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Le Boreal Facts & Figures |
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ShipParade home |
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My sister in law is French and whenever she invites me for dinner she assures me it will be a very "simple" meal. Leave it her to come up
with a little "apéritif", a touch of truffle oil on the asparagus, perfectly cooked meat and fine wines to accompany the meal. To her, the term "simple" is equivalent to
"balanced" or "pure" and over the years I've come to understand and love the French way of enjoying life. So imagine the joy when I visited
the brand new Le Boreal and discovered that she is the ultimate "simple" cruise ship!
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Le Boreal at Amsterdam |
Le Boreal at Amsterdam |
Le Boreal at Amsterdam |
Le Boreal at Amsterdam |
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Owned by French Compagnie du Ponant, Le Boreal looks and feels like a yacht. Measuring only 142 m (466 ft) by 18 m (59 ft) and carrying a maximum of 264 passengers,
she is small by today's standards. Because of her size, Le Boreal will sail to places where other cruise ships can't call and every winter she calls Antarctica
home. She was built in Italy by Fincantieri and is the epitome of French chic on the high seas. Completely devoid of glitz, her interiors are as understated as her exterior with an intriguing color
palette of taupe, grey, black, white and red.
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Main Lounge |
Main Lounge |
Main Lounge |
Main Lounge Terrace |
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Marina |
Gastronomic Restaurant |
Gastronomic Restaurant |
Gastronomic Restaurant |
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We start our tour of Le Boreal in her superb Main Lounge. The low ceiling and white leather swivel chairs give it a living room feeling. Don't expect
full-blown Broadway revues here, but discrete piano music and perhaps a presentation or two. An inviting bar is positioned at the entrance to the room, while the aft
outdoor terrace with its overstuffed sofas and chairs will be hugely popular in warm weather. One deck lower is the so-called "Marina" or landing platform. This is used whenever
the ship anchors offshore (like in Antarctica). Doors lead to the ship's main dining room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served
in a single open sitting and you may come and go whenever you like. Please note there are no tables for two, but requests for an intimate dinner will most probably be honored. As befits a
French ship, table wine (white or red), mineral water and all sorts of coffee are included during lunch and dinner.
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Reception Lobby |
Reception Lobby |
Stateroom corridor |
Superior Stateroom |
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Superior Stateroom |
Superior Stateroom |
Deluxe Stateroom balcony |
Sleep well |
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The attractive Reception Lobby is home to a small reception desk and an equally small tour desk. This is where most passengers will board the ship and where smartly
uniformed staff will welcome you to Le Boreal. The front of the ship is given over to stateroom accommodation. There are only a few categories; from elegant
outside staterooms to a lavish Owner's Suite. All sport the exact same look and are very, very elegant and comfortable. The balconies are of a very decent size and all sport fake teak flooring, two chairs and a table. The bathrooms
feature large shower stalls and separate toilets. Storage space is good for a ship of this size.
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Photo Gallery |
Photo Gallery |
Theatre |
Carita Spa terrace |
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View from the bridge |
Panorama Lounge |
Library |
Panorama Lounge |
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On Le Lafayette Deck there's a somewhat obscure Photo Gallery that doubles as a
bar, tour leader office and children's area (!). The bar here also serves the large Theatre which is located all the way aft on
the same deck. Done in reds and greys, this room holds the whole passenger complement and is used on expedition cruises as a lecture room. One deck higher you will find
the Carita Spa, run by the famous Parisian company of the same name. Despite the limited space, this spa has all the facilities you would expect on a larger ship. All
the way forward is the bridge, usually open for passengers and providing a commanding view forward. More great views can be found upstairs in the stunning Panorama Lounge
and library. Once again, this looks like a trendy living room and makes you want to curl up with a book and a glass of wine. Bravo!
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Grill Restaurant |
Grill Restaurant Terrace |
Pool Deck |
Pool Deck |
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Grill Restaurant |
Open Air Bar |
Open Air Bar |
Sun Deck |
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Aft on Le France Deck is the ship's Grill Restaurant. This is where you enjoy a leisurely buffet breakfast or lunch. In the evening,
staff serves up a "healthy" dinner menu that features lighter fare than that of the main dining room. It's a very attractive space and again wine is included at lunch
and dinner. There is a large alfresco area which overlooks the Pool Deck, perfect for balmy evenings. The ship's pool is of a decent size and surrounded by ultra-comfortable
lounge chairs. One deck higher is probably the most popular area of Le Boreal. The Open Air Bar is like a trendy French sidewalk terrace, albeit at sea. Add
to that the sun deck forward and you have the complete picture. This is what Le Boreal has to offer its 264 guests!
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The saying goes that "less is more" and on Le Boreal that saying is especially true. Forget all about casino's, Broadway revues, pool parties and water parks. This ship
caters to a clientele that appreciate the French "Joie de Vivre". It might be simple to some, but it's really all about great food, good service and truly elegant surroundings
where you will feel at home. And for once you don't need to worry if you don't speak French; this is a
bilingual ship and all staff speak English. C'est magnifique!
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