Expedition cruise line · 4 ships · sailing 3 regions — French luxury expeditions, from the North Pole to the tropics.
France's only luxury cruise line and a leader in luxury expedition travel, founded in 1988 by French merchant-navy officers. Ponant pairs genuine expedition access — Zodiacs and remote polar and tropical landings — with understated French luxury: elegant contemporary design, refined service and French gastronomy aboard small, yacht-style ships of roughly 180–270 guests.
Travelers who want expedition adventure without giving up comfort, style and fine dining, and who appreciate a French sensibility. Well suited to couples and design-minded luxury travelers; less suited to families seeking kids' clubs or anyone wanting big-ship entertainment or budget pricing.
A fleet of about a dozen small ships. The six Explorers-class sisters (2018–2021, 184 guests) — including Le Laperouse and Le Bellot — introduced the Blue Eye underwater lounge; the four Ponant-class vessels such as Le Lyrial carry about 264 guests. The flagship is Le Commandant Charcot (2021), a hybrid polar icebreaker, and the line still sails its original three-masted sailing yacht, Le Ponant (32 guests).
The standout vessels in the fleet — and the amenities that set them apart.
the only luxury icebreaker sailing tourists to the North Pole (about 200 guests in Antarctica)
first Explorers-class ship and debut of the Blue Eye lounge
Explorers-class sister ship
French gastronomy is central: since 2016 the fleet's cuisine has been developed with Ducasse Conseil, and select gourmet departures bring Michelin-starred Ducasse chefs aboard for demonstrations and gala dinners. Larger ships offer two restaurants, with French wines and Champagne.
Refined and European in tone — naturalist and guest-expert lectures, live piano and cabaret-style performances, and the Blue Eye lounge — rather than Las Vegas-style production shows.
Primarily an adult, couples-oriented luxury experience; Ponant runs some family-focused departures with children's activities, but it is not a dedicated kids'-club line.
Close to all-inclusive: open bar (house wines, spirits and soft drinks), gratuities, Wi-Fi and Zodiac expedition outings are generally included; premium wines, spa treatments and some shore excursions cost extra, and flights are usually separate.
Regions in Noura's Cruise Navigator, most sailings first. Tap a region for its ports and season.
Le Lapérouse · from Greenock (Glasgow)
Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland → Fort William, Scotland → Oban, Scotland → Tobermory (Isle of Mull), Scotland → Portree (Isle of Skye), Scotland → Greencastle (Inishowen), Ireland → Belfast, Northern Ireland → Warrenpoint (Co. Down), Northern Ireland
Le Lyrial · from Athens (Piraeus)
Athens (Piraeus), Greece → Katakolon (Olympia), Greece → Corfu, Greece → Kotor, Montenegro → Dubrovnik, Croatia → Split, Croatia → Zadar, Croatia → Venice, Italy
Le Lyrial · from Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
Longyearbyen (Svalbard), Norway → Hornsund (Spitsbergen), Norway → Bellsund (Spitsbergen), Norway → Ny-Ålesund (Kongsfjorden), Norway → Smeerenburgfjorden (Amsterdamøya), Norway → Raudfjorden (Spitsbergen), Norway → Longyearbyen (Svalbard), Norway
Le Bellot · from Reykjavík
Reykjavík, Iceland → Heimaey (Westman Islands), Iceland → Akureyri, Iceland → Grímsey, Iceland → Ísafjörður, Iceland → Grundarfjörður (Snæfellsnes), Iceland → Reykjavík, Iceland
Noura turns this intelligence into a real itinerary — flights, hotels with perks, and timing dialled in — at no planning cost to you.
Compare Ponant with other expedition lines — or read how the tiers differ.
DESTINATIONS BY NOURA