Ponant

Ponant was founded in 1988 by a group of French merchant navy officers, and its first ship was a three-masted sailing yacht, Le Ponant, which still sails today. The line is owned by Artémis, the investment company of France’s Pinault family, and its group also includes Paul Gauguin Cruises in French Polynesia and Aqua Expeditions.

The fleet is made up of small luxury expedition ships. The Explorer class (Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont-d’Urville, Le Bellot and Le Jacques-Cartier) carries about 184 guests and features the Blue Eye, an underwater lounge with hydrophones and windows below the waterline. Four slightly larger sister ships, Le Boréal, L’Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial, carry around 264 guests and handle many polar and long voyages. Le Commandant Charcot is a hybrid-powered, high ice-class icebreaker that sails to the geographic North Pole and deep into the Antarctic. All fly the French flag.

Itineraries span all seven continents: Antarctica and the Arctic, Iceland and Greenland, Norway, the Mediterranean and Adriatic, the Kimberley in Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

Ponant is chic, understated and distinctly French. Guests come mainly from France, North America, Australia and the UK, typically in their 50s to 70s, and announcements and lectures are given in both French and English. Dress is casual by day and elegant casual at night, with a gala evening on most voyages. The small size means quick boarding of Zodiacs, intimate dining and a sociable feel, while the expedition team leads landings, hikes and wildlife watching. If you prefer an all-American atmosphere, the French-first culture, wine-focused dining and bilingual programming may take adjusting to, though many North Americans love it.

French cuisine is central, created with guidance from Ducasse Conseil, part of chef Alain Ducasse’s group. Most ships have a main restaurant for multi-course dinners and a casual grill or buffet venue, with French cheeses, pastries and an emphasis on wine pairings. Le Commandant Charcot adds a gastronomic restaurant. Room service is available, and dietary needs are accommodated.

Entertainment is low-key, with a pianist, small musical performances and a gala evening. The expedition team’s lectures on wildlife, geology and history are the main event, and on Explorer-class ships the Blue Eye lounge lets you listen to and watch marine life underwater. Zodiac outings, kayaking and hikes fill expedition days.

Children are allowed and family departures run on some itineraries, but there are no regular kids clubs and most voyages carry few children.

Most accommodations are staterooms and suites with private balconies, compact but stylish, with contemporary French design in soft colors. Prestige and Owner’s suites add more space and, on many ships, butler service. Le Commandant Charcot has the largest suites in the fleet.

An open bar is included, covering wines, champagne, spirits, beer, soft drinks and coffees, along with an in-cabin minibar. Premium vintages and select labels cost extra.

Gratuities are included in Ponant fares for most markets, so no service charge is added and tipping isn’t expected.

Ponant Yacht Club rewards repeat guests with recognition, savings on future voyages and onboard perks that grow with the number of voyages sailed.