Experience True Cultural Immersion with PONANT

PONANT travelers know that there’s more to exploring the world by luxury expedition ship than gazing upon astonishing natural wonders and marveling at the relics of ancient civilizations. That’s why we also connect you to local cultures in the most meaningful ways.

Consider the intangibles of travel. The things you can’t necessarily see or touch. The subtle nuances and not-so-subtle differences of culture. The religions practiced and the traditions honored. The generations-old culinary customs still savored to this day. 

Often, it’s these intangibles that linger in our memories long after we return home. They make us feel like we’ve really … well, traveled – in the most in-depth and enriching way. These kinds of moments are woven into the very fabric of our travel style, helping you dive deep into new cultures, and immerse yourself in the day-to-day lives of those who call your destinations home. 

New cultures and breathtaking destinations are at the cornerstone of every PONANT voyage. Below, read about some of our favorite destinations and the culturally immersive experiences you’ll enjoy that truly connect you to local traditions.  

Italy’s Mouthwatering Culinary Culture

In Italy, food is a national obsession. And for good reason. Its gastronomic pleasures extend from the northern Apennines to the southernmost tip of Sicily, from the vineyards of Tuscany to the pizzerias of Napoli. And it’s all tied to the country’s treasured past. You’ll sample some of the very best of Italian kitchens during our Ancient Wonders and Culinary Delights: Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily, a special program in collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys. On this exclusive voyage, you’ll leave no cheese untasted, and no wine uncorked!

You’ll breathe in the fragrance of bergamot, the citrus that lingers in the air in Reggio de Calabria at the toe of Italy’s boot. Beloved as the “prince’s pear” by the Ottomans that once ruled here, the lime-like fruit used in perfumes, teas and confections is a symbol of the city. Bite into pizza Margherita in the city of its birth, Naples. Legend says that the pie was invented by a pizzaiolo (or pizza maker) aiming to please the palate of Queen Margherita. She was pleased by the pie, adorned as it was with the colors of the Italian flag – red, green and white (tomato, basil and mozzarella). 

Sample Sicilian arancini, the addictive deep-fried rice balls stuffed with meat, tomato and cheese; some of them are conical in shape to resemble Mt. Etna, the island’s active volcano.  Let the fresh mozzarella of Campania melt in your mouth. When you do, you’re getting a true taste of Italy as the most authentic mozzarella is made from the milk of the Italian buffalo, the nation’s only indigenous water buffalo. And savor Calabria’s sweet confections, traditional pastries sweetened with local honey. 

Witness the Village Cultures of Papua New Guinea

Your immersion will take on new depth during our luxury small ship expedition that reveals the Cultures and Nature in Papua New Guinea. More than 820 languages are spoken on the island-nation of “PNG,” so you can imagine that it’s been a magnet for anthropologists since Western eyes first came upon its Stone-Age villages. It is widely celebrated among international organizations as hosting the widest variety of intangible cultural heritage elements in the world.

Amidst the unspoiled coastlines and rainforest highlands, local tribes once went to war over territory and property. As recently as the 1960s, the then-Australian-led government led an effort to end the conflicts by creating what locals know today as “sing-sings.” In the Madang region, tribe members dress themselves in animal skins, feathers and pearls and paint their faces in bright colors to embody the spirits of birds, trees and mountains. As many as 80 tribes converge at a sing-sing to stage a mock fight or re-enact a legendary battle. You’ll witness it all to the accompaniment of traditional music.  

You’ll also meet PNG’s Asaro Mudmen of the Madang region. Their traditional mud-cake costumes are topped off by expressive masks finely crafted from mud, then hardened in the sun. There are many origin stories of the mudmen, one of which involves a tribe who escaped capture by hiding in a muddy river. When they emerged, their frightening appearance made their captors believe they were evil spirits. 

Marvel at Islamic Cultures Straddling Past and Future

All along the Arabian Peninsula, futuristic cityscapes meet centuries-old traditions, as you can see during our Cultural Treasures of the Arabian Gulf journey. The star of this massive desert swath is Dubai, the tiny emirate which transformed itself into a gleaming metropolis almost overnight. It has grabbed headlines as the home of the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, soaring just under a half mile tall. Other architectural wonders abound in this city, including the manmade Palm Islands and World Islands, each built to resemble their namesakes. Dubai’s neighbors along the gulf, Abu Dhabi and Doha, are also home to stunning structures that scrape the sun-washed sky. It all speaks to the region’s tremendous oil-fueled wealth that such magnificent oases can rise so gloriously from the desert sands.

Beneath the showy veneer, you’ll witness genuine Arabian authenticity. That’s the thrill of visiting this breathtaking region – experiencing two contradictory cultures at once. Amidst the futurism, traditional souks (Doha’s Souk Waqif and Dubai’s Deira souks) echo the days when camel caravans arrived from far-flung settlements. The call to prayer beckons devout worshippers to massive pristine mosques – including Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Dubai’s Jumeirah Mosque. 

But nowhere embodies the Arabia of old like the Sultanate of Oman. Skyscrapers are banned from Omani cities. Even in the capital Muscat, it’s easy to feel as if you’re stepping into the storybook pages of 1,001 Nights. With low-slung houses and domes and decorative mashrabiya windows built into wooden overhanging balconies, the city has lovingly preserved an Arabic way of life.