoc,
Bangkok, Ko Samui, Kota Bharu, Singapore and
Malacca (from $6,301pp); and an 11-night
voyage departing 17 Jan and 08 Feb, from
Hong Kong to Singapore visiting Haiphong, Ha
Long Bay, Da Nang, Nha Trang, the Saigon
River and Ho Chi Minh (from $5,888pp).
As an added carrot, guests who book an
Asian voyage by 29 Mar will also receive €300
onboard credit.
MEANWHILE speaking about the future of
the company, Winter told CW that there are
currently plans in the works to launch a new
ship in 2015.
“The ship will be similar to Le Soleal, and will
feature accommodations for 264 guests,” he
said.
“We don’t want to get bigger than that, we
don’t want to lose that human scale,” he
added.
For more information on Ponant and its
offerings, see www.traveltheworld.com.au.
