Amazing trips with French flair.
That could be the tagline for Ponant Explorations, the small-ship cruise specialist known for upscale voyages to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path places.
Founded by a group of French merchant mariners in 1988 with a single small sailing vessel, Ponant has grown into one of the world leaders in what is known as expedition cruising — cruising to remote, hard-to-reach destinations on hardy "expedition ships" that carry their own landing craft. But it has done it in its own distinctive Ponant way.
Based in France since its start and long popular among French-speaking passengers, Ponant has notably always offered voyages with a uniquely French ambience.
From the elegantly presented French cuisine you'll encounter on board to the predominance of Francophone officers in key roles, you'll know you're on a French vessel when sailing with Ponant.
The Ponant icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot in the Arctic. OLIVIER BLAUD/PONANTPonant ships, notably, operate as dual-lingual vessels — everything from announcements to off-the-ship tours are conducted both in French and English — and you're as likely to be greeted with a "bonjour" at the dining room in the morning as a "good morning" from staff members who are as likely to come from France as anywhere else.
Your fellow passengers are as likely to be speaking French as English, too.
In short, traveling on one of Ponant's upscale ships is something akin to staying at a luxury boutique hotel in France — just one that happens to float. You're getting a little taste of France when you're on a Ponant sailing in addition to a taste of whatever destination you are visiting.
The term "boutique hotel," meanwhile, is really the way to look at what you're getting when you book a Ponant ship. Ponant's original vessel, Le Ponant, carried just 32 passengers, an incredibly small number for a cruise vessel, and the line — more than almost any other — has been steadfast in not going big with its ships. Most of the 13 vessels currently in its fleet have just 100 or so cabins.
Ponant Explorations at a glance<strong>Year founded</strong>1988<strong>Headquarters</strong>Marseille, France<strong>Fleet size</strong>13 ships<strong>Passenger capacity, per ship</strong>32 to 264 passengers<strong>Cost to sail</strong>$400 to $3,500 per person, per night<strong>Most iconic ship</strong>Le Commandant Charcot, the world's only passenger vessel icebreakerAs Ponant executives are fond of saying, they are "ships on a human scale" — offering a yacht-like intimacy for the limited number of passengers on any given sailing and having the ability to dock in truly special places that bigger ships can't access.
Along with such expedition cruising pioneers as Lindblad Expeditions, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and HX Expeditions, Ponant has been at the forefront of opening up some of the most remote parts of the Arctic and Antarctica to tourism, along with little-visited parts of warmer destinations such as the most remote islands of the South Pacific and Western Australia's Kimberley region.
But in recent years, it has gone even further with the debut of the world's first luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot — the first luxury cruise vessel capable of traveling all the way to the North Pole. Here's what else you need to know about Ponant and its ships.
Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
3 things TPG loves about Ponant- Its array of rare itineraries, including voyages to the North Pole
- The French flair of its ships
- The sleek and modern design of its vessels
What we could do without
- The high cost of some add-on tours
Among cruise lines that focus on upscale trips, Ponant has one of the simpler fleets.
All but three of the line's 13 vessels fall into one of just two groups: The Sisterships and the Explorer-class ships.
Both of these groups are made up of small, upscale vessels constructed around the same time to the same basic design. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.
In addition, Ponant operates two small sailing ships (with a third on the way) that together make up a third set of vessels as well as a luxury icebreaker that is in a class all its own — the latter specifically built for the most adventurous trips to the world's polar regions.
Ponant's six Explorer-class ships are intimate vessels with just 92 cabins a piece. NICK RAINS/PONANTLike other brands focused on upscale cruises, Ponant operates ships that are far smaller and more intimate than the giant floating megaresorts operated by the likes of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line. At 10,944 gross tons, even the biggest Ponant Explorer ships are over 20 times smaller than the biggest Royal Caribbean ships, for instance.
With the exception of the line's two sailing vessels (Le Ponant and Spirit of Ponant), the line's ships are designed to carry just 184 to 264 passengers apiece. The sailing ships are even more intimate, carrying just 32 passengers and 12 passengers, respectively.
Still, while the ships are smaller than what you'll find at a mass-market line, they're not cramped. Indeed, the line's new Explorer-class vessels, in particular, are notably spacious when measured by their space-per-passenger ratio. It's significantly higher than what you'll find on many mass-market ships. These vessels also operate with a higher ratio of staff members to passengers than mass-market ships.
Ponant's four Sisterships are built extra tough to sail in polar regions. NATHALIE MICHEL/PONANTBoth the space-per-passenger ratio and the staff-to-passenger ratio are measurements used as shorthand for the luxury level of a vessel.
Related: The best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity
In general, Ponant ships are elegant and refined, often with French touches that reflect the line's French roots.
The line's icebreaker, the 245-passenger Le Commandant Charcot, is particularly luxurious, with a restaurant designed by the famed French chef Alain Ducasse, an elegant spa and high-end cabins and suites.
Ponant's original vessel, Le Ponant, is still in operation. FRANCOIS LEFEBVRE/PONANTLe Commandant Charcot is also, quite simply, the toughest passenger ship ever built for expedition cruising — the type of cruising that involves traveling to the most remote and hard-to-reach places in the world.
Related: TPG's ultimate guide to expedition cruising
A full-blown icebreaker of the sort that until recently only governments operated, it was built specifically to cut through the thick multiyear ice that is found across parts of the polar ice cap, allowing it to travel all the way to the North Pole.
Note that, as part of its parent company (the Ponant Explorations Group), Ponant Explorations is also tied to Paul Gauguin Cruises, a single-ship brand focused on French Polynesia sailings. In addition, as of 2025, it's a sister brand to destination-focused small-vessel brand Aqua Expeditions.
Destinations and itinerariesLooking to get off the beaten path on your next cruise vacation? Ponant could be your line.
The expedition cruise specialist offers one of the most diverse arrays of itineraries in the cruise business. Its 13 small vessels operate in every corner of the world including some of the most remote and hard-to-reach places.
With some of the world's toughest polar-rated expedition ships, including the only cruise vessel capable of reaching the North Pole, Ponant is a leader in voyages to Antarctica and the Arctic — arguably the world's two most difficult-to-access destinations.
The Maldives is among the warm-weather destinations visited regularly by Ponant ships. OLIVIER ANRIGO/PONANTBut it's also known for one of the most diverse arrays of exotic voyages across remote parts of Oceania and the Pacific Islands and around little-visited parts of Africa, the Middle East and archipelagos in the Indian Ocean.
The line offers trips to more traditional cruise destinations, too, such as the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, albeit typically with a focus on the quieter corners of such places.
It is a mix of polar, tropical and subtropical voyages, all on relatively upscale expedition vessels or small yachts, that is rare in the cruise world.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Ponant ship
Who sails PonantPonant often draws large numbers of French-speaking passengers — no doubt due to its status as the only major France-based cruise line operating ocean cruises. Its guests typically include passengers from France, Belgium, Switzerland and other French-speaking countries. In recent years, however, the line has been drawing growing numbers of English-speaking passengers, too, and its sailings can have a notably international flavor when it comes to the mix of clientele.
On a recent Ponant sailing that I was on in Canada, for instance, the nearly 100 passengers on board came from 14 different countries, including France, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and China. French-speaking passengers were in the majority, but only by a tad. I've also sailed on Ponant ships that were almost entirely filled with French-speaking passengers and others where French-speaking passengers were in the minority. It often depends on the itinerary.
What passengers on Ponant ships have in common is that they generally are well-heeled. These aren't inexpensive vessels Passengers also tend to be on the older side. The company's core market is the 50-plus crowd, as that's the demographic that has the money and time for the brand's high-end sailings that are often on the long side. But Ponant also draws some younger travelers, too.
In general, you'll find a lot of couples on Ponant ships and some solo travelers. You'll also find the occasional multigenerational group — a retired couple traveling with their working-age adult children, for instance. What you won't find is a huge number of children.
Cabins and suitesWhat are the cabins on Ponant ships like? In a word, sophisticated.
Among brands known for expedition-style voyages, Ponant offers some of the most stylish and comfortable cabins you'll find.
In general, Ponant cabins are sleek and contemporary, with a generous amount of space. In contrast to what you'll find on many cruise ships, they also all have windows looking out over the ocean. Unlike on the vessels operated by some cruise brands, there are no windowless "inside" cabins on Ponant ships.
Nearly every cabin and suite on every Ponant ship also comes with a balcony. This isn't always the case with small cruise ships and expedition ships. The line's seven newest ships are all-balcony vessels.
In short, Ponant vessels are a good choice if you're looking for a ship that can take you to the most remote parts of the world in style.
A suite on Ponant's Le Champlain. FRANCOIS LEFEBVRE/PONANTPonant's entire fleet of 13 vessels has been designed to feel intimate and sophisticated, with even the biggest of its ships housing just 132 cabins. Six of the line's newest ships, the Explorer-class vessels, have just 92 cabins apiece.
That's far fewer cabins than you'll find on most upscale ships. Most of the ships operated by luxury line Seabourn, for instance, have 226 to 302 cabins.
Related: The ultimate guide to Ponant cabins and suites
From an experiential point of view, this is wonderful news, of course — who doesn't love a more intimate vacation experience away from the crowds? But it also means that there's limited cabin inventory for any particular sailing.
So if you find a Ponant sailing you like, you shouldn't wait too long to book a cabin on it.
Restaurants and diningAs is typical for small ships, Ponant vessels generally have just two main eateries: a formal restaurant with table service in an interior area and a more casual buffet eatery around the pool area.
On each of the line's six new Explorer-class ships, for instance, passengers split their time between the main Le Nautilus restaurant, which serves French and European cuisine, and the more casual Le Nemo, a poolside venue.
Each of the line's four Sisterships also has two main outlets for dining: an elegant main dining room that can seat every passenger on the vessel at once if need be and a more casual buffet that offers both indoor and outdoor seating around the pool.
The Nuna restaurant on Le Commandant Charcot. GILLES TRILLARD/PONANTPonant's most luxurious vessel, the icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, also offers a choice of two main restaurants, with one being a very high-end main dining room (Nuna) with a menu designed by Alain Ducasse, the famed French chef.
As I've personally experienced during Le Commandant Charcot sailings to the North Pole and icebound parts of Canada, Nuna is hands-down one of the best restaurants at sea. Meals at Nuna are included in the cruise fare, and you can dine there as many nights as you like — a major perk of booking this vessel, given the sky-high cost of dining at Ducasse restaurants on land.
In most cases, the casual buffet eateries have both indoor and outdoor seating areas, and they often offer a more elevated dining experience in the evenings.
The small restaurant on Le Ponant. TAMAR SARKISSIAN/PONANTAmong other dining options, you'll also usually find a small continental breakfast (think pastries, fruit and yogurt) laid out for early and late risers in one of the lounges on each of these ships. These lounges will hold an afternoon tea with cookies and finger sandwiches on most days, too.
In addition, room service is available around the clock on most Ponant ships.
The above applies to Ponant's 11 biggest vessels. For the two small sailing ships, the dining options are much more limited, though still upscale.
Dining on Le Ponant, the ship's main sailing vessel, takes place in the stylish Le Diamant restaurant, which offers fine cuisine made with local products served with Veuve Clicquot Champagne and wines from artisanal producers in the regions the vessel visits.
Entertainment and activitiesUnlike the big ships operated by mass-market cruise lines, Ponant vessels aren't serving up a nonstop stream of entertainment and activities during the day to keep you busy. That's not what these trips are all about.
On the line's sailings to traditional destinations such as the Mediterranean, most passengers are off the ship touring during the day, and it's relatively quiet on board. On the line's expedition-style voyages to such places as Antarctica, daytime brings landings by Zodiac for exploring, sprinkled with the occasional onboard lecture about the destination.
That mostly leaves the evenings for more traditional entertainment, which on Ponant ships might mean a musical duo performing in the background in a lounge or, occasionally, a more formal musical performance in the ship's theater.
Theaters, lounges and shows
Each of the line's bigger ships (all but the two sailing vessels) has a small theater that is home to musical performances, lectures, movie screenings and, during expedition cruises, recaps of the day's adventures.
All of these vessels also have a main lounge and bar where you'll find live music at night — a singer, maybe, or a musical duo. They also have secondary, often less-visited, lounges at their tops overlooking the bow that offer live music at night.
The main lounge on Le Commandant Charcot. GILLES TRILLARD/PONANTDuring the day, the main lounges are home to occasional activities that range from dance lessons to trivia contests.
In addition, Ponant's six Explorer-class ships offer what are surely the most unusual lounges ever found at sea. Dubbed Blue Eye, they are curvy spaces below the waterline with oversized viewing portals that let you gaze into the deep blue sea. In each case, they are fully immersive experiences, with hull-mounted hydrophones pumping in the sound of the surrounding ocean.
The pool deck and other venues
The line's six new Explorer-class ships, which were specifically designed to travel to tropical and subtropical destinations, have the most outdoor lounge spaces, including pool areas and innovative hydraulic marinas at the back that allow for watery playtime (kayaks and paddleboards are available). There are also outdoor pools and lounge space on the four Sisterships.
Le Commandant Charcot, the line's icebreaker, has a spectacular curving "blue lagoon" pool at its back that's heated as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit when the ship is in cold-weather areas (which is most of the time). Just be sure to bring your robe for the freezing dash back inside.
The outdoor pool on Le Jacques Cartier, an Explorer-class ship. MIKE LOUAGIE/PONANTIn addition, Le Commandant Charcot has a serene indoor pool area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea and a bar serving up made-to-order smoothies and fresh juices. The pool here is filled with seawater pumped in from the sea and heated with the ship's energy-conserving heating system.
Other interior spaces that are part of the ships include small spas with treatment rooms, saunas and other therapeutic features. On Le Commandant Charcot, this includes a snow room designed to pair with the adjacent sauna for hot-and-cold therapy. The sauna even has a glass wall overlooking the ocean.
You'll also find fitness rooms on each of the 11 biggest ships, and on most days, fitness and wellness classes including yoga held somewhere on board (listed each day in the daily program).
Le Commandant Charcot has an indoor pool and lounge area overlooking the sea. GILLES TRILLARD/PONANTThe line's two sailing vessels offer fewer entertainment and activity options, as you might expect given their small size. On Le Ponant, the line's main sailing vessel, public areas include an interior lounge and bar, an exterior bar and sundeck, a small wellness area, and a retractable marina for swimming and other aquatic fun. Related to the latter, Le Ponant sails with all sorts of toys for passenger use, from kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to scuba diving equipment and even fishing poles.
Related: The cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea
Children's programPonant ships generally don't draw many children, but children are welcome, with a few age-related caveats. Children under the age of 1 are not allowed on Ponant vessels, and the number of children between the ages of 1 and 6 allowed on classic sailings (those that don't involve expedition-style landings) is limited to five per voyage.
For expedition cruises, the age cut-off is stricter, with children under the age of 6 not allowed (for Le Commandant Charcot, the cut-off age is 8). Children who do come on such sailings must be able to embark and disembark the vessel via inflatable Zodiac boats, be sufficiently tall to sit on the inflatable sides of such boats, and understand orders given by the people in charge of such boats.
On select sailings each year, the line offers a kids club program with activities that are open to children over the age of 4.
What to know before you goRequired documents
Ponant operates international itineraries where a passport is required. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of the voyage's end. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as