Ponant cruises reviews 2026–2027: French small ships, fleet and fares

Ponant at a glance

Ponant is a French line founded in 1988 by officers of the French Merchant Navy. Groupe Artémis, the Pinault family’s investment company, bought it in 2015. It now trades as PONANT Explorations, and the group also runs Paul Gauguin Cruises, Aqua Expeditions and a small charter brand, Ponant Yachting.

Owner

Groupe Artémis, the Pinault family's investment company

Price tier

Luxury

Fleet

12 French-flagged small ships, 32 to 264 guests

Flagship

Le Commandant Charcot, a polar icebreaker, Polar Class 2

Languages on board

French and English

Included in the fare

Meals, open bar, gratuities, Wi-Fi, room service, one excursion per port

Not included

Premium alcohol, spa treatments and some premium excursions

Ponant ships

The group’s sister line lists 12 French-flagged ships. Six are the near-identical PONANT Explorers, four are a slightly larger class, and two are one of a kind.

• Le Commandant Charcot2021, about 245 guestsA hybrid-electric polar icebreaker that runs on LNG. It reached the North Pole in September 2021.
• Le Boréal, L'Austral and Le Soléal2010 to 2012, up to 264 guestsSister ships with 132 staterooms, sailing from polar waters to the Aegean and the Indian Ocean.
• Le Lyrial2015, 245 guestsThe newest of that class, used on routes such as Ushuaia to Buenos Aires via South Georgia.
• Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain and Le Bougainville2018 to 2019, 184 guestsPONANT Explorers with the Blue Eye underwater lounge.
• Le Dumont d'Urville, Le Bellot and Le Jacques Cartier2019 to 2020, 184 guestsThe rest of the Explorers class. Le Jacques Cartier works French Polynesia from October 2026 to February 2027.
• Le Ponant1991, 32 guestsA three-masted sailing yacht, with 16 staterooms.

Guest counts vary by source for Le Ponant and Le Commandant Charcot. We use the figures from Ponant’s own fleet data as reported in October 2026. Wikipedia lists 64 and 270, so check the deck plan for your date.

Ponant Yachting is a separate product: three catamarans for 9 to 12 guests, sold for families and groups of friends.

What does a Ponant cruise include?

Ponant’s fare includes dining, an open bar, gratuities, port taxes, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, wellness area access and one excursion per port. On expedition voyages it adds naturalist-guided tours and Zodiac landings. That list comes from the group’s sister line, because Ponant’s own site refused our checks.

• Drinks: Pavlus Travel, a Ponant agency, lists French wines, Champagne, spirits and beer in the open bar. One guide says premium alcohol costs extra.
• Gratuities: the group lists them on every voyage, and Pavlus says most fares. One guide calls tips separate and discretionary, so confirm yours before you book.
• Polar gear: Pavlus says polar sailings include a parka and boots.
• Wi-Fi: included, but limited in polar waters, so don’t plan on streaming.

What costs extra: spa treatments, premium alcohol and some premium excursions. Our all-inclusive cruise guide shows how this compares with other lines.

Is Ponant good for American travelers?

Yes, if you’re comfortable on a bilingual ship. Ponant operates in French and English, with announcements, lectures, daily programs and menus in both. The dress code is smart casual to elegant casual, with no black-tie nights. Expect a French ship with a mixed guest list, not an American one.

Where does Ponant sail?

Ponant sails from the polar regions to warm-water islands. Its Explorers work the Caribbean, Central America, the St. Lawrence, Norway, Iceland and the Mediterranean. Le Commandant Charcot goes deep into the Arctic, including Northeast Greenland and Spitsbergen, and the fleet’s sister ships reach the Antarctic Peninsula.

For how landings and passenger limits work, see our Antarctica cruise guide. In French Polynesia, Le Jacques Cartier sails 14-night round trips from Papeete alongside its sister brand’s Paul Gauguin.

Are Ponant cruises worth it?

Ponant is worth it if you’d use the open bar, the included landings and the small ship’s reach. It’s weaker value if you want a resort at sea, because these ships don’t try to be one. A cheaper expedition line can make more sense if you don’t care about the French table.

We haven’t sailed Ponant for this page, and we don’t publish scores here. Three things to weigh before you book:

• The food and wine. This is the line’s French calling card, and the open bar is part of it.
• The language. Decide whether a ship that runs in two languages suits you.
• The ship. Le Commandant Charcot is a different trip from the smaller Explorers.

How Ponant compares

• Against Silversea: Silversea also sells luxury expeditions, with a butler in every suite.
• Against Seabourn: Seabourn has two expedition ships and a classic fleet, with drinks and gratuities in the fare.
• Against Hurtigruten: Hurtigruten is the Norway specialist if the coast matters more than the cuisine.
• Against Scenic: Scenic sells a polar-capable yacht with helicopters and a submersible, at extra cost.
• Our ranking: our luxury and small-ship ranking covers the lines in this price range.

Ponant prices

Our price snapshot covers sailings sold on CruiseBound, and Ponant isn’t one of them, so this page shows no from-price. Two checks help when you compare:

• Add up what’s included. Put drinks, tips, Wi-Fi and excursions on a rival’s bill first.
• Check flights. One guide says they’re included on some itineraries only, and polar trips often start far from home.

Ponant cruises reviews FAQ

Is Ponant all-inclusive?

Close to it. The fare covers dining, an open bar, gratuities, Wi-Fi and one excursion per port. Premium alcohol, spa treatments and some premium excursions cost extra.

Who owns Ponant?

Groupe Artémis, the Pinault family’s investment company, which bought Ponant in 2015. The group also runs Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions.

How many guests are on a Ponant ship?

The Explorers carry 184 guests, the Boréal class up to 264, and Le Commandant Charcot about 245. The sailing yacht Le Ponant carries 32.

Do you tip on Ponant?

The group lists gratuities as included on every voyage, and one agency says most fares. A travel guide calls tips discretionary, so ask when you book.

Is English spoken on Ponant ships?

Yes. Ponant ships run in French and English, with announcements, lectures, daily programs and menus in both.