Small-ship line Ponant offers early booking deals

Small-ship cruise line Ponant is out with early bookings discounts on 2016 sailings.

The France-based company says customers can save $500 per person ($1,000 per couple) when booking a summer 2016 voyage by Sept. 4.

The offer applies to trips from March to November on a wide range of itineraries including sailings to Alaska, the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Arctic.

A caveat: The offer can not be combined with other Ponant promotions.

Ponant operates a fleet of upscale vessels that carry about 250 passengers a piece, including the just-unveiled, 244-passenger Le Lyrial. For a peek inside Le Lyrial, click through the carousel below.