Ponant

The Arctic feels closer to the human world than Antarctica, yet no less wild. Stretching across regions of Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Arctic Canada, it’s a place where small communities exist alongside vast, untamed landscapes shaped by ice, sea and volcanic force.

Cruising here means moving through ever-changing scenery - iceberg-filled fjords, dramatic coastlines and open waters where wildlife is never far away. Spot walruses hauled out on ice, whales surfacing in silent bays, or, with luck, a polar bear navigating the edges of the pack.

Encounters with local communities offer a further layer of insight, adding context to a region where nature still sets the pace.

Asia is a region of contrast and scale, where long coastlines and island chains open up a wide range of journeys by sea. From the shores of Japan and China to the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines, each destination brings a distinct identity shaped by landscape, culture and history.

Cruising here offers access to both natural highlights and cultural centres - from Halong Bay’s limestone formations to Komodo National Park, as well as major cities such as Hong Kong, Shanghai and Bangkok. Along the way, influences from Buddhism, Hinduism and Shintoism are evident in temples, traditions and daily life.

It’s a region best experienced gradually, where each stop feels different from the last.

French Polynesia and the wider South Pacific offer a sense of scale and remoteness that’s hard to replicate. Scattered across a vast expanse of ocean, the region ranges from the lagoons and volcanic peaks of French Polynesia to the coral-fringed islands of Fiji, Tonga and beyond.

Cruising through these waters reveals constant variety - low-lying atolls, forested high islands and isolated communities shaped by both land and sea. Beneath the surface, coral reefs support rich marine life, while ashore, deeply rooted Polynesian cultures remain central to daily life across the region.

Well-known names like Bora Bora sit alongside lesser-visited islands, creating a journey defined as much by distance and space as by natural beauty.

South America offers a varied cruising experience, shaped by both geography and culture. Along the Pacific coast, routes take in Peru and Chile, where pre-Columbian history meets dramatic natural scenery - from archaeological sites to the glacier-carved fjords of Patagonia. Further east, the vast Amazon River provides a different perspective, with journeys deep into rainforest landscapes and opportunities to engage with remote riverside communities.

Wildlife is equally diverse, from penguins and fur seals in the south to river dolphins and birdlife in the Amazon. Across the continent, the contrast between coastline, jungle and highland creates a region where no two days feel the same.