Expedition cruises

Set sail to discover the age-old traditions and dazzling modernity of Japan on this 13-day cruise aboard Le Soléal.

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 visit Himeji’s emblematic castle. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

At the whim of the trade winds in the Sea of Japan, Le Soléal will sail eastbound for the charming feudal city of Karatsu. 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... After a stopover in Kagoshima, you're off to Miyazaki, a city steeped in history and considered the birthplace of Japan.

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.

Then, you will visit Itozaki, a charming coastal town surrounded by green hills. 

After this stop, you will discover Imabari, known for its superb seascapes and its textile creations, especially the famous Imabari towels, a symbol of ancestral know-how combining quality and elegance.

After a unique port of call in the historic city of Himeji, walk the ancient pilgrimage routes of Kumano Kodo in Shingu, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, connecting several religious sites nestling in tropical nature.

The gateway to the enchanting Ise Bay and its sumptuous ria coast, Toba invites you to enjoy a unique moment in this historic city, residence of the Imperial family. Among other things, you will have the opportunity to admire the most important Shinto shrine in Japan, Ise-jingu.

Finally, for a grand finale, your journey will end in Osaka, your disembarkation port.

Join us aboard Le Champlain for an exceptional PONANT cruise sailing from Colón to Fort-de-France. This 13-day itinerary will give you the opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of Afro-Caribbean cultures, an azure blue sky and white-sand beaches.

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 mangrove in a traditional canoe from Cartagena de Indias, enjoy hiking in La Quebrada and seeing its waterfall, leaving from Santa Marta, or discover the town of Soufrière, between land and sea, on Saint Lucia. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

Your journey in Central America will continue with a port of call in the magnificent Portobelo Bay, in a region imbued with the traditions of Congo culture. The fortifications of this former gateway to the New World are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

First, succumb to the charms of the clear waters of Panama and the San Blas archipelago, composed of more than 300 islands and cays. The Kuna people live among the palm trees and pirogues (small boats); this culture continues, among other things, the traditional craft of molas, weaved textiles in sparkling colours.

Then, you will visit the city of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. Its port, fortress and historic monuments, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offer many noteworthy sights.

Before reaching the Caribbean islands, your ship will head for the magnificent Bonaire, renowned for its coral reefs protected by a huge marine park and for its pink flamingos, emblematic of the island. Then, you will head south to the archipelago of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The most beautiful coral reef in the West Indies connects this chain of islands and reveals incredible underwater fauna and secret coves.

You will then sail towards Saint Lucia and its two majestic rocky peaks soaring straight from the sea, a unique location listed as UNESCO World Heritage site.

After a last stop at Les Saintes, a highly popular anchorage site with crystal-clear waters, you will finally reach Fort-de-France. Make sure to visit one of its renowned rum distilleries!