PONANT specializes in small-ship luxury cruising, focusing on in-depth cultural exploration and polar navigation to create a brand-new style of cruise experience.

Founded in 1988, PONANT currently has a fleet of 13 ships, including 6 Ponant Explorers, 4 Sisterships, an icebreaker, a luxury sailing yacht, and the Le Paul Gauguin, which sails exclusively in the South Pacific. These small-sized vessels can access ports that large cruise ships cannot reach, as well as venture deep into lagoons, small islands, the Amazon River, and the edge of polar ice sheets, offering a truly unique cruise journey.

Most ships have a passenger capacity of approximately 184 to 264 guests, providing a higher level of privacy and a tranquil atmosphere, making them ideal for travelers who enjoy quiet vacations, in-depth travel, or ecological discovery.

French Luxury

As the only French cruise line, all ships in the PONANT fleet fly the French flag, and the majority of the crew and service staff are French, delivering professional, meticulous service comparable to five-star hotels.

PONANT offers an all-inclusive service. The fare includes Wi-Fi, dining at main restaurants and buffets, mineral water, coffee and tea, soft drinks, open bar (excluding some premium wines and champagnes), 24-hour room service, onboard entertainment, pools, and SPA access (treatments are extra). Starting from November 2024, all itineraries (excluding Le Paul Gauguin) include one complimentary shore excursion per day, such as visiting historical sites or hiking nature trails.

Renowned designer Jean-Philippe Nuel has created modern and elegant stateroom spaces for PONANT, creating a warm, intimate, and comfortable atmosphere. All staterooms on board feature ocean-view windows or balconies—there are no windowless interior cabins. Guests enjoy luxury amenities including Pierre Frey fabrics, Fragonard fragrances, and Hermès bath products for a lavish and relaxing journey.

The restaurants serve authentic French cuisine. From dinner and cocktail parties to exquisite tea times, guests can enjoy top-tier delicacies such as champagne, Kaviari caviar, Pierre Hermé Paris macarons, Bordier artisan butter, and Palais des Thés teas. Additionally, PONANT collaborates with the Michelin-starred restaurant Taillevent, expert in food and wine pairing, to select a variety of wines by the glass to complement the meals.

Polar Expeditions

Polar routes are PONANT's signature itineraries, with numerous voyages planned to deeply explore the ecology of the Antarctic and Arctic. PONANT invites experts to join the voyages, explaining the ecology, history, and culture of the polar regions to passengers, combined with Zodiac landings and cruising for a one-of-a-kind travel experience.

Antarctic itineraries mostly depart from Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina, heading to the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands. You will visit wildlife habitats with chances to see Weddell seals, humpback whales, penguins, and albatrosses. You can also admire spectacular icebergs, glaciers, and ice floes reflecting different shades of blue under the sunlight—truly breathtaking! In addition, guests are taken to visit Antarctic scientific research stations and explore the remains of the past whaling industry.

Arctic itineraries mostly depart from Greenland, Iceland, or Norway, taking travelers to search for whales and polar bears, and visit traditional Inuit villages. Some routes traverse the Northwest Passage, which is only passable during the brief summer thaw in the Arctic, allowing guests to feel the challenges faced by explorers of past centuries.

If you want to experience even deeper polar travel, the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot will be the best choice. This luxury icebreaker can reach locations inaccessible to standard cruise ships, such as the geographic North Pole and the interior ice sheets of Antarctica, offering activities like kayaking, dog sledding, and ice fishing.

Themed Travel

PONANT designs various themed cruise itineraries in collaboration with professional institutions in various fields. Its largest partner is Smithsonian Journeys, part of the Smithsonian Institution, arranging visits to museums, historical sites, or observing natural landscapes and wildlife. Each voyage is accompanied by two experts helping travelers gain a better understanding of the destination's history, culture, and nature.

PONANT also partners with The Explorers Club, focusing on scientific observation, polar exploration, and research, similarly inviting experts in the field to share their experiences in lectures.

In the fields of music and art, PONANT collaborates with cultural institutions such as Radio Classique and the Paris Opera. Guests can enjoy world-class musical performances and ballet on board, and shore excursions focused on music or art are also planned, filling the journey with an elegant cultural atmosphere.