Ponant Cruises

Ponant Cruises offers luxury yacht-style and expedition voyages on all seven continents. Founded in 1988, the French cruise line combines small-ship intimacy with modern design and a distinctly European flair. From classic Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries to polar expeditions in Antarctica and Greenland, Ponant provides immersive travel experiences that blend adventure, culture, and refined hospitality. For 2026 and 2027, guests can expect the same boutique vessels, bilingual service, and carefully curated journeys, making Ponant Cruises an ideal choice for couples, solo travellers, and anyone seeking a sophisticated way to explore the world.
Featured Itineraries
Why choose Ponant
Boutique luxury
Small ships designed for intimacy and refinement.
French touch
Stylish décor, fine dining, and bilingual service.
Global itineraries
Sailings across all seven continents.
Explorer class innovation
Blue Eye Lounge and Zodiac excursions.
Cultural partnerships
Expeditions with National Geographic experts.
Ponant Ships

Le Bellot
184 Guests
Le Bellot is a boutique explorer yacht in Ponant‘s new generation of ships, offering just 92 staterooms and suites in an intimate, refined setting. Elegantly designed, she integrates large windows, chic lounges that open to the elements, and sustainable engineering. Her ambience fuses comfort, authenticity and discovery—perfect for travellers seeking immersive exploration in style across remote seas and coastal routes.
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Le Boréal
264 Guests
Le Boréal is the first of Ponant’s elegant sister ships and a defining symbol of the line’s chic, small-ship luxury. Designed to carry just 264 guests, she combines contemporary French style with cutting-edge expedition capability, offering immersive voyages to destinations from Antarctica to the Mediterranean.
Launched in 2010, Le Boréal delivers a boutique-yacht atmosphere that feels effortlessly refined. Her sleek lines, understated interiors, and attentive service create an ambience more reminiscent of a private yacht than a traditional cruise ship. Whether exploring polar frontiers or sun-drenched coastlines, every journey aboard Le Boréal promises a seamless blend of comfort and discovery.
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Le Bougainville
184 Guests
Le Bougainville is one of Ponant’s newest-generation explorer ships, combining state-of-the-art expedition technology with signature French refinement. Carrying just 184 guests, she offers a truly intimate yachting experience, sailing to remote destinations from the Red Sea and Seychelles to the Mediterranean and Arctic Circle.
Launched in 2019, Le Bougainville embodies Ponant’s spirit of adventure through elegant design, innovative eco-friendly systems, and a focus on cultural and environmental discovery. With her sleek profile, refined décor, and attentive crew, she represents the future of small-ship luxury.
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Le Champlain
184 Guests
Le Champlain is the second ship in Ponant’s Explorer series, marrying expedition capability with elegant French luxury. With 92 suites and staterooms, she sails through continents offering voyages across Africa, Asia and Europe. Guests enjoy all-suite accommodation with balconies, immersive dining, the signature Blue Eye underwater lounge, spa and wellness facilities, and a calm, refined ambience that focuses on discovery in comfort.
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Le Commandant Charcot
245 Guests
Le Commandant Charcot is Ponant’s premier polar exploration vessel, engineered to traverse the most remote and ice-bound seas. Launched in 2021, she features a hybrid propulsion system (LNG + battery), Polar Class 2 capability, and the ability to conduct scientific missions. With just 184–245 guests (depending on season) and refined interiors designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, she pairs expedition rigour with elegant comfort and immersive experiences at the planet’s poles.
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Le Dumont-d'Urville
184 Guests
Le Dumont d’Urville is a refined expedition yacht in Ponant’s Explorer series, launched in 2019. With space for up to 184 guests and about 118 crew, she combines agility with luxury. Featuring elegant staterooms and suites, multiple dining venues, the innovative Blue Eye underwater lounge, and sustainable technology, she carries you into remote landscapes—from polar waters to tropical archipelagos—with style, comfort and exploration at her core.
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Le Jacques Cartier
184 Guests
Le Jacques Cartier is one of the newest additions to Ponant’s cutting-edge Explorer series, combining world-class luxury with a spirit of adventure. Designed for just 184 guests, she offers a truly intimate small-ship experience where French sophistication meets expedition excellence.
Launched in 2020, Le Jacques Cartier continues Ponant’s tradition of blending environmental responsibility with style. Her sleek silhouette, elegant interiors, and innovative technology allow her to reach some of the world’s most remote destinations in absolute comfort, from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to the icy wilderness of the Arctic.
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Le Lapérouse
184 Guests
Le Lapérouse was the first of Ponant’s revolutionary Explorer-class yachts, a vessel that redefined small-ship luxury when she debuted in 2018. Carrying just 184 guests, she offers the perfect balance between adventure and elegance, sailing to some of the world’s most captivating destinations — from the tropical isles of Melanesia to the icy shores of Antarctica.
Combining French sophistication with innovative design, Le Lapérouse features light-filled interiors, cutting-edge technology, and an eco-efficient propulsion system. Whether you’re Zodiac-cruising among glaciers or dining beneath the stars, every voyage aboard Le Lapérouse is an invitation to explore with style and substance.
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Le Lyrial
264 Guests
Le Lyrial represents the very best of Ponant’s award-winning French luxury and small-ship design. Accommodating just 264 guests, this sleek, contemporary vessel offers a graceful balance between comfort and adventure, sailing worldwide from the Mediterranean to Antarctica.
Launched in 2015, Le Lyrial combines eco-efficient engineering with refined interiors inspired by the Mediterranean’s blue hues. She offers a serene onboard atmosphere and an exceptional guest-to-crew ratio, ensuring every voyage feels personal and effortlessly elegant.
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Le Ponant
32 Guests
Le Ponant is the original jewel in Ponant’s crown — a graceful, three-masted sailing yacht that embodies the pure essence of small-ship luxury. Hosting just 32 guests, she offers an intimate and authentic experience that connects travellers with the rhythm of the sea like no other vessel.
Launched in 1991 and completely reimagined in 2022, Le Ponant continues to set the standard for refined yacht cruising. Combining elegant French design with a deep respect for nature, she sails to some of the world’s most beautiful and remote destinations — from the Seychelles and the Red Sea to the Greek Isles and the Caribbean.
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Le Soléal
264 Guests
Le Soléal embodies Ponant’s hallmark blend of luxury, style, and adventure. Designed to accommodate 264 guests, this sleek expedition yacht combines contemporary design with a warm, inviting atmosphere, offering a refined small-ship experience that bridges the worlds of yachting and exploration.
Launched in 2013, Le Soléal was the first French ship to navigate the Northwest Passage. Her graceful lines, eco-efficient technology, and elegant interiors make her the ideal choice for travellers seeking both comfort and discovery. From Antarctica to Alaska, each voyage aboard Le Soléal promises sophistication, enrichment, and wonder.
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Ponant cruise types
Expedition
Ocean
All-Inclusive
Modern fleet
Small-ship style
Onboard details
Ponant Cruises offers a seamless mix of luxury and adventure. With small-ship intimacy, French-inspired service, and purpose-built expedition features, the onboard experience balances elegance with exploration.
- French-inspired service and cuisine.
- Global itineraries, from Antarctica to Asia.
- Explorer Class Blue Eye Lounge.
- Hybrid-powered icebreaker for polar travel.
- Immersive partnerships with National Geographic.
- All-inclusive dining and drinks.
- Stylish design with Parisian flair.
- Adventurous Zodiac excursions.

Accommodation
Ponant’s staterooms and suites combine French elegance with comfort, most featuring private balconies and luxury amenities. Suites add extra space, butler-style service, and priority embarkation. On Le Ponant, cabins feel intimate, while Explorer and expedition ships offer refined design for longer voyages. Every space is crafted as a calm retreat between days of adventure.

Dining
Dining aboard Ponant celebrates French gastronomy and world flavours. Multi-course menus are paired with fine wines, while casual al fresco options offer relaxed alternatives. Regional dishes reflect destinations visited, and some sailings feature culinary workshops or tastings. Fresh ingredients and refined presentation ensure every meal feels authentic and indulgent.

Amenities
Ponant ships feature lounges, observation decks, pools, and libraries for relaxation. Explorer Class vessels introduce the Blue Eye Lounge, an underwater bar offering unique ocean views. Le Commandant Charcot adds heated pools and scientific facilities. Each ship blends innovation and style, offering elegant spaces that enhance every voyage.

Wellness
Ponant’s wellness philosophy blends relaxation and vitality. Sothys spas offer massages, facials, and rejuvenating treatments, while fitness centres, yoga, and meditation support well-being. Hot tubs and decks with sea views create perfect spaces to unwind. Selected sailings include holistic programmes to refresh body and mind.

Entertainment
Entertainment is intimate and enriching, with live music, film nights, and talks by historians and expedition leaders. Explorer Class ships feature the immersive Blue Eye Lounge. Enrichment sessions deepen understanding of destinations, ensuring evenings feel both relaxing and inspiring rather than theatrical.

Families
Ponant welcomes families on selected voyages, offering interconnecting suites and youth activities on holiday sailings. Older children enjoy Zodiac trips, wildlife watching, and cultural excursions. The small-ship atmosphere fosters a safe, friendly environment for shared discovery and meaningful family experiences.
Speak to a cruise expert today
Why choose us?
We take pride in our small, boutique set-up, which means you’ll deal with the same, friendly expert from start to finish.
Booking with us unlocks access to exclusive fares across the world’s finest cruise lines. As full ABTA and ATOL members and with a 4.9* Feefo rating, travel with complete peace of mind.
FAQs
Whether it’s life on board or daily excursions ashore, these FAQs are designed to guide you through the Ponant Cruises experience.
Ponant operates 11 active vessels, from the 64-guest yacht Le Ponant to the hybrid-powered icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot.
Ponant sails worldwide, with itineraries in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asia, South America, and extensive polar expeditions in Antarctica and the Arctic.
Cruise fares cover dining, beverages (excluding premium labels), WiFi, room service, and Zodiac excursions on expedition itineraries. Some voyages also include parkas.
Yes, most ships include a Sothys spa offering massages, facials, and relaxation spaces, as well as fitness suites with modern equipment.
Ponant stands out for its innovative Explorer Class ships, Blue Eye Lounge, French-inspired hospitality, and environmentally advanced icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot.
Yes, Ponant welcomes families with interconnecting cabins, youth activities on select itineraries, and excursions suitable for multi-generational travel.
Yes, Ponant partners with National Geographic to provide voyages featuring expert-led workshops, cultural enrichment, and immersive photography programmes.
Ponant maintains a relaxed, elegant dress code. Guests typically wear smart casual attire, with no requirement for formal evenings.

