PONANT Reviews 533

Ponant offered us an unusual itinerary to a very remote part of the world. The expedition team was very knowledgeable and provided daily lectures on a variety of topics ranging from history to flora and fauna and geology. Service onboard is excellent. The cabins are comfortable and maximize space for storage which was much appreciated.

English speakers, don't hesitate booking a cruise with Ponant. Communication is both in french and english. Why not enjoy an even greater cultural/international experience on board as well as off? The itinearries are exciting. The entertainment is oo la la. The quality is high. The ships are neither too big nor too small. We've never bbeen disappointed.

This was an epic adventure to Antarctica and to the South Shetland, Elephant and South Georgia Islands. Beautiful ship Le Lyrial, wonderful crew, expert expedition team took us to see so much wildlife on land and in the zodiacs. In addition climbed and walked around the rim of a volcano on Penguin Island. It truly was a trip of a lifetime.

Booked a very expensive cruise out of Bali. Cancelled by text message. Finally got hold of someone and explained we were already in Bali waiting for cruise and were told "Enjoy Bali". Tried to follow up afterwards and same level of dismissive customer support. This is a premium cruise line with a Ryanair attitude to customers. Truly disappointing.

Ponant replied to review and asked me to get in contact. I had tried that already and got a truly dismissive response.

Excellent cruise, very attentive staff at all times - in the dining room, at the bar, in reception, and on excursions. Talks by the Smithsonian expert were much appreciated. Also enjoyed have dinner with one of them. Excursions were mainly excellent, apart from one or two less impressive than the rest. Having paid up front for everything, it was good to find there were no hidden costs added to our (nil) bill at the end.

Wow! What an experience. First time cruising and it felt 5 stars. Food was amazing. Drink selection incredible. Staff were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and approachable. Can't wait to go again.

On October 12, 2024, my wife and I were disembarking the tender to go ashore on Haitiheu, Nuka Hiva Island to see a native show.
The crew was helping my wife of the Le Boreal to get onto the pier.
One of the crew grabbed my wife's left arm while another crew member took her right arm. In this process, the tender and pier separated and my wife’s left leg went down in between the pier and the tender.
She had a great deal of pain in her left shoulder after reaching the shore.
Her left shoe also fell into the water.
When we reached the site where the show was to be held, the ship's nurse attended to her. The nurse placed her arm in a temporary sling to ease her pain and prevent any further undetected damage to her left shoulder. The nurse also gave my wife two pain medication pills.

When we returned to the ship, we saw the ship’s doctor.
He took notes and examined her left arm. He then proceeded to take x-rays of the left shoulder. It was discovered that my wife’s shoulder was fractured. The doctor said no surgery would be necessary. The doctor placed my wife’s left arm in a permanent splint to assist in pain control and healing.
Over the next few days, my wife had to take Hydrocodone and Aleve for pain.

x-ray showed a non-displaced cephalo tubercle fracture of the left humeral head.

Tender was not tied securely to the dock which caused the tender to pull away and resulting in Laura falling in between the tender and the dock. Crew attempted to grab her, and in doing so fractured her left shoulder.

I have written to Ponant and asked for some compensation. Never heard from them.

What an amazing experience to the sub Antarctic Islands over Christmas. Ponant were outstanding with a delightful captain and superb crew who looked after us beautifully making the Christmas trip so special. The expedition crew were outstanding and I feel so blessed to have experienced the wonderful food, the animals and birds, and the great entertainment. I feel nothing else could measure up to this amazing experience in my lovely cabin with a balcony.

Exceptional Privilege to have experienced this cruise with the best naturalist team, Captain and some luck with the weather.

For the number and diversity of people you do a fabulous job! Can't imagine how you could improve on a complicated and varied situation.

Great cruise: fascinating excursions, the ship is a good size - enough facilities, but still small enough to be human. The staff were outstanding, and the food was wonderful.

Not the cheapest way to cruise, but well worth the extra.

We travelled recently to North Pole , starting from Svalbard , Norway to 90’North and returned to Iceland via stops in Greenland aboard the fantastic Le Commandant Charcot .
Our entire booking was facilitated by the Ponant concierge team with Katia Jimenez , Maeva Penissi , and global customer relations manager Steve Faure helped me through entire reservation , deposit , and final booking and a surprise upgrade to highest level suite.
We had an absolute terrific time . We have been on over 13 cruises but last all three have been on Ponant with last two on Le Commandant Charcot .
Here’s the complete review of our North Pole cruise aboard Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot from September 26 to October 12, 2024:
1. Journey Overview: A Route Like No Other
Our adventure began with a flight from Paris to Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen, the gateway to the Arctic. This remote and rugged landscape set the tone for our journey aboard Le Commandant Charcot as we embarked towards the Geographic North Pole. The route took us through some of the world’s most pristine and isolated areas, offering breathtaking landscapes at every turn.

2. Heading to the Geographic North Pole

From Spitsbergen, we sailed through the icy Arctic waters towards the Geographic North Pole. The Polar Class 2 icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot navigated dense ice fields. Watching the ship power through thick ice was thrilling, and exciting
3. The Ship: A Technological and Luxurious Marvel

Le Commandant Charcot combines state-of-the-art technology with sustainable design, setting a new standard for polar exploration. Equipped as a Polar Class 2 icebreaker, the ship offered us the luxury of exploring the Arctic in comfort and safety. The combination of high-end amenities and innovative features made the ship itself a central highlight of our journey. We did Antarctica , Wendell Sea in November on the same ship

4. Luxurious Accommodation & Service

The suite accommodations on board were beautifully designed, spacious, and exceptionally comfortable. We did get a surprise upgrade in the last week before departure. Anna, our room maid/ assistant , maintained our two-room suite impeccably, cleaning it twice daily with great attention to detail. Daria, our butler, was always available and attentive, ensuring that our needs were met with professionalism and warmth.

5. Scenic Route & Expedition

Our route included breathtaking landscapes, from vast ice floes. Each day brought new and stunning vistas, adding to the sense of adventure. Arien, our expedition leader, expertly guided us through the journey, ensuring a safe and engaging expedition. Just amazing .

6. Northern Lights & Wildlife Encounters

One of the most magical aspects of our journey was the Northern Lights, which graced us on several nights.
7.Additionally, we were incredibly fortunate to witness more than 10 polar bear sightings, many of them close-up on ice floes. Watching these majestic animals in their natural habitat was humbling and unforgettable.
8.Captain Patrick Marchesseau was a constant presence throughout, adding a special touch to our experience. His warm personality, humor, and passion for the Arctic made him a true highlight of the journey.

9.Exceptional Dining Experiences

As vegetarians, we were delighted with the culinary creativity and effort put into our meals. Florente, the executive chef, went above and beyond to curate unique and flavorful vegetarian dishes that exceeded our expectations. Avish, maitre d’ at NUNA, and June, also at NUNA for breakfast, provided outstanding service, paying close attention to our dietary preferences and ensuring each meal was a delight. Quentin, Maitre D at SILA, was equally attentive, making every dining experience memorable.

10. Impeccable Hospitality Team

The service from the hospitality team was exceptional. Jean Lou Rodot, the hotel manager, was frequently visible and always ready to assist, ensuring that every aspect of our stay was flawless. Juliette, the cruise director, kept us well-informed and entertained with a perfectly curated itinerary and activities. Leccia Guerin, manager, ensured that we all felt like VIPs, going above and beyond to cater to our needs.

11. Greenland’s Remote and Breathtaking Coastline was extraordinary with glacier climb , zodiac trips and nightly northern lights daily . On our return journey, we explored the eastern coast and did saw few Orcas near Iceland .

Overall I would rate this as the best of all my 13 cruises and I would definitely return on Ponant and explore more of the polar region on this terrific marvel of an icebreaker luxury ship .

It was a luxury experience with rather exhausting expeditions.

Exceeded my expectations in all aspects of the trip. From my initial inquiry and booking through to the voyage itself, Ponant maintained the highest standards of professionalism. Everday was an adventure supplemented with fine dining and fine wine. From the Captain and his officers through to all the other expedition crew, hotel and dining team - they all ensured our expedition went smoothly and made for a lifetime of memories.

Well organised. Friendly and professional staff.

This is a terrific itinerary, mixing expedition style cruising with more conventional excursions. The food was good as it always is and the staff were outstanding. I'm so glad I did this trip and would do it again.

Ponant is luxury on the water. The guests are treated with the utmost care and the staff, in a short period of time, begin to feel like old friends. If ever taking a small ship cruise, Ponant should be your first choice. Remember, however, this is a french cruise line; although, every word is translated for english speakers.

I wanted to match my status as advertised and book a cruise with them. I followed the instruction ponant gave on their website. I didnt receive an answer after over 1 month + one reminder e-mail by me

Edit: They reacted and I received now good support from them

The Northwest Passage is clearly one of the most incredible cruises offered by any company. This unique ship and its abilities in the ice make it possible to offer an itinerary unlike any other in the business, and every aspect of the ship and staff is of the highest quality.