WHY IT RATES: PONANT's style of small-ship luxury cruising enables guests to dock in less frequented and more remote corners of some of the world's most renowned cultural and historical regions. This summer, the cruise line will head to new ports-of-call and rollout fresh itineraries, as well as debut exclusive onboard programming developed in partnership with top experts. - Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse Associate Writer
PONANT, the leader in luxury expeditions, resumed operations on June 16, 2021, with more than 50 departures setting sail to Iceland, the Mediterranean and France this summer. Highlights include a new partnership with the Louvre, new itineraries and ports of call, and a stop at the brand's namesake islands, Ponant Islands. With a fleet of smaller-sized ships, PONANT can reach remote sites where other vessels are not permitted.
Mediterranean
From the Italian coast to the Greek islands, PONANT offers over 30 sailings in the Mediterranean between June and November 2021. A partnership with the Louvre will bring Paris to the sea with a sailing to discover the ancient sites of Greece and Istanbul during "The Cyclades and Ancient Treasures", sailing July 13-20, 2021. There will be visits to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Acropolis in Athens and the Mycenae ruins from 1200 BC. In collaboration with PONANT, onboard programming will be carefully designed with curators and department directors from the Louvre for guests to discover the ancient lands that have inspired the museum's collections.
A new 13-day sailing, 'Iconic Treasures of the Adriatic,' will also depart from Athens on August 21 exploring the coasts of Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, and Italy. Highlights will include the Bay of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a new port of call in Primosten, a small medieval fishing village home to one of the biggest statues of the Virgin Mary in the world; and the mountain island of Korcula and its medieval city, where Marco Polo was born.
Iceland
PONANT will have two PONANT EXPLORER ships-Le Dumont-D'Urville and Le Champlain-exploring Iceland's diverse landscapes this summer through September 2021. The eight-day 'Icelandic Mosaic' itinerary explores the western coast of the country with five ports of call, including Grimsey, the northernmost island, as well as Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Westman archipelago. During the sailing, passengers will also witness the polar wildlife of humpback whales, Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, and Icelandic horses. Extend the journey with an optional post-cruise excursion to witness The Golden Circle, the 190-mile driving loop from Reykjavik to the UNESCO World Heritage site Thingvellir National Park; the Geysir geothermal area, believed to have started erupting over 700 years ago and has since lent its name, geyser, to hot springs all over the world; and the Gullfoss, or Golden, Waterfall.
France
Returning to its roots, PONANT is offering 15 sailings along the French coastline this summer. Le Bellot, the fifth installment in the PONANT EXPLORER series, will sail roundtrip from Saint-Malo on eight-day itineraries exlporing the Breton Coast. Highlights include the brand's namesake islands, Ponant Islands, and a stop at the island of Houat, home to less than 200 inhabitants all year round. Other sailings include circumnavigating the island of Corsica with stops in the seaside resort of Saint-Laurent as well as Roccapina Beach with its granite lion, a rocky outcrop of pink granite naturally shaped into the form of a crouching lion through erosion.
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