Ponant Expedition Cruising: An Advisor's Notebook — Arctic, Antarctica & Beyond
- 14 minutes ago
- 11 min read
Our Advisor Notebook series takes you behind the scenes of the world's finest travel experiences — straight from the people who know them best. We recently sat down with Bliss Bonan, Business Development Manager for Ponant Explorations and Paul Gauguin Cruises, for an insider's guide to luxury expedition cruising. Whether your dreaming of the geographic North Pole, the Drake Passage, or the lagoons of French Polynesia, this is the guide that will help you select the right voyage — and the right ship.
Ponant Is Not a Cruise Line. It's an Expedition Company That Happens to Be Luxury.
Ask most luxury travelers what they know about expedition cruising and the answer usually involves rough seas, fleece jackets, and shared cabins. Ponant has spent thirty years dismantling that image — and in doing so, has created a category of travel.
Founded by a group of French mariners, Ponant Explorations operates a fleet of thirteen small ships alongside Paul Gauguin Cruises in French Polynesia, reaching more than 400 destinations across 198 itineraries. Every ship carries fewer than 300 passengers. Most carry fewer than 200. The Commandant Charcot — the world's only luxury polar icebreaker — carries roughly 200 guests with a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio.
The Ponant guest is not a traditional cruiser. They already been to the Maldives, done the safari, ticked off Southeast Asia. They are curious about the world in a deeper way — and want to go somewhere that genuinely cannot be reached any other way. That is the Ponant proposition: remote, responsibly, in extraordinary comfort.
What Is Included in Ponant's All-Inclusive Pricing?
One of the most important things to understand when positioning when comparing to other Expedition Cruise Companies like Lindblad, Quark and others — is that Ponant's pricing is genuinely all-inclusive in a way that most competitors are not.
On all Ponant Explorations voyages, the price includes:
All meals on board
Gratuities
Port taxes and fees
Wi-Fi
Butler service in suites
Shore landings and all included shore excursions
Charter flights on select Arctic itineraries (Paris to Longyearbyen)
When clients compare a Ponant price to a Silversea or Quark price, they are often comparing apples to oranges. Shore excursions, drink packages, and gratuities are frequently booked à la carte on competing lines. On Ponant, everything is truly included.
Paul Gauguin note: Shore excursions are the one exception — they are booked separately on Paul Gauguin sailings. However, all three restaurants, 24-hour room service, the minibar, fine wines, spirits, champagnes, Wi-Fi, and gratuities are all included.
The Ponant Fleet: Which Ship Is Right for Your Client?
Ponant operates thirteen ships under its expedition brand, plus Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia. Here is how to think about the fleet when advising your clients.
Commandant Charcot: The World's Only Luxury Polar Icebreaker
The Charcot is in a class by itself — not figuratively, but literally. It holds a PC2 polar class rating, the highest available to a commercial vessel, and uses LNG energy for exceptional sustainability. Its proprietary icebreaking mechanism lifts onto the ice and presses down rather than splitting — which means a smoother experience for guests and the ability to navigate into areas that no other ship can reach.
On board, the Charcot operates two scientific laboratories — a dry lab and a wet lab — and hosts scientists from around the world, including researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (a NASA partner). Guests participate in live experiments. Lectures happen nightly.
For dining, the Charcot is home to the only Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea — a Michelin-starred experience available nowhere else on the ocean. An indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, and staterooms that rival the finest city hotels complete the picture.
Best for: Four Seasons and Aman travelers. Guests for whom the destination matters as much as the ship. Those who want to go to the geographic North Pole or circumnavigate Antarctica — not just approach it.
Explorer Class (2018–2020): Six Ships, 184 Guests, 100% Private Balconies
Ponant's newer class of ships, built between 2018 and 2020, offers something rare in the expedition world: every single stateroom has a private balcony. Not most — all of them. These ships also feature the Blue Eye Lounge, a bar positioned at the very bottom of the ship with a view directly into the sea — one of the more remarkable spaces in modern cruising.
Best for: Clients who want the expedition experience with a slightly more intimate feel, or those for whom private outdoor space is a priority.
Gaston / Boreal / Austral / Soleil / Siljord Class: Up to 264 Guests
The larger sister ships in the fleet, also with icebreaker capability for Antarctic and Arctic sailings. Still small by any conventional cruising standard — fewer than 300 guests — and fully luxury. Positioned globally across Ponant's 198 itineraries.
Le Ponant: The Original Sailing Ship
A three-masted sailing vessel with just 16 staterooms and 33 crew members. The only sailing ship in the world to hold the Relais & Châteaux label. Positioned in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and available for full charters — making it an extraordinary option for anniversaries, family celebrations, or intimate private voyages.
Arctic vs. Antarctica: A Guide
This is the question that comes up most often, and it deserves a real answer.
The Arctic (North Pole)
The Charcot sails to the geographic North Pole on 12-night voyages departing from Spitsbergen,
Norway. Charter flights from Paris to Longyearbyen are included in the pricing. Wildlife includes polar bears, walrus, Arctic fox, and extraordinary sea ice formations. These itineraries go significantly farther into the Arctic than any competing ship — because no other ship has the polar class to do it.
From New York, the Arctic is more accessible than Antarctica: a transatlantic crossing or direct flight to Europe, then the charter to Longyearbyen. For clients who have been hesitant about the long travel to Ushuaia (Antartica), the Arctic is a compelling entry point to Ponant's polar program.
Antarctica
For Antarctic sailings, guests fly to Ushuaia, Argentina — typically via Buenos Aires — and board from there. There is no fly-over option; every Ponant Antarctic voyage crosses the Drake Passage by sea. (Pre- and post-cruise hotel packages in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia are available through Ponant.) The Drake Passage has a reputation, and it is not entirely undeserved. But the Charcot's science systems allow the team to monitor weather days in advance and adjust the sailing schedule accordingly. Clients consistently return saying it was one of the defining experiences of the trip.
Antarctica offers wildlife and landscapes that are genuinely different from the Arctic: Emperor Penguins in the Weddell Sea, humpback and orca whales, the Falkland Islands, sea kayaking off the Antarctic coast, and the polar plunge. For the most adventurous clients — and for 2028, those interested in the full circumnavigation of Antarctica — this is the ultimate Ponant sailing.
A simple guide for travelers deciding between the Artic and Antartica: Polar bears are in the Arctic. Penguins are in Antarctica. Both are extraordinary. The Arctic is more accessible from the East Coast. Antarctica is the deeper adventure.
Life on Board a Ponant Expedition Ship
Clients often ask what the days actually look like.
Mornings are for excursions. Zodiacs (small inflatable boats) tender guests from the ship to shore landings — or, in Antarctica, directly to the ice. Excursions are organized and led by expert guides, and groups are organized by language: English-speaking clients are placed in English-led groups, French-speaking in French-led groups. Everything on board — announcements, lectures, signage, crew communication — is bilingual.
Afternoons bring lectures from on-board scientists and explorers, afternoon tea, and occasionally a special presentation: a sustainable seafood display by the chef, a caviar service, or a glass of champagne on the sun deck. On the Charcot, the afternoon might include a talk from a Woods Hole researcher presenting findings from that morning's lab work.
Evenings center on dining — the Alain Ducasse restaurant on the Charcot, or a standard (excellent) restaurant on the sister ships — followed by a nightly schedule card delivered to each cabin outlining the full itinerary for the following day. Every night, there is something to do and something to eat. It is all-inclusive, which means the champagne keeps coming.
Excursion Tip: Guests can pre-book shore excursions online 60 days before departure at no additional cost. We strongly recommend doing this — popular excursion slots fill up. Changes can be made at the on-board shore excursions desk once sailing.
Smithsonian Journeys: The Best Entry Point for First-Time Ponant Clients
Ponant's Smithsonian Journeys alliance was built specifically for North American, English-speaking travelers. Every sailing is all-English. Every itinerary features Smithsonian-selected experts — archaeologists, art historians, naturalists, and scientists — matched to the specific destinations on that voyage. A sailing along the Dalmatian Coast will include an archaeologist and an art historian. A circumnavigation of Sicily will include an expert in classical civilization.
The pricing includes transfers from airport to ship, all shore excursions, all expert gratuities, and all the standard Ponant all-inclusive pricing. There is no guessing about what the final cost will be.
Groups within the sailing run 15 to 20 people — intimate enough to ask questions and have conversations, not a tour group.
Itineraries include the Dalmatian Coast, Corsica and the Archipelago, Sicily, and destinations across the Mediterranean. Multiple ships are used across the calendar — check the voyage code for the specific vessel on each itinerary.
Best for Travelers who value intellectual depth and expedition spirit but in a more refined ship. Fully all-inclusive pricing. And a stronger sense of intimacy — because at 184 to 264 guests total on the ship, you genuinely feel like it is yours.
Paul Gauguin Cruises: French Polynesia, Year-Round
Paul Gauguin is one ship, and it sails French Polynesia 365 days a year. Ponant acquired it in 2019, and it just completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment — new sun deck, updated dining spaces, and eight newly connected staterooms for multi-generational families.
At 330 guests with a 1:1.5 crew-to-guest ratio, Paul Gauguin is a very different experience from the expedition fleet — warmer, more leisurely, built for the lagoons of Bora Bora and the Society Islands. All meals across three restaurants, 24-hour room service, minibar, wine, spirits, champagnes, Wi-Fi, and gratuities are included. Shore excursions are booked separately.
The flight is easier than people think: daily non-stop service from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Tahiti. From New York, that is a connection through LAX or SFO.
Best for: Special occasions — vow renewals, milestone anniversaries, multi-generational family trips. Guests who have been to Hawaii every year and want more. Families looking for connecting staterooms in a luxury setting.
The Elli Travel Group Advantage
Ponant is a line that rewards expert guidance. The decision between the Charcot and a sister ship, the Arctic versus Antarctica, a Smithsonian Journey versus an independent sailing, the question of pre-booking excursions and pre/post cruise hotels — these are exactly the decisions that Elli Travel Group can help with.
Our team has direct access to Ponant's business development team and groups desk, which means we can secure pricing. . Elli Travel Group can also set up pre- and post-cruise hotel packages in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Nice, or wherever your journey begins or ends.
There is no additional cost to working with Elli Travel Group, and the depth of access we have to Ponant's team means you are in expert hands.
Some Ponant Expeditions will be designated as Virtuoso Voyages providing additional benefits to our guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Ponant different from Lindblad or Silversea for expedition cruising?
Ponant's pricing is genuinely all-inclusive — shore excursions, gratuities, port taxes, and fees are all included on Ponant Explorations voyages, while competing lines often charge these separately. The ships are smaller (184 to 264 guests on most vessels) with higher crew-to-guest ratios. The Commandant Charcot, the world's only luxury polar icebreaker, can reach destinations — the geographic North Pole, deep Antarctic ice — that no other commercial ship can access. And the onboard experience is a step above expedition-only lines, with Alain Ducasse dining, private balconies, and scientific labs staffed by Woods Hole and NASA researchers.
What is the Commandant Charcot, and why does it matter?
The Commandant Charcot is the world's only luxury polar icebreaker. It holds a PC2 polar class rating — the highest available to a commercial ship — and is powered by LNG energy. It can break through ice by lifting and pressing down rather than splitting, which allows it to reach the geographic North Pole and conduct Antarctica circumnavigation voyages that no other ship in the world can complete. It is also home to the only Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea.
Is Ponant mainly for French travelers? Will English speakers feel comfortable?
Ponant is cosmopolitan, not exclusively French. All announcements, excursions, and lectures are fully bilingual — French and English. Excursion groups are organized by language, so English-speaking clients are always in English-led groups. For travelers who want an all-English experience, Smithsonian Journeys alliance sailings are designed specifically for North American travelers and conducted entirely in English.
What is the difference between the Arctic and Antarctica on Ponant?
The Arctic (geographic North Pole and Spitsbergen area) offers polar bears, walrus, and sea ice; it is more accessible from the U.S. East Coast, with included charter flights from Paris to Longyearbyen. Antarctica offers penguins, whales, and the Drake Passage crossing; guests board in Ushuaia, Argentina. The Charcot operates in both regions depending on season — and is the only ship capable of the deepest polar itineraries in either hemisphere.
Can I bring my family, including children, on a Ponant expedition?
Ponant is not adult-only. Children's explorer programs are available on board, and the ships are designed for interactive participation rather than passive entertainment. For families with younger children, French Polynesia on Paul Gauguin is the most accessible option. For families with teenagers, expedition sailings in Antarctica or the Arctic can be extraordinary experiences. Paul Gauguin also recently added eight connecting staterooms specifically for multi-generational travel.
When should clients book excursions?
Included shore excursions on Ponant Explorations voyages can be pre-booked online 60 days before departure at no additional cost. We strongly recommend pre-booking — popular time slots fill quickly. Changes can be made at the on-board shore excursions desk. Private tours, special experiences, and pre/post cruise hotel packages can also be arranged in advance through your Elli Travel Group advisor.
What are the best Ponant sailings from New York for 2027?
The 2027 sailing calendar is actively filling, with Ponant's current focus on 2027 and 2028 bookings. Arctic sailings departing from Spitsbergen (with charter flights from Paris) and Antarctic sailings from Ushuaia are both available, alongside Smithsonian Journeys departures throughout the Mediterranean. The earlier you book, the better the cabin selection — and group pricing with no financial liability can be locked in well in advance. Contact our team for current availability.
How do I book Ponant through Elli Travel Group?
Reach out to our team through the travel request form below. We work directly with Ponant's reservations and groups desk, have access to current pricing and availability, and can help identify the right ship, itinerary, and cabin category for your clients. There is no additional cost to working with us — and the expertise we bring to the booking makes a meaningful difference.
What is a Virtuoso Voyage?
A Virtuoso Voyage is a designated cruise departure on one of more than 13 participating luxury cruise lines, available exclusively to travelers who book through a Virtuoso-affiliated travel agency. It includes a dedicated Virtuoso onboard host, a private welcome reception for Virtuoso guests, and additional amenities — typically valued between $500 and several thousand dollars per couple — at no additional cost over the cabin rate.
How do I book a Virtuoso Voyage through Elli Travel Group?
Submit a travel request through our website and let us know which cruise lines or destinations interest you. We will identify qualifying Virtuoso Voyage departures, confirm the benefits, and handle every detail of the booking. There is no additional cost — and the difference in the onboard experience is real.
Expedition cruising is one of the fastest-growing segments in luxury travel — and Ponant is the finest way to experience it. Let our team help you find the right voyage. vacations@ellitravel.com