Ponant recently kicked off its season sailing around New Zealand aboard two of expedition vessels Le Soléal and PONANT Explorer, Le Jacques Cartier.
From December until March 2025, the ships will embark on eight departures, visiting 23 ports of call, and offering guests a rare opportunity to discover the hidden side of Zealand.
The season includes two epic sailings down to East Antarctica from Dunedin.
Le Soléal kicked off the season on 3 December, starting with two expeditions sailing south to explore New Zealand's remote subantarctic islands.
Guests will have the opportunity to sail alongside destination experts at the wildlife sanctuaries of Campbell Island, the Snares as well as Australia’s Macquarie Island.
Continuing on north from Dunedin to Auckland on a
brand-new New Year’s cruise,
Le Soléal’s next sailing, a 15-night journey from the South Island to the North Island will feature scenic time in the fjord region.
It ventures through Doubtful, Milford and Dusky Sounds, as well as visit to new port of call Oban on Stewart Island, before heading north to Akaroa, Kaikoura, Wellington, the Bay of Islands and finally, Auckland.
Joining
Le Soléal this year is
Le Jacques Cartier, Ponant’s modern Explorer-series vessel, featuring 92 staterooms and suites.
This is her inaugural season in New Zealand waters.
Sailing from Tasmania on 2 January,
Le Jacques Cartier will start exploring both the North and South Islands before setting off on a
brand-new, 15-night voyage, from Auckland to Cairns with highlights including the Bay of Islands region, Norfolk Island, and Vanuatu.
In February 2025, Ponant will venture even further south, offering a
21-night expedition to Antarctica, on a Dunedin roundtrip aboard
Le Soléal
This itinerary features lecturer and guide Jonathan Shackleton, descendant of Sir Ernest Shackleton and family historian and Lucy Scott, great granddaughter of Captain Robert Falcon Scott.
“We are proud to continue our operations in the region with this new summer season. Our included shore excursions and tours are providing guests with authentic New Zealand experiences,” id Deb Corbett, CEO Asia Pacific.
Ponant has a limited-time Holiday offer, which includes an
additional 10% off select departures with a limited number of staterooms available from December to March 2025.
