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Ponant · Expedition cruising
Ponant expedition cruises
French expedition ships and yachts, from the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot at the North Pole to Antarctica, the Kimberley, French Polynesia and the Mediterranean.
Founded in 1988 by French merchant navy officers and owned by the Pinault family's Artémis group, Ponant pairs small ships and naturalist guides with French cuisine created alongside Alain Ducasse's team. Its icebreaker can reach the Geographic North Pole. Booking with us costs the same as booking direct with Ponant, and we look after the flights, hotels and transfers around your voyage.
Where Ponant sails
From the poles to the tropics
Small French ships and yachts, from an icebreaker at the North Pole to a 32-guest sailing yacht in the Mediterranean.
Antarctica
Le Commandant Charcot seeks emperor penguins in the Weddell Sea, while Le Boréal and Le Lyrial sail Emblematic Antarctica from Ushuaia, with longer loops to the Falklands and South Georgia.
The Arctic and the North Pole
From Longyearbyen, Le Commandant Charcot sails 12 nights to the Geographic North Pole in summer 2027, and explores Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.
The Kimberley
Between May and August 2027, Le Jacques Cartier and Le Soléal sail between Broome and Darwin, with a focus on wildlife and Indigenous culture.
The Mediterranean and Atlantic islands
Le Boréal adds Madeira and the Azores in summer 2027, and the 32-guest sailing yacht Le Ponant cruises the Riviera, Puglia and Sicily.
French Polynesia
For winter 2026 to 2027 Le Jacques Cartier explores the Tuamotu, Marquesas, Austral and Gambier islands, while Le Paul Gauguin sails Tahiti and the Society Islands year round.
Life on board
The Explorer-class ships have the Blue Eye, an underwater lounge with hydrophones, and Le Commandant Charcot's Nuna restaurant was created with Alain Ducasse.
Highlight sailings
Three to start with
A few voyages we love right now. Booking with us costs the same as booking direct with Ponant.
The Geographic North Pole
Twelve nights through the Arctic pack ice to 90 degrees North on a Polar Class 2 icebreaker, with flights between Paris and Longyearbyen included.
From £35,320 per person
Ask about this sailingAustralia's Iconic Kimberley
Ten nights along one of Australia's wildest coastlines, via the Lacepede Islands, Collier Bay, the Hunter River and the King George River.
From £10,030 per person
Ask about this sailingUnder Sail from the Riviera to Sicily
Just 32 guests on Ponant's sailing yacht, calling at Portofino, Ponza, Amalfi and Lipari on the way to Sicily.
From £11,140 per person
Ask about this sailingPrices are per person, based on two sharing the lowest available stateroom, as published on Ponant's UK website. Flights are included on North Pole voyages but not on the others. Checked on 30 October 2026; prices and availability change, and we will confirm the latest when we quote.
Everything you need to know
Ponant at a glance
The questions our guests ask most, answered.
| The feel | Refined, French and curious: lectures and Zodiac outings by day, French cuisine and an open bar by night. |
|---|---|
| The ships | Le Commandant Charcot, a hybrid LNG icebreaker; six Explorer-class ships (Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont-d'Urville, Le Bellot and Le Jacques Cartier); the Boréal-class Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial; the sailing yacht Le Ponant for 32 guests; and Le Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia. |
| Suites | On the Explorer-class ships every stateroom has a private terrace. Staterooms are about 19 square metres and suites 27 to 45 square metres, with butler service. |
| Included | Full board, an open bar, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, gratuities, port taxes and Zodiac outings with the expedition team. North Pole voyages include return flights from Paris, and 2027 to 2028 European voyages include one shore excursion at each port. |
| Costs extra | Optional shore excursions, laundry, travel insurance and, on most voyages, flights, which we arrange for you. |
| Expedition team | Naturalist guides lead Zodiac landings and talks. Kimberley voyages include daily expert-led excursions and lectures from scientists, naturalists and historians. |
| Children | Kid Explorers family sailings, for children aged 4 to 13, run on selected Mediterranean departures. |
| Solo travellers | No solo supplement on selected departures, including five Kimberley sailings in 2027. |
Inclusions are as published by Ponant and can change. We will confirm exactly what your fare includes when we quote.
What our cruise guests say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 88 reviews on Trustpilot
Our guests often mention Ben, Hugh, Ashlie and the team by name. We think that says it all.
Read our reviews