PONANT EXPLORATIONS highlights the availability of the last remaining bookings for its 2026 summer Mediterranean program. The French company offers eight cruises departing from Nice, along with complementary itineraries in the Adriatic and the Greek islands, aboard a fleet of small yachts capable of accessing secluded and private ports even during peak season. A selection of voyages designed to combine cultural discovery and relaxation under the hallmark of French luxury.
Despite the growing desire for increasingly remote destinations, the Mediterranean retains its undiminished allure. Its vibrant colors, waters at the perfect temperature for long swims, and a constellation of villages, coastal towns, and ancient archaeological sites all within a few hours' sail make it irresistible. The fleet of small yachts from PONANT EXPLORATIONS, flying the French flag and equipped with the latest environmental technologies, offers a unique perspective on this landscape: discreet ports, intimate stops, and an onboard experience conceived with a distinctly French flair, featuring personalized service, haute cuisine, and a near one-to-one crew-to-passenger ratio.
The 2026 summer program is structured around three major Mediterranean themes—Nice and the Italian coast, the Adriatic, and the Greek islands. Among these, three itineraries hold particular appeal for the Spanish market due to their cultural richness, shared heritage, and the quality of the onboard experiences.
- Gastronomywith the Hôtelde Paris Monte-Carlo and Ducasse Paris
The first themed cruise of the summer once again unites haute cuisine and sailing. Aboard Le Dumont d'Urville,Michelin-starred chef Dominique Lory of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo presents a gastronomic experience conceived in collaboration with Ducasse Paris. The route combines Corsica and the Italian coast—Calvi, Portoferraio, the Cinque Terre—in a sequence where landscape, local produce, and cuisine engage in a seamless dialogue. This offering is particularly well-suited to the sensibilities of Spanish travelers, who are accustomed to experiencing the Mediterranean through its gastronomy.
- Dance with theParis National Opera
The second themed voyage brings together PONANT EXPLORATIONS and the Paris National Opera for a unique journey. Aboard Le Boréal, prima ballerina Roxane Stojanov and dancers from the company accompany the voyage with talks, open rehearsals, and onboard performances, in a cultural program designed to be experienced at sea. This unusual offering in the luxury cruise market places contemporary artistic creation at the heart of the experience.
- Adriaticand Greece: shared heritage of the Mediterranean
Beyond Nice, the Adriatic itineraries—from the Dalmatian coast to the Venetian Lagoon, with stops in Dubrovnik, the Bay of Kotor, and Baroque Apulia—and the tours of the Greek islands—the Cyclades, Patmos, Delos, along with the great archaeological sites of Delphi, Epidaurus, and Mycenae—complete a season of rich cultural experience. Athens, just a three-hour flight from Madrid or Barcelona, becomes a particularly convenient port of embarkation for Spanish travelers, who recognize in these destinations a shared Mediterranean of history and memory.
The Mediterranean is, for historical, geographical, and cultural reasons, the natural destination for the Spanish luxury traveler. PONANT EXPLORATIONS' 2026 summer program particularly highlights this affinity through three key areas:
- Shared heritage: port cities, classical and baroque architecture, ancient sites, and routes that connect with centuries of shared history.
- Real proximity: Nice, Venice and Athens are ports just a few hours' flight from Spain, making it possible to plan these cruises as a getaway without sacrificing proximity.
- Discreet French luxury: small ships, personalized service, cuisine created by renowned chefs, and a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere have made PONANT EXPLORATIONS the preferred choice of the luxury traveler looking for something more than a conventional cruise.
Highlights of summer 2026
- July 2-10, 2026 — “Isle of Beauty and Italian Coasts” with Dominique Lory, 9 days Nice – Nice aboard Le Dumont d'Urville
- July 29 to August 6, 2026 — “Sailing the Mediterranean with the Paris Opera Ballet”, 9 days Nice – Nice aboard Le Boréal
- June – August 2026 — Adriatic itineraries through Croatia, the Bay of Kotor, Apulia and Venice, from 7 to 9 nights aboard the PONANT EXPLORATIONS.
- June – August 2026 — itineraries through the Greek islands with stops in Patmos, Delos, Delphi, Epidaurus and Mycenae.
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