Ponant is a French luxury cruise line founded in 1988 by Jean-Emmanuel Sauvee and a group of French merchant navy officers, taking its name from its first vessel, the three-masted sailing yacht Le Ponant. The company operates a fleet of small-capacity ships sailing under the French flag, positioning itself around intimate expedition and yacht-style cruising rather than large-ship ocean voyages.

The fleet includes the Sisterships and Explorers series of small luxury vessels, several of which feature the Blue Eye multi-sensory underwater lounge, as well as Le Commandant Charcot, a hybrid-electric polar exploration vessel powered by liquefied natural gas that sails to the geographic North Pole and deep Antarctic destinations. Itineraries span the polar regions, tropical seas, and coastal routes worldwide, with expedition teams, naturalist guides, and French-influenced gastronomy on board. Ponant acquired the Tahiti-based line Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019.

Since 2015 Ponant has been owned by Artemis, the holding company of the Pinault family, which also controls the luxury group Kering and auction house Christie's. The company is headquartered in Marseille and sells voyages directly through its website and offices as well as through travel advisors. Ships carry roughly 30 to 270 guests depending on class, with all-inclusive fares covering dining and, on most sailings, open bars and expedition activities.

ラグジュアリークルーズ

Ponant operates a fleet of small luxury expedition ships and yachts under the French flag, carrying roughly 30 to 270 guests. Signature vessels include Le Commandant Charcot, a hybrid-electric polar exploration ship that reaches the geographic North Pole, and Explorer-class ships with the underwater Blue Eye lounge. Fares are largely all-inclusive with French-influenced dining.

ラグジュアリートラベル

Beyond classic cruising, Ponant specializes in expedition travel to the Arctic, Antarctica, and remote tropical archipelagos, with naturalist teams, Zodiac outings, and polar logistics that few operators can match. The company also owns Paul Gauguin Cruises in French Polynesia, extending its reach in bucket-list destinations.