Ponant Explorations has unveiled a new collection of expert-led themed voyages for 2026. Building on the success of previous themed sailings, these itineraries welcome notable experts and special guests onboard, featuring tailored programming and shore excursions that provide deeper connections to each destination.
Each voyage is designed to inspire guests by blending cultural immersion with educational insight, offering a more personalized journey focused on individual passions, be it art, music, gastronomy or geopolitics. Highlights of the themed voyages for 2026 include:
- “Epicurean Delights: The Food & Wine of Sicily” (April 11–19, 2026) – Traveling roundtrip from the UNESCO-listed treasures of Valletta, this gastronomic journey aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville circumnavigates Sicily to explore its rich culinary heritage. Guests will experience firsthand the diverse influences—Greek, Roman, Arabic and Norman—that have shaped Sicily’s food culture through shore excursions focused on local ingredients, cooking traditions and wine production. Onboard, Sicilian food expert and author Fabrizia Lanza will guide travelers through local flavors and culinary history, while acclaimed oenologist and winemaker Laetitia Ouspointour will lead tastings of regional varieties. As a special treat, Italian chef Denny Imbroisi and his team will prepare Sicilian and Italian dishes aboard for guests to enjoy during the voyage.
- “A Celebration of Art Featuring the 61st Venice Biennale” (July 1–9, 2026) – This voyage aboard Le Bougainville explores the artistic heritage of Sicily and Italy’s Adriatic coast, from the Greco-Roman ruins of Syracuse to the UNESCO-listed trulli houses in Alberobello and the Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna. The centerpiece of this sophisticated art-focused sailing is two full days in Venice featuring exclusive access to exhibitions and events at the 61st Venice Biennale including a tour of the Contemporary Art Biennale and private access to the Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi—both part of the Pinault Collection museums. This journey will feature lectures and discussions onboard, led by accompanying art experts including Christie’s auction house dignitary Kathryn Widing, who serves as its SVP, senior specialist in Post-War and Contemporary Art, and head of the 21st Century Evening Sale in New York.
- “A Celebration of Art: The French & Italian Rivieras and Corsica” (July 10–18, 2026) – With a focus on rich artistic traditions and contemporary cultural scenes, this roundtrip journey from Nice aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville explores the Mediterranean’s most glamorous coastlines revealing the lands that inspired Impressionist and Neoclassic masters with visits to the castles and homes where Renoir and Picasso once lived and worked. Access to museums and events range from Corsica’s own Biennale of Bonifacio (contemporary art) to the Vatican Museum and Rome’s Villa Borghese. Portoferraio enchants with its villas and gardens, while Portofino welcomes with its shops and galleries. This voyage will include lectures and discussions aboard with accompanying art experts, including Ottavia Marchitelli, director and senior specialist of Impressionist and Modern Art and G. Max Bernheimer, former deputy chairman and international department head for Antiquities—both at Christie’s auction house.
- “Sailing the Mediterranean with the Paris Opera Ballet” (July 29–August 6, 2026) – The art of ballet will be showcased by dancer Roxane Stojanov, among other performers from Opéra national de Paris, on this voyage roundtrip from Nice, covering the shores of northwest Italy and Corsica. Guests aboard Le Boréal will be moved by dance shows onboard as well as two 60-minute performances on shore. Throughout the sailing, there also will be a chance to learn from the dancers during discussions, screenings and dance lessons. Among the itinerary highlights are a chance to discover a more preserved side of Corsica, such as the peninsula of Revelatta and Propriano, as well as “hidden gem” islands peppered off the coast of Tuscany.
- “A World Affairs Voyage from Copenhagen to London” (August 26–September 5, 2026) – This voyage aboard Le Champlain examines Europe’s evolving geopolitical landscape as it navigates lands rich with Hanseatic history. Experts include former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis, who will provide context and analysis on issues facing the region today. Shore excursions will connect historical sites to contemporary politics, offering insights into the forces shaping European and global affairs. Highlights include visits to institutions of international cooperation and military heritage, such as the International Court of Justice, the European Parliament and Brussels’ Royal Military Museum. The program also features World War II sites such as the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Atlantic Wall and Dunkirk. This sailing ends docked near the London Bridge.
- “A Symphony at Sea: The Musical Traditions of Greece” (October 18–25, 2026) – Traveling roundtrip from Athens, this Greek Isles journey explores the musical heritage of Greece highlighting both classical traditions and folk influences. It features a series of musical performances onboard Le Champlain, led by celebrated Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and six distinguished musicians—pianist Jihye Chang, cellist Alistair MacRae, soprano Allison Pohl, violist Scott Rawls, and violinists Wendy Rawls and Benjamin Sung. In addition to visiting UNESCO sites from the Palace of Knossos to the Acropolis of Lindos and the island of Delos, musical discovery includes traditional folkloric dances in Crete and a visit to the Symposion Music & Mythology Cultural Center in Santorini.
Onboard educational content and shore excursions on Ponant Explorations’ expert-led themed voyages will be offered in both English and French. The exception is “A World Affairs Voyage,” which will operate in English only. All-inclusive fares feature a shore excursion in each port of call and roundtrip airport transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days.
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