Ponant: expedition and luxury cruises

Ponant is a French line offering exploration and luxury cruises on small ships carrying 12 to 264 passengers. It is known for its polar voyages, notably with Le Commandant Charcot, and for an “all inclusive” package: open bar, Wi-Fi and one activity at each port. Prices are much higher than those of the big lines, with 8- to 10-night cruises listed from about €5,400 per person on the Atlantic coasts.

This page reproduces the information Ponant publishes on its official site (ships, FAQ, group, itineraries), noted on 5 October 2026. We do not publish passenger reviews. Always check the terms of your cruise when you book.

About the cruise line

Ponant was founded in 1988. In 1991 the line launched Le Ponant, a three-masted sailing ship. In 2004 it joined CMA CGM and settled in Marseille. In 2015 it passed into the hands of Artémis, François Pinault’s family holding company. It bought Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019, then Aqua Expeditions joined it in 2025, the year Ponant became PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP. The group announces 19 ships.

Ponant presents itself as the world leader in upscale exploration cruising on ships carrying fewer than 500 passengers. Its offer mixes expeditions (Antarctica, the Arctic) with more classic cruises in the Mediterranean or along the Atlantic coast, often themed: music, gastronomy, culture.

Ship or series	Type	Max. passengers	Cabins and suites
Le Commandant Charcot	High-level polar exploration ship, electric hybrid and LNG	245	123
Le Ponant	Three-masted sailing ship (1991)	32	16
Spirit of Ponant	Maxi-catamaran (2024)	12	6
Sisterships: Le Boréal (2010), L’Austral (2011), Le Soléal	Cruise and expedition ships	264	132
Le Lyrial (last of the Sisterships)	Cruise and expedition ship	245	122
Ponant Explorers: Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont d’Urville, Le Bellot, Le Jacques Cartier	Expedition yachts	184	92
Paul Gauguin (Paul Gauguin Cruises)	Ship specialising in the South Pacific and Polynesia	330	165

Le Commandant Charcot is presented as the first high-level polar exploration ship that is electric hybrid and powered by liquefied natural gas. In 2021 she became the first French ship to reach the geographic North Pole. She also carries two laboratories and more than 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) dedicated to science. On most of the other ships, cabins measure 18 to 21 m² (194 to 226 sq ft) and the largest suites exceed 40 m² (430 sq ft).

Paul Gauguin holds a place apart in the group: she belongs to the Paul Gauguin Cruises brand, a South Pacific specialist, with an international and more relaxed atmosphere. She has a marina and a programme for 6- to 15-year-olds, Moana Explorer, run with the Te mana o te moana foundation. The one notable difference in the package: the activity offered at each port does not apply to her cruises.

Ponant cruises: what the package includes

According to the line’s FAQ, “all inclusive” covers:

• cabin accommodation and full board;
• the open bar: mineral waters, soft drinks, wines, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee and tea, served at any hour (some premium drinks on the menu remain charged);
• Wi-Fi around the clock, with a speed that may be reduced or interrupted depending on the area;
• one activity at each port, chosen from a selection (except on Paul Gauguin);
• access to all common areas.

To budget separately: flights and transfers (Ponant offers air packages on some cruises), optional paid excursions, the spa, and gratuities for the crew. The latter are left to passengers’ discretion; Ponant gives, for information, an average of €10 to €12 per day per passenger. These gratuities reward a crew with very varied jobs: our page on working on a cruise ship details contracts and recruitment.

On a polar expedition, a team of about ten naturalist guides and experts accompanies each cruise, and twice that on Le Commandant Charcot. They give lectures and supervise the Zodiac outings. A polar parka is provided and boots are lent.

Departure ports in France

Unlike MSC or Costa, Ponant has no regular weekly departures from a single port. Cruises start where the itinerary begins, often abroad, with an air package offered. Departures from France exist depending on the season:

• Bordeaux: “Atlantic coasts” cruises to Lisbon and the Iberian Peninsula, or arrivals from Glasgow (2027 programme);
• Honfleur: arrival of some cruises from Lisbon;
• Nice and Marseille: they are among the ports served by Ponant’s Mediterranean cruises; check on each itinerary whether it is an embarkation port or a port of call.

Prices noted on 5 October 2026 on the “Atlantic coasts” page: from €5,440 to €8,070 per person for 8- to 10-night cruises, depending on the ship, the date and the PONANT Bonus discount in force. These fares are per person based on double occupancy.

Booking: PONANT Bonus and solo travellers

Ponant applies the PONANT Bonus, a discount of up to 30% that shrinks as the cruise fills up: booking early is therefore better value. Fares are the same direct and through an agency, according to the line. For solo travellers, a single supplement applies, but it is waived on a selection of departures.

Excursions, included or paid, must be pre-booked, from at least 60 days before departure and up to 7 days before embarkation.

Embarkation, ports of call and life on board

Embarkation: the ship leaves from the port stated for the first day of the itinerary, and welcome on board usually starts from 4 pm local time. The travel booklet, sent a few weeks before departure, confirms the time and the port. Bring valid ID and the visas needed for the countries visited: it is kept by the ship during the cruise for the formalities at each port, and remains available at reception if needed.

Ports of call: in small ports without infrastructure, the ship anchors offshore and passengers land by tender or launch, in groups. Only one excursion can be pre-booked per day in port; cancellation remains possible up to 48 hours before the excursion leaves. Excursions offered by the ship guarantee your return on time: if you go alone, watch the time, as the ship does not wait for latecomers.

On board: French gastronomy is central, with several restaurants and lounge bars. The spa works with Sothys and Davines (treatments charged). In the evening, dress is relaxed and elegant, with cocktail attire for gala evenings and white, or black and white, for the officers’ evening. On an expedition cruise, bring mainly practical clothes, warm layers and comfortable shoes.

Who is it for?

• Travellers drawn to the polar regions: this is the heart of the offer, with naturalist guidance.
• French speakers: French is one of the two languages on board, with English.
• Travellers who avoid big ships: at most 264 passengers (except Paul Gauguin), ports of call in small harbours.
• Families: possible but limited. Children are accepted from the age of one on classic cruises, with a limited number of children on board; there is not the entertainment offer of a big ship.
• People with reduced mobility: only the Sisterships, the Ponant Explorers, Paul Gauguin and Le Commandant Charcot are designed to accommodate them, with a few adapted cabins.

Strengths and points to watch

Strengths: small ships that reach sites the big ships cannot; a truly “all inclusive” package (drinks, Wi-Fi, one activity per port); strong expedition teams; French-speaking crew and staff on board.

Points to watch: the price, which is in a different league from the big lines; the cost of flights to often distant embarkation ports, especially for the polar regions; on expeditions, the programme depends on ice and weather, and not every activity can be guaranteed. The dress code stays smart in the evening (cocktail attire for gala evenings; shorts not allowed in the evening in the fine-dining restaurants).

Ponant or Club Med 2?

Both rely on a small number of passengers and an included package. Club Med 2, a five-masted sailing ship with 164 cabins, stays focused on the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter, with water activities and a club atmosphere; it also offers mini-cruises from Nice. Ponant covers many more destinations, including the polar regions, with expedition staff. To compare with the other lines, see our comparison of cruise lines and our guide to choosing a cruise.

Also read: our guide to Costa Cruises, the Norway cruise and the Mediterranean cruise.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• PONANT, official site ponant.com: ship sheets, frequently asked questions (prices, all inclusive, excursions, expeditions, children, accessibility, languages, tips, dress code), PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP page (history), “Atlantic coasts” and “Mediterranean” pages. Information noted on 5 October 2026
• Club Med, official site clubmed.fr: “Club Med 2 cruises” page (for the comparison)
• Our methodology

Updated October 2026.