Le Soléal
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Cruise ship Le Soleal moored in Venice
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| History | |
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| Name: | Le Soleal |
| Owner: | Compagnie du Ponant |
| Operator: | Compagnie du Ponant |
| Port of registry: | Mata-Utu (Wallis & Futuna Islands),  France |
| Ordered: | 2011 |
| Builder: | Fincantieri |
| Laid down: | 2012 |
| Launched: | 2013 |
| Completed: | June 2013 |
| Acquired: | 2013 |
| Maiden voyage: | 1 July 2013 |
| In service: | July 2013 |
| Identification: | Call sign: FIHV MMSI number: 578000200 IMO number: 9641675 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Le Boreal-class cruise ships |
| Tonnage: | 10,992 GT[1] |
| Length: | 142.1 m (466 ft) |
| Beam: | 18.0 m (59 ft) |
| Draught: | 4.9 m (16 ft) |
| Decks: | 7 |
| Propulsion: | 2 propeller shafts: 2 propellers |
| Capacity: | 264 passengers |
| Crew: | 139 crewmembers |
Le Soleal is a cruise ship owned and operated by Compagnie du Ponant.[2]
History
The ship was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy, and was launched on the 6 December 2012, being christened by Kiki Tauck Mahar.[3] The vessel started its maiden voyage on 1 July 2013.
Le Soléal became the first French commercial shipping vessel to traverse the Northwest Passage. The vessel left Kangerlussuaq in Greenland on August 26 2013 and arrived in Anadyr, in Russia on September 16 2013.[4]
Facilities
Le Soléal has two restaurants. The Gastronomic Restaurant, which is the main dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving French and international cuisine, and the Grill Restaurant, which is the ship's casual eating venue for breakfast, buffet lunch and themed dinners.
The vessel also has a theater, which is the main show room for conferences and live entertainment, and a Fitness & Beauty Corner which includes Kinesis equipment, running machines, bicycles, hairdressers, massage rooms, Balneo room, Hammam and a Relaxation room. Alongside this, there are two lounges, the main lounge, which serves afternoon tea, includes live music, a dance floor and a cocktail bar and the panoramic lounge, which has a library, internet desk, cocktail bar, and live entertainment. There is also a pool deck bar. Lastly, the ship has a leisure area which has a Wii area and a Photograph shop.
References
External links
- Official website
- "European cruising with a French flair" – review in The Sydney Morning Herald of a Mediterranean cruise on Le Soléal.
- "Japan with a French twist" – review in The Sydney Morning Herald of a cruise around Japan on Le Soléal.
