Ponant

Ponant are perfect if you like your cruising with a side of champagne, incredible food and a little French flair. These ships feel more boutique hotel than cruise ship, with elegant spaces and a much more relaxed atmosphere onboard.

Ponant’s ships are small by cruise standards, often carrying fewer than 300 guests. That means no crowds, no queues and access to ports and destinations that the big ships simply can’t reach.

Ponant are famous for their incredible itineraries to places like Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland, the Kimberley, French Polynesia and remote Mediterranean ports. If you want to go somewhere your friends probably haven’t even heard of, Ponant are a great place to start.

Being French-owned, it’s probably no surprise that Ponant take food very seriously. Expect beautiful dining, French wines, local specialties and menus that feel a little more gourmet than your average cruise buffet. Reddit travellers rave about the food, included drinks and quality of the dining onboard.

Ponant are one of the few cruise lines that can combine Zodiac landings, polar adventures and wildlife encounters with luxury suites, fine dining and beautiful ships. Their famous Le Commandant Charcot is even the world’s only luxury icebreaker.

One of the things people love most about Ponant is that their itineraries are always changing. Repeat cruisers often say they choose Ponant because the ships can get into remote places other cruise lines can’t, and the voyages feel much more exclusive and one-of-a-kind.