PONANT , France's number 2 cruise company and world leader in polar expeditions celebrates 30 years of existence. It was on 1 April 1988 that the adventure began in Nantes, where 14 young Merchant Navy officers aged 23 to 29, including Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, still active as CEO, and Philippe Videau, decided to create the company, which first took the name COMPAGNIE des ÎLES du PONANT (it became COMPAGNIE du PONANT in 2009 and simply PONANT in 2014). PONANT is the only cruise company in France flying the Tricolore. by Earl of Cruise based on an article by Vincent Groizeleau at Mer et Marine LE PONANT in the port of Bonifacio, Corsica - Sourece: Wikipedia ( original seize ) The first ship, built in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, was born in 1991. It is the sailboat and cruise vessel LE PONANT , a modern three-masted ship of 85.5 meters long with 32 cabins, still in service. LE PONANT´s sails became the logo of PONANT. LE LEVANT - Source: Wikipedia ( original seize ) ...
OLYMPIC VOYAGER took me for a cruise that became an Aegean dream to me. A historic review from an experience in 2001 ... OLYMPIC VOYAGER, formerly named OLYMPIA VOYAGER, renamed as the Olympic Comittee arrogantly "wished", was built in Hamburg by BLOHM+VOSS . The hull design is based on the BUNDESMARINE MEKO frigates which had been developed by the shipbuilder. Originally the two vessels, the sister is OLYMPIC EXPLORER, should have become fast ferries for a SUN LINES subsidiary. But the design was totally altered to fast cruise vessels, when the two rivalling families (Keusoglou and Potamianos) did overcome their differences. ROYAL OLYMPIC CRUISES, a merger from EPIROTIKI LINES and SUN LINES, intended with the two speed cruisers a 7 day/night 3 continent cruises experience - a novelty. Athina (Athens) Αθήνα [ aˈθina ]- Istambul - Alexandria. by Earl of Cruise OLYMPIC VOYAGER at speed - promotional picture of defunct ROYAL OLYMPIC CRUISES It did not ha...