The Coldest Cruise in the World? Ponant Inaugurates Icebreaking Winter Voyage
It's the first time ever that a cruise ship has navigated the frozen St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada - in the WINTER! Carving new horizons for small-ship, luxury expedition cruising even more than Antarctic and Arctic cruises, which are held during the summer months. CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Ponant's CEO Herve Gastinel, on board Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot on the occasion of the inaugural icebreaking passage. We dive into what makes Le Commandant Charcot perhaps...
Travel Good News Stories to End – and Start – the Year Right
It feels like we could all use some good news right now – and luckily, this year, travel has provided us with lots of reasons to feel hopeful and uplifted and that doing something we love – travel – can also be doing something good. The world of travel is showing us that not only can travel be good for us, it can also be easier for us and easier on the world whose travel treasures we seek to experience. Travel...
“Adventure Capital of the World” Set to Become First Carbon Zero Destination
Queenstown, New Zealand, is once again pioneering an exciting new travel trend. It’s already on the map for global travelers as the birthplace and “Home of Bungee Jumping” and the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Now, Queenstown is at the leading edge of finding ways to continue to offer its signature, adrenaline – and power–fueled – outdoor activities to the world… without emitting any carbon at all. And it says it can do it in just half a decade, by 2030.According...
Embrace the ‘Quiet Travel’ Trend in Laid-Back Costa Rica
If the world seems noisier and more chaotic than ever to you – you’re not alone. As life gets more stressful, online searches for ‘quiet travel’ have shot up like your blood pressure. One of the first places savvy travelers look to disconnect and rediscover tranquillity in nature is Costa Rica. The Central American country’s famous way of living, called ‘Pura Vida,’ has more appeal than ever, embodying a simple, joyful life connected to nature and loved ones. ‘Pura Vida’ translates...
VIDEO: Captain of Scenic Eclipse Shares What it’s Like to Navigate in Antarctica
Is Antarctica on your travel bucket list? The White Continent is the ultimate expedition cruising destination: literally at the end of the earth, and able to be reached only by ship, with its epic scenery of glaciers, icebergs, and surprisingly rich wildlife, including several varieties of penguins, elephant seals, whales and more, Antarctica has remained just a dream destination for most travelers. Well, that’s changing, with luxury expedition cruising that allows you to achieve one of the travel experiences of a...
In a World First for Any Vessel, Ponant Cruise Ship Reaches “North Pole of Inaccessibility”
There’s the North Pole… and there’s the “North Pole of Inaccessibility.” Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot has done something no ship of any kind has ever done before. In the 21st century, it’s hard to imagine there’s a place on earth humans have never been, but close to the end of the 2024 Arctic cruise/ sailing season, the polar expedition cruise ship pulled off a ‘Star Trek’ of an accomplishment, going “where no man had ever gone before.” That place was the...
The Galapagos Islands’ ‘Big 15’ Wildlife Species
On safari in Africa, it’s the ‘Big 5’ signature species. But on the other side of the world, in another extraordinary landscape, the can’t miss, iconic wildlife is summed up on the ‘Big 15’ list. Many are found nowhere else on earth other than in the Galapagos islands. Their unparalleled biodiversity famously inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. No wonder these remote Ecuadorian islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a protected marine preserve, and the ultimate travel aspiration for nature lovers. Here’s...
Why This Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line is Building a Hotel in the Southernmost City on Earth
Silversea is taking a groundbreaking approach to ultra-luxury Antarctic expedition cruising – literally! The cruise line has broken ground on a hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, to create a seamlessly deluxe experience for its guests on their voyages to the White Continent.Silversea is the only cruise line that homeports from Puerto Williams during the Antarctic season. And the new, 150-room hotel will provide a seamless, ultra-luxury-all-the-way experience for Antarctic expedition cruise guests. The cruise line already operates an innovative ‘Antarctic Bridge’ fly-cruise...
New Experiences in Australia that Connect You to Indigenous Culture
A new selection of activities for visitors to Australia allow you to experience the country’s history and nature, with the added richness of Aboriginal culture. Australia’s Aboriginal people are the island continent's original inhabitants, with a history that dates back over 65,000 years. That makes them one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. A revival of Australian indigenous cultural practices, oral traditions, spiritual beliefs and recognition of their deep and historic connection to the land means visitors to Australia can enrich...
Surf’s Up! The Summer Games Competition Happening 10,000 Miles from Paris
On the other side of the earth from the epicenter of the Paris Summer Games, one competition is returning to its roots – while still flying the French flag. For the second Summer Games in a row, surfing is part of the Olympic Games. And while many of the Summer Games competitions are spread around the French capital and even as far away as its Mediterranean coast, mainland France can’t boast the kind of competitive surfing conditions at this time...