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All eyes on the ocean floor

Ponant Yacht Cruises & Expeditions: underwater lounge on cruise ships

Just as it was with Captain Nemo, just like in Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ – it has now become a reality inside the four new expedition ships of the Explorer line by Ponant Yacht Cruises: two enormous armored-glass portholes in the form of whale eyes located amidships provide a view from the lowest deck right into the ocean – allowing for face-to-face encounters with dolphins, rays, sharks, octopi… with everything that casually swims by.

Underwater cameras are simultaneously transmitting real-time images onto digital screens on the walls of this extremely unique ‘Blue Eye Underwater Lounge’. The space is dimly lit, illuminated in shades of blue, the lines are curved and both architecture and furnishing are inspired by organic structures: what an amazing idea, enriching the experience of cruises by such a dimension! There is suddenly a new side to it – below the water level, with all of the magic of the seas to be marvelled at!

The first two Explorer ships will be brought into service in time for the summer season of 2018, while the two others will ‘set sail’ in 2019. They will mainly go on expedition cruises in tropical regions, but routes through the north and the Mediterranean Sea are planned as well. Each will be boasting 92 staterooms and suites, all equipped with a balcony or private deck.

Photo: © PONANT – JACQUES ROUGERIE ARCHITECTE