Ponant

Parent company: PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP

This line is in the Luxury filter on this site, but by ship size and what its fare includes we list it as upper-premium. Set the guest's expectations to match.

PremiumSee how Ponant describes itself vs how we list it

Official site Deck plans (CruiseDeckPlans.com) Agent portal: PONANT Pro See where they sail

What to say on a call

Best for

Travelers who want small French-flagged expedition yachts (184-264 guests) with an open bar, free Wi-Fi and an included activity at every portPolar travelers: Antarctica and the Arctic, including the high-Arctic icebreaker Le Commandant CharcotGuests who like a French, bilingual (French/English) atmosphere and Ducasse-led gastronomyExperienced cruisers with status elsewhere, since PONANT matches many other lines' loyalty tiers

1The fare includes all meals, an Open Bar (wines, beer, champagne, spirits, soft drinks, coffee and tea; premium labels extra), free 24/7 Wi-Fi via Starlink, and one included activity at every port of call.
212 French-flagged ships: the sailing yacht Le Ponant, the polar icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, four Sisterships (Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal, Le Lyrial) and six PONANT Explorers with the Blue Eye underwater lounge; the catamaran Spirit of Ponant is chartered whole in the Seychelles.
3PONANT Bonus: up to 30% off the published fare for early booking; the discount shrinks as the ship fills, and agents get the same rates as direct clients.
4PONANT Yacht Club counts PONANT, PONANT YACHTING and Paul Gauguin Cruises voyages; a Status Match converts tiers from many other cruise lines (once per guest).

Payments & cancellations

Final payment

Per cruise line

90 days before the first service

The balance is due no later than 90 calendar days before the start of the first service in the contract (e.g. a pre-cruise hotel or flight, not only the sailing).

Applies to: Reservations made from January 10, 2025 (Compagnie du Ponant GTC linked from the US site)

These are Compagnie du Ponant's international terms (amounts in euros), linked from PONANT's US site (us.ponant.com/terms-conditions); no separate US contract was found.

Deposit

Per cruise line

25% of the price at booking (100% of individual flights and insurance)

At booking: 25% of the cruise and other services, plus 100% of any individual/scheduled flights and insurance premiums.

Applies to: Reservations made from January 10, 2025 (Compagnie du Ponant GTC linked from the US site)

These are Compagnie du Ponant's international terms (amounts in euros), linked from PONANT's US site (us.ponant.com/terms-conditions); no separate US contract was found.

Cancellation penalties

Per cruise line

Sources differ

PONANT's US terms page also links 'Particular Terms and Conditions Le Commandant Charcot', which opens an older full terms document with a different scale (it adds 50% at 120-91 days). We show the current terms for reservations made from January 10, 2025; confirm Le Commandant Charcot terms on the booking.Terms for reservations from Jan 10, 2025 US terms page (lists the Charcot terms)

See details below

Cruise service (PONANT and Paul Gauguin): no fee up to 15 days after booking; from then to 365 days before departure EUR 150 per passenger per cruise; 364-211 days 10%; 210-91 days 25%; less than 91 days 100%. Insurance is non-refundable; individual flights are charged at the actual cost to PONANT; group land/air and private services follow the same 10% / 25% / 100% scale. No-shows get no refund.

Applies to: Reservations made from January 10, 2025

These are Compagnie du Ponant's international terms (amounts in euros), linked from PONANT's US site (us.ponant.com/terms-conditions); no separate US contract was found. The EUR 150 fee before day 365 is in euros, not US dollars.

Onboard extras & packages

Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.

Gratuities (standard rooms): Not included: at the guest's discretion (Ponant's guide: €10-12 pp/day)Per cruise line
Sources differ
The older Le Commandant Charcot terms document linked from PONANT's US terms page lists 'Gratuities to onboard crew, local guides and drivers' as included on Le Commandant Charcot. The current FAQ says gratuities are at the guest's discretion on all ships, which we show.FAQ US terms page (lists the Charcot terms)
Gratuities (suites): Not included: at the guest's discretion (Ponant's guide: €10-12 pp/day)Per cruise line
Sources differ
The older Le Commandant Charcot terms document linked from PONANT's US terms page lists 'Gratuities to onboard crew, local guides and drivers' as included on Le Commandant Charcot. The current FAQ says gratuities are at the guest's discretion on all ships, which we show.FAQ US terms page (lists the Charcot terms)
Drink package: Included (Open Bar: wines, beer, champagne, spirits, all fares)Per cruise line
Premium drink package: Extra cost: premium alcoholic drinks listed on the menu (paid on board; no package price published)Per cruise line
Soda package: IncludedPer cruise line
Non-alcoholic package: Included (mineral water, soft drinks, coffee and tea)Per cruise line
Wi-Fi (basic): Included (free Wi-Fi on all ships, cabins and public areas; Starlink)Per cruise line
Wi-Fi (premium): Included (Wi-Fi free on all ships)Per cruise line
Specialty dining package: Included (all meals; no specialty-dining package sold)Per cruise line
Specialty dining (avg per meal): Included (no extra-charge restaurants)Per cruise line
Fitness classes: Included (group gentle-gym sessions, depending on program and ship); private coaching on Le Commandant Charcot costs extraPer cruise line
Spa / thermal pass: Included (spa and fitness room access; Le Commandant Charcot's snow cabin too); treatments cost extraPer cruise line
Air program: Air sold separately (PONANT air packages, often direct/charter flights); some voyages include flights, marked 'Round-trip flights included' or similarPer cruise line
Other fees & perks: Port taxes included; gratuities at guest's discretion; onboard account in euros (US dollars accepted)Per cruise line

Accessibility & special needs

Open the cruise line's accessibility pagePONANT's FAQ 'Health and accessibility' section covers which ships take guests with reduced mobility, accessible cabins by ship, and boarding conditions.

How to tell the cruise line: Notify PONANT's medical department in writing (medical@ponant.com) when booking, or as soon as the need arises, and if possible at least 30 days before departure; PONANT then confirms whether the guest can sail. Per cruise line
Wheelchairs & scooters: Accessible cabins: 3 on the Sisterships, 2 on each PONANT Explorer, 3 on Le Commandant Charcot. Le Ponant and Spirit of Ponant are not accessible. Guests must travel independently or with a companion; wheelchair users needing permanent help bring their own wheelchair and a companion. Going ashore by tender or Zodiac can be difficult or impossible and is at the captain's discretion. Per cruise line
Blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing: Posters, signage and cabin numbers are in Braille. No hearing-specific services were found on the official pages checked. Per cruise line
Service animals: Not allowed: no animals on board (no service-animal exception stated). Per cruise line
Medical equipment & pregnancy: Doctor and nurse on every ship (Le Ponant: nurse plus telemedicine); consultations and medicines are charged. Every guest signs and returns a certificate listing contraindicated medical conditions before the cruise, and guests on special treatment must tell reservations at booking. Per cruise line

Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.

Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium

Upgrade & suite ladder

entryStaterooms (Lower and Upper deck balcony staterooms; Window or Porthole staterooms on the Sisterships)

Per cruise line

About 193-215 sq ft for two; most have a private balcony (Sisterships also have window/porthole staterooms). Open Bar, Wi-Fi and 24/7 room service as for all guests.

butlerprivate restaurantloungesundeck

midDeluxe Suites and Prestige Suites

Per cruise line

Deluxe Suite about 290-301 sq ft; Prestige Suite about 398-430 sq ft (some Prestige staterooms connect to form Prestige suites for up to 4).

butlerprivate restaurantloungesundeck

luxuryTop suites on the Sisterships and PONANT Explorers (Sisterships: deck 6 suites incl. Owner's Suite; Explorers: Privilege, Grand and Owner's Suites)

Per cruise line

Butler service. Explorers: Privilege Suite about 344 sq ft, Grand and Owner's Suites about 484 sq ft; Sisterships: Owner's Suite about 484 sq ft.

butlerprivate restaurantloungesundeck

luxuryLe Commandant Charcot top suites (Privilege, Grand, Duplex and Owner's Suites)

Per cruise line

Butler service; priority for private fitness lessons (Owner's, Duplex, Prestige, Grand Prestige). Privilege Suite about 516 sq ft, Duplex about 1,011 sq ft, Owner's Suite about 1,237 sq ft (up to 6 guests).

butlerprivate restaurantloungesundeck

Loyalty program

PONANT Yacht ClubPer cruise line

1Major — After 2nd cruise
2Admiral — After 4th cruise
3Grand Admiral — After 7th cruise
4Commodore — After 20th cruise

Guests may say

“PONANT Yacht Club”, “PYC”, “Major / Admiral / Grand Admiral / Commodore”

Status counts across PONANT EXPLORATIONS, PONANT YACHTING and Paul Gauguin Cruises; cruises booked directly with Aqua Expeditions don't count. PONANT also runs a Status Match from other cruise lines' programs (e.g. Crown & Anchor Diamond = Major, Pinnacle = Grand Admiral; Silversea 100+ VS Days = Grand Admiral; Regent Gold and up = Grand Admiral). One match per guest, needs a copy of the other card, applies to new bookings only; Commodore can't be matched.

Military & veterans

We couldn't confirm a military rate on this line's official site. Don't promise one. If a guest asks, check with the line.

How military rates work → Premium

Airport transfers

Sold by PONANT: round-trip flights, airport-port transfers and pre/post-cruise programs; for some cruises PONANT charters planes and transfers as air packages.

Which ports: Not listed; see each voyage page.

Per cruise line

What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.

Cruise family

PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP

Paul Gauguin Cruises Aqua Expeditions

Loyalty between brands: Shared: PONANT Yacht Club. Cruises with PONANT EXPLORATIONS, PONANT YACHTING and Paul Gauguin Cruises all count toward one status, and members use it on PONANT and Paul Gauguin. Cruises booked directly with Aqua Expeditions don't count: Aqua has its own program, Circolo Aqua, status-matched with the Yacht Club.

Per cruise line

See the whole family →

Good to know

One included activity at every port
Per cruise line
Every PONANT cruise includes one activity per port of call, chosen from naturalist-led outings (hikes, Zodiac rides) or local-guide excursions; pre-book about 2 months before departure. Optional paid activities (diving, kayaking) cost extra. Guests who skip an included excursion get no refund.
Child and pregnancy limits
Per cruise line
Children are accepted from age 1 on classic (yachting) cruises, 6 on expedition cruises and 8 on Le Commandant Charcot, with at most five children aged 6-18 per expedition sailing. Women more than 14 weeks pregnant can't sail, and pregnant women can't sail on expedition cruises or Le Commandant Charcot at all.
PONANT Bonus pricing
Per cruise line
Prices on the US site already include the PONANT Bonus, an early-booking discount of up to 30% that shrinks as the ship fills. PONANT says it charges travel agencies the same rates as its direct clients.
Polar gear provided
Per cruise line
On polar cruises PONANT provides a parka in the guest's size and lends boots for the whole cruise, so clients don't need to buy expedition outerwear.
Dress code
Per cruise line
Casual-elegant by day; cocktail attire for gala evenings and white (or black and white) for the Officers' evening. No shorts in the gourmet restaurant at night.
Some voyages include a fly package
Per cruise line
Some voyages are sold with a 'Package included'. For example, The Great Austral Loop (Le Lyrial, March 2027) includes a hotel night in Buenos Aires, a PONANT-selected economy flight to Ushuaia and transfers. Check each voyage page.

Fleet

Ships: 12 ships: Le Ponant (three-masted sailing yacht), Le Commandant Charcot (polar exploration vessel), 4 Sisterships (Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal, Le Lyrial) and 6 PONANT Explorers (Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont d'Urville, Le Bellot, Le Jacques Cartier); plus the charter-only maxi-catamaran Spirit of PonantPer cruise line
Newest ship: Spirit of Ponant (maxi-catamaran, joined 2024; whole-yacht charters in the Seychelles). Newest cruise ships: Le Commandant Charcot (2021) and Le Jacques Cartier, the latest PONANT Explorer.Per cruise line
Ship classes: Sailing yacht (Le Ponant), Polar exploration vessel (Le Commandant Charcot), Sisterships (Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal, Le Lyrial), PONANT Explorers (Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Bougainville, Le Dumont d'Urville, Le Bellot, Le Jacques Cartier), Maxi-catamaran, charter only (Spirit of Ponant)

Where they sail

AntarcticaArctic/GreenlandMediterranean/EuropeNorthern EuropeCaribbeanCentral AmericaSouth AmericaNorth America & Great LakesAfrica & Indian OceanAsiaAustralia/New ZealandSouth PacificTransatlantic

Last full review: 5 Oct 2026·Last updated: 26 Oct 2026

A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.

"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.

Something wrong or missing?

"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.

"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.