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 al fresco 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 to and from 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 25

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

∙ Cruising the Mediterranean: Greece, Sicily, and Malta NEW! – page 27

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

∙ Southern France and the Italian Riviera by Sea NEW! – page 32

∙ Mediterranean Island Voyage: Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba NEW! – page 33

∙ Cruising Southern Spain and Portugal – page 34

∙ 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

∙ A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – page 71

∙ Symphony on the St. Lawrence: From Québec to the Canadian Maritimes NEW! – page 72

∙ Cruising the Caribbean’s Windward Islands – page 78

∙ Panama and Costa Rica by Sea – page 79

∙ Cruising the Arabian Coast – page 92

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

∙ Cultural and Natural Treasures of Japan by Sea NEW! – page 97

∙ New Zealand’s South Island by Sea: A Voyage to the Fiordland NEW! – page 104

∙ Antarctica: The White Continent – page 105

Europe

Highlights of Italy was truly the trip of a lifetime. We did and saw things we never would have had we made the trip on our own.

– Diane C., Highlights of Italy

16 days from $6,374

Includes airfare, taxes, & all fees Oct. 3–18, Oct. 26–Nov. 10, 2023 & Apr. 9–24, Apr. 16–May 1, Apr. 30–May 15, May 14–29, Sept. 3–18, Sept. 10–25, Oct. 8–23, Oct. 24–Nov. 8, 2024

Set off on a grand tour of Italy’s most beloved sites, making your way from the spectacular Amalfi Coast to the canals of Venice. Encounter history and world-renowned art in the captivating cities of Rome and Florence, and follow guides into the storied walled towns of Siena and San Gimignano. Along the way, enjoy wine tasting and visits to lesser-known sites; and stay in wonderful lodgings including a stunning resort on the Amalfi Coast, a Tuscan villa in the Chianti hills, and a canal-side hotel in Venice.

Highlights Include

Amalfi Coast and Pompeii: Take a cruise along the Amalfi Coast, explore gem-like hilltop towns overlooking the sea, and enjoy a coastal drive with spectacular views. Tour the stunning Villa Rufolo in Ravello, the excavated city of Pompeii, and the lovely Benedictine abbey of Montecassino.

Rome: Capture the essence of ancient Rome with a tour of the Colosseum and the Forum. Step inside the Borghese Gallery to view masterpieces by Bernini, Titian, Caravaggio, and other major artists. Then spend a day at the Vatican, touring St. Peter’s Basilica; the Sistine Chapel; and the Vatican Museums, featuring works by Michelangelo and Raphael.

Umbria and Tuscany: Stay in enchanting Orvieto, perched high above the surrounding landscape, and delve into art and culture. View Giotto’s renowned frescoes in the basilica at Assisi, and see how the traditions of hand-painted Majolica ceramics continue today in Deruta. In Tuscany, experience the World Heritage site of San Gimignano, and get a close-up look at medieval life at the interactive exhibits of San Gimignano 1300. Continue to Siena to explore the fan-shaped Campo and see works by Michelangelo and Donatello at the Duomo.

Florence: See Michelangelo’s David and other sculptures at the Galleria dell’Accademia and visit the revered Duomo, capped by the stupendous dome by Brunelleschi. Enjoy free time to explore the city’s treasures on your own.

Venice: From your base at a centrally located waterfront hotel, tour St. Mark’s Square and explore the museums and canals of this magical city at leisure.

Limited to 24 Smithsonian Journeys guests.

Allan Langdale (May 14)–architectural historian. Janet Duncan Jones (Oct. 26)–expert in archaeology and the classics.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

Northern Italy: The Lake District, Tuscany, and the Dolomites

15 days from $6,674

Includes airfare, taxes, & all fees

Sept. 13–27, Oct. 4–18, 2023 & Apr. 17–May 1, May 18–June 1, 2024

Make your way across five regions of Northern Italy, exploring a plethora of natural and cultural treasures including seven World Heritage sites. Soak up the delights of the Italian Lake District, and sample premier vintages at a winery in Barolo. Stay on the Italian Riviera and cruise the rugged Ligurian coast to Portofino and to the spectacular Cinque Terre. In the Tuscan cities of Florence and Siena, enjoy guided tours of Renaissance masterpieces and plenty of free time. Then get acquainted with the unique culture of South Tyrol, and travel through the mighty Dolomites to end your journey amid the storied canals of Venice.

Highlights Include

Italian Lake District: Spend three nights in Stresa, a haunt of Ernest Hemingway situated on beautiful Lake Maggiore. Cruise to Isola Bella to explore a 17th-century palace and its extravagant gardens. Then travel to nearby Lake Orta to meander through the medieval, cobblestone lanes of lovely Orta San Giulia

Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre: Stay in the resort town of Santa Margherita and experience the highlights of the Ligurian coast on a morning boat ride to Portofino and a full-day cruise to the villages of the World Heritagelisted Cinque Terre.

Florence and Tuscany: Settle into a palace in the Chianti hills and set out to explore Tuscany. Gain insights into the Renaissance treasures of Florence on a guided tour of the Accademia and the Duomo. Explore the narrow streets of Lucca, fortified by thick medieval walls. In Siena, discover the Piazza del Campo and the unusual Duomo, and learn about the city’s 500-year-old Paleo horserace at a contrada museum.

South Tyrol: Soak up the unique, German-influenced culture of South Tyrol during two nights in the captivating city of Bolzano. See the mummy and artifacts of Ötzi the Iceman and take in views of the majestic Dolomites.

The Veneto: Visit the World Heritage site of Verona, renowned for its Roman arena and the setting for three Shakespeare plays. Conclude in Venice with a walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, a visit to a gondola workshop, and free time to explore on your own.

Limited to 24 Smithsonian Journeys guests.

Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Stephen Clancy (Oct. 4)–art historian. Charles Ingrao (Sept. 13)–historian.

Southern Italy and Sicily

15 days from $6,474

Includes airfare, taxes, & all fees

Sept. 14–28, Sept. 30–Oct. 14, Oct. 16–30, 2023 & Apr. 4–18, Apr. 24–May 8, Sept. 12–26, Sept. 28–Oct. 12, Oct. 18–Nov. 1, 2024

Italy’s southernmost regions present an array of distinct landscapes and cultures—from the Greco-Roman ruins of Sicily to the whitewashed villages of Apulia, Italy’s “boot heel,” to the rugged splendor of the Amalfi Coast. Immerse yourself in these spectacular regions, savoring delightful culinary and architectural traditions, exploring one World Heritage site after the next, and enjoying plenty of free time to soak up the charms of gems like Taormina, Matera, and Capri.

Highlights Include Sicily: Spend four nights in lovely Taormina and set out on daily excursions to visit some of eastern Sicily’s highlights. Tour the town’s Greek Theater and the World Heritage-listed Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Enjoy lunch at a family farm on the slopes of Mt. Etna—and a private lesson in making cannoli.

Matera: Take a guided tour of this cliff-top tufa town, venturing into ancient troglodyte churches and sassi cave houses where humans lived as far back as the Paleolithic era. Discover the unique urban plan established centuries ago and learn how Matera was transformed from “the shame of Italy” into a World Heritage site during the late 20th century. Stay in a restored cave dwelling in the heart of the town.

Apulia: Travel down Italy’s “boot heel” visiting remarkable sites such as Alberobello, home to hundreds of cone-shaped trulli houses; the whitewashed hilltop gem of Ostuni; and Lecce, “the Florence of the South,” where you’ll learn about the town’s papier-mâché tradition at a private demonstration. Savor a wine tasting and dinner in the gardens of a palazzo.

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast: During four nights in the lovely town of Sorrento, learn about ongoing excavations on a tour of the evocative ruins of Pompeii, take a hydrofoil to Capri for time to explore, and wind along the dramatic Amalfi Coast on a breathtaking drive from Sorrento to Amalfi. Take part in a hands-on Neapolitan cooking lesson—and savor your concoctions over dinner.

Limited to 24 Smithsonian Journeys guests.

Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Allan Langdale (Sept. 14/Sept. 30/Oct. 16)–art and architectural historian. Gary Radke (Apr. 24)–art historian.