September 26, 2026
6-Night Mediterranean Cruise
Departing from Nice
From
$16,220
Price / day
$2,703
Le Ponant|Le Champlain
Le Ponant vs Le Champlain
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
VS
Newer Ship
Le Champlain
Built in 2018
27 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Le Champlain
$1,222 / day
$865 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Le Champlain
53.8 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Le Ponant vs Le Champlain: Quick Comparison
Le Champlain is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2018, it is 27 years newer than Le Ponant, which entered service in 1991. Le Champlain is approximately 565% larger by gross tonnage at 9,900 GT. Le Champlain also carries 120 more passengers. Le Ponant has upcoming sailings in Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands, while Le Champlain has sailings in Northern Europe & Scandinavia and Mediterranean. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Le Champlain has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover a similar region and trip length, so the price per day figures are reasonably close to like-for-like. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.
Ship Comparison
| Spec | Le Ponant | Le Champlain |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 1991 | 2018Newer |
| Gross Tonnage | 1,489 GT | 9,900 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 64 | 184 |
| Space per Passenger | 23.3 GT | 53.8 GT |
| Length | 88.55 m | 131.06 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Le Ponant vs Le Champlain
Age
Le Champlain was built in 2018, making it 27 years newer than Le Ponant, which was built in 1991.
Size
At 9,900 GT, Le Champlain is approximately 565% larger by gross tonnage than Le Ponant at 1,489 GT.
Passenger capacity
Le Champlain carries up to 184 passengers compared with 64 aboard Le Ponant, a difference of 120 passengers.
Passenger space
Le Champlain offers more space per passenger: 53.8 GT per guest, compared with 23.3 aboard Le Ponant. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Le Ponant and Le Champlain cover a similar region and trip length.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Le Champlain has the lower average starting price per day at $1,222 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Le Ponant
Corsican shores, under Sail Aboard Le Ponant
- Departure Port
- Nice
- Region
- Mediterranean
- Nights
- 6
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 26, 2026Nice
- Day 2 · Sep 27, 2026Saint-Florent
- Day 3 · Sep 28, 2026Ajaccio
- Day 4 · Sep 29, 2026Gulf of Sant'Amanza
- Day 5 · Sep 30, 2026Bonifacio
- Day 6 · Oct 1, 2026Calvi
- Day 7 · Oct 2, 2026Nice
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Le Champlain
London to Lisbon: Cruising Europe's Western Shores – with Smithsonian Journeys
- Departure Port
- London
- Region
- Northern Europe & Scandinavia
- Nights
- 9
- Round Trip
- No
- Day 1 · Sep 5, 2026London
- Day 2 · Sep 6, 2026Caen
- Day 3 · Sep 7, 2026Saint-Malo
- Day 4 · Sep 8, 2026At Sea
- Day 5 · Sep 9, 2026Bilbao
- Day 6 · Sep 10, 2026La Coruña
- Day 7 · Sep 11, 2026Vigo – Santiago de Compostela
- Day 8 · Sep 12, 2026Leixoes
- Day 9 · Sep 13, 2026Lisbon
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Le Ponant
October 31, 2026
7-Night Atlantic Islands Cruise
Departing from Mindelo
From
$10,290
Price / day
$1,470
Le Champlain
September 5, 2026
9-Night Northern Europe & Scandinavia Cruise
Departing from London
From
$9,550
Price / day
$1,061
September 23, 2026
8-Night Mediterranean Cruise
Departing from Barcelona
From
$11,060
Price / day
$1,383
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Le Ponant
Average
$2,087 / day
VS
Le Champlain
Average
$1,222 / day
Le Champlain is currently 41% cheaper per day for comparable sailings
$1,222/day vs $2,087/day
About $865 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Le Ponant if…
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands.
- Departing from Nice and Mindelo works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Le Champlain.
Choose Le Champlain if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Northern Europe & Scandinavia and Mediterranean.
- Departing from London and Barcelona works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Le Ponant vs Le Champlain: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Le Champlain
Built in 2018
27 years newer
Bigger
Le Champlain
9,900 GT
565% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Le Champlain
$1,222 / day
About $865 less per day
- Le Champlain is 27 years newer.
- Le Champlain is 565% larger by gross tonnage.
- Le Champlain carries 120 more passengers.
- Le Champlain offers more space per passenger (53.8 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Le Ponant or Le Champlain?
Le Champlain is newer. It was built in 2018, while Le Ponant was built in 1991, making Le Champlain 27 years newer.
Which is bigger, Le Ponant or Le Champlain?
Le Champlain is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 9,900 GT compared with Le Ponant at 1,489 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Le Champlain has a passenger capacity of approximately 184, compared with 64 for Le Ponant.
Which ship is more spacious, Le Ponant or Le Champlain?
Le Champlain has the higher passenger space ratio at 53.8 GT per passenger, versus 23.3 for Le Ponant. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Le Ponant or Le Champlain?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Le Champlain has the lower average starting price per day at $1,222 per day versus $2,087 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Le Ponant sail?
The upcoming Le Ponant sailings currently listed cover Mediterranean and Atlantic Islands, departing from Nice and Mindelo.
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