| Ponant Smithsonian

PONANT has announced the first 19 voyages as part of its recent alliance with Smithsonian Journeys (CW 15 Apr).

Planned for next year, the new sailings will feature notable experts and experiences that embrace local cultures and delve into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife.

The voyages will explore Antarctica, the British Isles, the Great Lakes, Iceland, Japan, the Mediterranean, the Norwegian fjords and more.

They will provide opportunities to engage with a variety of experts, from archaeologists and scientists to anthropologists and historians.

Highlights include Panama and Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America, aboard Le Champlain, which over eight days voyages from Colon to Puerto Caldera, passing through the Panama Canal.

Ports of call include Darien National Park for treks through the wilderness; an exclusive hosted visit at the Punta Culebra Nature Centre at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama City; and Carara National Park, home to over 10,000 species of plants, 300 species of birds and 200 species of butterflies.

Another high point is the Treasures of Japan by Sea aboard Le Soleal, which sails from Kobe, to Osaka, to explore how its rich heritage blends with the country’s industrialisation.

Highlights include an Udon noodle masterclass at a Takamatsu cooking school, and a visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park.

The full list of voyages can be viewed HERE.