PONANT Excursions: Why Going Ashore Is Part of the Luxury
Updated: 1 day ago
An excursion on a cruise is often thought of as something that happens between the ship and the next sailing. With PONANT, I think it is more useful to look at it as part of the entire expedition experience.
On our three-day sailing from Malta to Nice aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville, we had one formal excursion, in Elba. But the experiences that stayed with me were much broader: seeing Stromboli smoking heavily, watching a pod of dolphins suddenly appear alongside the ship, talking with the captain during the voyage, and being invited onto the bridge as we departed Elba. All of these things opened up parts of the world I had not previously understood. That, to me, is exploration too.
Exploration Does Not Begin When You Go Ashore
The bridge experience in particular changed my understanding of what an expedition can be. The captain spoke with me about communication with other vessels in the Mediterranean and about the responsibilities involved in operating the ship. Suddenly, something I normally experienced simply as a passenger became a world I could look into.
The same was true of Stromboli and the dolphins. Neither was an excursion on the itinerary, but both were encounters with nature that could not have been planned in quite the same way.
That is one of the things I find interesting about PONANT. The destination is not necessarily something that begins once you walk down the gangway. Exploration can happen on the water, on the bridge, during a conversation, or in a moment when nature unexpectedly gives you something to see. The formal excursion is simply another opportunity to explore.
A Good Guide Gives You More Than Information
Our Elba excursion was educational and cultural, and the guide gave us a useful introduction to the destination. But I have always believed that the quality of a guide can fundamentally change how a traveler experiences a place.
Guides have the keys to worlds that are often unknown to visitors. The best ones do not simply deliver information. They connect what they know with what interests you personally.
That might mean history, art, architecture, food, nature or something much more specific. When a guide shares genuine enthusiasm for a subject, you take a little of that enthusiasm home with you. The destination becomes more than something you photographed. This is why I often tell people to listen, ask questions and then, occasionally, simply be quiet. You may learn considerably more that way.
Flexibility Is Part of the Luxury
One of the things I appreciated about PONANT in Elba had nothing to do with the formal excursion itself.
We had unexpected work that needed our attention, and PONANT allowed us to leave the excursion early and return to the ship. We had visited the boat partway through the excursion, so they were able to accommodate us without making the situation complicated.
That may sound like a practical detail, but I consider it part of luxury service.
Luxury should allow you to be yourself. Sometimes you want to spend every available minute exploring a destination. Sometimes circumstances change. The ability to adapt without making the guest feel that they have caused a problem creates a feeling of hospitality.
PONANT also surprised us in Elba with a glass of wine and an aperitivo at a local bar. It was a small gesture, but it gave us a chance to sit, absorb the atmosphere and experience Elba rather than simply move through a checklist of sights.
And, frankly, without some element of surprise, life gets dull.
The Right Excursion Depends on the Traveler
This is where the role of the travel advisor becomes particularly important.
Not every traveler wants the same experience ashore. Someone fascinated by nature, wildlife and the elements may be thrilled by an active expedition experience, whether that means going ashore in a polar environment aboard a voyage on Le Commandant Charcot or heading out in smaller boats to encounter wildlife in destinations such as French Polynesia or the Americas.
Another traveler may be much happier spending the day exploring history, art, architecture or local culture at a slower pace. Neither is better. The important question is whether the experience matches the person.
At DeSalvio Travel, we see this as part of our responsibility as advisors. We should not simply ask where you want to go. We should understand how you want to experience a place. The wrong excursion can make an otherwise excellent itinerary feel disappointing, while the right one can create a lasting relationship with a destination.
In The Art of Meaningful Travel, we explore this distinction between seeing somewhere and actually understanding it. A good excursion can create that personal connection. You arrive knowing little, and you leave with a story, a curiosity or even an affection for the place.
That is what makes going ashore part of the luxury. It is not simply about what you see. It is about what you take away from having been there.
Read more about How Ponant creates special journeys
Read more about how we work with private guides on the DeSalvio Travel website:
Choose the Experience, Not Just the Destination
The right excursion can change your relationship with a place. Sarasota Cruise Agency, the cruise-specialist sister brand of DeSalvio Travel, a Virtuoso-affiliated agency and a PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises Certified Expert, can help you look beyond the itinerary itself and choose a PONANT voyage with excursions that genuinely match your interests.
Contact us when you feel ready, and we will begin, calmly and thoughtfully, exactly where you are in the process.
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