PONANT EXPLORATIONS has added 15 Smithsonian Journeys voyages for 2028, completing a 36 voyage collection that reaches all seven continents. The July 15 announcement gives travelers two newly designed itineraries, a larger set of returning departures and a clearer view of which experts will accompany each sailing.
The expansion is a product release rather than a change to current ship operations. Its practical value is in comparing route, ship, expert team, season and price before choosing among voyages that share the Smithsonian name but deliver very different destination experiences.
- New inventory: PONANT announced 15 additional Smithsonian Journeys voyages for 2028 on July 15.
- Collection size: The completed program contains 36 voyages across all seven continents.
- Expert format: Two Smithsonian Journeys experts are scheduled to join each voyage.
- New Costa Rica route: Le Bougainville sails roundtrip from Puntarenas on February 16, 2028.
- New Adriatic route: Le Dumont d’Urville sails from Venice to Valletta on September 27, 2028.
- Booking task: Travelers should verify the exact ship, experts, inclusions and current fare on the selected departure.
What PONANT added for 2028
The official PONANT release describes the July announcement as 15 additional voyages in alliance with Smithsonian Journeys. Together with the program announced earlier in the year, the additions bring the 2028 collection to 36 departures spanning all seven continents.
That scale matters because Smithsonian Journeys is not attached to one ship, region or expedition style. The collection stretches from cultural routes in Europe to wildlife focused voyages in Central America, polar travel and a Great Lakes itinerary that connects Canada with the United States.
Cruise Industry News independently confirmed the 15 voyage addition and highlighted the same two new itineraries. Its July 17 report also confirms that every sailing in the expanded offering is planned with two Smithsonian Journeys experts who provide destination context onboard.
The expert format is the main unifying feature, but it should not be mistaken for an identical program on every departure. A naturalist and volcanologist on a Costa Rica voyage create a different learning experience from an art historian and geologist on an Adriatic itinerary, even though both sail under the same partnership.
Costa Rica is one of the two new itineraries
Costa Rica by Sea: Wildlife and Rainforests of the Pacific Coast is scheduled as a seven night roundtrip voyage from Puntarenas beginning February 16, 2028. PONANT assigns Le Bougainville to the route, making the ship in the featured image an exact example of the newly announced program.
The itinerary centers on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, with the Osa Peninsula and Manuel Antonio National Park among the named areas. The route is built around rainforest, wildlife and cultural context rather than a conventional string of beach calls, so travelers should compare landing style, walking demands and excursion details before booking.
PONANT names naturalist Dennis Wille Saenz and volcanologist Arianna Soldati as the two Smithsonian Journeys experts for the sailing. Their fields align with the destination, where biodiversity, volcanic history and protected landscapes are more central to the experience than onboard entertainment.
The live Smithsonian Journeys collection page lists the voyage for February 16 through 23, 2028 and displays current pricing and availability. Those commercial details can change, so a traveler should treat the live booking page as authority instead of relying on a saved fare from the announcement week.
The Adriatic route combines art and geology
Sailing the Adriatic: Treasures of Italy’s Eastern Coast and Sicily is the second newly designed itinerary named in the release. It is scheduled to leave Venice on September 27, 2028 and arrive in Valletta after eight nights aboard Le Dumont d’Urville.
The route is structured around the eastern side of Italy before continuing to Sicily. PONANT highlights Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna, Renaissance works in Urbino, the trulli houses of Alberobello and the layered Baroque and Greek heritage of Sicily.
Art historian Ross King and geologist Allen Glazner are the named Smithsonian Journeys experts. That pairing signals a program intended to connect built heritage with the landscapes and materials beneath it, rather than treating each port as an isolated sightseeing stop.
Travelers comparing this route with a normal Italy cruise should check how much time is devoted to guided visits, whether excursion choices are included and how the voyage handles transfers between the port and inland sites. The partnership promises expert context, but the exact daily schedule still determines how much of that value a guest can use.
The wider collection covers several travel styles
The completed 2028 program also includes returning routes across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, the polar regions and Australia. Examples on the current Smithsonian page include Japan and South Korea, the Norwegian fjords, Antarctica, Madagascar and Seychelles, and the Kimberley coast during the 2028 solar eclipse.
North American travelers also have a Great Lakes option. Smithsonian lists a voyage between Toronto and Milwaukee, with some departures operating in the reverse direction, aboard Le Bellot.
That route is materially different from the new Costa Rica and Adriatic sailings even though the same expert led partnership frames the experience. It asks travelers to compare regional access and cultural programming instead of tropical wildlife or Mediterranean heritage.
A broad collection makes the partnership easier to find but harder to compare at a glance. Ship size, climate, physical activity, Zodiac use, port access, visa requirements and flight complexity can vary sharply, so the alliance name should be the start of the decision rather than the end.
Deep Arrival’s cruise planning hub connects travelers with established cruise line and ship inventory. The July announcement adds route specific news, while the live PONANT voyage pages remain the better source for cabin availability, included excursions and final booking terms.
How to compare the new voyages
Start with the destination decision, then examine the assigned ship and expert fields. A traveler drawn to Costa Rican wildlife may value Le Bougainville’s small ship access and the natural science team, while a traveler focused on European art may get more from the Venice to Valletta route.
Next, review what is included. Smithsonian’s partnership pages describe experts and destination programming, but travelers should still verify airfare, transfers, hotel nights, gratuities, drinks, excursion choices, medical requirements and cancellation terms for the exact departure.
Finally, compare the current fare with the cabin category and solo supplement. Promotional prices can create a large gap between the advertised entry point and the preferred cabin, and a discount displayed in July 2026 is not a promise that the same rate will remain available for a 2028 sailing.
| Comparison point | Costa Rica by Sea | Adriatic and Sicily |
|---|---|---|
| Departure | February 16, 2028 from Puntarenas | September 27, 2028 from Venice |
| Ship | Le Bougainville | Le Dumont d’Urville |
| Primary focus | Wildlife, rainforest and volcanic landscapes | Art, architecture, archaeology and geology |
| Named experts | Dennis Wille Saenz and Arianna Soldati | Ross King and Allen Glazner |
| Key booking check | Activity level and nature excursion format | Port transfers and time at inland cultural sites |
- Exact departure: Confirm the date, direction and ship shown on the live voyage page.
- Expert team: Recheck the named speakers because schedules can change before 2028.
- Included program: Separate standard excursions from optional or limited capacity activities.
- Physical demands: Review walking, tender, Zodiac and mobility notes for every port.
- Full cost: Compare cabin, solo supplement, flights, hotels, insurance and cancellation terms.
The main takeaway
PONANT’s July 15 expansion supplies a genuine new booking set rather than another overview of voyages already on sale. Fifteen additional departures complete a 36 voyage Smithsonian Journeys collection, while the two new itineraries provide clear alternatives for travelers choosing between nature focused Central America and culture focused southern Europe.
The partnership label explains the expert led approach, but it does not remove the need for voyage level research. Travelers should make the final decision from the current PONANT or Smithsonian booking page, where the ship, date, availability, fare and inclusions can be checked together.
How many Smithsonian Journeys voyages will PONANT offer in 2028?
PONANT says the completed 2028 collection contains 36 voyages after the July 15 addition of 15 departures.
Which itineraries are new in the latest announcement?
The release highlights Costa Rica by Sea aboard Le Bougainville and Sailing the Adriatic aboard Le Dumont d’Urville as two newly designed routes.
Will Smithsonian experts sail on every voyage?
PONANT says each voyage in the expanded offering will include two Smithsonian Journeys experts, although travelers should recheck the named team before departure.
Are the published fares guaranteed through 2028?
No. Availability, promotional pricing and cabin costs can change, so the live booking page should be checked when a traveler is ready to reserve.
