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

Hello everyone,

If you'd like, I invite you to join me for a week-long cruise to northern Greece, visiting ports that are often less crowded with cruise ships.

Itinerary: Athens, Skiathos, Volos, Thessaloniki, Kavala, Limnos, Hydra, Athens

Piraeus, Friday, October 30th, 2025

For comfort and safety, we arrived the day before embarkation. The metro from the airport takes us directly, without any transfers, to Piraeus on the blue line for 9 € per person.

After airports, a stroll along Piraeus’ port is incredibly refreshing and quite pleasant.



The climb is steep to reach the Kastella district. From this dominant position, the view stretches over the city and the Aegean Sea. I’m not sure if this view of Athens’ vast urban sprawl can be called beautiful…



At the top of Profitis Ilias hill stands the lovely little church of the same name.





To reach the small circular port of Mikrolimano, you descend through a series of winding alleys and staircases—a truly charming route.





The restaurants lining the port are excessively expensive, and their cuisine is very standardized. All the authenticity that once reigned here has disappeared. Now, the space is occupied by gleaming, trendy bars and restaurants.

Night falls quickly, but the temperature remains mild. The city is lively, and shops stay open until 9 PM.

Hi Catherine, Yes, these are layovers not offered by other cruise lines. Thanks for the start of the story and the beautiful photos, Guylène

Hi Catherine,

I’ve been really looking forward to this review, and as you know, I love your writing style!

Of course, I’m thrilled to come along—especially to discover the Ponant.

Ready for the rest! !

Hi Catherine, I just saw that you started your travel journal—I’m here for the rest! 😎

HELLO Catherine, even if PONANT isn’t my cup of tea, I’ll gladly follow your journey! 😉

Thank you, my cruise friends. Your support means a lot to me and keeps me motivated.

Athens, Saturday, November 1st, 2025 – Boarding

Boarding is scheduled to start at 4 PM, but we were informed that we could drop off our luggage at the cruise terminal as early as 10 AM, allowing us to enjoy our sightseeing freely during the day. We had planned to leave our suitcases at the hotel, but under these circumstances, we prefer to drop them off at the ship.

After a 40-minute delay, the person in charge of collecting the luggage finally showed up at the cruise terminal entrance. We were starting to seriously doubt they’d come and regretted not leaving our suitcases at the hotel. They finally appeared when we least expected it.

The morning was already well underway, but we still set off for a walk in central Athens to fill the few hours before boarding.

Back at the port around 3:45 PM, boarding had begun, and it went smoothly. Ten minutes later, we discovered our lovely cabin, decorated in soothing light tones. Note the vanity at the far left of the bed with a stool you can’t see, and the tiny corner sofa—very practical.





The cabin isn’t very large since we’re on a small ship (92 cabins and suites, 184 passengers, and 118 crew members), but it’s very functional with plenty of storage. The doors and furniture drawers are covered in soft, smooth leather.



It’s the only company I know of that offers a separate toilet in the cabin, which reduces the bathroom space, but the shower is spacious.



The suitcases were unpacked in record time since we were immediately invited to a glass of Champagne in the Grand Salon—an invitation you never turn down. This was followed by an information meeting about the excursions for the next two days. A quick stroll on the deck before dinner to get our bearings, relax, and enjoy the mild weather.

Hi Catherine!

The cabin looks big in the photos. However, I find it really cozy, modern, and very well laid out.

It’s a real plus to have a separate toilet. From what I remember, I’ve never had that on cruise ships (not even in Oceania’s Penthouse suites).

More to come later.

Good evening Catherine,

Like Alfred, I find the cabin really cozy, and the separate toilet is a real plus. I can’t wait to read the rest of your review. Have a lovely evening! Guylène.

Hello Alfred and Guylène,

Yes, these cabins are really very pleasant—the decor evokes the sea and beaches with soft, warm sand, and you feel at ease just stepping inside. The space is cleverly designed to be comfortable. I forgot to mention there’s lighting inside the wardrobe when you open the doors. Another thing, while we’re on the topic of domestic details: there’s no dry-cleaning service on board, but the laundry service is excellent and very fast—clothes come back in barely 24 hours. With our loyalty status, we get it for free, and it’s really nice.

Skiathos, Sunday, November 2nd

Breakfast is one of those I love best—on the terrace, facing the sea… Pure bliss, like a postcard, but better because we’re *actually* here. At 9 a.m. sharp, we attend a fascinating lecture tracing the history of Greece, from the Neolithic period (7000 BCE) up to the Roman era of the 3rd century.

We arrive at the island of Skiathos late in the morning, under a shy sun that seems to be negotiating inch by inch with the clouds for a little brightness. The ship is anchored a short distance from the shore. The place is enchanting, and the view of this little port is stunning.

An early lunch at 11:30, then we meet in the grand salon at 12:40 for departure. From the ship’s marina, we board a tender that takes us ashore.



There are only about fifteen of us for this hike in the island’s highlands. Once at the port, a minibus takes us to the starting point. From there, all that’s left is to climb up to the cross… Uh… which isn’t visible in the photo .



The excursion is in English—our guide being the only one available that day—but it’s not an issue: nature doesn’t need much commentary. The viewpoints speak for themselves.

The rain from the previous days has brought thousands of flowers to the meadows we cross, and the paths are lined with countless little cyclamens. The wild goats, with their elegantly curved horns, are as curious as we are, but the guide keeps them at a safe distance for security.

In the heart of the mountain, the stunning and flower-filled Monastery of Charalambos welcomes us for a short break. It’s one of the oldest monasteries on the island. It once housed a small community of monks. Isolated from the rest of Skiathos, the buildings were likely constructed during the Ottoman period.



to be continued...

Skiathos, Sunday, November 2nd (continued)

Cats are everywhere here. Our guide tells us he shelters several at his home, right in the middle of nature. According to him, they’re valuable allies in keeping snakes at bay. Who would’ve thought these adorable little furballs also worked in security?

The walk continues, still through a very beautiful landscape. In the distance, the islands of Skopelos and Alonissos.



The last steps of this hike through wild, wooded paths lead us to the stunning Evangelistria Monastery. Impressive and understated, it’s the most important monastery on Skiathos. It’s also one of the oldest monasteries in Greece and the only active one on the island. Construction began in 1794 and was completed in 1806. It was founded by a group of monks who left Mount Athos Monastery.





to be continued...

Skathios, Sunday, November 2nd (end)

As evening fell, it was time for the Welcome Gala Dinner and the introduction of the ship’s officers and crew. With Ponant, the event is celebrated with "real" Champagne—a nice touch. The mild evening allowed the ceremony to take place on the Bougainville’s aft terrace.

Then came the gala dinner. And the term is absolutely not an exaggeration: the meal was delicious, refined, and perfectly balanced. A true delight from start to finish on a beautifully set table.

Here’s what we enjoyed: Amuse-bouche: beetroot and raspberry tartare, almond yogurt with hibiscus.

Lobster, mango, and marinated cucumber, passion fruit vinaigrette.

Steamed halibut fillet, saffron broth, and mussels.



Beef Rossini fillet, Anna potatoes, truffle jus.

Strawberry shortcake, pistachio ice cream.

And petit fours to finish the meal—I forgot to take a photo. They weren’t spectacular, but very tasty.

The evening ended with a music hall show, a festive way to close out a wonderful day.

Hello! Thanks for this new travel journal—there aren’t many of them. All those little ports must have been gorgeous, and the dishes sound mouthwatering! 😛

Hi Catherine!

The dishes are making my mouth water! I’d take this cruise just for the French gastronomy (something we struggle to find elsewhere). However, I’m a big eater—is it possible to order several dishes?

Thanks for sharing, because there are so few reviews on this forum right now!

Hi Marie-Christine,

Thanks for your message, I’m happy to hear from you. 🙂

Hi Alfred,

In my opinion, this is the cruise line with the best food—it’s neither typical ship cuisine nor heavy Americanized food. I imagine you can ask for multiple dishes; they don’t hesitate to swap a dish if it doesn’t suit you, though I’ve never done that myself. 😉

Hi Catherine, original itinerary and beautiful stopovers. I’m disappointed that PONANT still skips the first day 😉 As for meals, it’s true that the food is good, but we were shocked to see they calculate portions so tightly—when there’s only one or two dessert options left, you don’t have much choice. 😕

Hi Catherine, still here to enjoy the weight of your words and the impact of your photos... A real pleasure. F.

Thanks Catherine for this review. I don’t know Ponant yet... I think it’s something to try, even though we’ve been won over by Explora. Best regards, Claudine