French elegance at the edges of the earth. The only luxury line to reach the Geographic North Pole.
- Luxury Cruises
- Ponant
FRENCH LUXURY EXPEDITION CRUISING
Ponant
Founded in 1988 by French Merchant Navy officers, Ponant has spent nearly four decades taking guests to the places most ships will never reach — under the French flag, with French officers, French cuisine, and a distinctly French sensibility.
1988
SHIPS
12
SMALLEST
32 guests
LARGEST
270 guests
FLAG
French
KNOWN FOR
Expedition & cuisine
FOUNDED
1988
Nantes, France
SHIPS
6
Across four generations
SMALLEST SHIP
32
Le Ponant sailing yacht
LARGEST SHIP
270
Le Commandant Charcot
FLAG
French
Every ship, every voyage
OWNER
Groupe Artémis
Pinault family, since 2015
THE MEMORII PERSPECTIVE
What Ponant is, and what it includes
Ponant occupies a position in the luxury cruise market that no other line truly replicates. It is not the most all-inclusive option — shore excursions and gratuities are priced separately. It is not the biggest ships in the segment. What it is, is the most French: the most destination-led, the most expedition-focused, and the most consistently committed to taking guests where other luxury ships simply cannot go.
The fleet carries between 32 and 270 guests across twelve ships in four distinct generations. The Explorer-class ships — six vessels of 184 guests each — are the most widely sailed and carry the signature Blue Eye, an underwater lounge unique to Ponant that lets guests observe marine life from below the waterline through both cameras and direct viewports. The Boréal-class ships — four sister ships of up to 264 guests — are the vessels most commonly deployed to Antarctica and the Arctic.
Le Commandant Charcot stands apart from everything else in the luxury market. A hybrid LNG-powered icebreaker, she is the only ship of any kind to offer regular access to the Geographic North Pole as a commercial voyage. She is also the first ship at sea to operate a restaurant under the Alain Ducasse name. Polar voyages on Le Commandant Charcot are among the most sought-after expedition experiences available anywhere.
The onboard atmosphere is unmistakably French — gastronomic, intellectually curious, unhurried. Announcements and programming are bilingual in French and English. Cuisine is shaped by the French culinary tradition. House Champagne is poured throughout. It is a line where the destination and the table have equal weight.
IS PONANT RIGHT FOR YOU
The guests Ponant
is made for
Ponant is not the right answer for everyone. In our experience, the guests who love it most share a few things in common.
Guests who want genuine expedition experiences — Antarctica, the Arctic, the North Pole, remote archipelagos — without sacrificing cuisine, comfort, or elegance
Travellers drawn to the French cultural atmosphere at sea — Francophiles, gastronomes, and those who appreciate a quietly sophisticated European sensibility
Those who want small ship intimacy without compromise — from 32 guests on Le Ponant to 184 on the Explorer-class, every ship feels private and personal
Guests for whom the destination is the primary driver — Ponant reaches ports, passages, and polar regions that larger luxury ships cannot access
Bucket list travellers seeking the Geographic North Pole, emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica, or the Northwest Passage — Le Commandant Charcot is the only luxury vessel that makes these possible
Guests interested in French Polynesia — Ponant’s subsidiary Paul Gauguin Cruises offers the most culturally immersive programme in the South Pacific
Ponant is less suited to guests for whom the all-inclusive model matters most — shore excursions and gratuities are priced separately on Ponant, unlike Regent or Silversea. The line is also primarily French-speaking in atmosphere, which some guests find unfamiliar. Tell us where you want to go and we will tell you honestly whether Ponant is the right fit for your voyage.
WHAT DEFINES PONANT
Six things that make
Ponant, Ponant
The commitments and features that define the Ponant experience — verified from multiple sources including Wikipedia, The Points Guy, and Cruise Critic.
THE ONLY LUXURY ICEBREAKER
UNIQUE IN THE WORLD
Le Commandant Charcot — the only luxury icebreaker
No other ship in the world offers what Le Commandant Charcot offers: Geographic North Pole access as a commercial luxury voyage. Powered by LNG hybrid propulsion and built to Polar Class 2 specification, she can navigate ice conditions inaccessible to every other vessel in the luxury market. She has already become the first French ship to reach the Geographic North Pole.
North Pole voyages sell out well in advance. Contact your Memorii advisor to register interest early.
THE BLUE EYE
EXCLUSIVE TO PONANT
The Blue Eye — an underwater world
The Blue Eye is a multi-sensory underwater lounge found on all six Explorer-class ships. Below the waterline, guests can observe marine life directly through underwater viewports and via live camera feeds, while listening to the ocean through hydrophones. Nothing like it exists on any other cruise ship. On polar voyages, watching ice formations and wildlife from inside the hull is an experience without parallel.
Available on all six Explorer-class ships: Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont-d’Urville, Le Jacques-Cartier, Le Bellot.
ALAIN DUCASSE AT SEA
FIRST AT SEA
The first Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea
Le Commandant Charcot’s fine dining restaurant is the first at sea to operate under the Alain Ducasse name — one of the most celebrated culinary figures in the world. In a sector where food is often treated as a supporting act to the destination, this is a statement. French cuisine, French Champagne, and a kitchen shaped by one of the great French culinary institutions, in the most remote waters on earth.
Exclusive to Le Commandant Charcot. House Champagne is Veuve Clicquot throughout the fleet.
FRENCH FLAG — EVERY SHIP
UNIQUE TO THIS LINE
The only ultra-luxury line under the French flag
Every Ponant ship sails under the French flag with French officers — a distinction that is structural, not cosmetic. It shapes the crew culture, the culinary programme, the service philosophy, and the atmosphere on board. No other ultra-luxury cruise line makes this commitment. For guests who value the French sensibility in travel — the gastronomic rigour, the aesthetic confidence, the intellectual curiosity — Ponant is the only choice.
Bilingual in French and English throughout. Programming and lectures in both languages.
LE PONANT — THE ORIGINAL
32 GUESTS
Le Ponant — the original sailing yacht
Le Ponant is the ship that started it all in 1991 — a three-masted sailing yacht carrying just 32 guests across 16 cabins and suites. Completely revamped in 2021, she now offers the feel of a large private yacht with expanded deck spaces, refined interiors, and French fine cuisine from local producers paired with Veuve Clicquot Champagne. For guests who want the most intimate possible luxury sailing experience, there is nothing quite like her.
16 cabins, 32 guests. The most intimate vessel in the Ponant fleet by a significant margin.
DESTINATION RANGE
WIDEST IN THE CATEGORY
The widest destination range in ultra-luxury expedition
From the Geographic North Pole to French Polynesia, from the Kimberley coast of Australia to the Amazon River (via the 2025 acquisition of Aqua Expeditions), Ponant covers more of the world’s remote and extraordinary destinations than any other luxury expedition line. The fleet is designed specifically for access — small draught, Zodiac capability, and the freedom to anchor where larger ships cannot.
Ask your Memorii advisor which ship and class is right for your chosen destination.
PONANT IN IMAGES
Ponant
in images
DAILY LIFE ABOARD PONANT
Life aboard
Ponant
What Ponant includes on every voyage — dining, expedition programming, and the details that define the French experience at sea.
Dining & Cuisine
French cuisine is the soul of the Ponant experience. Two dining venues on each ship — a formal restaurant with table service and a casual poolside option — both included in the fare.
- All dining included — no surcharges on any venue
- French cuisine, French-trained chefs throughout
- Alain Ducasse restaurant on Le Commandant Charcot
- Veuve Clicquot Champagne as house Champagne fleet-wide
- All beverages included — wines, spirits, soft drinks, coffee, tea
- 24-hour room service included
Premium vintages and spirits above the house selection are priced separately.
Expedition Programme
Every Ponant voyage has an expert team on board — naturalists, historians, marine biologists, or geologists depending on the destination. Lectures are delivered in French and English.
- On-board expedition team on all polar and remote voyages
- Zodiac landings and guided excursions included on expedition itineraries
- Bilingual lectures and destination briefings
- Scientific research participation on Le Commandant Charcot
- National Geographic partnership — select itineraries
- Smithsonian Journeys — enrichment programmes on select sailings
Shore excursions on non-expedition itineraries are priced separately.
Wellness & Spa
Spa and wellness facilities across the fleet, with Le Commandant Charcot offering the most extensive programme — including an indoor resistance pool, outdoor pool, sauna, and snow room.
- Spa — massages and beauty treatments, priced separately
- Fitness facilities and wellness classes
- Heated seawater pool on most ships
- Indoor resistance pool, sauna, and snow room on Le Commandant Charcot
- Hammam on select ships
Spa appointments fill on popular sailings. We submit preferences before departure for every Memorii client.
The Blue Eye
Exclusive to Ponant’s six Explorer-class ships — an underwater lounge that brings guests below the waterline for a direct experience of the marine environment surrounding the ship.
- Underwater viewports — direct observation of marine life
- Hydrophone system — listen to the sounds of the ocean
- Live underwater camera feeds
- Ambient lighting and immersive multi-sensory environment
- Available on all six Explorer-class ships
The Blue Eye experience is included in the fare on all Explorer-class voyages.
Bars & Social Life
All beverages included throughout the ship and in your cabin. The atmosphere on board is quietly social — a mix of French and international guests who share a passion for exploration and good living.
- All beverages included — wines, champagne, spirits, soft drinks
- Veuve Clicquot as house Champagne
- Main lounge — afternoon tea, evening performances
- Panoramic lounge on Le Commandant Charcot
- Casual atmosphere — no formal dress code required
Evening gala dinners on select sailings. Smart casual is the expected evening standard.
Expedition Equipment
On polar and expedition voyages, all equipment needed for Zodiac landings and shore activities is provided on board and included in the fare.
- Zodiac fleet for landings and excursions on expedition voyages
- Parkas and expedition equipment provided on polar voyages
- Polarcirkel boats on Le Commandant Charcot
- Expert expedition staff on all polar sailings
- Medical staff on board all voyages
Zodiac landings and expedition excursions are included on polar itineraries. Ask your Memorii advisor to confirm what is included on your specific sailing.
THE PONANT FLEET
The Ponant
fleet
Twelve ships across four generations, from a 32-guest sailing yacht to the world’s only luxury icebreaker. Here is what each class delivers and our honest recommendation.
SAILING SHIPS
Le Ponant — Sailing Ships
THE ORIGINAL — THREE-MASTED SAILING YACHT
Propulsion
Hybrid — sail and electric
The ship that founded Ponant in 1991 and remains the most intimate vessel in the entire fleet. Following a $25 million refit in 2019–2020, Le Ponant now carries just 32 guests in 16 staterooms and suites with a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio. A Relais & Châteaux member — the first sailing yacht in the world to receive the designation. Cuisine by a Michelin-starred chef. Hybrid propulsion — sails under wind power when conditions allow, with guests receiving a fuel rebate credited to onboard accounts. Mediterranean in summer, Indian Ocean (Maldives and Seychelles) in winter.
SISTERSHIPS
Sisterships — Boréal Class
LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL, LE SOÉLAL, LE LYRIAL — 4 SHIPS
Restaurants
2 per ship
Four nearly identical sister ships built between 2010 and 2015 — the differences among them are primarily in the interior colour palette and design motif. Ice-strengthened hulls and Zodiac capacity make them the core polar fleet. Antarctica cruises are capped at 200 guests regardless of the 264-guest maximum capacity, resulting in exceptional space per guest on polar itineraries. Two restaurants, 24-hour room service, and the full Ponant all-inclusive fare on every voyage. Choose between the four ships based on itinerary, not vessel preference.
EXPLORERS
Explorers — Explorer Class
LE LAPÉROUSE, LE CHAMPLAIN, LE BOUGAINVILLE, LE DUMONT-D’URVILLE, LE BELLOT, LE JACQUES-CARTIER — 6 SHIPS
Named after six celebrated French explorers, this class was purpose-built for expedition travel at a luxury standard. Smaller and more nimble than the Sisterships, with shallower draught enabling access to more remote destinations. Every stateroom has a private balcony. The signature Blue Eye — a multi-sensory underwater lounge with two cetacean-shaped portholes, live underwater cameras, and hydrophones — is on every ship in this class. The three-level hydraulic marina platform enables kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling, and Zodiac landings. The recommended starting point for first-time Ponant guests.
ICEBREAKER
Icebreaker — Le Commandant Charcot
THE WORLD’S ONLY LUXURY HYBRID-ELECTRIC POLAR ICEBREAKER
Fine dining
Alain Ducasse restaurant — first at sea
Le Commandant Charcot is in a category of her own. The world’s first and only luxury hybrid-electric icebreaker, and the only commercial vessel capable of reaching the Geographic North Pole. Named for French polar scientist Jean-Baptiste Charcot. Facilities include the first Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea, a panoramic lounge, indoor resistance pool, snow room, sauna, and a staff-to-guest ratio approaching 1:1. North Pole voyages, deep Antarctica, and Northwest Passage itineraries. Sells out well in advance — contact your Memorii advisor to register interest early.
AQUA EXPEDITIONS
Aqua Expeditions
PONANT MAJORITY STAKE — AMAZON, GALAPAGOS & MEKONG
Guests
20 (Aqua Nera & Mekong) — 48 (Aqua Mare)
In 2025, Ponant acquired a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions, extending the portfolio to destinations unreachable by ocean-going ships. Aqua Nera operates on the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua Mare in the Galapagos, and Aqua Mekong across Cambodia and Vietnam. These are boutique expedition vessels carrying between 20 and 48 guests at a standard consistent with the Ponant philosophy. An extraordinary addition to the portfolio for guests whose bucket list includes river and island expeditions in the most remote ecosystems on earth.
PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES
Paul Gauguin Cruises
PONANT SUBSIDIARY — FRENCH POLYNESIA & SOUTH PACIFIC SPECIALIST
Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins — Polynesian cultural ambassadors
The longest-serving dedicated luxury vessel in the South Pacific. The Paul Gauguin sails year-round from Papeete, Tahiti, with a shallow draught enabling access inside coral reef systems unavailable to larger ships — including the famed private motu of Bora Bora. Les Gauguines and Les Gauguins are local Polynesian cultural ambassadors who sail on every voyage, providing language, music, dance, and cultural interpretation throughout. For guests whose destination is French Polynesia, this remains the most immersive and culturally authentic luxury vessel available.
THE FARE — COMPLETE CLARITY
What is in the fare
and what is not
Complete clarity before you book. Ponant’s fare model is different from Silversea or Regent — read carefully.
INCLUDED IN THE PONANT FARE
- All accommodation
- All dining across both onboard restaurants — no cover charges
- All beverages — wines, Champagne (Veuve Clicquot), spirits, soft drinks, coffee, tea
- Unlimited Wi-Fi
- Port taxes
- 24-hour room service
- Zodiac landings and expedition excursions on polar and expedition itineraries
- Expedition equipment and parkas on polar voyages
- The Blue Eye underwater lounge on Explorer-class ships
NOT INCLUDED — PRICED SEPARATELY
- Shore excursions on non-expedition itineraries
- Gratuities
- Spa treatments
- Premium wines and spirits above the house selection
- Flights and transfers
- Travel insurance
- Personal purchases and laundry
WHAT MEMORII CLIENTS RECEIVE ON TOP — PREFERRED PARTNER STATUS WITH PONANT
- Preferred advisor rates not available through Ponant direct or standard travel agents
- Complimentary onboard credits on select sailings
- Priority cabin upgrade consideration before departure
- Memorii welcome amenity arranged directly with the ship — waiting in your cabin on arrival
- Priority excursion and spa pre-booking from the earliest available window
*Benefits vary by sailing, cabin category, and availability. Confirmed in writing at time of booking.
Plan your Ponant voyage
with Memorii
We hold preferred partner status with Ponant and know the fleet, the ship generations, and which itineraries and vessels to recommend for which type of journey. Tell us where you want to go — whether that is Antarctica, the North Pole, French Polynesia, or the Mediterranean — and we will come back to you within 24 hours with the right ship and the right sailing.
- PRIVATE · COMPLIMENTARY · NO OBLIGATION · RESPONSE WITHIN 24 HOURS
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