Ponant vs Scenic Ocean Cruises

The core difference

Ponant and Scenic are the two luxury expedition lines that Australian travellers most frequently ask to compare — and with good reason. Both carry Zodiacs, both operate in Antarctica and the Kimberley, and both deliver genuinely luxury accommodation. The difference lies in philosophy, heritage, and what each line believes an expedition cruise should feel like.

Ponant is French expedition heritage. Founded in 1988 by Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée and a dozen merchant navy officers in Nantes, the line operates thirteen ships — from the 32-guest sailing yacht Le Ponant to the 245-guest Le Commandant Charcot, the only luxury icebreaker afloat with PC2 ice class. Rebranded as Ponant Explorations Group in March 2025, the company now encompasses three brands: Ponant Explorations, Paul Gauguin Cruises (year-round French Polynesia), and Aqua Expeditions (Amazon, Mekong, Galapagos). Owned by Groupe Artémis — the Pinault family holding that also controls Kering, Christie’s, and Château Latour — Ponant is unambiguously French in language, culinary philosophy, and passenger mix. The fleet’s defining features are the Blue Eye underwater multi-sensory lounge (unique to the six Explorer-class ships), the Ducasse Conseil culinary partnership, and an included open bar with Henri Abelé champagne. On the expedition side, Le Commandant Charcot’s PC2 hull can break through multi-year ice up to 2.5 metres thick, enabling destinations no other luxury vessel can reach: the Geographic North Pole, the North Pole of Inaccessibility, the deep Weddell Sea emperor penguin colonies, and Peter I Island. Six Explorer-class ships (184 guests, ice class 1C) and four Sisterships (264 guests, ice class 1C) complete the expedition fleet, each carrying a full Zodiac complement for daily landing operations.

Scenic is Australian expedition innovation. Founded by Glen Moroney in Newcastle, NSW in 1986, the Scenic Group built its reputation on European river cruising before launching the “world’s first Discovery Yachts” — Scenic Eclipse (2019) and Eclipse II (2023). At 228 guests with PC6 ice class, the patented Ulstein X-BOW hull design, two Airbus H130-T2 helicopters, a Scenic Neptune submarine certified to 300 metres depth, ten dining venues, butler service in every suite, and a genuinely all-inclusive fare, the Eclipse ships represent the most comprehensive expedition product available. Both helicopters are available for guest flightseeing, heli-hiking, and — in the Kimberley — heli-fishing for barramundi. The submarine offers forty-minute dives through ultra-clear acrylic viewing spheres with revolving platforms for 280-degree visibility. No other expedition ship carries both helicopters and a submarine on every voyage. The third vessel, Scenic Ikon (maiden voyage April 2028, 270 guests, 26,500 gross tonnes), will add fifteen dining venues, a two-level 18,298-square-foot spa, and a Triton AVA submersible.

For Australian travellers, the choice often reduces to a single question: do you want fleet flexibility, French finesse, and the deepest polar access — or all-inclusive simplicity, Australian ownership, and expedition hardware no other line can match?

What is actually included

The inclusion models differ meaningfully, and understanding them is essential to comparing total cost.

Scenic’s “Truly All-Inclusive” fare covers all dining across ten venues without surcharges, premium branded beverages (champagne, spirits, wines — with only rare vintages excluded), three tiers of shore excursions (Freechoice curated daily options, Enrich exclusive handcrafted experiences, and Discovery expert-led expedition outings including Zodiac landings and kayaking), butler service in every suite from entry level upward, gratuities for all services including onshore guides and drivers, Starlink Wi-Fi, port charges, taxes, transfers on select departures, and complimentary self-service and butler-assisted laundry. On polar voyages, a Scenic-branded expedition parka (yours to keep) and waterproof boots (loaned) are included. The only significant extras are helicopter flights (approximately USD 695 for a thirty-minute scenic flight, up to USD 1,500 for an emperor penguin helicopter visit in Antarctica), submarine dives (approximately USD 795 for forty minutes), spa treatments (ESPA branded), Chairman’s Cellar premium wines, and international flights to embarkation ports. No fuel surcharge surprises — the fare is the fare.

Ponant’s inclusion model covers all dining across two to three restaurants, an open bar available at all hours (beer, wine, spirits, Henri Abelé Brut Champagne, cocktails, soft drinks, coffee, and tea), a daily-restocked minibar in every stateroom, unlimited Wi-Fi (Starlink-enhanced on Le Commandant Charcot), and 24-hour room service. On expedition sailings — Kimberley, Antarctica, French Polynesia — one guided excursion per port per day is included (Zodiac outings, shore landings, expert-led activities). On polar voyages, a Ponant-branded red parka is yours to keep and waterproof expedition boots are loaned for the duration. Antarctic Peninsula departures typically include a complimentary overnight hotel in Buenos Aires and charter flight to Ushuaia — a meaningful inclusion that many competitors charge separately. What Ponant does not include: gratuities (voluntary but suggested at approximately EUR 10 to 12 per person per day), shore excursions on non-expedition itineraries, spa treatments, premium wines and spirits beyond the generous standard open bar, butler service below Privilege Suite level (available on Le Commandant Charcot only), and laundry (complimentary for upper loyalty tiers only).

The practical difference: on a twelve-night expedition sailing, Scenic’s gratuities inclusion saves approximately AUD 250 to 350 per person versus Ponant’s suggested tips. Scenic’s included excursion programme covers more ground than Ponant’s single-excursion-per-port model — the Freechoice, Enrich, and Discovery tiers provide curated options at every destination. Scenic’s butler service is universal; Ponant offers it only in Privilege Suites and above on Le Commandant Charcot, and not at all on Explorer-class. Ponant’s open bar is generous and included at the base fare — Scenic’s included bar is broader (premium spirits and over one hundred whisky varieties at the Whisky Bar), but both cover the essentials. The laundry inclusion on Scenic is a small but appreciated daily convenience that Ponant charges for.

Dining and culinary experience

This comparison pits variety against focus — and both approaches have genuine merit.

Scenic Eclipse delivers ten dining venues on a 228-guest ship — a ratio unmatched in expedition cruising and recognised with Cruise Critic’s Best Expedition Line for Dining award in 2022 and 2023. Elements is the a la carte main restaurant with rotating menus and homemade bread. Lumiere serves contemporary French fine dining with pre-dinner champagne and caviar — reviewers call it “perhaps the best, in terms of service and quality of food and wine coming together.” Koko’s offers Asian fusion with a dedicated sushi bar using ingredients flown from Japan, consistently cited as guests’ favourite dining venue, plus the intimate Night Market tasting experience for eight guests. The Chef’s Table at Elements (renamed Chef’s Garden at Epicure on Eclipse II) is an invitation-only degustation for ten guests featuring molecular gastronomy — foie gras lollipops under cotton candy and the like. Azure Bar and Cafe provides all-day casual dining with natural light and outdoor seating. The Yacht Club serves grill cuisine with food islands by the pool. Twenty-four-hour in-suite dining is a full meal service, not a limited late-night menu. The wine programme is curated by Keith Isaac, one of approximately four hundred Master of Wine holders globally, with fifty wines on the pouring programme and the Chairman’s Cellar offering premium vintages including first-growth Bordeaux and Penfolds Grange. Every venue is included without surcharges.

Ponant’s culinary programme is anchored by the Ducasse Conseil partnership — the consulting arm of Alain Ducasse, who was the first chef to hold three Michelin stars at three different restaurants simultaneously. On Le Commandant Charcot, the flagship Nuna restaurant (Inuit for “Earth”) is Ducasse’s first and only restaurant at sea — described by reviewers as one of the finest restaurants afloat. Bernardaud porcelain, Ligne Roset furniture, and menus including soft-boiled eggs with caviar and saffron fettuccine with seafood. Sila offers semi-formal buffet dining with themed evenings, and Inneq provides casual poolside grilling adjacent to the Blue Lagoon heated pool. On Explorer-class ships, Le Nautilus serves a la carte four-course dinners with amuse-bouche, and Le Nemo offers poolside casual dining. Pierre Herme macarons and Kaviari caviar appear fleet-wide. The bread and pastries are consistently described as boulangerie-quality — warm croissants at breakfast, freshly baked loaves at dinner. Henri Abelé champagne is the house pour, and the curated French wine list reflects genuine viticultural heritage with a standard cheese course at every dinner. All dining is included without surcharges — but the venue count is two to three versus Scenic’s ten.

The verdict: Scenic wins on variety, venue count, and the sheer achievement of ten restaurants on an expedition ship. Ponant wins on focused French culinary authenticity — the Ducasse heritage, the bread, the wine curation, the Pierre Herme macarons. For food-motivated travellers who want choice, Scenic. For those who value a singular French culinary experience with champagne flowing from breakfast onwards, Ponant.

Suites and accommodation

Both lines offer all-balcony accommodation, but Scenic’s suites are larger and come with universal butler service.

Scenic Eclipse’s 114 suites start at 345 to 365 square feet for the Verandah Suite — more than double Ponant’s Explorer-class entry cabin. All suites include a dedicated butler, a King Size Slumber Bed, butler bar with illy coffee machine and specialty teas, Smart UHD television with Bose sound system, Dyson hairdryer, L’Occitane bathroom amenities, and 24-hour in-suite dining. Spa Suites (495 to 540 square feet) include a Philippe Starck spa bath, four-poster king bed, and steam shower with light therapy. Panorama Suites offer 667 square feet of interior plus a 517-square-foot wraparound balcony — roughly 1,184 square feet total, with cinema surround sound and a dining table for four. The Owner’s Penthouse Suite spans 2,100 square feet total with a private Jacuzzi terrace, outdoor lounge, six-seat dining table, his-and-hers walk-in wardrobes, and 70-inch television. Up to fourteen suite grades across five decks. Every guest receives butler service regardless of category — morning coffee delivery, restaurant reservations, laundry management, minibar personalisation, and evening turndown.

Ponant’s Explorer-class staterooms are deliberately compact — the expedition philosophy prioritises time on deck and ashore over cabin space. The standard Prestige Stateroom on Deck 4 is 200 square feet of interior plus a 43-square-foot balcony. Deluxe Suites offer approximately 290 square feet. The Owner’s Suite tops out at approximately 580 square feet interior plus an 85-square-foot balcony. No butler service on Explorer-class ships at any level. On Le Commandant Charcot, accommodation is substantially more generous: Prestige Staterooms start at 215 square feet plus a 53-square-foot balcony, Privilege Suites reach 515 square feet interior with a 135-square-foot balcony and balneo bathtub, the Duplex Suite spans 1,010 square feet with a private Jacuzzi terrace and separate dining room, and the Owner’s Suite — the most extravagant in expedition cruising — offers 1,240 square feet of interior plus a 2,000-square-foot private terrace with Jacuzzi, personal telescope, separate dining room, and dual bathrooms. Butler service is available in Charcot’s Privilege Suite and above.

The space gap is significant. Scenic’s entry suite is nearly double Ponant’s entry cabin on Explorer-class. For travellers who value cabin comfort and butler service as part of the daily experience, Scenic wins decisively. For travellers who view the cabin as a place to sleep between Zodiac landings and who are drawn to Le Commandant Charcot’s extraordinary top suites, Ponant offers the most spectacular accommodation in expedition cruising — but only on one ship, and only at the higher categories.

Pricing and value

Both lines sit at the top of the expedition market, but the pricing structures create different total cost outcomes.

Ponant’s per-diem varies by ship and destination. Explorer-class expedition cruises average roughly AUD 900 to 1,500 per person per night. The Kimberley Fly, Stay and Cruise package starts from approximately AUD 13,670 per person including return flights from Australian and New Zealand capitals, one-night hotel stay, and the all-inclusive cruise. Mediterranean themed voyages run approximately AUD 7,500 to 9,200 per person. Le Commandant Charcot polar voyages command a significant premium — the 2028 circumnavigation of Antarctica starts from USD 147,360 per person for sixty-two days, the North Pole from approximately USD 46,450 per person for fifteen nights. Ponant’s early-booking Ponant Bonus offers up to thirty per cent off the reference fare — substantial for planners willing to commit early. Solo travellers benefit from Ponant’s waived single supplement on more than 160 voyages across destinations, an industry-leading initiative.

Scenic’s per-diem starts from approximately AUD 1,100 to 1,450 per person per night for Verandah Suites on Antarctic itineraries, though promotional pricing during wave season (January to March) can bring this considerably lower. A 13-day Antarctic Peninsula cruise starts from approximately AUD 15,000 to 19,000 per person in the entry suite. A Kimberley 10-night voyage from approximately AUD 12,000 to 15,000. An 8-day Mediterranean Discovery Voyage from approximately AUD 8,000 to 12,000. The all-inclusive nature means the sticker price is close to the total holiday cost. Solo traveller promotions periodically offer 55 to 75 per cent off the single supplement on entry-level suites, though only two solo cabins per departure and higher categories are excluded.

Total cost comparison for a twelve-night Antarctic expedition:

Ponant (Explorer-class, Prestige Stateroom): approximately AUD 13,000 to 17,000 cruise fare including Buenos Aires hotel and charter flight to Ushuaia. Add voluntary gratuities (approximately AUD 250 to 350), any premium drinks beyond the open bar, and personal transfers. Total: approximately AUD 13,500 to 18,000.

Scenic (Eclipse, Verandah Suite): approximately AUD 15,000 to 22,000 all-inclusive (butler service, premium drinks, all excursions including Zodiac landings and kayaking, gratuities, Wi-Fi, laundry, transfers, charter flights). Add helicopter (approximately AUD 1,100 for a scenic flight) and submarine (approximately AUD 1,250 for a dive) if desired.

The premium for Scenic is real but narrower than the headline fares suggest — it buys a larger suite (345 versus 200 square feet), universal butler service, more dining venues, included excursions beyond Zodiac landings, complimentary laundry, and helicopter and submarine access. Whether the premium represents value depends on how much you use the inclusions. Ponant’s Ponant Bonus early-booking discount of up to thirty per cent can substantially close the gap for forward planners.

Spa and wellness

Both lines offer spa facilities, but at different scales reflecting their ship sizes and design philosophies.

Scenic’s Senses Spa spans 550 square metres (approximately 5,920 square feet) — substantial for a 228-guest ship. ESPA provides the treatment programme with luxurious facials, massages, and body treatments. Complimentary facilities include a sauna (his and hers on Eclipse II), steam room (expanded on Eclipse II with aromatherapy and ice fountain), a salt therapy lounge with heated beds (Eclipse II, by KLAFS), Vitality Pool with swim jets, relaxation lounges, and on Eclipse II a Sky Deck Vitality Pool on Deck 10. The PURE Yoga and Pilates Studio offers scheduled classes and one-on-one sessions. The POWER gym provides fully equipped fitness training with personal sessions available. Holistic therapies extend to aerial yoga, TRX, mindfulness meditation, and Tibetan sound bowl healing. Scenic Ikon will feature a two-level 18,298-square-foot Senses Rejuvenation Spa — a major upgrade that will be the largest spa in expedition cruising.

Ponant’s spa offering varies meaningfully by ship. On Explorer-class vessels, compact spas operated by Sothys or Clarins offer massage cabins, a hammam, and a fitness centre — functional but modest. On Le Commandant Charcot, the Nuan Wellness Lounge features Biologique Recherche treatments, three treatment cabins, the Ikuma sauna, the Siku snow room, and — most spectacularly — the Blue Lagoon heated outdoor pool (27 to 37 degrees Celsius) where guests swim in heated water while icebergs and pack ice drift past. An indoor saltwater pool with counter-current swim and floor-to-ceiling polar windows completes the facility. There is nothing quite like swimming outdoors at the North Pole.

Scenic wins on spa scale, the breadth of complimentary wellness facilities, and consistency across the fleet — every Eclipse-class guest accesses the same generous spa. Ponant’s Charcot offers the most experiential wellness in expedition cruising — swimming in heated water surrounded by Antarctic ice is unforgettable — but on Explorer-class ships, the spa is functional rather than destination-worthy.

Entertainment and enrichment

Both lines are expedition-first — enrichment is destination-focused, not performance-focused. But the institutional partnerships and expedition hardware create distinctly different experiences.

Scenic’s Discovery Team comprises up to twenty specialists per polar voyage — marine biologists, historians, geologists, glaciologists, ornithologists, and local guides handpicked for each destination. Daily briefings and evening expedition recaps are delivered in a theatre with 180-degree projection screens. The “B My Guest” partnership provides bespoke musical performances with projection backdrops. Live piano fills the Scenic Lounge and Bar. The Observatory Lounge offers panoramic 270-degree windows, telescopes, and a library — the gathering point for sundowner drinks and expedition briefings. Cooking masterclasses run at the Chef’s Garden. In expedition hardware, the two helicopters enable flightseeing over glaciers and ice sheets, heli-hiking to remote landing sites, and — in Antarctica — helicopter access to emperor penguin colonies unreachable by Zodiac. The submarine provides forty-minute dives revealing underwater ice formations, marine life, and geological features through ultra-clear acrylic spheres. The evening atmosphere is intimate, social, and entirely English-speaking. No casino, no Broadway-style shows — more wine bar than nightclub.

Ponant’s enrichment programme draws on three major institutional partnerships that no competitor matches. National Geographic Expeditions (since 2018) places experts and photographers onboard select sailings, particularly on Le Commandant Charcot. Smithsonian Journeys provides two experts per voyage on select Mediterranean, Great Lakes, and family-oriented sailings — thirty-five ocean cruise departures are planned for 2027, including a solar eclipse voyage along the Iberian Peninsula. The Explorers Club partnership (expanded November 2025) brings speakers including mountaineer Peter Hillary and marine scientist Diego Cardenosa, with twenty-one voyages globally now featuring Explorers Club programming. On Le Commandant Charcot, guests participate in genuine citizen science — setting up research stations on ice floes, deploying Argos satellite transmitters, and collecting microplastic samples alongside visiting scientists. In a recent season, seventy scientists participated across Charcot voyages with twenty-three research projects. The Blue Eye underwater multi-sensory lounge on the six Explorer-class ships — two whale-eye-shaped glass portholes below the waterline, hydrophones capturing ocean acoustics across a three-mile radius, and Body Listening Sofas vibrating with underwater sounds — is unique to Ponant and has no equivalent on any cruise ship. Evening entertainment is a musical duo, cocktails in the lounge, and the signature Soiree Blanche (White Party) on warm-climate sailings. Announcements and enrichment are delivered in French first, then English.

The distinction: Scenic delivers a polished, English-language enrichment programme with unique expedition hardware — helicopters and submarine — that no Ponant ship except Charcot can match. Ponant delivers richer institutional partnerships (National Geographic, Smithsonian, Explorers Club), the unique Blue Eye experience, and on Charcot, genuine scientific engagement including citizen science. The bilingual delivery remains a consistent point of feedback from English-speaking Australians — briefings and lectures take roughly double the time when delivered in both languages.

Fleet and destination coverage

The fleet comparison is stark — thirteen ships against two — and it shapes every aspect of itinerary choice and expedition capability.

Ponant operates thirteen ships across five classes. Le Commandant Charcot (245 guests, PC2 icebreaker, LNG-electric hybrid with a 5 MWh battery pack for silent running) is the undisputed flagship — the only luxury ship to reach the Geographic North Pole (first achieved in summer 2021) and the first passenger vessel to reach the North Pole of Inaccessibility (September 2024). It carries sixteen Zodiacs, one helicopter for expedition operations, a Sherp all-terrain vehicle, hovercraft, tethered hot-air balloon, snowmobiles, and two scientific laboratories hosting up to twenty visiting scientists per voyage. Six Explorer-class ships (184 guests each, ice class 1C) feature the Blue Eye lounge, retractable marina platforms for water sports, and full Zodiac fleets. Sitting below the IAATO 200-passenger threshold, they offer efficient Antarctic landing rotations. Four Sisterships (264 guests each, ice class 1C) are the oldest expedition vessels in the fleet (2010 to 2015), exceeding the IAATO 200-passenger threshold and requiring more complex landing rotations. Le Ponant (32 guests, three-masted sailing yacht) offers ultra-intimate Mediterranean and Caribbean sailing. Paul Gauguin (332 guests) operates year-round in French Polynesia. Recent additions include Aqua Expeditions (Amazon, Mekong, Galapagos, Indonesia) and the Paspaley Pearl superyacht (30 guests, Kimberley and Raja Ampat). This fleet enables simultaneous deployment across the Mediterranean, Kimberley, French Polynesia, Antarctica, Arctic, subantarctic islands, Papua New Guinea, Great Lakes, Japan, and Indonesia.

Scenic operates two Discovery Yachts becoming three. Eclipse (2019, 228 guests, PC6) and Eclipse II (2023, 228 guests, PC6) are near-identical ships with the Ulstein X-BOW inverted bow design — reducing slamming, spray, and vibration in heavy seas — two Airbus helicopters, a Scenic Neptune submarine, twelve Zodiacs, eight tandem kayaks, paddleboards, e-bikes, and snorkelling gear. Dynamic positioning systems hold the ships in position without anchoring, protecting sensitive seabeds. Scenic Ikon (maiden voyage 7 April 2028, 270 guests, 26,500 GT, PC6) joins with fifteen dining venues, two Airbus helicopters, a Triton AVA submersible, two-level spa, and enhanced capabilities. From 2028, Eclipse II is permanently based in Australia and Asia Pacific while Ikon and Eclipse I serve Europe and Antarctica.

Ice class comparison is the single most important expedition specification. Le Commandant Charcot’s PC2 rating can break through multi-year ice up to 2.5 metres thick — it operates year-round in polar waters and reaches destinations no other cruise ship can access. Scenic’s PC6 rating (ice class 1A-Super equivalent) handles first-year seasonal ice and is suitable for summer Antarctic Peninsula and Arctic operations. In January 2026, Eclipse II required US Coast Guard assistance after becoming trapped in Ross Sea pack ice — a sobering illustration of PC6 limitations in heavier ice conditions. Ponant’s Explorer and Sistership classes hold only ice class 1C — below PC6 and less polar-capable than Scenic’s Discovery Yachts for standard expedition operations.

Fleet breadth overwhelmingly favours Ponant — thirteen ships create far more departure dates, destinations, and itinerary options across any given season. Scenic counters with purpose-built Discovery Yachts that carry expedition hardware (two helicopters, submarine) no Ponant ship except Charcot can match, and the X-BOW hull design for a smoother ride in the Drake Passage.

Where each line excels

Ponant excels in:

• Deep polar expedition. Le Commandant Charcot’s PC2 ice class enables year-round polar operations that no Scenic ship can attempt — the Geographic North Pole, the deep Weddell Sea emperor penguin colonies at Snow Hill Island, Peter I Island, the East Antarctic coast, and the 2028 first-ever circumnavigation of Antarctica over sixty-two days.
• French Polynesia. Paul Gauguin has operated year-round from Papeete for nearly thirty years. Le Jacques Cartier joins from late 2026, creating dual-ship coverage across six archipelagos with extended sailings to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, and Pitcairn Island. Air Tahiti Nui flies direct from Sydney in eight hours. Scenic has no Pacific presence.
• The Kimberley (volume). Sixteen sailings for the 2026 season across two ships (Le Jacques Cartier and Le Soleal), plus the Paspaley Pearl superyacht with thirty guests — more departure options than any other luxury expedition line in the region.
• Fleet flexibility. Thirteen ships mean far more choices on dates, durations, and destinations at any point in the year. If your first-choice departure sells out, Ponant likely has an alternative.
• Institutional partnerships. National Geographic, Smithsonian Journeys, and the Explorers Club provide enrichment depth no other expedition line matches.
• Solo travellers. Waived single supplement on more than 160 voyages across destinations — arguably the best policy in luxury expedition cruising.

Scenic excels in:

• All-inclusive value. The most transparent pricing in expedition cruising — butler service, drinks, excursions, and gratuities all included. No mental arithmetic required.
• Expedition hardware. Two helicopters and a submarine per ship — unique capabilities for flightseeing over glaciers, visiting emperor penguin colonies unreachable by Zodiac, and exploring beneath the sea. Only Scenic carries both on every voyage.
• Dining breadth. Ten venues on a 228-guest ship — the highest restaurant-to-guest ratio in expedition cruising, with Sushi at Koko’s and Lumiere consistently singled out as standouts.
• Australian ownership. Founded in Newcastle, NSW. Priced in AUD through scenic.com.au. Eclipse II permanently homeported in Australia from 2028. Unified loyalty across ocean, river, and land. The Scenic Group owns its own shipyard (MKM Yachts, Croatia) — a rare level of vertical integration.
• Suite quality. Larger suites at every category with universal butler service — the most spacious expedition accommodation available at entry level.
• Hull design. The Ulstein X-BOW inverted bow reduces slamming and vibration in rough seas — a meaningful advantage in the Drake Passage.

Standout itineraries for Australian travellers

Ponant

Le Jacques Cartier: Kimberley (10 nights, May to September 2026, Broome to Darwin or reverse) — Sixteen sailings with Fly, Stay and Cruise packages from approximately AUD 13,670 per person including return flights from five Australian and New Zealand capitals, one-night hotel, and transfers. King George Falls, Montgomery Reef, Indigenous cultural encounters. One guided excursion per port per day included. Blue Eye underwater lounge for Kimberley marine life.

Le Jacques Cartier: French Polynesia (7 to 14 nights, roundtrip Papeete, September 2026 to March 2027) — Sixty-six departures across Society Islands, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Tonga. Air Tahiti Nui flies direct Sydney to Papeete in eight hours. Blue Eye underwater lounge in the world’s clearest waters. The most immersive South Pacific expedition programme available.

Le Commandant Charcot: Antarctica Circumnavigation (62 nights, departing Ushuaia 11 January 2028) — The first-ever full circumnavigation of Antarctica aboard the world’s only luxury icebreaker. From USD 147,360 per person. Deep ice penetration into the Weddell Sea, East Antarctic coast, and Ross Sea. For the most ambitious polar traveller, this is the defining voyage of the decade.

Le Soleal: West Coast Odyssey (10 nights, Broome to Fremantle, July to August 2026) — Brand-new itinerary exploring Shark Bay, Abrolhos Islands, Montebello Islands, and Murujuga National Park. Domestic flights only. An entirely new Australian coastal expedition.

Scenic

Eclipse II: East Antarctica (approximately 20 nights, departing Queenstown, returning Hobart) — Mawson’s Huts with complimentary helicopter shuttle to the historic site. Among the most accessible Antarctic voyages for Australians — departures from New Zealand mean domestic connections only. Helicopter capability adds aerial perspectives unavailable on any other East Antarctic operator.

Eclipse II: The Kimberley (returning 2028, 10 nights, Darwin to Broome or reverse) — The only Kimberley expedition ship with onboard helicopters, enabling flightseeing over the Horizontal Falls and heli-fishing for barramundi. Discovery Team led by Mike Cusack with over thirty years of guiding experience in Australia’s northwest. Submarine cannot operate in the Kimberley due to regulations, but two helicopters provide unique aerial access.

Scenic Ikon: Mediterranean Inaugural (maiden voyage 7 April 2028, Venice) — The third Discovery Yacht. 270 guests, fifteen dining venues, two-level 18,298-square-foot spa, Triton AVA submersible. First two voyages sold out via loyalty members — early commitment essential for subsequent sailings.

Eclipse I: Antarctic Peninsula (13 days, from approximately AUD 15,000 to 19,000) — Classic Antarctic Peninsula with multiple Zodiac landings, kayaking, paddleboarding. Helicopter flights over the ice and submarine dives beneath it available at additional cost. All excursions, all dining, all drinks, butler service, and gratuities included in the fare.

Ship-by-ship recommendations

Ponant

Le Jacques Cartier (184 guests, 2020, Explorer-class) — The most versatile ship for Australian travellers. Deployed to both the Kimberley and French Polynesia. Explorer-class with Blue Eye underwater lounge, retractable marina platform, Zodiac fleet, and Ducasse-trained French cuisine. Sits below the IAATO 200-passenger threshold for efficient Antarctic landings. Choose for your first Ponant sailing.

Le Commandant Charcot (245 guests, 2021, PC2 icebreaker) — For serious polar expedition only. PC2 hull, LNG-electric hybrid propulsion, Nuna restaurant (Ducasse’s first at sea), helicopters for expedition operations, hovercraft, snowmobiles, tethered hot-air balloon, two scientific laboratories. Commands a significant premium. No equivalent exists in cruising. Choose only if the destination requires ice-breaking capability — the North Pole, deep Weddell Sea, or the circumnavigation of Antarctica.

Le Soleal (264 guests, 2013, Sistership-class) — The proven Kimberley workhorse. Larger than Explorer-class but without the Blue Eye lounge. Choose for the West Coast Odyssey or as an alternative Kimberley sailing at a potentially lower price point. Note the 264-guest count exceeds IAATO’s 200-passenger threshold for Antarctic operations.

Paul Gauguin (332 guests, 1998) — Not an expedition ship but purpose-built for French Polynesia with Tahitian cultural hosts, a retractable marina platform, and year-round tropical deployment. Choose for the most immersive Pacific cruise available. Cross-brand loyalty with Ponant Yacht Club.

Scenic

Scenic Eclipse II — The recommended first Scenic sailing for Australian travellers. Permanently based in Australia and Asia Pacific from April 2028, with Sydney, Darwin, and Hobart homeports. Near-identical to Eclipse I but with updated interiors — expanded spa with salt therapy lounge and ice fountain, redesigned Yacht Club with new food islands, Sky Deck pool on Deck 10, and improved submarine entry and exit design. Fourteen suite categories versus Eclipse I’s ten.

Scenic Eclipse I — Primarily deployed to Europe and the Antarctic Peninsula from 2028. Choose for Northern Hemisphere itineraries or classic Antarctic expeditions. Some reviewers note the 2019 interiors are beginning to show their age relative to Eclipse II. The September 2024 Azipod replacement and drydock in Galveston resolved the propulsion issue, and the ship returned to Antarctic service in November 2024.

Scenic Ikon (arriving April 2028) — The flagship. Larger at 270 guests and 26,500 gross tonnes with fifteen dining venues, two-level spa, and Triton AVA submersible. Choose for the most spacious Scenic experience — expect a premium over Eclipse-class. Being built at MKM Yachts in Croatia, the Scenic Group’s wholly owned shipyard.

For Australian travellers specifically

Both lines have genuine Australian connections, but the nature of those connections differs fundamentally.

Scenic is Australian-owned, Australian-headquartered, and Australian at heart. Glen Moroney founded the company in Newcastle in 1986. Global headquarters remain on Watt Street, Newcastle. The river cruise brand is a household name through decades of Australian media advertising and a strong existing customer base. Eclipse II made a “historic homecoming” visit to Newcastle during her first Australian deployment. The Scenic and Emerald Rewards programme (launched February 2026) unifies loyalty across ocean, river, and land — existing river cruise members carry status directly to ocean, with four tiers from Gold through Chairman’s Club. The Chairman’s Club tier offers complimentary suite upgrades, a fifty per cent discount on travel insurance, and from April 2028, one helicopter or flightseeing experience on select departures. Eclipse II is permanently based in Australia from April 2028 with Sydney, Darwin, and Hobart homeports — no international flights required. All pricing in AUD through scenic.com.au. Contact: 1300 173 812.

Ponant’s Australian operation was built under Sarina Bratton AM — described as “Australia’s First Lady of Cruising” — who grew APAC revenue from less than one per cent to approximately twenty per cent of global revenue. Bratton concluded her official role in late 2024 and was named Honorary Regional Chair. Current CEO Asia Pacific Deb Corbett leads the North Sydney office and serves on the CLIA Australasia Executive Committee. Ponant runs Discovery Sessions in five Australian cities (Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne) with exclusive cruise offers and flight credits. The Kimberley programme is the second most popular region for Australian guests. Fly, Stay and Cruise packages from Australian and New Zealand capitals simplify booking with included flights, hotels, and transfers. Le Commandant Charcot made her Australian debut in Hobart on 14 February 2026 — a landmark visit reinforcing Hobart as an Antarctic gateway. Contact: 1300 737 178.

The loyalty question favours Scenic for existing river cruise guests — carrying status from a European Scenic Space-Ship directly onto an Antarctic Eclipse voyage through the unified Scenic and Emerald Rewards programme is a genuine advantage that no competitor matches. Ponant’s Yacht Club is lifetime status with no requalification required — once you reach Admiral, Grand Admiral, or Commodore, you keep it permanently. The December 2025 cross-brand loyalty match extends across Ponant Explorations, Paul Gauguin Cruises, and Aqua Expeditions — appealing for travellers planning across multiple brands in the group.

The onboard atmosphere

The cultural feel of these two lines is the single biggest non-technical difference — and it matters profoundly for Australian travellers choosing between them.

Scenic’s atmosphere is English-speaking, polished, and social. With 228 guests and a nearly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio in polar regions (192 crew for 200 guests), the intimacy is pronounced — crew learn names by day two. Butler service creates personal relationships that deepen across the voyage. On expedition sailings, the shared intensity of Zodiac landings, helicopter flights, and submarine dives forges genuine connections between guests. The Discovery Team’s daily briefings and evening recaps create a communal rhythm that structures each day. The passenger mix is international but English-speaking, with strong Australian and British representation — expect a significant proportion of Australians on most sailings, particularly Kimberley and Antarctic departures marketed through Australian channels. Evenings feature live piano, musical performances through the “B My Guest” programme, and cocktails in the Observatory Lounge with its 270-degree panoramic windows. Dress code is elegant casual — no formal nights, which many guests cite as a selling point. Some guests wear smart jeans to dinner without issue. The overall feel is more boutique luxury hotel than traditional cruise ship.

Ponant’s atmosphere is distinctly French. The passenger mix is approximately fifty per cent French, with significant Australian (APAC contributes twenty per cent of global revenue), European, and smaller North American contingents. The bridge team is French. Hotel staff are international but French-speaking. Announcements are delivered in French first, then English — and multiple English-speaking guests report that the French version is longer and more detailed, with the English summary feeling secondary. All menus, signage, lectures, and safety briefings are bilingual. On landing days, passengers typically split into French-speaking and English-speaking Zodiac groups. The Soiree Blanche (White Party) in warm climates is a signature event — all-white dress, music, dancing on outer decks under the stars. Evenings are intimate: a musical duo, champagne, stargazing. The dress code is Casual Chic with one or two gala evenings per sailing — French passengers tend to dress more formally than Anglo guests, and some Australian travellers report feeling underdressed without at least one smart outfit. For English-speaking Australians, the French language dynamic is the single most discussed aspect of the Ponant experience — some find it charmingly cosmopolitan and authentically European, others find it frustrating when every briefing takes twice as long.

The bottom line

Ponant and Scenic are the closest direct competitors in the luxury expedition space — both are genuine expedition lines with Zodiac capability, polar operations, and Kimberley programmes. Both deliver luxury accommodation, comprehensive inclusions, and expert-led exploration. The choice comes down to heritage, hardware, inclusions, and what kind of expedition experience resonates with you as an Australian traveller.

Choose Ponant for the most extensive expedition fleet in the luxury segment — thirteen ships reaching the Geographic North Pole, French Polynesia year-round, and the Kimberley across sixteen annual sailings. Choose it for Ducasse-trained French cuisine, the Blue Eye underwater lounge, and partnerships with National Geographic, Smithsonian, and the Explorers Club. Choose it for Le Commandant Charcot’s PC2 ice-breaking capability that no other luxury ship can match — if your ambition is the North Pole, the deep Weddell Sea, or the circumnavigation of Antarctica, only Ponant can take you there. Choose it for the Ponant Bonus early-booking discount of up to thirty per cent, the waived solo supplement on over 160 voyages, and the flexibility of far more departure dates across more destinations. Accept the French language dynamic, smaller cabins on Explorer-class, voluntary gratuities, and the need to calculate total cost beyond the headline fare.

Choose Scenic for the most comprehensively all-inclusive expedition product afloat — butler service in every suite, ten dining venues, included excursions across three tiers, premium drinks, gratuities, and complimentary laundry. Choose it for helicopter and submarine capability on every voyage — no other expedition line carries both. Choose it for Australian ownership, AUD pricing, and a ship permanently homeported in Australia from April 2028. Choose it for the unified Scenic and Emerald Rewards programme that carries your existing river cruise loyalty directly to ocean. Choose it for larger suites at every category and the smoothest ride in the Drake Passage courtesy of the X-BOW hull. Accept the higher per-diem, the two-ship fleet that limits departure options until Ikon arrives in 2028, the Eclipse II Ross Sea incident that highlighted PC6 limitations, and the reality that helicopter and submarine availability is never guaranteed.

For Australian travellers torn between the two, consider sailing both — a Ponant Kimberley or French Polynesia voyage for the French culinary intimacy and Blue Eye experience, followed by a Scenic Eclipse Antarctic expedition for the helicopters, submarine, and all-inclusive ease. The lines complement beautifully, and together they cover more of the expedition world than any single cruise line can offer.