Our Alliance With PONANT

Enriching Experiences on the Seas

We invite you to awaken your sense of wonder on a voyage with Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT, a leader in small-ship cruises. Together, we continue to create new and unique Smithsonian experiences on each voyage that embrace cultural immersion and discovery. On each of these curated itineraries, you’ll explore with fellow Smithsonian Journeys travelers and enjoy an included excursion or activity in every port of call. Each cruise features two Smithsonian Journeys Experts, who enrich your experience with their passion, insight, and in-depth knowledge, and bring you deeper into the history and natural world of the region you’re exploring.

Life on Board a Smithsonian Journeys/PONANT Cruise

Aboard the PONANT fleet, you’ll experience the refined elegance of an intimate ship with a relaxed, informal ambiance. Accommodating just 184 to 264 guests, these nimble ships can access small ports, narrow waterways, and remote destinations, while providing guests attentive and personalized service. You’ll unpack once and set off on an unforgettable adventure with like-minded travelers, enjoying a range of amenities and inviting lounges and common spaces. Excellent cuisine can be savored in gracious dining rooms or alfresco on deck, and enlightening lectures and discussions will give you ample food for thought.

Each departure includes:

• Two Smithsonian Journeys Experts

• An included shore excursion or activity in each port of call, as noted in the itinerary

• Airport transfers between the airport and the ship on cruise embarkation and disembarkation days

• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions

• Complimentary open bar and free Wi-Fi aboard ship

• Gratuities to ship personnel, porters, guides, drivers

Take a look at the Smithsonian Journeys/PONANT Cruises for 2023–2024

∙ A Circumnavigation of Sicily – page 18

∙ Ancient Wonders and Culinary Delights: Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily NEW! – page 19

∙ Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea – page 26

∙ Mediterranean Island Voyage: Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba NEW! – page 27

∙ Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean – page 28

∙ Cruising Southern Spain and Portugal – page 32

∙ Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords Voyage – page 59

∙ Celtic Voyage: The Hebrides and the Irish Sea – page 60

∙ Cruising the Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea – page 64

∙ Cruising the Norwegian Fjords – page 65

∙ Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice – page 66

∙ Cruising the Mediterranean: Greece, Sicily, and Malta NEW! – page 68

∙ Southern France and the Italian Riviera by Sea NEW! – page 68

∙ Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage NEW! – page 71

∙ A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – page 72

∙ Voyage Along the St. Lawrence: From Québec to the Canadian Maritimes NEW! – page 73

∙ Cruising the Caribbean’s Windward Islands – page 80

∙ Panama and Costa Rica by Sea – page 81

∙ Ancient Civilizations by Sea: Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey NEW! – page 94

∙ Cruising the Arabian Coast – page 95

∙ Cultural and Natural Treasures of Japan by Sea NEW! – page 99

∙ New Zealand’s South Island by Sea: A Voyage to the Fiordland NEW! – page 105

∙ Antarctica: The White Continent – page 108