Review of an Aegean Sea cruise on Ponant's Bougainville from November 1-8, 2025 (page 4 of 4)

Thanks, Catherine, for reading all the way through. Indeed, I don’t think any Ponant passenger would disagree: the drop in service quality, combined with the price increases, has become a shared observation.

Hi Catherine,

Thanks for this detailed review with gorgeous photos. I’ll post a review of the short cruise in Holland I’ve got planned with CFC from April 11th to 16th, 2026, but no photos—I don’t know how to do that. Have a great weekend! Guylène

Thanks, Guylène, for your kind words—it’s really nice of you. I think we’ll all be happy to read your next travel journal.

It’s not very complicated to insert images. How to do it is explained in the FAQ:

On the page where you’re writing your public post, click the "Browse/Upload" button (a new window will open). Then, in the new window, select your photo/image file and click the "Upload image" button. The allowed file types are: jpg, png, and bmp.

Once your photo is uploaded, you can click the "Add to text" button below the photo to insert it into your post where the blinking cursor is. The photo will appear in large format in your text once it’s posted or when you preview it (using the "Preview" button).

If you don’t insert the photo into your text, it will appear as a small thumbnail at the bottom of your post as an attachment. Users can view it in large format by clicking on it.

Good evening Catherine,

Thanks so much for the explanations. I’ll copy them down so I don’t forget. Have a lovely evening! Guylène

Hello Guylène,

You're very welcome—we've all been there at some point. 😉 Have a great Sunday!

Thanks again, Catherine, for those beautiful, evocative stops—it should inspire others (including myself, of course!) to take the time to tap away on their keyboards and share even a short review, since it brings so much joy to everyone. And it’s true, there’s such a mismatch between a packed cruise calendar and so few reviews. I used to be a regular review writer myself, but I stopped, thinking there wasn’t much left to inform or move people. But *mea maxima culpa*—even if we’re not Nobel Prize winners in literature, we can always provide someone with useful info… and that’s always a win. So, let’s keep our wonderful forum alive, saved by a miracle, and pick up the pen for texts and photos. I’ll keep Catherine’s tutorial in my travel journal for my own tips.

I promise, I’ll get to it next time—I’m leaving at the end of March and will write a little review.

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to all. F.

Hello Francis,

Thank you for following along until the end of this trip. Sharing experiences is always a pleasant moment to spend on the forum. It’s a great idea to write more travel journals—I’ll be happy to read yours. See you soon, and happy holidays to you too.

Hi Catherine, Thanks for your great review and beautiful photos—I followed them with interest since Ponant isn’t mentioned much on VF given the prices. I’m not sure what to think about your conclusion: should I go or not? Sometimes there are transatlantic crossings without stops that aren’t too expensive, just to try Ponant 😉 mich74

Hi Michel,

Thanks for following me. The price increase for Ponant cruises is outrageous, and I’m not the only one discouraged from traveling with them again, even though I really like their travel style and services. Up to a 60% increase for the same destination from one year to the next is just excessive.

You’re right—only the "sea voyages" without stops are at more reasonable prices. Often, it’s Ponant regulars who do these and then move on to another cruise. You really have to love the sea, because is a cruise without stops really a cruise, or just a ferry?

Below, I’m sharing some passenger comments I read on Facebook.

You really made me laugh with "cruise or ferry" 😉 for a transatlantic trip, I’d rather think of a luxurious hotel and a great restaurant where you can really enjoy the ship. If Ponant manages to fill their ships, they won’t lower the prices. Oceania has really increased their cruise prices and reduced the perks—the Ultimate package is a thing of the past.

If they manage to fill their ships, Ponant won’t lower their prices. Oceania has really raised their cruise prices and cut back on perks—the Ultimate benefits are a thing of the past.

That’s exactly it. Tough life for cruisers, huh? [;]

I see your next cruise is going to be tough again 😉

Thanks, Catherine, for this review! I think PONANT can afford to raise its prices even more... From my little experience, the ship was 90% full of regulars who mostly only knew COSTA or MSC and nothing else... and all convinced they were on the best cruise line in the world ! If only they knew there’s much better out there

if they only knew there’s much better

Hi Isa,

I don’t agree with you on this. Even though Ponant has gone downhill, it’s still better than Celebrity, Oceania, and the others...

Just like tastes and colors... Everyone has their own opinion and preferences.

Hi Catherine,

It's well known that we don’t all have the same expectations when choosing a cruise. Personally, despite some positive points—mainly the French language on board—I was really disappointed with Ponant, and even if there was a half-price offer, I wouldn’t go with them again. The size of the cabins, and even the size of the ship and lounges, are an issue.

Celebrity and Oceania are in a completely different league, and Oceania, for me, offers superior dining, spaces, and even service compared to Ponant. I’ve taken five cruises with them, on the Riviera, Allura, and Marina: a true delight with original itineraries. I hope the Marina will be renovated soon—their weak point is that there’s almost no French spoken. I’m looking forward to trying Explora Journey, but unfortunately, the prices are very high there too! 😕

Hi Catherine,

You're absolutely right—everyone has different expectations, and thankfully that keeps the variety in the offerings.

Clémence was the one who was right in the end; she really understood your profile.

For me, the small size of these ships is a real plus, allowing them to go where the bigger ones can’t. And for an expedition cruise, it’s even more of an advantage.

Of course, not everyone will appreciate the same things. Personally, Oceania really disappointed me on my last cruise.

Hi Catherine, Indeed, our points of view differ, and we’ll never agree on this topic. You’re comparing PONANT to CELEBRITY or OCEANIA. In terms of price, with CELEBRITY, you can do 3 or 4 cruises for the same price as Ponant. Sure, the ships are bigger, but the buffet, evening entertainment, and shows are much richer, and there’s a real pool—yet it’s still peaceful. OCEANIA is high-quality and expensive too. The food is excellent, and the onboard service is far superior to Ponant’s. Apparently, the quality has dropped, which is a real shame.

I think Ponant isn’t for everyone—it’s very specific. The ship is so small you can’t even walk around the deck. It made me feel claustrophobic. Sea days must be really long without the chance to walk, entertain yourself, or go for a swim... Fortunately, there don’t seem to be many of those in their itineraries.

Hi Isa,

It’s not that we disagree. We simply have different tastes. I love the "small ship" feel, the intimate atmosphere, and I appreciate the quality of the meals more than on American ships (no matter which ones). As for the pool, I couldn’t care less. I find that you never get bored on these ships because there’s always a lecture, a pre-port briefing, or a daily debrief to attend. What I love most are expedition cruises without excursions, where outings are done by Zodiac. That, for me, is an unmatched joy as a cruise style.