French Polynesia Expands Luxury Cruise Offerings With Ponant’s New Le Jacques Cartier Itineraries Starting 2026

Thursday, July 17, 2025

PONANT, nan world leader of luxury expedition cruises, is strengthening its business pinch French Polynesia and nan section authorities to reenforce Polynesia’s position arsenic a starring cruise destination, by proposing 7 caller French Polynesia itineraries to beryllium operated by Le Jacques Cartier arsenic from 2026/27. This besides follows PONANT’s decades of acquisition successful nan area, done its successful business pinch Paul Gauguin Cruises previously, delivering further enriching and far-reaching expedition cruises for luxury explorers.

The Le Jacques Cartier will connection 2 caller 14-night voyages that further grow entree to parts of French Polynesia that fewer different cruise lines visit. Beginning October 2026, passengers will person nan opportunity to acquisition exclusive itineraries featuring typical stops successful nan Gambier and Austral Islands, places you won’t find connected different cruise lines’ schedules. “These one-off sailings will connection an unprecedented chance for guests to observe immoderate of nan lesser-known jewels of French Polynesia arsenic portion of PONANT’s committedness to providing authentic and culturally focused expedition experiences”.

Two Unique 14-Night Itineraries for 2026/2027

The Le Jacques Cartier will sail 2 chopped itineraries: Secret Polynesia and From French Polynesia to Pitcairn Islands. Both itineraries will connection a roundtrip acquisition from Papeete, Tahiti, allowing guests to research nan region’s distant beauty and bask nan luxury that PONANT is known for.

• Secret Polynesia: This itinerary, which operates successful October and December 2026, explores nan Gambier Islands, and for nan first time, it extends to nan Austral Islands. This is simply a uncommon opportunity for travelers to observe a portion of French Polynesia fewer person group ft in.
• From French Polynesia to Pitcairn Islands: This once-in-a-lifetime sailing will return guests to nan isolated Pitcairn Islands, celebrated for their rich | history and relationship to nan HMS Bounty mutiny. This travel departs connected November 15, 2026, providing a singular voyage to 1 of nan world’s astir distant destinations.

The PONANT Experience: Expedition and Luxury Combined

The preamble of Le Jacques Cartier into nan region reflects PONANT’s dedication to offering some expeditionary adventures and refined luxury. Unlike nan m/s Paul Gauguin, which is simply a year-round alloy successful French Polynesia, Le Jacques Cartier will run seasonally during nan wintertime months, offering an moreover much expeditionary experience. This summation allows PONANT to cater to a divers scope of travelers, from those seeking immersive, off-the-beaten-path expeditions to those desiring a much relaxed luxury cruise experience.

Samuel Chamberlain, CEO of PONANT EXPLORATION GROUP for nan Americas, emphasized nan entreaty of these caller itineraries: “With Le Jacques Cartier joining The Gauguin successful Polynesia, we’re expanding nan choices disposable to discerning travelers seeking authenticity, elegance, and adventure.”

The operation of Le Jacques Cartier’s heavy exploration of distant islands and nan luxurious offerings disposable connected committee represents PONANT’s accuracy of blending escapade pinch comfort. Guests will person nan opportunity to bask nan elegance of nan ship’s creation while venturing into regions that stay untouched by wide tourism.

A Deeper Connection pinch French Polynesia’s Remote Islands

French Polynesia is renowned for its breathtaking earthy beauty, including lush tropical landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant marine life. However, galore of its astir distant islands, specified arsenic nan Gambier and Austral Islands, are often inaccessible to astir visitors. The preamble of these exclusive itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier allows PONANT to connection a uncommon chance for guests to research nan untouched corners of this immense oceanic paradise.

The Gambier Islands, successful particular, are known for their distant beauty and are often overlooked by accepted cruise lines. By visiting these destinations, guests tin link pinch nan section culture, which is rich | successful Polynesian traditions. Similarly, nan Austral Islands, which are arsenic secluded, committedness an authentic, unspoiled acquisition that will entreaty to travelers seeking serenity distant from nan accustomed tourer spots.

PONANT’s Ongoing Commitment to Sustainable Travel

As portion of its broader committedness to sustainable tourism, PONANT continues to attraction connected environmentally responsible travel. With Le Jacques Cartier’s exploration of French Polynesia’s distant areas, PONANT ensures that it respects and preserves nan vulnerable ecosystems of these islands while offering unforgettable experiences to travelers. The institution is dedicated to maintaining its activity successful nan cruise manufacture by offering expeditions that prioritize biology stewardship, supporting section communities, and providing unsocial entree to pristine locations.

The Perfect Blend of Culture and Adventure

For those seeking an immersive and taste journey, Le Jacques Cartier’s itineraries committedness much than conscionable beautiful landscapes. The ships supply guests pinch nan opportunity to prosecute pinch section communities and study astir nan traditions that person shaped these distant islands for centuries. Whether it’s done authentic Polynesian taste experiences aliases learning astir nan history of nan Pitcairn Islands, PONANT offers its guests an opportunity to grow their knowing of nan world successful ways fewer cruise lines tin match.

Booking and Availability for 2026/2027 Season

As portion of nan 2026/2027 cruise season, bookings for these exclusive itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier are now open. Travelers willing successful exploring these distant regions of French Polynesia should book early, arsenic these voyages are expected to waste retired quickly owed to their constricted readiness and precocious demand. The voyages committedness to present a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition that combines nan champion of expedition cruising and luxury travel.

Looking Forward to nan Future of Expedition Travel successful French Polynesia

The description of PONANT’s operations successful French Polynesia pinch Le Jacques Cartier marks a caller section successful nan region’s luxury cruise offerings. By introducing caller itineraries that research much distant parts of French Polynesia, PONANT provides travelers pinch unsocial entree to immoderate of nan astir stunning and untouched islands connected Earth.

As much group activity authentic, immersive recreation experiences, PONANT continues to lead nan measurement successful offering luxurious and sustainable expedition voyages. With Le Jacques Cartier’s arrival, French Polynesia is group to stay 1 of nan world’s apical destinations for discerning travelers looking to research nan distant and nan beautiful.