Explora Journeys vs Ponant

The core difference

Explora Journeys and Ponant both carry European luxury credentials and continental sophistication — but the similarity ends there. These are fundamentally different cruise products built for fundamentally different purposes, and understanding that distinction is the key to choosing correctly.

Explora is the purpose-built luxury ocean resort. Launched in July 2023 by the MSC Group with a reported EUR 3.5 billion investment across six planned ships, Explora was engineered to create a contemporary European residential experience at sea. The line deliberately avoids the word “cruise” in its positioning, preferring “ocean living” to describe 922-guest ships featuring nine included dining venues, a 7,500-square-foot complimentary thermal spa, all-suite all-balcony accommodation starting at 375 square feet plus terrace, and an atmosphere closer to an Aman resort than a traditional cruise ship. No formal nights, no assigned dining, no cruise director. Four pools, 64 private cabanas, and a 1.25:1 crew-to-guest ratio complete the picture. EXPLORA III arrives in summer 2026 as the first of a larger, LNG-powered class.

Ponant is French expedition heritage. Founded in 1988 by merchant navy officers, the line now operates thirteen ships under the Ponant Explorations Group banner — from the 32-guest sailing yacht Le Ponant to the 245-guest Le Commandant Charcot, the only luxury icebreaker afloat with PC2 ice class. Six Explorer-class ships carry Zodiac fleets and the Blue Eye underwater multi-sensory lounge. The Ducasse Conseil culinary partnership brings Michelin-star heritage to focused French dining. Owned by Groupe Artémis (the Pinault family holding that also controls Kering and Christie’s), Ponant is unambiguously French — in language, cuisine, and passenger mix. The fleet reaches Antarctica, the Arctic, the Geographic North Pole, the Kimberley, French Polynesia, and Papua New Guinea.

For Australian travellers, the practical distinction is immediate. Ponant operates sixteen Kimberley sailings annually, year-round French Polynesia from Papeete (eight hours from Sydney), and has an established Australian office. Explora has no Australian deployment until 2029. The lines compete only when Australians fly to Europe.

What is actually included

Both lines market generous inclusions, but the structures differ in ways that affect total cost.

Explora includes: nine dining venues without surcharges (Anthology degustation at approximately EUR $165 and Chef’s Kitchen are the exceptions), unlimited premium spirits, wines, and cocktails, Starlink Wi-Fi, complimentary thermal spa access (sauna, steam room, vitality pool, snow room, experience showers — no booking required), daily minibar restock, 24-hour in-suite dining, port shuttle services, and all gratuities. Butler service is reserved for Prestige Suites and above.

Ponant includes: all dining across two to three restaurants, an open bar at all hours (beer, wine, spirits, Henri Abelé Brut Champagne, soft drinks, coffee), daily minibar restock, unlimited Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service. On expedition sailings, one guided excursion per port per day is included (Zodiac outings, shore landings, expert-led activities). Gratuities are voluntary but suggested at approximately EUR 10–12 per person per day.

The key differentiators: Explora’s complimentary thermal spa is a genuine structural advantage — 7,500 square feet of wellness available to all guests without booking or time limits. Ponant’s included expedition excursions on Kimberley, Antarctic, and French Polynesian sailings represent substantial value. Ponant’s open bar is available from morning to night; Explora’s bar inclusion is comparably generous. Neither line includes flights or shore excursions on non-expedition itineraries.

Dining and culinary experience

Both lines boast genuine culinary pedigree, but the philosophies could hardly be more different — breadth versus depth, global variety versus French focus.

Explora offers nine dining venues per ship. The standout is Anthology — a 42-seat degustation restaurant featuring rotating three-Michelin-star guest chefs and menus inspired by the ship’s current destination. Fil Rouge serves French-inspired cuisine, Sakura offers pan-Asian, Marble & Co. Grill delivers European steakhouse, Med Yacht Club provides casual Mediterranean, and Emporium Marketplace is a global food hall. Chef’s Kitchen offers interactive culinary theatre. All venues except Anthology (approximately EUR $165 plus EUR $70 wine pairing) and Chef’s Kitchen are included. Explora won Cruise Critic’s 2025 Best Dining award.

Ponant’s Ducasse Conseil partnership delivers focused French excellence. On Explorer-class ships, Le Nautilus serves à la carte four-course dinners; Le Nemo or Le Grill offers casual dining. On Le Commandant Charcot, the flagship Nuna restaurant — described as one of the finest at sea — features Bernardaud porcelain and menus including soft-boiled eggs with caviar and saffron fettuccine. Pierre Hermé macarons and Kaviari caviar appear fleet-wide. The bread and pastries are consistently described as boulangerie-quality. All dining is included.

The verdict: Explora delivers far greater variety — nine venues spanning multiple cuisines versus Ponant’s two to three. Ponant delivers the most authentically French culinary experience afloat, with wines and champagne flowing at the base fare. Choose Explora for restaurant choice; choose Ponant for concentrated French finesse.

Suites and accommodation

The size gap is significant and intentional — reflecting each line’s philosophy about where guests spend their time.

Explora’s Ocean Terrace Suite starts at 375 square feet with a 75-square-foot private terrace — among the most generous entry-level offerings in ultra-luxury. The design is contemporary residential: warm wood tones, natural stone bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, Dyson hairdryer, Italian bed linens. Every suite has a private terrace. The Owner’s Residence spans approximately 3,015 square feet across two levels. Butler service is available from Prestige Suites upward. The fleet is uniformly modern — every ship delivers the same standard.

Ponant’s Explorer-class Deluxe Balcony is 161 square feet of interior plus a 43-square-foot balcony — roughly 43 per cent of Explora’s entry suite. Prestige Suites offer 291 square feet. The Owner’s Suite reaches 485 square feet interior with a 323-square-foot private terrace. On Le Commandant Charcot, Prestige Staterooms start at 300 square feet plus balcony, and the Owner’s Suite spans 1,240 square feet interior with a 2,000-square-foot terrace. No butler service on Explorer-class; available in Charcot’s top suites.

The comparison is straightforward: Explora wins decisively on space and suite quality at every price point. Ponant’s compact staterooms reflect an expedition philosophy where the destination — not the cabin — is the attraction. Guests spend days on Zodiacs, at shore landings, and in the Blue Eye lounge rather than in their stateroom.

Pricing and value

The lines occupy different price bands, and neither includes flights from Australia — which simplifies total-cost calculation.

Explora’s per-diem runs approximately USD $450–$750 per person per night depending on voyage length, season, and suite category. A seven-night Mediterranean in an Ocean Terrace Suite averages USD $550–$700 per night. Total cost for an Australian couple on a 14-night Mediterranean: approximately AUD $26,000–$43,000 including business-class flights, shore excursions, and dining supplements.

Ponant’s per-diem varies enormously by ship and destination. Explorer-class expedition cruises average roughly AUD $900–$1,500 per person per night. Mediterranean sailings run approximately AUD $7,500–$9,200 per person for shorter voyages. The Kimberley Fly, Stay & Cruise package starts from approximately AUD $14,850 including flights, hotel, and all-inclusive cruise. Le Commandant Charcot polar voyages command a significant premium.

The lines compete directly only in the Mediterranean and occasionally in Asia. On comparable ocean itineraries, Explora is typically cheaper per night with larger suites and more dining venues. Ponant’s open bar and included expedition excursions partially offset the gap. For expedition destinations — the Kimberley, Antarctica, French Polynesia — no Explora comparison exists.

Spa and wellness

Explora has the decisive hardware advantage; Ponant offers experiential wellness tied to extraordinary destinations.

Explora’s Helios Spa spans over 7,500 square feet across two decks. The thermal area — hydrotherapy pool, salt cave, Finnish sauna, aromatic steam room, experience showers, ice fountain, heated marble loungers — is complimentary for all guests. Eleven treatment rooms including two private spa suites. Four swimming pools per ship including a 25-metre outdoor infinity-edge pool. Sixty-four private cabanas. Won World Spa Awards 2024 for World’s Best Cruise Spa.

Ponant’s spa varies by ship. Explorer-class vessels have compact spas by Sothys or Clarins with massage cabins, a hammam, and a fitness centre. Le Commandant Charcot features the Nuan Wellness Lounge with Biologique Recherche treatments, the Ikuma sauna, Siku snow room, and the Blue Lagoon heated outdoor pool (27–37°C) where guests swim surrounded by polar ice. The Blue Eye underwater multi-sensory lounge — hydrophones capturing ocean acoustics, Body Listening Sofas vibrating with underwater sounds — is a unique wellness-adjacent experience.

For conventional spa enjoyment, Explora is in a different league. For experiential wellness — swimming in heated water while icebergs drift past, listening to whale song through the hull — Ponant offers something no spa can replicate.

Entertainment and enrichment

Both lines reject traditional cruise entertainment but take entirely different approaches to filling the gap.

Explora offers intimate musical performances, DJ sets at the Sky Bar, acoustic concerts, cultural storytelling, and wine tastings. The Luminaries programme brings artists, authors, and thought leaders aboard select sailings. No large-scale production shows. The approach is deliberately understated — contemporary resort socialising rather than scheduled entertainment. Dress code is “elegant resort” at all times.

Ponant’s enrichment is expedition-driven. Onboard naturalists, ornithologists, marine biologists, and historians deliver daily briefings before each landing. National Geographic Expeditions, Smithsonian Journeys, and Explorers Club partnerships place world-class experts aboard select sailings. The Blue Eye underwater lounge is a unique enrichment experience. Evenings feature a musical duo, cocktails, and the signature Soirée Blanche (White Party) on warm-climate sailings. Dress code is “Casual Chic” with one or two gala evenings per sailing.

The distinction is clear: Explora creates a curated, resort-like evening atmosphere. Ponant makes the destination the curriculum through scientific enrichment and institutional partnerships that no ocean-only line can match.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet comparison reveals Ponant’s overwhelming advantage in breadth and expedition reach.

Explora operates two ships — EXPLORA I (July 2023, 922 guests) and EXPLORA II (September 2024, 922 guests). EXPLORA III arrives summer 2026 (LNG-powered). All are ocean-going; no expedition capability. Deployments cover the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, and Middle East. By 2028, six uniformly modern ships — all under five years old.

Ponant operates thirteen ships across five classes. Le Commandant Charcot (245 guests, PC2 icebreaker) is the flagship. Six Explorer-class ships (184 guests each) carry Zodiac fleets and the Blue Eye lounge. Four Sisterships (264 guests each) are proven expedition workhorses. Le Ponant (32 guests) offers ultra-intimate sailing. Paul Gauguin (332 guests) operates year-round in French Polynesia. The fleet deploys simultaneously across the Mediterranean, Kimberley, French Polynesia, Antarctica, Arctic, Asia, and Papua New Guinea.

Ponant’s fleet advantage is commanding: thirteen ships covering every expedition frontier versus Explora’s two ocean ships. Explora counters with fleet uniformity — every ship is identical in quality, eliminating the ship-class variability that affects any line with a diverse fleet.

Where each line excels

Explora excels in:

• Design and modernity. Every ship purpose-built from 2023 onward with identical contemporary quality. No ship-class variation.
• Spa and wellness. The 7,500-square-foot Helios Spa with complimentary thermal area is the finest fleet-wide wellness offering in ultra-luxury ocean cruising.
• Suite size. Entry-level suites at 375 square feet plus terrace are more than double Ponant’s Explorer-class entry cabin.
• Dining variety. Nine venues spanning multiple cuisines versus Ponant’s two to three.
• Contemporary atmosphere. For travellers who find traditional cruise culture dated, Explora’s European ocean-living philosophy is genuinely different.

Ponant excels in:

• Expedition access. Thirteen ships reaching Antarctica, the Arctic, the Geographic North Pole, the Kimberley, French Polynesia, and Papua New Guinea. Explora has no path to offering any of these.
• The Kimberley. Sixteen sailings per season from Broome with Fly, Stay & Cruise packages from Australian capitals.
• French Polynesia. Paul Gauguin year-round from Papeete, just eight hours from Sydney. Le Jacques Cartier joining from 2026–2027.
• French culinary authenticity. Ducasse Conseil heritage, boulangerie-quality bread, and an included open bar with champagne.
• Australian accessibility. Established Australian office, Kimberley and Pacific deployments, and domestic-flight access to multiple embarkation ports.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Explora Journeys

Mediterranean Discovery (10 nights on EXPLORA I or II, multiple departures 2026–2027) — Roundtrip Barcelona or Civitavecchia visiting the French Riviera, Amalfi Coast, Greek Islands. From approximately USD $5,500 per person. The European atmosphere feels most natural in Mediterranean waters.

Northern Europe & Baltic (12–14 nights on EXPLORA I, summer 2026–2027) — Southampton or Copenhagen to Norwegian fjords, Stockholm, Helsinki. From approximately USD $7,000 per person.

2029 World Cruise (128 days, Dubai to Barcelona on EXPLORA I) — The first Explora voyage visiting Australia, calling at Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania. Join mid-voyage in Darwin or Sydney for a segment.

Ponant

Le Jacques Cartier: Kimberley (10 nights, May–September 2026, Broome to Darwin) — Sixteen sailings with Fly, Stay & Cruise packages from approximately AUD $14,850 including flights from five Australian capitals, hotel, and all-inclusive expedition cruise.

Le Jacques Cartier: French Polynesia (7–14 nights, roundtrip Papeete, September 2026–March 2027) — Sixty-six departures across Society Islands, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga. Air Tahiti Nui flies direct Sydney–Papeete.

Le Commandant Charcot: Antarctica (various 2026–2028, from Ushuaia) — The most capable luxury ship reaching the seventh continent. PC2 ice class enables routes no other passenger vessel can attempt.

Le Soleal: West Coast Odyssey (10 nights, Broome to Fremantle, July–August 2026) — Shark Bay, Abrolhos Islands, Montebello Islands, Murujuga National Park. Domestic flights only.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Explora Journeys

EXPLORA I (922 guests, July 2023) — The inaugural ship with the most passenger feedback. Choose for Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries.

EXPLORA II (922 guests, September 2024) — Near-identical to EXPLORA I with minor refinements. Choose based on itinerary.

EXPLORA III (arriving summer 2026, LNG-powered) — First of a new, larger class. Launch pricing may offer value.

Ponant

Le Jacques Cartier (184 guests, 2020) — The most versatile ship for Australian travellers. Deployed to both the Kimberley and French Polynesia. Explorer-class with Blue Eye lounge.

Le Commandant Charcot (245 guests, 2021) — For serious polar expedition only. PC2 icebreaker, Nuna restaurant, helicopters. No equivalent exists in cruising.

Le Soleal (264 guests, 2013) — Sistership-class Kimberley workhorse. Choose for the West Coast Odyssey.

Paul Gauguin (332 guests, 1998) — Purpose-built for French Polynesia with Tahitian cultural hosts. Not an expedition ship but the definitive South Pacific cruise.

For Australian travellers specifically

This comparison has a clear near-term verdict for Australians: Ponant is the practical and accessible choice today, with Explora as an aspirational alternative for international ocean sailings.

Ponant’s Australian proposition is deep and established. The North Sydney office (1300 737 178) was built under Sarina Bratton AM and now operates under CEO Asia Pacific Deb Corbett, who serves on the CLIA Australasia Executive Committee. The Kimberley is Ponant’s second most popular cruise region for Australian guests. Fly, Stay & Cruise packages from five Australian capitals simplify booking. Paul Gauguin operates year-round from Papeete — just eight hours from Sydney on Air Tahiti Nui. Discovery Sessions run in Australian cities with exclusive offers. Ponant’s fleet simultaneously covers the Kimberley, French Polynesia, Asia, and both polar regions — all accessible via manageable flights from Australian gateways.

Explora’s Australian proposition is effectively non-existent until 2029. No Australian sailings announced for 2026, 2027, or 2028. The 2029 World Cruise is the first scheduled visit to Australian ports. Until then, the closest departure ports are Dubai (14 hours from Sydney) and Mediterranean ports requiring 20-plus-hour flights. Explora has an Australian-based team through MSC Group infrastructure and the Sky & Sea Fare programme offers integrated fly-cruise packages.

Loyalty pathways: Ponant’s Yacht Club is lifetime status with cross-brand matching across Ponant, Paul Gauguin, and Aqua Expeditions — appealing for travellers planning across expedition brands. Explora’s Journeys Circle offers status matching from eleven competitor lines. Neither partners directly with Qantas Frequent Flyer.

The onboard atmosphere

These two lines attract affluent travellers but create strikingly different social environments.

Explora’s atmosphere is contemporary, European, and deliberately un-cruise-like. Average passenger age approximately 50–60. The demographic skews European with many first-time cruisers from luxury resort backgrounds. No casino, no production shows, no cruise director. Music is curated: lounge DJs, acoustic sets, jazz trios. Dress code is “elegant resort” at all times. The vibe is Aman resort rather than traditional cruise ship.

Ponant’s atmosphere is distinctly French. The passenger mix is approximately fifty per cent French, with significant Australian and European contingents. Announcements are in French first, then English. The Soirée Blanche (White Party) in warm climates is a signature event. Evenings are intimate: a musical duo, champagne, stargazing from the open deck. Dress code is “Casual Chic” with occasional gala evenings. For English-speaking Australians, the French language dynamic is the single most discussed aspect of the Ponant experience — some find it charming, others find it frustrating.

The comparison: Explora appeals to design-conscious travellers who want luxury without cruise conventions. Ponant appeals to cosmopolitan travellers who appreciate French culture, expedition destinations, and intimate scale. Explora’s crowd is younger and more fashion-forward; Ponant’s includes serious expedition enthusiasts, Francophiles, and well-travelled couples who value destination over ship.

The bottom line

Explora Journeys and Ponant are not natural competitors — they solve different problems for different travellers. But for Australians considering both, the choice clarifies around one question: what kind of holiday do you want?

Choose Explora if you want the newest ships in ultra-luxury cruising, a contemporary European atmosphere, the best complimentary thermal spa at sea, nine dining venues, and larger suites at a competitive per-diem. Accept that you will fly internationally to reach every departure port until at least 2029, arrange your own shore excursions, and forgo butler service unless booking Prestige Suites or above. Explora is ideal for design-conscious travellers, spa enthusiasts, and those who want luxury without cruise conventions.

Choose Ponant if you want expedition access across thirteen ships — the Kimberley from Broome, Antarctica from Ushuaia, French Polynesia year-round from Papeete, and the Geographic North Pole from Longyearbyen. Choose it for focused French culinary excellence, an included open bar with champagne, and the Blue Eye underwater lounge. Choose it for an established Australian operation, Fly, Stay & Cruise packages from five capitals, and destinations reachable via manageable flights. Accept that cabins are significantly smaller, the per-diem on expedition is higher, and the bilingual atmosphere may not suit all English-speaking travellers.

For most Australians, these lines complement rather than compete. A Ponant Kimberley or French Polynesia for expedition intimacy, followed by an Explora Mediterranean for resort-style ocean luxury, delivers the best of both worlds.