Announcing Our 2025 PONANT Cruises with Smithsonian Journeys

Since 2022, our alliance with Smithsonian Journeys has added depth and insight to PONANT itineraries. Just ask our travelers! Now, we’re excited to announce our collaborations for 2025. Read on for a preview … and head over here for the full lineup. 

In 2025, we’ve invited experts and scholars from Smithsonian Journeys on a total of 30 voyages. From the warmth of the Greek Islands to the icy wilderness of Antarctica, you’ll enjoy the company and the brilliance of geologists, art historians, cultural historians, literary critics, archaeologists, and many other experts in their fields.

Here are just ten of our 2025 voyages with Smithsonian Journeys.

New Ports, New Itineraries … New Favorites

Cruising the Aegean: Turkey and Greek Isles. This is where western civilization began, in and around the ancient Greek capital of Athens. Countless legends were born on these shores, from the revolutionary teachings of Plato and Socrates in the Acropolis to the pivotal preachings of St. John at Ephesus, from the sultans of Constantinople to the soldiers of the Trojan War. This is a journey into a storied past you won’t want to miss, featuring visits to as many as six UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Cruising the Mediterranean: Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca. Nowhere is evidence of southern Europe’s most influential civilizations more concentrated than on the islands of the Mediterranean. Arab, Byzantine, Roman, Carthaginian, Visigoth, Greek, and others all left their marks here, in ancient ruins, glorious planned cities whose grids are still intact, grand cathedrals and mosques, stunning art, and more. You’ll see many of them on this comprehensive journey.

Lisbon to the Canary Islands by Sea: Spain, Morocco, and the Atlantic Isles. You might think that the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, and the Canary Islands are disparate regions with their own pasts. Our illuminating new voyage shows you otherwise as it unveils architectural, religious, culinary, and artistic histories that are very much interconnected, and wholly breathtaking. Join us on this journey from Iberian shores to the culture-rich archipelago west of Morocco to explore some of the most spectacular cities and natural sites you’ll ever see. 

We’re Making These Great Journeys Even Better

New Zealand’s North and South Islands by Sea. In 2025, PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys are combining both the North and South Islands on one thrilling journey. Plus, we’re helping you explore for two additional nights. Few places on earth match this island nation for its blend of soul-stirring beauty, embrace of indigenous heritage, and spectacular wine regions. Immerse yourself in the welcoming Kiwi and Māori culture, with sailings into the legendary Fiordland National Park and other epic glacial fjords of the South, and the sweeping vistas and geothermal beauty of the North.

Treasures of Japan by Sea. The delicate harmonies of the Japanese archipelago come into sharp focus during our journey into the fabled Far East. There is an artistry to this land, from its Shinto shrines and torii gates to its finely wrought traditional gardens. You’ll witness it all and gain insight into Japan’s gentle traditions during this itinerary enhanced with memorable visits to Hiroshima and Kobe.

Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean. Our latest collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys lets you sail in the wake of gods and heroes. This was the domain of Helen of Troy, mighty Agamemnon, Hercules and the Giants, Dionysus, the twin gods Apollo and Artemis, and so many more. And it’s little wonder—Gods would never settle for any place on earth less beautiful than this. The islands you’ll visit are blanketed with ancient temples and other sites dedicated to a pantheon of immortals. 

Itineraries So Rewarding, We’re Not Changing a Thing

Antarctica: The White Continent. We’re collaborating with Smithsonian Journeys once again in the great white wilderness of Antarctica. In this serene sanctuary, leopard seals drift on ice floes, massive glaciers calve into the sea, and humpback whales breach the surface against a backdrop of soaring, snow-covered peaks. You’ll have the opportunity to explore coastal waters up close by kayak and Zodiac, and gain fascinating insight from expert naturalists along the way.

A Voyage Along the Great Lakes. Once a year, the spectacular colors of autumn enliven the shores of the North American Great Lakes that straddle the United States and Canada, and you’ll have a front-row seat. This massive interconnected network provides a rich and vibrant ecosystem all its own that hosts a rich biodiversity. Made navigable by a series of locks and canals – and rich in Native American history – this is one of the most fascinating bodies of water for sailing. 

Panama and Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America. Lush and tropical, the land bridge that comprises Panama and Costa Rica is nothing short of spectacular. Much of these nations are blanketed by preserved emerald-green rainforest, home to a fantastic menagerie of creatures, from white-faced capuchin monkeys and three-toed sloths to bright-billed toucans and pelicans. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about this region’s unique flora and fauna on a visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), a fascinating, open-air museum dedicated to marine science and conservation. Guided by Smithsonian staff on a specially arranged tour, hear about the latest studies and observe marine species up close. Then, you’ll make a full daylight transit of the Panama Canal, one of humankind’s most impressive engineering marvels. 

Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords. It is a surprise to many that Scotland and Norway are inextricably linked by their Viking pasts. On Scottish shores – in the Orkney and Shetland islands in particular – you’ll notice plenty of remnants and relics from the Viking Age, when the Norse people of Scandinavia spread their influence as far as their longboats would take them. You’ll then sail in the wake of those longboats to Norway, deep into breathtaking fjords whose precipitous slopes dwarf our ship. It’s a magnificent journey unlike any other.

We hope you’ll join us as we continue to celebrate the invaluable knowledge and insight that Smithsonian Journeys brings to PONANT explorations.

Embark on culturally immersive voyages with PONANT + Smithsonian Journeys.