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Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys unveil 2025 cruise itineraries

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Ponant , the French cruise line, and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel arm of America's Smithsonian Institution, have revealed their captivating new itineraries for 2025. This marks their 4th year of collaboration, presenting their most ambitious program to date.

Featuring 30 new trips, this is the duo's largest offering in a single year. Drawing upon the museum's rich history, the expeditions aim to enrich the cruising experience, inspiring guests to become "global citizens" through travel. These journeys offer access to a diverse range of experts and experiences, allowing travelers to immerse themselves fully in local cultures, history, cuisine, and wildlife while enjoying luxurious accommodations.

One notable highlight is a two-week voyage from Lisbon to the Canary Islands aboard the Le Bellot cruise ship . This expedition showcases the scenic southern slopes of Iberia, the picturesque Algarve Coast of Portugal, the verdant valleys of Madeira, and the volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands. Travelers can also explore world heritage sites in Seville, Spain , and Morocco, guided by Allen Fromherz, a professor of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern history. Scheduled from October 26 to November 8, prices for this voyage start at US$9,020 per person.

Another standout itinerary is a 9-day journey to Sicily aboard Ponant's Le Bougainville liner , departing from Valletta, Malta . This adventure includes visits to Agrigento , Tunisia , Taormina , Syracuse , and the Aeolian Islands , offering volcano treks, winery visits, and slope-side lunches. Prices for this experience, available from June 2 to 10 and August 29 to September 6, start at US$7,420 per person.

Additionally, an 8-day cruise through the Mediterranean aboard the L'Austral liner promises memorable experiences. This voyage, starting from Valletta, Malta, and ending in Tarragona, Spain , includes stops at Sicily, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands. Highlights range from shopping in Palermo 's historic markets to exploring Cagliari 's architectural wonders and Menorca's cultural landmarks. Scheduled from October 3 to 10, prices for this journey begin at USUS$5,340 per person.

In addition to the new itineraries, Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys are reintroducing popular trips from 2024, including voyages to Panama and Costa Rica, the Greek Islands, and various destinations in the Mediterranean.

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Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys Announce 2025 Voyages

  • February 23, 2024

Le Bellot

Renewing its partnership with Smithsonian Journeys for the fourth year, Ponant announced its 2025 sailings, featuring 30 itineraries, the most ever offered in one year, according to a press release.

Each voyage features notable experts, ranging from geologists to museum curators and archaeologists, as well as experiences that allow guests to dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment and wildlife.

New itineraries include a two-week voyage from Lisbon to the Canary Islands, sailing October 26-November 8, 2025; and a Mediterranean sailing exploring Sicily, Sardinia and Mallorca, sailing October 3-10, 2025; and an enhanced itinerary featuring a circumnavigation of Sicily with a new stop in Tunisia, sailing June 2-10 and August 29-September 6, 2025.

  The cruise line is also bringing back favorites from 2024, including a seven-night itinerary from Panama to Costa Rica, with an exclusive visit to the open-air Punta Culebra Nature Center of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Highlights of the 2025 voyages include:

  • A 14-day Lisbon to the Canary Islands by Sea: Spain, Morocco, and Atlantic Isles itinerary aboard the Le Bellot: Departs October 26, 2025;
  • A nine-day Circumnavigation of Sicily aboard the Le Bougainville: Departures from June 2-10, and August 29-September 6, 2025;
  • An eight-day Mediterranean voyage: Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca aboard the L’Austral: Departure from October 3-10, 2025;
  • Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean aboard the Le Dumont-d’Urville: Departures from July 6-13 and October 12-19, 2025.

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Ponant and the Smithsonian Just Unveiled 30 Epic Cruises for 2025

Luxury liners will take you on immersive adventures through the mediterranean and beyond., demetrius simms, demetrius simms's most recent stories.

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Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys are at it again.

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One highlight of the program is a two-week trip from Lisbon to the Canary Islands. Cruise ship Le Bellot will sail along the southern slopes of Iberia to the isles of the eastern Atlantic, showcasing the ochre cliffs of Portugal’s Algarve Coast, the lush valleys of Madeira, and the volcanic craters of the Canary Islands. In addition, explorers can visit world heritage sites in Seville, Spain, and Morocco. Along the way, Allen Fromherz, a professor of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern history, will share invaluable insights about the region, too. Running from October 26 to November 8, the voyage starts from $9,020 per person.

A Ponant cruise ship in Santorini, Greece

In addition to the new itineraries, Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys are also bringing back favorites from 2024. including a seven-night trip from Panama to Costa Rica (January 6 to 13), an eight-day jaunt to the Greek Islands (July 6 to 13 and October 12 to 19), and a Mediterranean Island voyage (May 26 to June 2). Check out the Ponant website for more information. 

Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. After starting their career in PR, they transitioned to freelance writing in 2020. Their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture…

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Itineraries

Specialty tours & events, ponant, smithsonian journeys announces 2025 voyages.

by Aoife O’Riordan

© Studio PONANT – Alexandre Herbrecht

eFlyer News

PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys unveiled several new itineraries for 2025, covering destinations like the Canary Islands, Tunisia and Mallorca. The 30 new itineraries will feature notable experts and experiences embracing local cultures, each diving deep into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment and wildlife.

PONANT

© Studio Ponant – Nath Michel

New 2025 voyages include:

Lisbon to the Canary Islands by Sea: Spain, Morocco and Atlantic Isles Guests on this trip will encounter a wide range of cultures, histories and landscapes, from Portugal’s Algarve Coast to the valleys of Madeira to the volcanic craters of the Canary Islands. Visits include Tenerife, Lanzarote, La Gomera, Seville and Rabat. Other highlights include a tour of Madeira’s Botanical Gardens and medina visits. This trip runs Oct. 26–Nov. 8, 2025, aboard Le Bellot.

Cruising the Mediterranean: Sicily, Sardinia and Mallorca Climb aboard L’Austral and depart the photogenic harbor of Valletta, Malta. Stops on this trip include Sicily, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands of Menorca and Mallorca. Highlights include visits to Palermo’s historic markets, a trip to Cagliari, Bronze Age ruins, hilltop fortresses, cathedrals and more. This trip runs Oct. 3–10.

Other new and newly enhanced itineraries include Panama and Costa Rica by Sea, Cruising the Greek Islands of the Southern Aegean, and A Circumnavigation of Sicily.

Learn more about other new voyages here.

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Ponant & Smithsonian Journeys partner for 2025 sailings

February 23, 2024

smithsonian journeys 2025

Ponant has announced its 2025 sailings in collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution.

Drawing on Smithsonian’s rich history as the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, the 30 itineraries—the most ever offered in one year, due to growing interest and demand— will feature notable experts and experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife.

 This is the fourth year Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys will offer co-branded sailings.

 New itineraries

smithsonian journeys 2025

Several new itineraries include a two-week voyage from Lisbon to the Canary Islands ( Oct. 26-Nov. 8, 2025) ; and a Mediterranean sailing encompassing Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca ( Oct.3-10, 2025 ); while a newly enhanced itinerary features a circumnavigation of Sicily with a new stop in Tunisia for the archaeological site of Carthage ( June 2-10; Aug.29-Sept. 6, 2025) .

All will provide opportunities to engage with a variety of Smithsonian Journeys Experts, ranging from geologists to museum curators and archaeologists, bringing guests even closer to the spirit of these alluring destinations.

Favourites return

Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys will also bring back voyage-favourites from 2024 including a seven-night itinerary from Panama to Costa Rica, with an exclusive visit to the open-air Punta Culebra Nature Center of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute ( Jan. 6-13, 2025 ).

Other favourites include an eight-day exploration of the Greek Islands in the Southern Aegean, with ports of call at a different island each day ( July 6-13; Oct. 12-19, 2025); and a Mediterranean Island Voyage spanning Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba  (May 26-June 2,2025) .

For more information on the 2025 collection, click here .

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smithsonian journeys 2025

Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines officially opens

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PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, have formed a unique alliance to offer themed sailings featuring experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts , and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that immerses guests in the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of each destination, and helps provide a deeper understanding of the places we explore.

smithsonian journeys 2025

  • Last staterooms

A Circumnavigation of Sicily – with Smithsonian Journeys

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Celtic Voyage: The Hebrides and the Irish Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Cultural and Natural Treasures of Japan by Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords Voyage – with Smithsonian Journeys

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Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea: Venice to Athens – with Smithsonian Journeys

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Cruising the Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys

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A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys

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Smithsonian Journeys

  • Theatre & Literature
  • The Explorers Club
  • Show all themes
  • Back-to-back offer
  • Free Ocean Voyage
  • No single supplement
  • Flight credit
  • L'AUSTRAL
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PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, have formed a unique alliance to offer themed sailings featuring experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts , and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that immerses guests in the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of each destination, and helps provide a deeper understanding of the places we explore.

smithsonian journeys 2025

  • Last staterooms

A Circumnavigation of Sicily – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Celtic Voyage: The Hebrides and the Irish Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Cultural and Natural Treasures of Japan by Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords Voyage – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Cruising the Dalmatian Coast and the Ionian Sea: Venice to Athens – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

Cruising the Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys

smithsonian journeys 2025

A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys

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Art Meets Science

Beautiful Anatomical Skeletons, Posed and Photographed As Sculptures

Photographer Patrick Gries transforms ordinary specimens, stripped of fur and flesh, into art that showcases motion, predation and evolution

Joseph Stromberg

Joseph Stromberg

A golden eagle swoops for a rabbit.

What happens when you unleash an acclaimed luxury goods photographer on hundreds of anatomical animal skeletons kept in museum collections?

If that photographer is Patrick Gries and the skeletons are those of Paris' Natural Museum of History , you'll get a series of 300 stark photographs that transform staid, ordinary scientific specimens into biological art.

A rattlesnake

Gries shot these images to accompany text by oceanographer and documentarian Jean-Baptiste de Panafieu in the book Evolution , published by Xavier Barral, and they were recently featured in the Photovisa festival in Krasnodar, Russia .

"If you go to the museum, you'll see thousands of skeletons," Gries says. "My job was to take one specimen, isolate it, and work with light to photograph that specimen as if it was a sculpture."

A flying lemur

De Panafieu's essays tell the story of evolution piece by piece—with chapters on adaptation, convergence , homology and other broad themes—while Gries' striking photos isolate the essence of each animal's unique adaptations.

Simultaneously, though, the photos highlight the common anatomical characteristics shared by all vertebrates. Stripped of fur and flesh, it can be hard to identify the skeletons without a label: without ears, a rabbit doesn't look all that different than a cheetah, and a monkey's skull differs only in scale from a human's.

A narwhal

Creating the seemingly simple images was far harder than it might appear, Gries says. The photos were taken over the course of six months, with animals selected largely by de Panafieu so that Gries could illustrate his essays. Most were from the Paris museum, but the duo also visited four other museum collections in France to obtain access to the skeletons they wanted.

A cheetah

Although the skeletons may appear to hover in a pristine state in midair, that illusion is the result of both digital and real-world ingenuity by Gries.

"It was very difficult working in the museums," he says. "Many of the skeletons' feet are nailed to wooden boards, and we couldn't touch anything, so we had to remove these things by computer."

An African elephant

Making the animals appear as though they were moving, as de Panafieu wanted for the book, was also rather tricky. "You have to realize that with the skeletons, nothing moves. Some of them look like they're in action, but everything is pretty stiff," Gries says. "So we had to use nails and wires to hold them in place."

"When you look at the pictures, it looks high tech, but the way we had to do it was quite low tech," he says.

A horse and human

"What I like about it is that you wouldn't even realize it," Gries says. "You'd look at the pictures and think they're just the way the skeletons are presented, not wondering, 'where are the nails and the wires?'"

A brown wooly monkey

The photos that include multiple animal skeletons, which illustrate concepts like predation or evolutionary arms races , are largely composed of pairs of animals that are featured together in the actual museum exhibits.

A eurasian sparrhawk preys upon a house sparrow

"What's most interesting to me is the cross between art and science. I love working on projects where I can cross disciplines," Gries says.

Although projects that encompass both art and science aren't radical ideas in the U.S. and in many other countries, Gries notes that there's still resistance to combining the two in France.

"I think that's starting to change, though, and I'm glad," he says. "I'm not a scientist, but I learned so much during this project, due to the chance I had to work with one."

A red fox and common vole

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Joseph Stromberg

Joseph Stromberg | | READ MORE

Joseph Stromberg was previously a digital reporter for Smithsonian .

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  2. Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys unveil 2025 cruise itineraries

    Ponant, the French cruise line, and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel arm of America's Smithsonian Institution, have revealed their captivating new itineraries for 2025.This marks their 4th year of collaboration, presenting their most ambitious program to date. Featuring 30 new trips, this is the duo's largest offering in a single year.

  3. PDF SMITHSONIAN JOURNEYS ANNOUNCES NEW TRIPS FOR 2025 New Itineraries

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  4. Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys Announce 2025 Voyages

    February 23, 2024. Renewing its partnership with Smithsonian Journeys for the fourth year, Ponant announced its 2025 sailings, featuring 30 itineraries, the most ever offered in one year, according to a press release. Each voyage features notable experts, ranging from geologists to museum curators and archaeologists, as well as experiences that ...

  5. Ponant and the Smithsonian Just Unveiled 30 Epic Cruises for 2025

    In addition to the new itineraries, Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys are also bringing back favorites from 2024. including a seven-night trip from Panama to Costa Rica (January 6 to 13), an eight ...

  6. Smithsonian Journeys, Ponant Unveil 2025 Cruise Line-Up

    Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant will take travelers to Tunisia, the Canary Islands, Mallorca and other awe-inspiring destinations next year. The two companies unveiled the full lineup of their co-branded sailings for 2025. They are teaming up to offer 30 itineraries—the most they've ever offered in one year—that will visit ports all over ...

  7. PONANT, Smithsonian Journeys Announces 2025 Voyages

    This. PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys unveiled several new itineraries for 2025, covering destinations like the Canary Islands, Tunisia and Mallorca. The 30 new itineraries will feature notable experts and experiences embracing local cultures, each diving deep into a destination's history, cuisine, language, environment and wildlife.

  8. Ponant, Smithsonian Journeys Unveil 2025 Small Ship Explorations

    Ponant has unveiled its 2025 sailings in collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys. This marks the fourth year of co-branded sailings, and comprises 30 itineraries—the most ever offered in one year, due to growing interest and demand. Several new itineraries include a two-week voyage from Lisbon to the Canary Islands and a Mediterranean sailing ...

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    (PONANT/Smithsonian Journeys) A new way of seeing the world through the lens of both history and luxury awaits on the horizon, and that combination is at the center of newly announced 2025 voyages ...

  10. Ponant & Smithsonian Journeys partner for 2025 sailings

    Ponant has announced its 2025 sailings in collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution. Drawing on Smithsonian's rich history as the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, the 30 itineraries—the most ever offered in one year, due to growing interest and demand— will feature notable experts and experiences that embrace ...

  11. Smithsonian Journeys 2024-2025 Ocean Cruises (Jan. 2024)

    12 days from $11,450* / Oct. 18-29, 2024 & Oct. 1-15, 2025† Explore unique cultures rooted in Old Europe as you follow the St. Lawrence River through Québec and continue along the Canadian ...

  12. Smithsonian Journeys

    PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, have formed a unique alliance to offer themed sailings featuring experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination's history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife. ... 7/4/2025 to 7/11/2025 . Bergen . Glasgow, Scotland . LE ...

  13. A Texas Tradition

    Girls competing in escaramuzas wear traditional outfits inspired by the Adelitas, women who fought in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Riders' skirts must cover the horses' haunches while ...

  14. Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT:

    Explore the world with Smithsonian-crafted cultural experiences onboard small exploration ships. Find tour suggestions for Antarctica, Mediterranean, Japan, and more destinations with departures from 2024 to 2025.

  15. The Deadly and Devious Golden Eagle

    Golden eagles typically prey upon small- and medium-sized animals, such as geese, rabbits and reptiles. But its occasional attacks on bigger animals—lambs, deer and even juvenile brown bears ...

  16. Smithsonian Journeys

    PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution, have formed a unique alliance to offer themed sailings featuring experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination's history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife. ... 01/03/2025 to 12/03/2025 . Ushuaia . Ushuaia . LE BORÉAL ...

  17. Beautiful Anatomical Skeletons, Posed and ...

    Beautiful Anatomical Skeletons, Posed and Photographed As Sculptures. Photographer Patrick Gries transforms ordinary specimens, stripped of fur and flesh, into art that showcases motion, predation ...

  18. Dentima Krasnodar 2024(Krasnodar)

    23rd International Dental Exhibition. Dates: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - Friday, May 24, 2024. Venue: Expograd Yug, Krasnodar, Russia. Dentima is one of the leading dental exhibitions in Russia. It annually gathers together stomatologists, producers and suppliers of stomatological equipment and materials from many Russian regions and foreign ...

  19. ANFM-VI 2025(Clearwater FL)

    ANFM-VI 2025 is held in Clearwater FL, United States, from 7/20/2025 to 7/20/2025 in Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Industry News Search Event, Venue or Orgnizer Trade Shows Home > Power & Electrical Equipment Fairs > ANFM-VI 2025: ANFM-VI 2025: ANFM-VI 2025: 518 days left 6th The meeting on Advances in Nuclear Fuel Management VI (ANFM VI ) Dates ...

  20. Eternal Japan

    13 days from $8,384 | includes airfare, taxes and all fees. From historic castle towns to the dazzle of downtown Tokyo, experience the essence of Japan past and present, delving into art, cuisine, and spiritual traditions in great cities and stunning rural areas. Request a Brochure.