French cruise line Compagnie du Ponant launched Le Boreal, its first new cruise ship in more than a decade.
The vessel is the first of two six-deck, 264-passenger ships slated for delivery over the next year. Le Boreal embarked on its maiden cruise yesterday, a seven-night sailing from Marseille to Nice.
L'Austral, the second newbuild, is scheduled to set sail in May 2011.
The ship is the fourth in Ponant's fleet, joining the 64-passenger sailing yacht Le Ponant, the 90-passenger yacht Le Levant and 226-passenger Le Diamant.
Ponant opened its first U.S. sales office this year as it tries to expand its presence in the North American market.
Le Boreal will spend its inaugural month sailing in the Mediterranean, before repositioning to Northern Europe.