What Is a PONANT Expedition Cruise Really Like?
Before sailing with PONANT, my idea of an expedition cruise was fairly extreme. I associated the word with the Arctic, crossing the Drake Passage, icebreakers and voyages towards 90 degrees north. I imagined expedition cruising as something that required a certain tolerance for hardship.
My Mediterranean sailing from Valletta to Nice changed that understanding. PONANT is an expedition cruise company, but expedition can mean much more than reaching the most remote point on a map. For me, it became about exploration itself: seeing something I had never seen before, broadening my horizons, and having the freedom to experience it in the moment.
Expedition Means More Than Going to the Poles
One of the best examples was Stromboli. Seeing the volcano from the sea was something we simply could not have experienced in the same way from a hotel on land. Shortly afterwards, we encountered a pod of dolphins. The crew told us it was only the third time they had seen them in two months, and the first time they had performed the way they did that day.
The captain stopped the ship for around thirty minutes so everyone could watch.
That moment says a great deal about the difference between ordinary transportation and expedition-style travel. The itinerary was not more important than the experience happening in front of us. For me, that is expedition: the uniqueness of what you encounter and the willingness to respond to it.
PONANT's expedition philosophy extends through its expert-led voyages and collaborations with organizations such as Smithsonian Journeys and The Explorers Club. These programs can add another layer of discovery, opening up subjects, places and ideas that passengers might otherwise simply pass by.
Flexibility Is Part of the Experience
There is also an important mindset involved. Travel does not always follow the timetable printed on an itinerary, and expedition travel makes that particularly apparent.
I actually think that is part of the appeal. Who cares if the ship arrives an hour later when the captain is making the right decision for safety and for the experience? Nature and local circumstances cannot always be controlled. The traveler has to be willing to go with the flow.
During our time in Elba, that flexibility became very practical. We had work that needed attention and asked to return onboard earlier than planned. The expedition team handled it easily. We had enough time ashore to see the places we wanted to see, but also enough freedom to return, change, freshen up and continue the day without feeling rushed.
That balance between organized experiences and personal freedom is important. Expedition does not have to mean that every hour is programmed.
When the Ship Becomes Part of the Expedition
One of my favorite moments was not an excursion at all. When we were departing Elba, the captain invited just three of us onto the bridge.
With a glass of champagne in hand, we watched the bridge team prepare the ship to leave the harbor. What impressed me was the precision involved and, at the same time, the calmness with which everything was handled. The actual area from which a vessel of that size is controlled can seem remarkably compact, with its panels, controls and switches.
For a passenger, the voyage can feel effortless. Seeing the people responsible for making that happen gives you a completely different appreciation of what is happening behind the scenes.
That is another reason I now think of expedition more broadly. Exploration does not necessarily begin when you step ashore. It can happen through a conversation with the captain, an unexpected wildlife encounter, an expert presentation or simply seeing a part of the operation you would never normally encounter.
Who Is PONANT Expedition Travel For?
PONANT has a broad range of itineraries, so I would not define the expedition traveler by age or by a desire to be adventurous at all costs. The common factor is curiosity.
Some travelers may be interested in polar exploration or science. Others may be drawn to history, culture, gastronomy or a particular destination. The right itinerary can bring those interests together with the PONANT small-ship experience.
This is particularly valuable in regions where luxury land-based accommodation is not always consistent with what our clients expect. In parts of Central America and other less-developed luxury markets, a small expedition vessel can provide a more comfortable and logistically straightforward way to explore. The ship becomes the refined base from which the destination can be experienced.
That combination is one of the reasons I find PONANT so interesting. You can have adventure without making comfort the price of admission.
For me, the essential mindset is simple: expedition travel is about the adventure rather than the speed, schedule or final destination. If you are open to that, even a sunrise over the Strait of Messina, a volcano at sea or an unexpected pod of dolphins can become an expedition in its own right.
Further reading about What Is a PONANT Expedition Cruise Really Like?
Curious About the PONANT Expedition Experience?
The best expedition voyage is one that matches your idea of discovery. 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 explore PONANT's expedition itineraries and determine which voyage best suits your interests, pace and sense of adventure.
Contact us when you feel ready, and we will begin, calmly and thoughtfully, exactly where you are in the process.
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