When a cruise line teams up with The Explorers Club, you know this isn’t your average floating buffet. PONANT Explorations Group, the luxury French expedition brand known for its taste for the extraordinary, has announced that its partnership with The Explorers Club will soon span all three of its cruise lines, including Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions, starting from late 2026.
What began in 2024 as a bold initiative to bring genuine field exploration to sea has quickly evolved into one of the most prestigious collaborations in modern cruising. PONANT’s alliance with The Explorers Club, the venerable New York-based institution that has supported field research, science and conservation for more than 120 years, now extends far beyond icy poles and tropical atolls. It’s an open invitation to sail not just across oceans, but through history, knowledge and curiosity itself.
Science, stories and the spirit of adventure
Aqua Mare ©Courtesy of Aqua Expedition
These newly expanded voyages promise to be more than mere itineraries. They’re floating seminars for the globally curious. Guests will share deck space with scientists, filmmakers, authors, photographers, and conservationists, all members of The Explorers Club, whose alumni include Sir Edmund Hillary and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
The upcoming season will see two notable departures aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin and four with Aqua Expeditions, as part of the winter 2026–2027 calendar. Together with PONANT’s own sailings, the partnership will encompass more than 15 voyages in 2026 and 2027.
Among the marquee names joining the lineup is Peter Hillary, New Zealand mountaineer and son of Sir Edmund Hillary, who continues his father’s legacy of exploration with equal humility and humour. American filmmaker, author and conservationist John Heminway will also be on deck in 2027, bringing his trademark storytelling flair to the open seas.
From laboratory to luxury
Far from a marketing gimmick, PONANT’s collaboration with The Explorers Club folds scientific integrity into luxury cruising. Onboard Le Commandant Charcot, PONANT’s icebreaking vessel designed for polar research, Explorers Club Science Grantees will conduct genuine research projects from climate observation to marine biodiversity studies in the ship’s purpose-built laboratories.
Passengers, meanwhile, can contribute as “citizen scientists,” gathering environmental data or learning how expedition research actually unfolds. It’s an elegant marriage of intellect and indulgence — with the clink of Champagne glasses never too far away.
“Education and enrichment have always been a cornerstone of PONANT’s philosophy,” said a company spokesperson. “Through The Explorers Club partnership, our guests aren’t just spectators of discovery; they become part of it.”
A legacy continued
Founded in 1904, The Explorers Club has long championed the spirit of discovery. Its iconic headquarters on Manhattan’s Upper East Side still echoes with the stories of the first explorers to reach the North and South Poles, climb Everest, and walk on the Moon.
By extending this partnership to Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions, PONANT is cementing its position as the world’s most intellectually engaged luxury cruise operator, one that believes curiosity should be as much a part of travel as comfort.
For travellers who prefer lectures to limbo contests and stargazing to karaoke, these voyages offer something rare: a genuine connection with the planet, guided by those who’ve devoted their lives to understanding it.
Bookings and beyond
The Explorers Club voyages are now open for booking through PONANT Explorations and Paul Gauguin Cruises, while offering itineraries with Aqua Expeditions are available directly via the operator.
As the world rediscovers the joy of travel with purpose, PONANT’s continued alliance with The Explorers Club offers a refreshing message: that the finest journeys don’t just take us to distant places, they remind us how extraordinary our own planet still is.
