Ocean cruises

This Caribbean voyage takes you from the otherworldly grottoes at The Baths of Virgin Gorda to the legendary beaches and French cuisine of St. Martin. Savor a blend of French and Caribbean influences on glamorous St. Barths, and shop for beautifully crafted jewelry and watches in the duty-free shops of St. Thomas.

From secluded beaches to yacht-filled harbors, this Caribbean voyage has something for everyone. Rich history is on display in San Juan, where the journey begins and ends. In between, St. John’s protected waters are ideal for snorkeling, and the boulder-laden Baths are Virgin Gorda’s most famous landmark. Gustavia’s fine restaurants serve French-Caribbean delights, while St. Martin offers a blend of French and Dutch influences in its architecture and cuisine.

Ponant invites you on a timeless journey around the fascinating and surprising Empire of the Rising Sun, where unbridled modernism and ancestral traditions form a delightful blend, where the history of the samurai rubs shoulders with the delicateness of the geisha, and where the aromas of the tea plantations intermingle with the fragrances of cherry blossom. In the legendary city of Osaka, embark on this unique 9-day cruise aboard Le Soléal to discover this unrivalled cultural heritage.

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, explore the picturesque city of Chiran and its ancestral history from Kagoshima, discover the cultural heritage of Nagasaki, or admire the Itsukushima Shrine from the island of Miyajima. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

On the Seto Inland Sea, Le Soléal will head west. At the foot of a tropical forest burgeoning with life, Tamano stands proudly in the middle of this enchanting environment. Last port of call of your journey, it still bears the traces of traditional Japanese life in the 18th century, as the particular architecture of the town demonstrates.

The jagged coastlines of the captivating Miyajima Island, also known as Itsukushima, come into view, and the vermillion Torii of the emblematic Shinto Shrine of Itsukushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, unfolds before you in a lush forest setting. Time here seems stuck in the feudal era: the frenetic energy and modernity of the large Japanese metropolises make way for striking serenity and tranquillity, and hundreds of deer wander between its spiritual and architectural treasures.

Hiroshima does not seek to elicit strong emotions. Opposite the Inland Sea, only the Hiroshima Peace Memorial bears witness to past events in the city known as a “City of Peace”. It is resolutely future looking and you will be able to appreciate its modern and cosmopolitan atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of its lively streets and the tranquillity of its natural settings, such as the splendid Shukkei-en, the city’s historic gardens.

Off the southern tip of the island of Kyushu, Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comes into view. Providing an unspoilt natural setting for endemic species such as the Yakushima monkey and deer, the island is home to an exceptional natural environment featuring forests of ancient cedars, bewitching waterfalls, and majestic peaks.

Further south, Nagasaki remains in the world’s imagination as the symbol of nuclear horror. Fortunately, in the same way as Hiroshima, the city has become one the archipelago’s most peaceful towns as well as one of its most attractive. The warm and cosmopolitan city unveils its many riches throughout its narrow streets: the Oura Catholic Church and its gardens, the Suwa Shrine, the sumptuous Buddhist temples...

For a grand finale, your cruise will end in South Korea’s second largest city. A city of contrasts, Busan offers spectacular views of its port and the old Chalgachi district.

PONANT invites you to spend several days aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the first hybrid electric polar exploration ship, enjoying an immersive interlude during an Ocean Voyage. Leaving from Cape Town, you will set sail north for a five-day voyage, without ports of call, to Brest.

The sea exercises an undeniable power of attraction. Infinite time and space take on their full meaning in the heart of the elements, inviting you to humbly enter the here and now. As lovers of the sea, experienced observers and curious explorers of the planet, you can make the most of this rare opportunity and, alongside those who bring the ship to life, discover the soul of Le Commandant Charcot, which is fitted out for polar exploration. During this voyage with the ocean as the horizon, you will share an on-board experience that follows the pace of the ship and its crew. You will feel the majesty and the power of this ship, whose design is a genuine technological achievement.

Alongside the naturalists who will share their knowledge of the polar regions with you, you will understand the challenges of scientific knowledge and gain awareness about the actions of the company, which is committed to preserving biodiversity. Following in the wake of Commandant Cousteau, we are convinced that people only really protect what they know.

The interior design, entrusted to the architects Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Jean-Philippe Nuel, provides a precious cocoon in which it feels good to warm up and take shelter so as to get more out of the exterior. Noble materials, soft tones, subdued lighting, refined decoration. The gastronomy symbolises French-style luxury and will offer you fine epicurean escapades, thanks to the menus imagined by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse and the signature dishes served in his restaurants.

Let yourself be tempted by a dip in the Blue Lagoon while you enjoy the light over the sea. The indoor pool, the gym and the fitness classes, the Biologique Recherche spa, with its treatment rooms, massages and sauna, the snow room and the hair salon will also allow you to unwind without a care in the world.

Enjoy this crossing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, like a prelude to the infinite possibilities of knowledge and openness to the world that it promises, between a conscious adventure and new explorations.