Ponant 2026 Expert-Led Themed Voyages Announced

PONANT EXPLORATIONS has unveiled a new collection of expert-led themed voyages for 2026. Building on the success of previous themed sailings, these carefully curated itineraries welcome notable experts and special guests on board, featuring tailored programming and shore excursions that provide deeper connections to each destination. 

Each voyage is designed to inspire guests by blending cultural immersion with educational insight, offering a more personalized journey focused on individual passions. Experiences include musical performances led by Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, exclusive access to the 61st Venice Biennale, and insight shared by former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis. A selection of voyages featuring the Pinault Collection and experts from Christie’s further strengthen PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ position within the arts. 

"The 2026 themed voyages reflect our deep commitment to creating transformative educational travel experiences that go beyond traditional exploration," said Samuel Chamberlain, PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP’s CEO of the Americas. "These journeys invite guests to discover the world through a specialized lens—whether art, music, gastronomy, or geopolitics—with world-class professionals who represent the zenith of their area of expertise. From onboard enrichment to shoreside discovery, each voyage is designed to offer meaningful engagement with the cultural fabric, historical context, and contemporary significance of the places we explore." 

Highlights of the 2026 themed voyages include: 

Epicurean Delights: The Food & Wine of Sicily  

April 11-19, 2026 | Roundtrip Valletta | Le Dumont d’Urville 

Traveling roundtrip from the UNESCO-listed treasures of Valletta, this gastronomic journey circumnavigates Sicily to explore its rich culinary heritage. Guests will experience firsthand the diverse influences—Greek, Roman, Arabic, Norman—that have shaped Sicily's food culture through specially designed shore excursions focused on local ingredients, cooking traditions, and wine production. On board, Sicilian food expert and author Fabrizia Lanza will guide travelers through local flavors and culinary history, while acclaimed Oenologist and Winemaker Laetitia Ouspointour will lead tastings of regional varieties. As a special treat, renowned Italian Chef Denny Imbroisi and his team will prepare authentic Sicilian and Italian dishes aboard for guests to enjoy during the voyage. Fares begin at $9,260 per guest based on double occupancy. 

A Celebration of Art Featuring the 61st Venice Biennale 

July 1-9, 2026 | Valletta to Venice | Le Bougainville 

This carefully curated voyage explores the artistic heritage of Sicily and Italy's Adriatic coast, from the Greco-Roman ruins of Syracuse to the UNESCO-listed trulli houses in Alberobello and the Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna. The centerpiece of this sophisticated art-focused sailing is two full days in Venice featuring exclusive access to exhibitions and events at the prestigious 61st Venice Biennale including a hosted tour of the Contemporary Art Biennale and private access to the Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi—both part of the Pinault Collection museums. This journey will feature engaging lectures and discussions on board, led by accompanying art experts that include Christie’s auction house dignitary Kathryn Widing, who serves as its Senior Vice President, Senior Specialist in Post-War and Contemporary Art, and Head of the 21st Century Evening Sale in New York. Fares begin at $8,450 per guest based on double occupancy. 

A Celebration of Art: The French & Italian Rivieras and Corsica 

July 10-18, 2026 | Roundtrip Nice | Le Dumont d’Urville 

With a focus on rich artistic traditions and contemporary cultural scenes, this journey explores the Mediterranean's most glamorous coastlines revealing the lands that inspired Impressionist and Neoclassic masters with exclusive visits to the castles and homes where Renoir and Picasso once lived and worked. Access to world-class museums and events range from Corsica’s own Biennale of Bonifacio (contemporary art) to the Vatican Museum and Rome’s Villa Borghese. Portoferraio enchants with its villas and gardens while Portofino welcomes with its shops and galleries. This voyage will include engaging lectures and discussions aboard with accompanying art experts, including Ottavia Marchitelli, Director and Senior Specialist of Impressionist and Modern Art and G. Max Bernheimer, former Deputy Chairman and International Department Head for Antiquities—both at Christie's auction house. Fares begin at $7,700 per guest based on double occupancy. 

Sailing the Mediterranean with the Paris Opera Ballet 

July 29-August 6, 2026 | Roundtrip Nice | Le Boréal 

In rhythm with the Mediterranean Sea, the art of ballet will be showcased by Star Dancer Roxane Stojanov, among other performers from Opéra national de Paris, on this special voyage covering the captivating shores of northwest Italy and Corsica. Guests will be moved by dance shows on board as well as two exclusive, one-hour performances on shore. Throughout the sailing, there also will be a chance to learn from the dancers during discussions and screenings, while a teacher from Opéra national de Paris will provide guests with dance lessons. Among the itinerary highlights are a chance to discover a more preserved side of Corsica, such as the peninsula of Revelatta and Propriano, as well as “hidden gem” islands peppered off the coast of Tuscany. Fares begin at $7,530 per guest based on double occupancy. 

A World Affairs Voyage from Copenhagen to London 

August 26-September 5, 2026 | Copenhagen to London | Le Champlain 

Steeped in legacies both medieval and modern, this voyage examines Europe's evolving geopolitical landscape as it navigates lands rich with Hanseatic history. Distinguished experts include Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis, who will provide context and analysis on issues facing the region today. Shore excursions will connect historical sites to contemporary politics, offering guests unique insights into the forces shaping European and global affairs. Voyage highlights include visits to leading institutions of international cooperation and military heritage, such as the International Court of Justice, the European Parliament, and Brussels’ Royal Military Museum. The program also features pivotal World War II sites such as the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Atlantic Wall, and Dunkirk, and this sailing ends docked near the London Bridge. Fares begin at $9,140 per guest based on double occupancy. 

A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece 

October 18-25, 2026 | Roundtrip Athens | Le Champlain 

Featuring a series of musical performances on board led by celebrated Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and six distinguished musicians—pianist Jihye Chang, cellist Alistair MacRae, soprano Allison Pohl, violist Scott Rawls, and violinists Wendy Rawls and Benjamin Sung—this Greek Isles journey explores the rich musical heritage of Greece highlighting both classical traditions and folk influences. In addition to visiting legendary UNESCO sites from the Palace of Knossos to the Acropolis of Lindos and the island of Delos, musical discovery includes traditional folkloric dances in Crete and a visit to the Symposion Music & Mythology Cultural Center in Santorini. Fares begin at $8,280 per guest based on double occupancy. 

Onboard educational content and shore excursions on PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ expert-led themed voyages will be offered in both English and French. The exception is A World Affairs voyage, which will operate in English-only.