Ocean cruises

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. This 7-night voyage along the Eastern Seaboard, from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Baltimore, Maryland, is designed to commemorate this milestone with carefully curated activities both aboard ship and ashore. These experiences will highlight the nation’s history from the colonial and revolutionary periods, through the Civil War, and into the present day, always recognizing the contributions of the diverse peoples who have shaped it. To add profound depth and resonance to this program, two very special Guests of Honor will accompany our program to provide talks and invaluable insights aboard: Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, renowned global humanitarians. We’ll also be joined by former diplomat Hugh Neighbour to further enhance your journey with lectures and discussions on board.

Leaving Halifax, your first day is spent sailing along the rugged coastline of Nova Scotia and across the Gulf of Maine to dock in historic Boston Harbor early the following morning.  While in Boston, you will have a choice of several walking tours: one that celebrates Boston's central role in colonial and revolutionary times by visiting the historic sites along its famous Freedom Trail; one that traces the contributions and stories of women throughout Boston’s history, another that explores the culinary specialties of Boston’s North End; and one that takes you across the Charles River to Cambridge and Harvard Yard before returning to Boston for a tour of historic Copley Square, including the Boston Public Library, the first free municipal library in the United States.

Call next in Newport, Rhode Island, once a favorite summer resort for the railroad and industrial tycoons of the Gilded Age. Tour the opulent 'cottages' of families like the Vanderbilts and enjoy a stroll along the stunningly beautiful Cliff Walk. Or, celebrate Newport's storied history as the 'world capital of sailing' and home of the America's Cup on a cruise aboard a 12 Meter Yacht. Alternatively, set off on an African American History tour and trace the rich Black history of Newport, dating back to the city’s founding, through the Gilded Age, to present day.

Sail into New York Harbor and past the emblematic Statue of Liberty. During your full day in the city, you may choose to discover one of its most celebrated landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as other notable structures on the city’s iconic skyline, on an architectural boat tour with an expert guide from the American Institute of Architects. Or you may want to pay tribute to the memory of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, on a tour of the area where the World Trade Center stood, including St. Paul's Chapel, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the solemn September 11 Memorial & Museum. Alternatively, trace your heritage with a visit to Ellis Island or a stop at the Tenement Museum and a walk through the early immigrant neighborhoods of the city’s Lower East Side. You may also wish to learn about the city’s Indigenous history on a walk through Indigenous Central Park and a visit to the National Museum of the American Indian. Or, set out on a Pride tour, tracing LGBTQ history in the city from the Stonewall Uprising through the modern-day LGBTQ Pride Movement.

After a day at sea, from Philadelphia, travel west to the Amish Country of Lancaster County, where you will see farms being worked with horsepower, enjoy a meal prepared by a local Amish family, and perhaps shop for some Amish crafts. Alternatively, stay in the city of brotherly love and enjoy one of three tours—a walk focused on the Revolutionary Period, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall; a taste of Philly's food scene; or an exploration of the struggle of the Philadelphia African American community for freedom and equality from the city’s founding in the 1680’s through the Civil Rights Movement of the mid 20th century.

Your voyage ends in Baltimore where you will transfer to the airport for flights homeward.

Fall under the spell of the timeless elegance of North American shores. From Boston, PONANT offers you an exceptional itinerary aboard the Bellot on an original 14-day voyage to conquer vast unspoilt spaces, cultural and historical treasures and emblematic cities.

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, discover the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax as well as the charming fishing village of Peggy’s Cove; fall under the spell of the pretty and lively little streets of the Beacon Hill district and wander around the aisles of the famous Quincy Market in Boston; or contemplate the wild nature marked by geological curiosities on the Cliff Walk and admire the finest residences inherited from the Golden Age, from Newport. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

Le Bellot will sail along the coastline of Nova Scotia whose towns and villages are full of history and undeniable character. Fall in love with Halifax, a cultural crossroads and provincial capital surrounded by sumptuous nature. The rocky coast of western Nova Scotia will emerge slowly before you. During an port of call in Yarmouth, immerse yourself in Acadian culture and discover their traditions and ancestral customs through encounters with the population. While in Louisbourg and Lunenburg, dive into the heart of Canada’s 18th-century history.

You will leave Canadian waters for the United States. In Eastport, you will walk on the first stretch of land reached by the French upon arriving in the New World. This is where the highest tides in the Northern Hemisphere can be found, with tidal ranges of up to 8 metres (26 feet). In Portland, scattered across the hollow of Casco Bay, wander the narrow and paved streets of this former colonial maritime port whose 19th century buildings still bear traces of that period.  Provincetown will also provide an opportunity to learn more about the origins of the country in the easy atmosphere of Cape Cod.

After crossing the Cape Cod Canal, you will reach the state of Rhode Island and arrive in the charming marina of Newport. Here, fall under the spell of the East Coast atmosphere, between sublime Golden Age residences inspired by French and Italian palaces, a coastline featuring a wealth of charm, and a gentle way of life.  Then, further south, the legendary New York reveals the majestic Statue of Liberty from the sea: an unforgettable final port of call in a city that is second to none.  

You will conclude your journey in Boston, considered to be the cradle of the United States for the key role it played during the American Revolution.

In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

This leisurely voyage through the heart of the Aegean is the perfect introduction to all that Homer’s 'wine-dark sea' has to offer. Ancient sites, resonating with a mythical past, compete for your attention with the whitewashed homes of present-day farmers and the waterfront cafés and trendy boutiques of stylish jet-set getaways.

Departing from Athens, your first encounter with the rich history of the Aegean is the Turkish port of Kusadasi, gateway to Ephesus, one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites.  Spanning the period from the Hellenistic world through the early Christian era, the immense excavation here includes temples of several Roman emperors, the iconic Library of Celsus, and the terraced hill houses, with their splendid mosaics and frescoes, overlooking the city below. 

Back in Greece, discover the monumental Byzantine monastery on Patmos that guards the cave where St. John the Evangelist received his visions of the Apocalypse. 

In the southern Aegean Sea, set off to discover Crete from the capital, Heraklion, built on a hillside overlooking the port and encircled by impressive Venetian walls. Explore the Bronze age archaeological site of the Palace of Knossos, a major center of Minoan civilization.

Amorgos represents a completely different aspect of life in the Aegean as it brings you face to face with age-old traditions of olive cultivation, herbal medicine, and religious devotion as they are still practiced in small villages in the mountains.

The island of Delos was sacred to the ancient Greeks—the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, and home to countless shrines and temples—a veritable open-air museum. Mykonos, by contrast, is a sophisticated island resort with smart cafes and boutiques, where you will enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure to soak in all that this dazzling town has to offer.

From Nafplion travel to Mycenae, the legendary home of Agamemnon and an important center of the extraordinary civilization that flourished here in the 2nd millennium BC, before continuing to Epidaurus, the ancient shrine of Asklepios, whose ruins are dominated by a 4th-century BC theater that is one of the finest in Greece.

Your journey concludes upon return to Athens.