Le Dumont d’Urville is the fourth of six Explorer-class ships delivered to Ponant Cruises. She is named after Jules Sébastien César Dumont d’Urville, a French explorer and naval officer who explored parts of the Pacific, Australia, and Antarctica.

Like the other Ponant Explorer-class ships, Le Dumont d’Urville can accommodate up to 302 guests and features reinforced hulls for polar regions.