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I got a late checkout, so headed off to the cruise port around 3 but got there quicker than expected, abt 3:20 (boarding from 4pm). I was worried that I'd just have to hang around, but Ponant were there, checking people off and there were chairs set up in an old Magazine, which was cool and sheltered.
The road along the cruise port area is interesting!
Ponant people were outside, under a marquee. You gave your cabin number and they tagged your main bags and they disappeared. They couldn't find me under my cabin number (deck 4, midships, which I prefer). Oh-oh.
But there I was ... 601. Yes, 601. I had been upgraded (deck 6 all 'better' cabins, including the suites)!! I quickly went to the app to find what type of cabin - ah. 'Deluxe suite'. 
Forward and high.
Who knows how they decide upgrades. I'm 'Grand Admiral' status (equiv to Plat on airlines), entitled to an upgrade and I found out later there were only about 10 GAs and above on the cruise (above is Commodore, P1 equiv).
The magazine where we waiting till 4pm, when they started the formalities. I sat down and there was an Aussie lady behind me. Oh! She had the most awful hacking cough. And a mask. More on that later.
The guy on the left was interesting. 'Travel director'. Not in uniform and his assistant to his right. The Cruise Director was absent for the first few days, so this guy - a tri lingual Italian - filled that role, but I never figured out his actual status. I THINK he came along because it turned out that many passengers had booked under Smithsonian (although it wasn't a 'Smithsonian' cruise, which Ponant do do sometimes). Many passengers were American and most had booked under Smithsonian. It ended up maybe 60% non-French and of these 80% American; 40% French. Very unusually, at least for a European cruise, during the cruise a number of announcements were made in English first.
The boat, which is identical to the Le Bougainville which I had just left. 184 pax capacity, I think we had about 140, which was comfortable.
'Priority boarding' for deck 6
.
Cabin.
Not a 'suite' in the sense of two spaces, but a ~50% wider cabin. Regular cabins would have their side wall where the bed-side edge of the table is.
Behind the suitcases is a large walk-in wardrobe / luggage storage area. Its glorious to unpack for a cruise!!
Larger bathroom than regular cabin; shower the same but in reg cabin it ends about half way through the sink here.
Complimentary minibar, which gets replaced daily and you can ask for your favourite spirits/mixers etc. I hardly used it, because immediately next to my cabin is the forward Observatory Lounge, with its own bar. So I just popped there to get a properly mixed drink.
Cabin service guy brought Champagne (never had that before, on arrival)
And I contemplated life looking at the view.
The road along the cruise port area is interesting!
Ponant people were outside, under a marquee. You gave your cabin number and they tagged your main bags and they disappeared. They couldn't find me under my cabin number (deck 4, midships, which I prefer). Oh-oh.
But there I was ... 601. Yes, 601. I had been upgraded (deck 6 all 'better' cabins, including the suites)!! I quickly went to the app to find what type of cabin - ah. 'Deluxe suite'. Forward and high.Who knows how they decide upgrades. I'm 'Grand Admiral' status (equiv to Plat on airlines), entitled to an upgrade and I found out later there were only about 10 GAs and above on the cruise (above is Commodore, P1 equiv).
The magazine where we waiting till 4pm, when they started the formalities. I sat down and there was an Aussie lady behind me. Oh! She had the most awful hacking cough. And a mask. More on that later.
The guy on the left was interesting. 'Travel director'. Not in uniform and his assistant to his right. The Cruise Director was absent for the first few days, so this guy - a tri lingual Italian - filled that role, but I never figured out his actual status. I THINK he came along because it turned out that many passengers had booked under Smithsonian (although it wasn't a 'Smithsonian' cruise, which Ponant do do sometimes). Many passengers were American and most had booked under Smithsonian. It ended up maybe 60% non-French and of these 80% American; 40% French. Very unusually, at least for a European cruise, during the cruise a number of announcements were made in English first.
The boat, which is identical to the Le Bougainville which I had just left. 184 pax capacity, I think we had about 140, which was comfortable.
'Priority boarding' for deck 6
.Cabin.
Not a 'suite' in the sense of two spaces, but a ~50% wider cabin. Regular cabins would have their side wall where the bed-side edge of the table is.
Behind the suitcases is a large walk-in wardrobe / luggage storage area. Its glorious to unpack for a cruise!!
Larger bathroom than regular cabin; shower the same but in reg cabin it ends about half way through the sink here.
Complimentary minibar, which gets replaced daily and you can ask for your favourite spirits/mixers etc. I hardly used it, because immediately next to my cabin is the forward Observatory Lounge, with its own bar. So I just popped there to get a properly mixed drink.
Cabin service guy brought Champagne (never had that before, on arrival)
And I contemplated life looking at the view.
(and only 20kg luggage, but I knew that).
