Cruise & Cruise Line

Smithsonian Journeys, Ponant Unveil 2025 Cruise Line-Up

Image: The view from Ponant's ship Le Champlain (Photo Credit: Ponant/Mike Louagie)
Image: The view from Ponant's ship Le Champlain (Photo Credit: Ponant/Mike Louagie)
Sarah Kuta
by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 7:40 PM ET, Thu February 22, 2024

Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant will take travelers to Tunisia, the Canary Islands, Mallorca and other awe-inspiring destinations next year.

The two companies unveiled the full lineup of their co-branded sailings for 2025. They are teaming up to offer 30 itineraries—the most they’ve ever offered in one year—that will visit ports all over the world.

Smithsonian Journeys, which is the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, is in its fourth year of partnering with Ponant. Their trips highlight the Smithsonian Institution’s long history as the world’s largest museum, education and research complex. 

 

Guests who book one of the upcoming trips will be able to engage with an array of Smithsonian Journeys experts specializing in everything from history to archaeology to geology. For example, on an 8-day cruise around the Greek Isles, they’ll be able to learn from Sanjaya Thakur, an expert in Greek and Roman history at Colorado College.

Several new itineraries are being offered next year. Highlights include a 14-day sailing aboard Ponant’s ship Le Bellot from Lisbon to the Canary Islands, with stops in Cadiz, Spain; Tangier, Morocco; and Funchal, Portugal, to name a few. Allen Fromherz, a professor of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern history at Georgia State University, will join that sailing, which is scheduled for October 26-November 8.

Another new itinerary will whisk travelers around the Mediterranean onboard L’Austral. The 8-day sailing, slated for October 3-10, will visit destinations in Sicily, Sardinia and Mallorca. And on a newly enhanced itinerary aboard Le Bougainville, travelers can circumnavigate Sicily—with a brief sojourn to Tunis, Tunisia.

Other 2025 itineraries include a 7-night voyage from Panama to Costa Rica, a 9-day exploration of Japan and a 12-day adventure to Antarctica.  


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Sarah Kuta

Sarah Kuta

Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. Her work has appeared in Travel+Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, AFAR, Food&Wine, Smithsonian magazine, National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Robb Report, the Toronto Star, the Denver Post and many other publications. Sarah has a degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She can be reached at [email protected]  You can follow her on social media https://www.instagram.com/kutasarah/ and https://twitter.com/SarahKuta

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Event
Selling More with TAP: Unlock the Value of Portugal StopoverMonday, November 9, 2026, 2:00PM EasternJoin TAP Air Portugal and Visit Portugal for an exclusive webinar dedicated to TAP's Portugal Stopover...
Upcoming Webinar
Wildlife, Culture & Warm-Weather AdventureTuesday, November 10, 2026, 2:00pm EasternFrom extraordinary wildlife encounters to vibrant cultures and breathtaking landscapes, discover how...
Upcoming Webinar
Black Friday Is Just the Beginning with ALG Vacations®Wednesday, November 11, 2026 2:00pm EasternJoin ALG Vacations® on November 11 for a special webinar featuring Jacki Marks, Jim Tedesco, and Ben...
Upcoming Event
Selling More with TAP: Unlock the Value of Portugal StopoverMonday, November 9, 2026, 2:00PM EasternJoin TAP Air Portugal and Visit Portugal for an exclusive webinar dedicated to TAP's Portugal Stopover...
Upcoming Webinar
Wildlife, Culture & Warm-Weather AdventureTuesday, November 10, 2026, 2:00pm EasternFrom extraordinary wildlife encounters to vibrant cultures and breathtaking landscapes, discover how...
Upcoming Webinar
Black Friday Is Just the Beginning with ALG Vacations®Wednesday, November 11, 2026 2:00pm EasternJoin ALG Vacations® on November 11 for a special webinar featuring Jacki Marks, Jim Tedesco, and Ben...