Reasons to Book
Travelling the French way
PONANT EXPLORATIONS is an exponent for the French way of life across every sea on the globe. On board, this is translated through exceptional services, a multilingual crew and bringing French know-how to the fore.
Exceptional destinations
From secluded ports to secret seas, from forgotten beaches to remote lands, our experts choose itineraries that take you away from major tourist routes so you can enjoy unique cruises and shorelines that few have seen before.
Ships on a human scale
Thanks to our small capacity ships, we can dock in private ports and offer stopovers in preserved locations. On board, the limited number of passengers means that everybody can enjoy special moments and feel as though they are on a private yacht.
Our commitments
PONANT EXPLORATIONS aims at becoming a world reference in the field of sustainable development in the cruising industry. The environment and ethics are among our main concerns, both in the regions we visit and in our relationships within the company and with our partners.
Members Club
PONANT EXPLORATIONS Yacht Club
Being faithful to the pleasure of a PONANT cruise means being able to extend rare experiences over time. As a member of the PONANT Yacht Club, you benefit from personalised attention, exclusive services on board and on land and dedicated privileged offers.
MAJOR - After your 2nd cruise
Your benefits are:
- 5% savings on future bookings
- € 50 onboard credit
- Complimentary onboard laundry service
- The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club’s Loyalty cruises
ADMIRAL - After your 4th cruise
Your benefits are:
- 7.5% Savings on future bookings
- 20% Savings on onboard expenses, excluding excursions
- €100 onboard credit
- Complimentary onboard laundry service
- The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club's Loyalty cruises
- Possibility of a free upgrade, subject to availability
GRAND ADMIRAL - After your 7th cruise
Your benefits are:
- 10% Savings on future bookings
- 25% Savings on onboard expenses, excluding excursions
- €150 onboard credit
- Complimentary onboard laundry service
- The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club's Loyalty cruises
- Possibility of a free upgrade, subject to availability
- Change your voyage at no cost
COMMODORE - After your 20th cruise
Your benefits are:
- 12.5% Savings on future bookings
- 25% Savings on onboard expenses, excluding excursions
- €200 onboard credit
- Complimentary onboard laundry service
- The opportunity to join the PONANT Yacht Club's Loyalty cruises
- Possibility of a free upgrade, subject to availability
- Change your voyage at no cost
- Dedicated phone line
- Priority boarding
Modalities
The present terms and conditions come into effect as of 3rd October 2025 and are subject to change. Benefits & statuses acquired up to that date will not be altered. Any changes will be communicated to guests and will be applied automatically.
The PONANT Yacht Club card is issued individually to all adult guests over the age of 18 who are eligible for the PONANT Yacht Club program.
The benefits and statuses are acquired at the end of the voyage, cannot be applied retroactively, and may be modified without prior notice.
Cancelled cruises, regardless of the reason for cancellation, free-of-charge cruises, as well as cruises booked as part of a Group reservation or a ship Charter, are not taken into account when calculating loyalty status.
All cruises marketed by PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP – including PONANT EXPLORATIONS, PONANT YACHTING and PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES – are included in the calculation of loyalty status. Cruises booked directly with AQUA EXPEDITIONS are not eligible for PONANT Yacht Club.
(1)Savings on future bookings apply to port-to-port fares and exclude taxes, discretionary expenses and transfers. This offer applies to new bookings only, cannot be applied retrospectively, and may only be combined with the PONANT Bonus offer, the onboard cruise sales benefit, the Referral Programme, the Privilege Single offer, and the consecutive cruises offer.
(2)Savings on onboard expenses (excluding excursions) apply to all items except ‘Prestige’ brands in the Boutique, including jewellery, watches and tobacco products. This offer also excludes premium spirits, cocktails, champagne, and the Premium Pass on all our ships. Exceptional wines served on board Le Commandant Charcot are also excluded from this benefit.On board the Paul Gauguin, SCUBA diving, jewellery from the Boutique, the Algotherm Dermo Ocean Spa, art sales, and dance groups’ CDs and DVDs are also excluded from onboard savings.
(3)Onboard credit is non-exchangeable, non-refundable and non-transferable. It is valid for all expenses on board (excursions included), once all eligible offers have been applied. Onboard credit can be used on the Paul Gauguin and will be offered in the following equivalent US dollar amounts: $50 for MAJOR / $100 for ADMIRAL / $150 for GRAND ADMIRAL / $200 for COMMODORE. Not valid on pre-bookable and pre-payable tours, excursions or cruise programmes or for gratuities.
(4)Laundry service is free on board, with a limit of two items per day and per person for MAJOR members, and five items per day and per person for members with higher status.
(5)Complimentary upgrades offered on board, to a superior cabin category or to the same category on a superior deck, are based on availability, offered within a maximum of 48 hours after boarding and only for PONANT cruises.
(6)You may change your choice of contract free of charge on the cruise service for the first time, provided that the request is made at least 90 days before the original cruise departure date. The new departure date is within 6 months of the originally scheduled departure and the price of the new cruise service is equivalent to or higher than the original cruise service. Only one modification without fees is allowed every 12 months per person holding Grand Admiral or Commodore status, regardless of the cruise service involved. This modification results in the subscription of a new Contract, with no possibility of replacing or modifying the initially subscribed Contract. In the case of back-to-back cruises, please refer to the General Terms and Conditions of Sale.
(7)Dedicated phone line is only available for French-speaking COMMODORE, as well as Australian and New Zealand GRAND ADMIRAL and COMMODORE and only for PONANT cruises.
(8)Priority boarding is subject to availability and only applies to certain ports of embarkation and only for PONANT cruises.
Have you lost your PONANT Yacht Club card? You can make a request directly via our website by filling in the form on the Contact page and telling us that you have lost your card. We will send you your new PONANT Yacht Club card as soon as possible.