The first of six new Ponant Explorer expedition ships is preparing for its first cruise this month after completing sea trials off Norway.
Le Lapérouse, the first in a new generation of vessels for the French luxury line, is due to sail on its first cruise from Iceland later this month.
The 92-cabin vessel will then head for the Mediterranean, followed by the Indian Ocean, Asia and the Oceania region.
Ponant chief executive Jean Emmanuel Sauvée said: “These sea trials are a real success for the company. Remarkable nautical performances, technical excellence, a high standard of comfort, everything is in place for the Ponant Explorers series to be a real triumph.”
The construction of the five other ships in the Explorers class is described as being well underway.
Le Champlain is completing the final phases of construction ahead of its inaugural cruise from Honfleur in France on October 25.
Building work for Le Bougainville and Le Dumont d’ Urville is progressing at the Vard shipyard in Tulcea in Romania with the ships set to enter service next year.
A steel-cutting ceremony for Le Bellot and Le Surville, due for delivery in 2020, took place in April in Romania.
The six vessels will feature Blue Eye, a multi-sensorial underwater lounge, allowing passengers to discover the ocean via two giant portholes looking out on to the sea bed.
The development is part of a plan by Ponant to be operating 12 ships by 2021.