Smithsonian Journeys is expanding its reach at sea. Beginning in 2027, Ponant Explorations and Smithsonian Journeys are partnering on thirty five new ocean cruise departures, each one built around real expertise, not just scenery.
Two Smithsonian Experts on Every Sailing
Every sailing in the partnership carries two Smithsonian Journeys experts on board, giving lectures and leading informal discussions tied directly to the places guests are visiting. One of the specialists already announced is Jim Zimbelman, a senior geologist at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, the kind of expert most cruise lines simply do not have access to.
A Solar Eclipse at Sea
One of the most striking 2027 itineraries is A Solar Eclipse at Sea, Voyage Along the Iberian Peninsula, a sailing timed to let guests view the 2027 solar eclipse from the Mediterranean while a Smithsonian scientist explains exactly what they are watching happen above them in real time. It is a rare example of a cruise itinerary built entirely around a single moment of scientific and historical significance.
Part of a Larger Smithsonian Journeys Partnership
Smithsonian Journeys already has a well established river cruise partnership with AmaWaterways, and this new Ponant Explorations program extends that same idea to small ship ocean voyages, described by Smithsonian Journeys as offering ships of refined luxury and relaxed comfort alongside genuinely enriching, expert led programming.
For travelers who want a trip that goes beyond the destination itself and actually explains it, this is one of the most ambitious historian led cruise programs launching in the next few years. If an expedition like this is the kind of trip you have been picturing, we would be glad to help you plan one.
