Expedition cruises

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.

The waterways of eastern Canada and northern New England are among the loveliest in the world. The rock-bound coast, soaring cliffs, and idyllic waterfront villages have drawn visitors for more than one hundred years.

Your first full day aboard ship is spent navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway, a network of lakes, canals, and locks that provides deep-water passage from Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence River.

Montréal, the first of four calls in Québec, is a cosmopolitan metropolis, where you may tour the charming Old Town or explore the arts scene along St. Laurent Boulevard. Québec City, with its narrow cobblestoned lanes and historic battlements, is one of North America’s most romantic spots. Sailing up the Saguenay River from the St. Lawrence brings you to the magnificent Saguenay Fjord National Park, an area of dramatic landscapes best appreciated from the water or during a refreshing hike. And the picturesque village of Percé, at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, serves as gateway to the UNESCO Global Geopark of Bonaventure Island.

The colonial seaport of Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island was the site of the conference in 1864 that set the stage for Canada's unification, and it is also home to the Anne of Green Gables House—inspiration for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic novel.

Cap-aux-Meules, in the Magdalen Islands, is a fascinating Acadian stronghold, where the legacy of the 17th-century colonists who settled here and defended their autonomy against both British and French lives on.

Nova Scotia is next, offering three historical towns for discovery. Charming Baddeck on Cape Breton Island is home to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site where you may peruse the collection that illustrates the life of the inventor. Louisbourg boasts the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, a living museum that recreates 18th-century life through the reconstruction of the formerly thriving settlement. And Lunenburg, whose Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also home to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

A day at sea brings you to Provincetown, Massachusetts, at the tip of historic Cape Cod, where the Pilgrims landed in 1620 and which now features a vibrant art scene. Disembark the following day in Boston, Massachusetts.

PONANT invites you to embark on board Le Jacques Cartier for a 12-day tropical expedition cruise to discover the sublime natural landscapes of Indonesia.

Your journey aboard Le Jacques Cartier will start in Darwin. You will then sail to the Kei Islands, in the heart of the Malukus, to discover a peaceful paradise of stunning white-sand beaches.

Then, you will sail to the heart of Triton Bay. Located within a protected marine environment in the middle of the Coral Triangle, you will enjoy an unforgettable zodiac cruise through the spectacular rainforest-capped karst islands.

Le Jacques Cartier will continue to sail in the Indonesian province of West Papua to allow you to witness the superb natural site of Kitikiti Waterfall surrounded by lush nature.

In the Maluku Islands, dubbed the Spice Islands, you will explore the island of Banda Neira, which was shaped by Dutch and Portuguese influences.

After a stopover in the fabulous Barat Daya Islands, you will head for Kalabahi. This authentic destination in the Alor archipelago provides the opportunity to interact with local people who have preserved their traditional practices and customs.

You will then set sail for Flores and the town of Maumere before making a port of call in the Komodo National Park. This emblematic national sanctuary is home to the famous prehistoric-looking giant lizards.

In Badas, on the island of Sumbawa, you will be welcomed by the inhabitants of Pamulung village, where you will be able to witness a traditional ceremony. 

Your cruise will conclude in Bali - ‘the island of the gods’ - with its captivating charm and grace.

A diverse array of island scenery awaits your discovery, from the spice-scented hills of Grenada to the towering peaks of St. Lucia’s Pitons. A catamaran is the best way to explore the serpentine coast of Antigua, while the sea caverns created by the granite rock formations on Virgin Gorda’s shores can only be reached on foot.

When a voyage starts with a pinch-yourself-moment like transiting one of the great engineering achievements, you know an unforgettable adventure awaits. Emerge from the Panama Canal to a Colombia’s sensory assault - where rhythmic drums pound, street art glows and powerful coffee roast aromas swirl. Answer the call from Aruba's dreamscape beaches before luxuriating in unhurried sea days. Reach Florida's sunny shores utterly refreshed and renewed.

Earn your travel stripes and tick off the Drake Passage, Cape Horn and Antarctica in one sailing. Leaving Puerto Williams, you’ll spend your first two days at sea, crossing the (in)famous Drake Passage. Your first sight of the seventh continent will be Antarctica Sound, before you arrive in Antarctica on Day 5. Spend three days discovering the wildlife, seascapes and whitewashed landscape that make this destination so covetable.