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As part of PONANT’s collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys, celebrated archaeologist and geologist Dr. Peter Bobrowsky brings his brilliance and expertise to our London to Lisbon: Cruising Europe’s Western Shores voyage, departing in August 2025. His area of study is – shall we say – vast, spanning the last two million years. “That’s nothing to a geologist,” he recently told us. Here are excerpts from our conversation.
He sums up his passion like this: “I am fascinated by what we do to the earth and what the earth does to us.” Soon, you will be, too.
Sharing a Lifetime of Expertise and Accolades
Dr. Bobrowsky’s enthusiasm for his specialty is effusive and encyclopedic. With 500 publications and 20 books to his credit, Peter is a go-to resource in the global community of geologists. His titles have included Fellow of the Geological Society of America, Secretary General of the International Union of Geological Sciences, and President of the Geological Association of Canada. Among his several awards, this proud Canadian received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Don’t let his academic credentials fool you. A born extrovert, he belies the aloof stereotype of the professor. Relaxed and informal, he’s been a popular international speaker for some 25 years, and particularly enjoys talking with PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys guests. “I feel like we are very much of the same ilk,” he says. “They are curious, educated, well-informed, and interesting. I am always so surprised by the lives they have led! And, of course, preservation of our planet and its cultures is always top of mind.”
The scholar, teacher, and researcher is no stranger to PONANT. This will be his second turn on the London-to-Lisbon itinerary. He has also joined our guests in Antarctica, the Aegean, the Mediterranean, New Zealand, and Norway. We are thrilled that he and Smithsonian Journeys are joining us again.
Longing for Adventure from a Young Age
Dr. Bobrowsky’s interest in geology began at a young age. “As a boy, I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. They were science fiction, of course, but they got me excited about this whole world that we couldn’t see – the world underneath the ocean’s bed. It got me wondering what was down there.”
His curiosity about geology naturally led to an interest in archaeology and in what the passage of time and the shifting earth conceal about ancient humans. “I went on a dig in Algeria and became a student of culture,” he explains. “I was learning what a fascinating place Earth is! I loved doing field work and was soon digging and exploring in more of North Africa, Machu Picchu, Petra …”
A Treasure Trove of UNESCO Sites and Lecture Topics
Since then, Dr. Bobrowsky has had the privilege of working at several of the world’s most magnificent UNESCO World Heritage sites and remains a staunch advocate of them. “Sometimes we forget that UNESCO preserves both the historic structures and, in many cases, the natural environment within which they sit. I think the sites overall are undervalued, so I love shining a spotlight on them. Each one speaks to the ingenuity and resilience of humans as a global species.” He’s especially eager to visit the many sites on the London-to-Lisbon itinerary.
“PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys have put together an incredible journey here. I feel very lucky to have been invited. Not only does it stop in the finest Western Europe ports that are not featured on typical trips. The UNESCO sites are a real treat. France’s Mont-St.-Michel; Spain’s Hercules Tower in A Coruña and Santiago de Compostela; Portugal’s city of Porto and sailing past the Belém Tower at the mouth of the river harbor in Lisbon—all are very special places.”
Dr. Bobrowsky will share his expertise during several lectures drawn from his life’s work. He’ll share a scientific perspective on the world of wine and its terroir. “I’ll tell you what the sommeliers don’t know,” he jokes. He’ll share what the geological community has discovered about the sub-ocean. “70% of the Earth is covered by water, but we still know very little about the earth below our oceans.” And he’ll provide some enlightening data about climate change across millennia.
“Geology and Coastlines Are Like Art”
For all his travels, there are still must-see places on his bucket list. “I’ve been to 120 countries,” he tells us. “But what I love most about any country is its coastline, and there are still many I haven’t seen.”
He travels to Iceland twice each year, but tours on land. He has yet to visit its small, northern ports that are only accessible via small ships such as PONANT’s. Other coasts he’d like to explore include Japan, Greenland, and – ideal for a geologist – the Canary Islands, volcanic in origin.
Why the coastline? “I’m not a transatlantic cruise kind of guy,” he says. “To me, geology and coastlines are like art. I like to be within eyesight of the shore, where landscapes and flora are always changing. If you travel to the same coast in different seasons, you see a completely transformed place. When I’m cruising along the coast, I spend very little time indoors. I prefer to be on deck admiring the ever-changing canvas.”
A Journey That’s Equal Parts Enlightening and Luxurious
Of course, when Dr. Bobrowsky is “indoors” aboard a PONANT luxury small ship, he has something to behold, too. And that’s another reason he loves exploring with us. With fewer than 200 people on board ships like Le Lapérouse, Peter appreciates what that size affords guests. “You get to know your fellow travelers. There are just a few decks; you can walk from bow to stern in no time. We dock at ports that big ships can’t reach. And the international cuisine is amazing.”
Learn more about other PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys voyages that feature knowledgeable experts, like Peter, who enrich the experience by bringing travelers deeper into the region’s history and natural world.
