Ocean cruises

With featured guest Cindy Miller Hopkins, American Photo Ambassador.

Heading for 90 degrees North! Set off from Spitsbergen to sail to the edges of the Earth and reach the North Pole, the Holy Grail of adventurers in search of “the end of the world”. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a technological cocoon designed for exploration, you will encounter a wild and silent world that evolves according to the ice and the plays of light of the Northern Lights. During your crossing, you will probably be lucky enough to observe spectacular fauna - polar bears, seals or whales - before, perhaps, walking on the ground of this territory frozen by the cold, the northernmost point of our planet. 

Find out more about the world of Le Commandant Charcot here!

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation, mainly in the fjords, will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the coastal ice must be preserved, we will take this into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing programme, outings, activities and observation of fauna cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions. The experiences are unique and vary from day to day and for each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the AECO.

Dive into the heart of Baffin Bay, a vast icebound world where the currents shape landscapes of striking beauty. Amid the majestic silhouettes of icebergs, Inuit villages, home to some of the last bear hunters and narwhal fishers, appear as flashes of colour at the foot of basalt formations. Savissivik and its frozen giants evoke a timeless world, while Disko Bay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals natural formations in a constant state of metamorphosis.

In these lands where Inuit traditions endure amid the vast white expanse, the horizon may offer a glimpse of the grace of a narwhal or the imposing presence of a polar bear. Further south, tundra and steep cliffs form a vivid landscape marked by the primal power of ice.

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. The itinerary, landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the AECO.

Enjoy an overnight in the truly unique position of being anchored on the River Thames in Greenwich, 20 minutes from central London, before sailing out into the English Channel, passing the Cliffs of Dover. Then, enjoy a full day and overnight in Bordeaux to explore the robust local market and surrounding wineries. Continue to the Iberian Peninsula and two more UNESCO cities — Porto and Lisbon — before exploring the Roman relics of Cartagena and the irresistible beaches of Ibiza.

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.

We invite you to join us on a circumnavigation of Sicily, a crossroads of the many historical civilizations—Greek, Roman, Arab, Byzantine, Norman—that have flourished along the shores of the Mediterranean.

Setting sail from Malta, your first stop in Sicily is Porto Empedocle, gateway to the fabled Greek temples of Agrigento, among the most captivating ruins in the entire Mediterranean.

Next cross the sea to Tunisia. From Tunis, travel to storied Carthage, a Phoenician stronghold from the 9_th_ century BC until it was conquered by the Romans in 146 BC. The site includes several important Phoenician remains, including Tophet, the sanctuary of the gods Tanit and Baal, as well as many monuments from the Roman period. Also explore the Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Back in Sicily, after rounding the western tip of the island, you arrive in Trapani for an excursion into the countryside and the ancient Doric temple of Segesta or to medieval Erice, perched on a high triangular plateau sloping down to the sea.

Your fifth day aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville brings you to Palermo, founded by the Phoenicians in 827 BC and becoming one of Europe’s greatest cities in the 12th century, when the Normans took control. Here you will visit Cappella Palatina, a Byzantine-Arab-Norman structure featuring dazzling mosaics and magnificent inlaid marble floors and walls. Or drive to nearby Monreale to explore its famed Norman cathedral.

In Lipari, discover the 16th-century Norman castle-turned-archaeological museum on the site of an ancient acropolis before sailing in the evening to Stromboli, whose active volcano provides the backdrop as you cruise around the island.

From Stromboli, your ship sails through the Strait of Messina to arrive at Taormina on Sicily's east coast. Visit a winery on the slopes of Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, or tour Taormina town with its emblematic Greek theater offering dramatic views of the coastline.

The final port of call before your voyage comes to an end in Valletta is Syracuse, colonized by Greeks in the 8th century BC only to grow to rival Athens as one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world. You will visit the Roman Amphitheater of Augustus and the 15,000 seat Greek theater or Ortygia, the old town and its Baroque cathedral.

Your voyage ends back in Valletta.