Le Boreal has a stylish interior in brown and beige that extends throughout the ship. It’s reminiscent of a designer pied-a-terre that talks of a youthful, fancy free vibe spruced up with flourishes of decor like a long hanging crystal artwork in the foyer and artworks dotted around and on the walls.

Who for

Le Boreal attracts couples looking for a quiet sojourn into a few days of peaceful, seamless restfulness. With 145 staff serving 200 guests every whim is catered for. The age ranges from 40s to 70s, some singles, some couples and some extended families and nationalities are French, American, German and a growing number of Brits.

Your stateroom or suite

Staterooms and suites have forward and mid-ship locations and all are outside rooms often with balconies beyond wall-to-ceiling glass doors. The rooms are decorated in autumnal hues of browns and creamy beiges, the type of calming colours that inspire peaceful sleep. Yet there are splashes of reds provided by the pillows and bedspreads to create more interest. There’s a lovely mix of textures too of satin, silk and white leather cushioned cupboards.

Rooms are cosy and well-ordered with a mini-bar, work area, bathroom (some come with baths) and a separate toilet, a large tv, nespresso machine and free water.

Some of the cabins interconnect to create suites.

Eating and drinking

There are two restaurants. The gastronomic restaurant is on deck 2 and comes with an a la carte menu of mostly French cuisine. Tables are dressed in white cloths, flowers and softened with ambient lighting. It’s a nice menu with starters like poached egg on vegetable shavings and main dishes such as lobster with asparagus and seabass.

Every cruise will have a Gala dinner and this is your chance to scrub up in your best togs and enjoy a six-course dinner served with a reasonable French wine – AOC Chablis, La Chablisienne 2015 and AOC Margaux, Marquis de Mons 2010.

There’s an empathy woven into their seating policy: “Would you like to be seated by a social table” asks the maître d. These tables are perfect for sociable souls or those cruising alone. Any inhibitions are soon dimmed by the free flow of alcohol and friendships are sealed.

The buffet restaurant is on deck 6 – a far more casual affair with salads, vegetables and usually a roast – lamb, beef or chicken. It’s an easy atmosphere.

Entertainment on board Ponant Le Boreal

There’s usually a singer and a pianist playing day and night and often there is a snazzy, jazzy cabaret dance show. At other times cruisers can dance the evening away. During the day there’s a couple of short quizzes and lectures.

They say there is a pool on deck 7 but in reality it is an oversized plunge pool. Nevertheless, when the sun’s heat is beating down, it is great to sit around it on cushioned sun beds and take a dip to cool off.

On deck 5 there is a small gym with jogging machines and bikes, a sauna, a small hairdressing salon and a couple of treatment rooms for massages and facials.

There’s also a theatre-cum-cinema where talks and lectures are given and evening films are shown. Shopping is restricted to single shop selling cruise garb and essentials.

The real joy is in the excursions and there are a few to choose with different themes. These tend to be full days out and are available in both French and English. Le Boreal is ice-strengthened ship to cope with their most adventurous destinations including the Antarctica and the Arctic where excursions and wildlife sightings are surely unmissable.