Ponant launches world-first underwater experience The Blue Eye, on new ship Le Laperouse

Sailing the Great Barrier Reef with Ponant next year? You and your shipmates are in for a world-first treat. Not only will guests be among the first to experience the luxury French line's new Explorer series, but they'll also have a revolutionary window on what lies beneath.

The first of six Explorer-class ships, Ponant's Le Laperouse is set to debut in Australian waters in 2019. She's currently cruising the Mediterranean before heading this way via the Indian Ocean. First is New Zealand's Sub Antarctic Islands in February 2019, then Melanesia and the Kimberley, May to August 2019. Le Laperouse will debut Ponant's wow element, The Blue Eye, which the brand calls a "multi-sensorial underwater lounge".

The Blue Eye is a space in the hull designed in collaboration with architect Jacques Rougerie. With a bar and 30 well-placed seats, the hero feature is two cetacean-eye-shaped portholes through which passengers can watch the underwater world go by. Twice a day, there's an aquatic ballet by French free-diving champion Aurore Asso, viewing of which is organised so everyone on board gets a go. Three underwater cameras project underwater life onto digital screens while underwater sounds are piped in alongside vibrations that are experienced through "Body Listening" sofas.

Elsewhere, the state-of-the-art, 184-passenger expedition ship is gorgeously appointed, with a mid-century Scandinavian aesthetic. All of the 88 cabins have balconies and four suites have private terraces. Amenities include a spa, gym, sauna and even a sort of infinity pool, which allows you to swim to the glass-enclosed aft edge. Cuisine on board is overseen by Michelin-star chef Alain Ducasse.

Le Champlain will join the fleet this year, with Le Bougainville and Le Dumont-d'Urville in 2019, followed by Le Surville and Le Bellot in 2020. See ponant.com