[3] She was floated out on 18 December 2017, and was then finally outfitted at the builder's Søviknes facility in Ålesund, Norway.

The cruise ship applied for visa exemptions to enter New Zealand due to COVID-19 border restrictions.

Though the hospitality crew were denied visa exemptions twice, Le Lapérouse still sailed for New Zealand.

In response to media interest, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi defended Immigration New Zealand's decision, stating that Le Lapérouse should have waited for the department to process its crew's visa applications before sailing for New Zealand.

The ship was instructed to return its hospitality crew to New Caledonia in order to re-enter New Zealand.