Find your happy place for 2025 and 2026 from a wide range of cruises selected for our special Christmas offer. A sunny break in the Mediterranean or idyllic voyage to Polynesia? A polar adventure in Antarctica or the Arctic? Or perhaps an unforgettable experience in the tropical forests of Central America?

 

Don’t delay! Take advantage of this special extra 10% saving, available until 3 January only.

PONANT Explorations Group has announced a major upcoming transformation for the 330-guest MS Paul Gauguin, part of the Paul Gauguin Cruises brand. Scheduled for a seven-week drydock in Singapore from February to March 2025, the multi-million-dollar renovation feature sustainable technology enhancements, a transformation of Le Grill restaurant, and a rejuvenated pool deck complete with cabana-shaded areas. Guests will also enjoy the addition of eight new connecting staterooms, offering greater flexibility for families and groups. There will be refreshed soft furnishings throughout the ship. “Our vision for this refurbishment is deeply rooted in an experience that reflects the culture of French Polynesia,” said Hervé Gastinel, CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer of PONANT. Energy performance upgrades include advanced heat recovery systems, efficient chillers, an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system generating electricity from heat. A new seawater treatment system will produce fresh water onboard, while the Nordaq filtration system that produces drinking water from seawater helps eliminating plastic water bottles. Exiting drydock at the end of March 2025, MS Paul Gauguin will launch two exclusive voyages as part of the 2025 Boutique Crossing Collection. Guests can choose the 14-night Immersive Indonesia: Singapore to Australia itinerary, departing April 1, 2025, or the 16-night Crossing Melanesia: Australia to Fiji voyage, departing April 15, 2025, as the ship makes her way back to Tahiti.

Ponant recently kicked off its season sailing around New Zealand aboard two of expedition vessels Le Soléal and PONANT Explorer, Le Jacques Cartier. From December until March 2025, the ships will embark on eight departures, visiting 23 ports of call, and offering guests a rare opportunity to discover the hidden side of Zealand. The season includes two epic sailings down to East Antarctica from Dunedin. Le Soléal  kicked off the season on 3 December, starting with two expeditions sailing south to explore New Zealand's remote subantarctic islands. Guests will have the opportunity to sail alongside destination experts at the wildlife sanctuaries of Campbell Island, the Snares as well as Australia’s Macquarie Island. Continuing on north from Dunedin to Auckland on a brand-new New Year’s cruise, Le Soléal’s next sailing, a 15-night journey from the South Island to the North Island will feature scenic time in the fjord region. It ventures through Doubtful, Milford and Dusky Sounds, as well as visit to new port of call Oban on Stewart Island, before heading north to Akaroa, Kaikoura, Wellington, the Bay of Islands and finally, Auckland. Joining Le Soléal this year is Le Jacques Cartier, Ponant’s modern Explorer-series vessel, featuring 92 staterooms and suites. This is her inaugural season in New Zealand waters. Sailing from Tasmania on 2 January, Le Jacques Cartier will start exploring both the North and South Islands before setting off on a brand-new, 15-night voyage, from Auckland to Cairns with highlights including the Bay of Islands region, Norfolk Island, and Vanuatu. In February 2025, Ponant will venture even further south, offering a 21-night expedition to Antarctica, on a Dunedin roundtrip aboard Le Soléal This itinerary features lecturer and guide Jonathan Shackleton, descendant of Sir Ernest Shackleton and family historian and Lucy Scott, great granddaughter of Captain Robert Falcon Scott. “We are proud to continue our operations in the region with this new summer season. Our included shore excursions and tours are providing guests with authentic New Zealand experiences,” id Deb Corbett, CEO Asia Pacific. Ponant has a limited-time Holiday offer, which includes an additional 10% off select departures with a limited number of staterooms available from December to March 2025.

Ponant has concluded its third phase of 2024 Australian Roadshows, themed You Are the Destination. It visited four cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Sorrento (Mornington Peninsula), and Brisbane with seven sessions attracting 881 attendees. This marked the first roadshow series to include three rounds of events in a single year. It also featured debut visits to the Mornington Peninsula (at the InterContinental Sorrento) and Brisbane’s Calile Hotel. The events included travel stories shared by speakers including Ponant Expedition Leader, Jorge Villamarin, and Ponant State Manager of Victoria and Tasmania, Annabelle Brown. The presentations highlighted voyages to regions such as the Arctic, Antarctica, the Subantarctic Islands (Christmas & New Year cruises), Papua New Guinea, the Kimberley, French Polynesia, Europe, and the Nordic countries. Attendees were also updated on new themed cruises, including gastronomic journeys in partnership with Relais & Châteaux and Château Latour, and music voyages featuring the Opéra National de Paris. The roadshows had a storytelling-focused approach, using  videos and personal anecdotes. In Sydney, a special photo booth allowed guests to capture their ‘Ponant moment’ by donning branded parkas against scenic backdrops of destinations such as the Arctic and Europe. Ponant says there was keen interest in destinations including the Arctic, Antarctic, French Polynesia, the Kimberley, the Mediterranean, and the Subantarctic, generating substantial inquiries and bookings.

Ponant has welcomed back Julie Golding, who is rejoining the company in the newly created role of Key Account Manager for Australia & New Zealand. This new position bolsters Ponant's commercial team as it continues to expand in the region. Following Deb Corbett's appointment as CEO for Asia Pacific in July, there was a need for additional support for trade and retail consortia as Ponant experiences substantial industry growth. Golding reports directly to Julie Rogers. Julie Rogers, Director of Sales for Ponant, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Julie Golding back. Sje brings a wealth of expertise in luxury product development." With over 23 years of experience in sales development, Golding has worked for the Globus Family of Brands, APT Group, and Rocky Mountaineer. At the latter she first took on a key account role, successfully managing relationships with wholesale and key trade partners. Golding also served as Business Development Manager for NSW South at Silversea, and was later promoted to manage key accounts across Australia and New Zealand. Deb Corbett, Ponant CEO Asia Pacific, added, "As Ponant continues rapid growth in Asia Pacific, Julie's appointment is a key step in intensifying our market presence." 

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Expedition cruise line Ponant has unveiled a special one-off premium golf experience as part of the Best of New Zealand itinerary. The sailing departs 16 January 2025, transforming the nine-night sailing into a golf trip at seas, with combinable offers available. These include a $1,500 flight credit per person and a free solo supplement^..  Sailing from Auckland to Lyttleton aboard Le Jacques-Cartier, the golf cruise itinerary explores the landscapes of New Zealand’s East coast with the opportunity to enhance it on land with a premium golf package. It is priced from $1,360 per person including return transfers, confirmed tee times, green fees, and carts/buggies. It offers the chance to play on the Summerhill Estate Golf Course, at the Poverty Bay Golf Club and at Cape Kidnappers during three ports of call. Summerhill Estate Golf Course: Perched on top of Papamoa Hills, Summerhill Estate Golf Course offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with captivating sea views and picturesque park-like surrounds. Poverty Bay Golf Club: Poverty Bay Golf Club at Awapuni Links is the second oldest course on the North Island. It is only a 10-minute transfer from the pier. Set on ancient coastal dunes, the links course offers smooth to undulating fairways. Cape Kidnappers: Experience golf at the edge of the world at Cape Kidnappers. Perched on rolling hills and rugged cliffs with sweeping sea views and an endless horizon, Cape Kidnappers is home to the 4th-ranked course in New Zealand.   

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Expedition cruise line Ponant unveiled a new Australian roadshow series, ‘you are the destination,’ taking place from October 22 to November 19. It makes four stops in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Trade and travel agent partners can register now and bring their clients along. The events will feature special guest Jorge Villamarin, Expedition Operations Manager Asia Pacific. His expertise as a naturalist and expedition cruise leader spans polar regions and the tropics, with activities from scuba diving to hiking the Andes. Trade partners are invited to join and are encouraged to bring their clients to explore a broad range of new experiences. Each roadshow event features exclusive offers and surprises. Registrations can be completed via the official homepage. Event Details: Melbourne: October 22 (2 sessions) Mornington Peninsula: October 23 (1 session) Sydney: November 11 (2 sessions) Brisbane: November 19 (2 sessions)   Travel agent should register online and share the following link, advising clients to add you as their preferred travel agent on the registration form. 

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Expedition cruise line Ponant’s new upcoming expedition motor yacht PASPALEY PEARL recently completed sea trials off Fremantle in Western Australia. That represents another key milestone completed for the vessel which is part of a new joint venture. The JV is with PASPALEY pearling company for the boutique expedition motor yacht, which will launch with a cruise in the islands of Eastern Indonesia in January 2025. Captain David Marionneau, Ponant's Director of Marine Operations Asia Pacific, said: "We took PASPALEY PEARL through all her required operational and safety manoeuvres. The sea trials were a resounding success.” "PASPALEY PEARL, originally launched late 2021, is due to undergo a multi-million-dollar refit and will emerge with refreshed livery, newly designed interiors and expansive open decks." The ship has capacity for 30 guests and 21 crew, including four expedition guides. 

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Expedition cruise line Ponant has launched an offer on the new 10-day voyage along the Vietnamese coast from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Long. Departing November 29, 2024, Ponant is promoting a combinable 30% Ponant bonus saving off the brochure fare, A$2,000 flight credit per person, and a free solo supplement. The 184-passenger Le Lapérouse sails between Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Long, exploring the Mekong Delta and Hue, as well trips to My Son sanctuary, Cham Towers, Marble Mountain and the Ghenh Da Dia basalt column. Each stopover includes a complimentary excursion, including a full day cruise in Ha Long Bay. Other immersive excursions include the Cu Chu tunnels and a half day exploring historic Hoi An. The onboard lecturer and destination specialist will provide cultural and historical insights on the destinations visited. 

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Just months before its official launch, Ponant’s new yacht cruise joint venture has unveiled its inaugural itineraries. PASPALEY PEARL by PONANT will set sail from East Timor in January 2025 for Bali, Indonesia, The inaugural 10-night expedition promises unique encounters with rare wildlife including whale sharks and Komodo dragons. Other highlights include swimming and snorkeling in the Seventeen Islands Marine Park, visiting remote Lembata Island and discovering ancient traditions in Alor. PONANT partnered with South Sea pearling company, PASPALEY to establish the new venture. They are introducing a 30-guest boutique expedition motor yacht, PASPALEY PEARL, that sails year-round in the Kimberley in Australia's Far North, East Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Destination highlights will include Indonesia's Raja Ampat and Spice Islands, the Sepik River and New Britain Island in Papua New Guinea and the Kimberley. On board, guests can relax on their private balconies and socialise on the Sunset Lounge or Sun Deck Lounge, which features an eight-person Jacuzzi. 

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Expedition line Ponant recently conducted 'bring a client' events in Australia, which brought together a total of 100 agents and clients. The two evenings took place last week in Newcastle and the Central Coast. Ponant’s NSW & ACT State Manager, Kristina Sambaher was joined by Deon Johnson from Journey Beyond and Alexa Papoulias from Abercrombie and Kent. Together they welcomed travel agents and their clients for wine and canapés and to showcase travel experiences by rail, land, and sea. They presented a diverse range of trips, from Africa Antarctica and across Australia.   

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  PONANT, world leader in luxury expeditions, has released their new March to November 2025 brochure featuring 13 brand new sailings exploring Northern Europe & the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, Asia, Oceania & Polynesia as well as 9 polar itineraries offering experiences exclusive to PONANT aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker. Each PONANT voyage now includes a minimum of one excursion per port of call, promising equally enriching and immersive experiences as luxurious as the expeditions themselves.   PONANT’s 2025 sailing programme features new itineraries exploring Northern Europe and the Atlantic, featuring destinations from the English Channel to the Irish Sea, the Baltic Sea, and Celtic lands. Special experiences are also available for guests such as a Baltic Sea itinerary in partnership with the Paris Opera Ballet and a choice of enriching daily excursions, such as a Stockholm city tour and a visit to the Vasa Museum, as well as a brand new itinerary in partnership with world renowned chef Alain Ducasse’s consulting firm the Ducasse Conseil which will  feature two renowned Japanese Chefs to discover Japan’s ancient Traditions.   Also featured in the brochure are 9 exclusive experiences to PONANT aboard the world’s only luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot. These journeys feature experienced and passionate destination experts and lecturers including naturalists, historians, photo ambassadors plus a range of thrilling activities including dog sledding, kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, ice fishing, and the exhilarating polar plunge. Guests will explore the ice floes of Baffin Bay, marvel at the immense frozen icebergs of UNESCO World Heritage Site Disko Bay, and enjoy an immersive, authentic encounter with two local Greenlandic communities in villages accessible only to Le Commandant Charcot at this time of year. Additionally, there is an all-new port of call in Corner Brook, on the island of Newfoundland, offering the possibility of skiing in one of the nearby resorts or discovering the town and its history. Guests can also explore the region of Ammassalik and the Blosseville Coast, with its ice cap that extends directly from the North Pole and enjoy an exclusive opportunity to participate in a unique 2-day/1-night Nordic skiing polar trek.   To view the brochure online please click here.