Cruises Operated by Ponant Explorations Group

from $9,450

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A Circumnavigation of Sicily with Smithsonian Journeys

Valletta - Valletta - 9 Day Itinerary aboard Le Bougainville

Starts / Ends

Valletta / Valletta

Activity Level

Variable

During this 9-day cruise around Sicily aboard the new luxury expedition ship Le Bougainville, you'll be able to explore mythical places at the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilizations. Discover Sicily's most beautiful historic cities and ancient sites.

• Take a loop around Sicily
• Discover Sicily's beautiful cities
• Visit Syracuse
• Explore Palermo

Cruise Details

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from $8,400

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Iconic Capitals & Towns of the Baltic

Copenhagen - Helsinki - 9 Day Itinerary aboard Le Champlain

Starts / Ends

Copenhagen / Helsinki

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on a 9-day cruise aboard Le Champlain, exploring historic towns, iconic capitals, and stunning landscapes. Highlights include Gdansk’s amber charm, Stockholm’s ABBA legacy, Tallinn’s medieval allure, and Helsinki’s Art Nouveau beauty, with curated excursions at every port.

• Discover Copenhagen's canals
• Stroll Gudhjem's streets
• Explore Gdansk's history
• Walk Visby's fortifications

Cruise Details

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from $6,530

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Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean – with Smithsonian Journeys

Roundtrip Athens - 8 Day Itinerary aboard Le Bougainville

Starts / Ends

Athens / Athens

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on an 8-day cruise to and from Athens aboard the Le Bougainville, exploring Patmos, Symi, Amorgos, Santorini, and more. Discover ancient landmarks, serene harbors, and vibrant island life before returning to Athens.

• Explore Athens' vibrant Acropolis
• Visit Patmos' sacred monastery
• Discover Symi's colorful harbor
• Sail Amorgos' pristine coastlines

Cruise Details

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from $69,000

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Unexplored Antarctica between Two Continents

Ushuaia - Tasmania - 31 Day Itinerary aboard Le Commandant Charcot

Starts / Ends

Santiago / Hobart

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on a 31-day Antarctic adventure aboard Le Commandant Charcot, tracing the footsteps of legendary explorers. Experience dreamlike landscapes and abundant wildlife, including penguins and whales. Explore iconic sites like Marie Byrd Land and Ross Sea before returning via Macquarie Island.

• Experience half-circumnavigation
• Explore inaccessible Antarctica
• Encounter wildlife
• Discover more of Antarctica
• Trace footsteps of explorers

Cruise Details

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from $56,120

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Transarctic, the Quest for the two North Poles

Longyearbyen - Nome - 21 Day Itinerary aboard Le Commandant Charcot

Starts / Ends

Longyearbyen / Nome

Activities

Whale Watching, Hiking, Kayaking

Activity Level

Variable

Join Le Commandant Charcot on this 21-day transarctic quest for the two North Poles from Longyearbyen to Nome. Cross these ice-covered landscapes of the Arctic by sea and explore the research projects that are part of the scientific mission taking place on board.

• Set sail through the ice floe
• Exploration of Svalbard
• Watch the arctic wildlife
• Experience brand new activities

Cruise Details

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from $12,680

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New Guinea Odyssey

Cairns - Darwin - 17 Day Itinerary aboard Le Jacques Cartier

Starts / Ends

Cairns / Darwin

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on a 17-day cruise from Cairns to Darwin aboard Le Jacques Cartier. Unveil the mysteries of Papua New Guinea, known as the land of a thousand cultures. Visit the Kei Islands and enjoy the pristine white-sand beaches of the Malukus. Learn about the region's history, culture, and diverse flora and fauna from an expert expedition team.

• Explore Cairns
• Discover Alotau
• Experience Tufi
• Witness Tami Islands

Cruise Details

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from $9,820

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From Fiji to Micronesia

Lautoka - Guam - 17 Day Itinerary aboard Le Soleal

Starts / Ends

Lautoka / Guam

Activities

Wildlife Viewing, Archaeological Site Visits, Snorkeling, Village Visits, Local Market Visits, Scuba Diving

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on a 17-day Fiji to Micronesia cruise aboard Le Soleal. This adventure takes you to stunning atolls, vibrant marine ecosystems, and cultural treasures.

• See Bougainville’s WWII sites
• Experience Lamotrek Atoll
• Snorkel at Njari Island
• Witness Ambrym’s Rom dance

Cruise Details

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from $13,860

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Expedition to New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands

Dunedin - Dunedin - 15 Day Itinerary aboard Le Soleal

Starts / Ends

Dunedin / Dunedin

Activity Level

Variable

Set sail from Dunedin on Le Soleal for a 15-day exploration cruise to New Zealand's Fiordland and Subantarctic Islands. Explore the South West World Heritage Area, which is home to the magnificent Milford, Dusky, and Doubtful Sounds. Take a Zodiac cruise across the fiords and look for the endangered Fiordland Crested penguin.

• Explore the Snares Islands
• Enjoy a guided walk on Ulva Island
• View fur seals, sea lions, & seals
• See Fiordland Crested penguins

Cruise Details

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from $11,020

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The Best of Chilean Fjords

15 Day Itinerary aboard Le Lyrial

Starts / Ends

Valparaiso / Port of Ushuaia

Activity Level

Variable

Set sail aboard Le Lyrial for a 15-day adventure into the landscapes of South America. Experience the beauty of the Chilean fjords, where channels, snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and narrow passages await. Explore Puerto Williams, circumnavigate Cape Horn, and glide past the glaciers of Garibaldi, Crostini, Skua, El Brujo, and Pie XI.

• Explore Puerto Williams
• Observe Chilean fjords and channels
• Garibaldi, Agostini, El Brujo
• Explore houses of Tortel
• Experience the wildlife encounters
• Conclude the trip in Quemchi

Cruise Details

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from $22,380

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From the St Lawrence to Greenland, the Last Moments of Winter

Quebec - Nuuk - 15 Day Itinerary aboard Le Commandant Charcot

Starts / Ends

Quebec City / Nuuk

Activities

Small Ship Sailing, Adventure Options, Fishing

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on a 15-day St Lawrence to Greenland cruise from Quebec to Nuuk aboard Le Commandant Charcot. Discover Old Quebec’s UNESCO heritage sites and journey through the icy Saguenay Valley for dog sledding and ice fishing. Admire Gaspé’s rugged landscapes, and explore the serene Magdalen Islands.

• Engage in guided excursions
• Visit communities in Qaqortoq
• Try ice fishing in Saguenay Valley
• Stroll Cap-aux-Meules village

Cruise Details

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from $13,700

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Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet

Reykjavík - Kangerlussuaq - 14 Day Itinerary aboard L'Austral

Starts / Ends

Reykjavik / Kangerlussuaq

Activity Level

Variable

Board L'Austral and set off on an expedition to the edge of Greenland's ice sheet. Spend 14 days exploring Arctic landscapes, sailing from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq.

• Explore Reykjavik
• Cruise through stunning landscapes
• Meet Indigenous people of Greenland
• Spot Arctic-adapted wildlife

Cruise Details

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from $17,080

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Total Solar Eclipse in The Far North

Longyearbyen - Reykjavik - 14 Day Itinerary aboard Le Lyrial

Starts / Ends

Longyearbyen / Reykjavik

Activities

Urban Exploration

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on a 14-day expedition from Longyearbyen to Reykjavik aboard the Le Lyrial, exploring glaciers, wildlife, and isolated Jan Mayen Island. Visit the Inuit community in Ittoqqortoormiit, traverse Scoresby Sound's fjords, and conclude in Iceland's legendary landscapes from Isafjordur to Westfjords.

• Explore Spitsbergen
• Visit Ny-Alesund
• Discover Jan Mayen
• Explore Ittoqqortoormiit

Cruise Details

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from $8,490

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Panama, Colombia & Caribbean Islands

Colon to Fort-de-France - 13 Day Itinerary aboard Le Champlain

Starts / Ends

Colon / Fort de France

Activities

Land & Sea Exploration

Activity Level

Variable

Join Le Bellot for an exceptional 13-day cruise sailing from Colón to Fort-de-France. This itinerary gives you the opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of Afro-Caribbean cultures, an azure blue sky, and white-sand beaches. Visit stunning ports, including Portobelo, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Mayreau Island, and Soufriére.

• Sail through the Central America.
• See San Blas, Bonaire & Grenadines
• Experience swim and snorkel.
• Learn traditions of the Kuna people
• Dive with an experienced instructor

Cruise Details

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from $15,010

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Japanese Ancestral Traditions and Legendary Shrines

Osaka - Maizuru - 13 Day Itinerary aboard Le Soleal

Starts / Ends

Osaka / Maizuru

Activity Level

Variable

Explore Japanese ancestral traditions and legendary shrines on a 13-day cruise aboard Le Soleal. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Himeji Castle and Itsukushima Shrine. Traverse Kyushu's landscapes, discover South Korea's Busan and explore historic towns like Hagi and Izumo. Conclude amidst Tottori's sand dunes before disembarking in Maizuru.

• Discover Himeji’s UNESCO castle
• Sail to Kyushu to explore Toba
• Explore the Miyajima Island
• Experience the contrasts of Busan

Cruise Details

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from $10,540

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Zanzibar, Aldabra & the Treasures of the Indian Ocean

Victoria, Mahe - Zanzibar - 13 Day Itinerary aboard Le Bougainville

Starts / Ends

Mahe / Zanzibar

Activities

Spa Relaxation

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on an unforgettable 13-day voyage from Seychelles to Tanzania aboard Le Bougainville. Explore Seychelles’ beaches, snorkel Saint François, dive in Astove, and visit Aldabra’s tortoises. Discover Kilwa Kisiwani, Misali’s reefs, Pemba’s plantations, and Zanzibar’s UNESCO sites.

• Explore Victoria, Mahe
• Snorkel in Saint François
• Observe tortoises and bird species
• Tour Kilwa Kisiwani ruins
• Wander through Zanzibar’s Stone Town

Cruise Details

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from $11,490

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Voyage to Indonesia: Dragons, Reefs, and the Spice Islands – with Smithsonian Journeys

Benoa, Bali - Darwin - 13 Day Itinerary aboard Le Jacques Cartier

Starts / Ends

Benoa / Darwin

Activity Level

Variable

This 13-day cruise from Bali to northern Australia explores the Coral Triangle’s rich biodiversity. Discover Indonesia’s cultural heritage from Sumbawa's villages to the historic Spice Islands. Highlights include Komodo National Park’s Komodo dragons, snorkeling around Flores and Alor, and diving in West Papua’s Triton Bay.

• See the Coral Triangle’s ecosystems
• Experience Indonesia's culture
• See Komodo dragons upclose
• Island hop around Indonesia
• Discover Triton Bay and Kei Islands

Cruise Details

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from $14,040

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Antarctica: The White Continent with Smithsonian Journeys

Roundtrip Ushuaia - 12 Day Itinerary aboard L'Austral

Starts / Ends

Port of Ushuaia / Port of Ushuaia

Activity Level

Variable

Explore the Antarctic Peninsula on a 12-day expedition aboard L’Austral. Discover pristine landscapes, remarkable wildlife, and daily adventures among icebergs, glaciers, and thriving colonies of penguins and seals.

• Experience adventure of Antarctica
• Visit research stations
• See incredible polar wildlife
• Hop on Zodiacs for outings

Cruise Details

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from $11,800

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Exploration along Saint Lawrence

Saint Pierre - Montreal - 12 Day Itinerary aboard Le Lyrial

Starts / Ends

St. Pierre / Montreal

Activity Level

Variable

Embark on this 12-day cruise from Saint Pierre to Montreal aboard Le Lyrial. Witness the convergence of saltwater and freshwater along the Saint Lawrence River, explore the Saguenay River, and visit Quebec City's UNESCO-listed historic center.

• Explore Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Visit Cap-aux-Meules village
• Encounter diverse wildlife
• Marvel at Gros Morne Park

Cruise Details

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