Ponant & The Smithsonian: Cruising for the Intellectually Curious
The folks at Ponant have teamed up with Smithsonian Journeys—the travel program of the world-famous Smithsonian—to offer 17 cruises in 2022 curated to satisfy our instinct to explore.
Photo courtesy of Ponant
If you’ve ever visited The Smithsonian, you’ve likely been bowled over by the sheer vastness of it. It’s the world’s largest museum complex and houses over 155 million artifacts and specimens, celebrating culture and history around the world. It’s a must-visit for all who find themselves perpetually curious, always eager to learn more.
It makes sense, then, that Smithsonian Journeys (the travel program of The Smithsonian) have partnered with our dear friends at Ponant to bring the spirit of The Smithsonian into seventeen unique cruise itineraries. Ponant has consistently been a leader in small-ship luxury cruising, and these new cruises—set across dates in 2022—will focus on culture, history, and the natural world, celebrating our natural instinct to keep exploring.
On these Smithsonian itineraries, guests will have the chance to retrace the history of lost cities and ruined empires in Greece; craft udon noodles by hand at a specialized school in Japan; watch beluga whales breech at an Icelandic sanctuary; and marvel at glaciers in Antarctica and the Arctic. It’s not all far-flung destinations, though. There are unexpected discoveries to be made even close to home, in destinations such as America’s Great Lakes, lush and green Costa Rica and Panama, and the pristine Caribbean Sea.
Each departure will be hosted by a team of Smithsonian Journeys experts. When you’re not off exploring with your expert guides, enjoy a series of enlightened conversations onboard, an intellectual’s dream! Each expert has been chosen for their expertise and ability to inspire, and these passionate experts will bring the core themes of The Smithsonian with them wherever you might find yourself around the world.
Aside from the undeniably in-depth itineraries, it’s important to note that Ponant is a shining star in the cruise world for a good reason. The setting you’ll find yourself in onboard is fully five-star, with attentive service and exquisite fine dining. Plus, their fares are wonderfully all-inclusive, so you won’t have a care in the world from the moment your feet touch down in destination. Who says you have to give up the feeling of luxury to have an authentic travel experience?
Speaking of authentic... Picture visiting Santiago de Compostela on Easter Sunday with a knowledgeable historian. Or feeling as though you’ve traveled back in time as you stand on the ancient basalt rock of an Icelandic fjord with a geologist. Or touring the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute with an ecologist studying the exact Panamanian rainforest that you’ll hike the next day. All of these ideas may seem like the idea of a dizzy daydream, but that’s what you can expect if you embark on a Smithsonian Journey with Ponant.
We’ll give you a quick run-through of the included itineraries. There are fourteen different itineraries, and a few of them have multiple sailings, giving you a total of seventeen options for sailing. If one tickles your fancy, the team at Poe Travel is ready to provide further details including a day-by-day itinerary. You need only ask.
Ponant’s Smithsonian Sailings
1. Antarctica: The White Continent
Ushuaia to Ushuaia
1/22/22 to 2/1/22
With nine nights onboard and eleven days total (including a pre-/post-cruise stay in Buenos Aires and all transfers), this is the perfect way to explore the heart of the icy Arctic Peninsula. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 30% off.
2. Panama & Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America
Colon to Puerto Caldera
1/24/22 to 1/31/22
Photo courtesy of Atanas Malamov on Unsplash
Discover Panama and Costa Rica with Ponant on this splendid eight-day cruise aboard Le Champlain, which explores the region’s abundant natural splendors, local indigenous communities, and the modern marvel of the Panama Canal. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
3. Cruising the Caribbean’s Windward Islands
Vieux Fort to Bridgetown
2/13/22 to 2/20/22
Board Le Dumont-d’Urville for an eight-day cruise combining long stretches of white-sand beach, idyllic turquoise waters, and the laid-back island way of life. Visit St. Lucia, Domenico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and more. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
4. Lisbon to London: Cruising Europe’s Western Shores
Lisbon to London
4/15/22 to 4/23/22
Hop onboard Le Champlain for a nine-day cruise along the coasts of Portugal, Spain, and France. Plus, the team at Poe Travel would be happy to assist with any pre- or post-cruise itinerary if you’d like to extend your trip. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 15% off.
5. Treasures of Japan by Sea
Kobe to Osaka
4/15/22 to 4/22/22
Photo courtesy of David Edelstein on Unsplash
This exploration of Japan is an 8-day cruise which allows you to discover the many traditions and emblematic sites of the Land of the Rising Sun. If you wanted to extend your explorations further on land, the team at Poe Travel can help design a bespoke itinerary to accompany the cruise. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
6. Cruising Southern Spain & Portugal
Lisbon to Barcelona
5/3/22 to 5/10/22 OR 10/8/22 to 10/15/22
Set sail aboard Le Bougainville on an exceptional eight-day itinerary that will take you along the Portuguese and Spanish coasts, from Lisbon to Barcelona, with a deep cultural exploration along the way. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
7. Cruising the Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea
Stockholm to Copenhagen
5/18/22 to 5/25/22
Discover Saint Petersburg and other cities steeped in history of the Baltic Sea. From Stockholm, you will board Le Champlain for an eight-day cruise, including three exceptional days in the former capital of the Tsars. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 10% off.
8. Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice
Reykjavik to Reykjavik
6/6/22 to 6/13/22 OR 8/8/22 to 8/15/22
Discover the most beautiful landscapes on the Icelandic west coast during an eight-day Ponant cruise. On the edge of the Arctic, between vast glaciers, vertiginous fjords, volcanoes, and boiling geysers, Iceland offers a kaleidoscope of wild and romantic landscapes. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
9. Cruising Arctic Norway: Glaciers, Ice Floes, and Polar Bears
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen (roundtrip)
6/14/22 to 6/23/22
Experience something exceptional by discovering the Far North and the immense open spaces of the polar Arctic and its ice floes that extend to the North Pole. You will board the ship at Longyearbyen in Norway for an eight-day expedition cruise to the heart of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
10. Celtic Voyage: The Hebrides & the Irish Sea
Glasgow to Fairlie (Glasgow)
6/17/22 to 6/23/22
Enjoy a seven-day cruise on an exceptional itinerary to discover the rich cultural history and stunning landscapes of the Celtic lands. During your week onboard, you’ll explore parts of Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 15% off.
11. Cruising the Dalmatian Coast & the Ionian Sea
Venice to Athens
6/28/22 to 7/5/22
Photo courtesy of Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash
Set sail to discover the cultural and artistic jewels of the Ionian, Adriatic and the Aegean Seas with Ponant. During this eight-day cruise, Le Jacques-Cartier will take you to Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
12. Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean
Athens to Athens
7/5/22 to 7/12/22 OR 9/1/22 to 9/8/22
With this exceptional itinerary, Ponant invites you to enjoy a wonderful interlude discovering the cultural and natural treasures of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. From Athens, set sail aboard Le Jacques-Cartier for an eight-day cruise to the most beautiful Greek islands of the Aegean Sea and delight not only in the rich cultural heritage but also in refreshing dips in the turquoise waters of the archipelago. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 25% off.
13. Cruising the Norwegian Fjords
Bergen to Oslo
7/30/22 to 8/6/22
Cruise with Ponant on an exceptional itinerary and discover the beauty of the Norwegian fjords. Come aboard the Le Dumont-d'Urville for an eight-day cruise and sail along the Norwegian coastline, whose vertiginous cliff faces have been sculpted by the wind and the sea, giving rise to many unspoiled fjords. Poe Travel clients will enjoy fares up to 5% off.
14. A Voyage Along the Great Lakes
Toronto to Milwaukee
9/18/22 to 9/25/22
Set sail with Ponant aboard Le Bellot for an eight-day cruise to discover the Great Lakes amidst the splendid colors of early autumn. Please note availability on this cruise is already very limited!
If you would like to Go Away on a Smithsonian Journey with Ponant (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us. We will check dates and rates and set you on your way, making sure you receive the VIP treatment from start to finish.