Ponant Expands With New Yachting Brand and Polynesia-based Catamaran
Ponant Yachting debuts with a three-catamaran fleet and a new Polynesia-based Lagoon EIGHTY 2 set to launch in 2026.
Photo: Courtesy of Ponant
Ponant Explorations Group is formalizing its ambitions in luxury sailing with the launch of Ponant Yachting, a brand designed to showcase small-scale, ultra-personalized cruising. Ponant is also expanding its fleet with a second Lagoon-built catamaran, Spirit of Ponant II, scheduled for delivery in late 2026.
The expansion is a continuation of Ponant’s experiment with intimate yacht-style voyages, which began with the 2024 introduction of Spirit of Ponant. According to CEO Hervé Gastinel, the segment appeals to multi-generational families and groups of friends seeking private charter experiences that combine the atmosphere of a personal yacht with the service standards of an established cruise operator.
Ponant Yachting is now the group’s fourth commercial brand, joining Ponant Explorations, Paul Gauguin Cruises, and Aqua Expeditions, and reflects a broader industry trend: Large cruise players are carving out boutique divisions to capture demand at the highest end of the market. Unlike the company’s expedition ships or Paul Gauguin’s flagship in Tahiti, the catamarans carry just nine to 12 guests and focus on secluded anchorages rather than marquee ports.
By late 2026, Ponant Yachting will operate three vessels—the original Spirit of Ponant, La Désirade, and Spirit of Ponant II—across the Mediterranean, Seychelles, Caribbean, and Polynesia. Each will be fully crewed with a captain, first mate, chef, and hostess, offering itineraries customized to the charter group. The model is all-inclusive, spanning dining, wine and cocktails, and a wide range of water sports from snorkeling to wing foiling.
The Spirit of Ponant II is part of Lagoon’s new EIGHTY 2 series, built by Bénéteau Group in Bordeaux, while operations will be supported by Sailoé, which specializes in luxury catamaran management. At just over 80 feet with five staterooms, the yacht offers 4,600 square feet of living space and will be available exclusively for private charter, starting at 64,000 euros per week.
Stationing the vessel in French Polynesia reinforces Ponant’s footprint in a destination it already knows well through Paul Gauguin Cruises, and emphasizes a focus on regions where small, shallow-draft vessels have an advantage—reaching lagoons and anchorages beyond the scope of larger ships.
