by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 1:45 PM ET, Tue July 14, 2026
PONANT EXPLORATIONS and Smithsonian Journeys are offering 15 additional departures in 2028, with small-ship cruises taking travelers to destinations throughout the Mediterranean, the Canadian Maritimes, the Caribbean, Asia, the Arctic and beyond. With the newly announced offerings, the two brands are offering a total of 36 voyages in 2028.
Each voyage has two Smithsonian Journeys experts on board to share meaningful context about the places, people and landscapes. They also include shore excursions or activities in every port of call, as well as seamless airport transfers.
“With the expansion of our 2028 small-ship cruise program, we are pleased to offer travelers an even broader range of thoughtfully curated journeys that reflect the Smithsonian’s commitment to discovery, learning and cultural understanding,” says Walter Littlejohn III, senior vice president of Smithsonian Journeys. “From new itineraries in Costa Rica and the Adriatic to our returning favorites, each voyage is designed to bring guests closer to the world’s most compelling destinations through expert insight, meaningful experiences and the highest standards of enrichment at sea.”
The brands are debuting two brand-new itineraries in 2028: a Costa Rica voyage showcasing the rich biodiversity and rainforests of the Pacific Coast, and an Adriatic journey exploring the cultural and historic treasures of eastern Italy and Sicily.
“Travel, when guided by genuine expertise and sincere curiosity, has the power to change how we see the world,” says Samuel Chamberlain, chief executive officer of the Americas for PONANT EXPLORATIONS. “Since 2022, our alliance with Smithsonian Journeys has provided travelers with an ever-richer lens through which to experience destinations that have long held intrigue and fascination. The expert insight shared on these voyages by some of the most astute minds in history, culture and the natural world foster real understanding and the kind of connection to destinations that endure long after the voyage ends.”
The 2028 offerings include:
Costa Rica by Sea: Wildlife and Rainforests of the Pacific Coast
Departing: February 16, 2028 from Puntarenas, Costa Rica to Puntarenas, Costa Rica | Le Bougainville
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Dennis Wille Sáenz, naturalist & Arianna Soldati, volcanologist
Costa Rica has set a global standard for the preservation of its ecological wonders, and this seven-night journey explores the environmental richness and cultural heritage along its Pacific Coast. From the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth, to the rainforest-meets-beach spectacle of Manuel Antonio National Park, guests explore protected parks and wildlife refuges alive with scarlet macaws, sloths, squirrel monkeys, and an extraordinary profusion of birdlife.
Sailing the Adriatic: Treasures of Eastern Italy and Sicily
Departing: September 27, 2028 from Venice, Italy to Valletta, Malta | Le Dumont d’Urville
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Ross King, art historian & Allen Glazner, geologist
This eight-night itinerary traces the Adriatic’s lesser-explored western shores, where every port holds a UNESCO World Heritage site, and every city carries the imprint of civilizations that rose and fell across millennia. Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna, Renaissance masterworks in Urbino, the trulli houses of Alberobello, and Baroque architecture and Greek theaters in Sicily come together to compose a culturally enriching experience.
8-Night Treasures of Japan and South Korea by Sea
Departing: April 2, 2028 from Busan, South Korea to Osaka, Japan | Le Soléal
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Jonathan Hall, cultural historian & Kaitlyn Ugoretz, East Asian cultural studies specialist
Highlights: Slip away from Busan’s harbor and set a course for Japan to explore centuries-old temples, castles built of pine, and samurai streets that reveal a nation shaped by tradition and craft. Delve deep into the stories behind iconic sites, from Hagi’s preserved heritage and Beppu’s mineral-rich hot springs to Miyajima’s floating torii gate and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial.
7-Night Mediterranean Island Voyage: Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba
Departing: May 4, 2028 from Valletta, Malta to Nice, France | L’Austral
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Wayne Ranney, geologist & Pedar Foss, classicist
Departing: May 14, 2028 from Valletta, Malta to Nice, France | Le Dumont d’Urville
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Allison Mickel, anthropologist & Jennifer Eremeeva, writer & historian
Highlights: Four islands, thirty centuries of Mediterranean history. From the Greek theaters of Syracuse and Taormina to Cagliari's Phoenician-Roman ruins, the cliff-top medieval lanes of Bonifacio, and Napoleon's island exile on Elba, this sailing moves through the heart of the Mediterranean with elegance and unhurried depth.
7-Night Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice
Departing: June 1, 2028 from Reykjavik, Iceland to Reykjavik, Iceland | Le Bellot
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Stephanie Sykora, geologist & Victoria Whitworth, author & cultural historian
Highlights: Iceland’s wild beauty unfolds along the country’s rugged west coast, where glaciers, fjords, and volcanoes give way to a kaleidoscope of landscapes at the edge of the Arctic. Staggering wildlife captivates with whale watching near Grundarfjördur and seabird colonies in Heimaey and Grímsey, while the geothermal wonders of Lake Myvatn and Reykjavik’s Golden Circle enchant with waterfalls and valleys.
8-Night Cruising the Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea
Departing: June 22, 2028 from Copenhagen, Denmark to Helsinki, Finland | Le Lapérouse
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Elisabeth Ida Ward, cultural heritage specialist & Ralph DeFalco, historian
Departing: July 12, 2028 from Copenhagen, Denmark to Helsinki, Finland | Le Lapérouse
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Hugh Neighbour, foreign affairs specialist & former diplomat and Glenn Kranking, Scandinavian studies professor
Highlights: Trace centuries of trade and culture along the shores that shaped Northern Europe, from Copenhagen’s royal palaces and Visby’s medieval heritage to Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and Helsinki’s Art Nouveau charm. In Gdansk, an exclusive presentation with former Polish President and Nobel laureate Lech Wałęsa offers a rare and personal perspective on history.
7-Night Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean
Departing: June 24, 2028 from Athens, Greece to Athens, Greece | Le Dumont d’Urville
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Joanne Murphy, archaeologist & classicist Stephanie Larson
Departing: September 20, 2028 from Athens, Greece to Athens, Greece | Le Champlain
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: David Guinee, classicist & Aneta Georgievska-Shine, art historian
Highlights: Navigate Patmos, Amorgos, Santorini, Delos, Mykonos —the heart of the Aegean—at a pace that honors both landscape and mythology. The sacred ruins of Delos, Santorini's ancient caldera, and the timeless traditions of Amorgos offer experiences as resonant as any in the Mediterranean world.
12-Night Fall Foliage on the St. Lawrence: Québec to the Canadian Maritimes
Departing: October 1, 2028 from Toronto, Canada to Boston, United States | Le Bellot
Smithsonian Journeys Experts: Keith Edgerton, environmental historian & Maria Banks, geologist
Highlights: Sail through autumn’s brilliance along the rock-bound coasts of eastern Canada and New England to see soaring cliffs and idyllic villages that have captivated travelers for over a century. The voyage weaves through cosmopolitan Montreal, enchanting Quebec City, and the whale-rich waters of Tadoussac. Explore Charlottetown’s storied past, the UNESCO splendor of Lunenburg, and the seafaring traditions of Portland, Maine.
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