Explorations Group Expands Explorers Club Voyages Across Its Brands
The partnership brings Explorers Club experts to Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions, expanding enrichment programming beyond Ponant.
Photo: Courtesy of Paul Gaugin Cruises
Explorations Group is extending its collaboration with The Explorers Club beyond Ponant to now include Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions, with the first sailings launching in late 2026. The partnership builds on the success of the expert-led programming introduced with Ponant in 2024, where itineraries are paired with scientists, filmmakers, and conservationists from the Club’s storied roster.
On Ponant ships, these voyages have evolved beyond the typical enrichment model. Experts are not only lecturing but also leading fieldwork discussions and, in some cases, conducting research in purpose-built labs aboard vessels such as Le Commandant Charcot. That credibility has helped the line differentiate itself in an increasingly crowded expedition sector.
The extension to Paul Gauguin Cruises introduces this style of programming to the South Pacific, where themes of biodiversity, marine conservation, and cultural preservation are particularly relevant. An early 2027 departure in French Polynesia will feature Jad Davenport, a National Geographic photographer and filmmaker known for his work across the South Pacific
For Aqua Expeditions, the collaboration dovetails with its existing model of highly personalized small-ship exploration in regions such as the Amazon and Indonesia. Hosting Explorers Club experts like geothermal scientist Andrés Ruzo on upcoming sailings adds academic depth to itineraries already known for close-in encounters with fragile ecosystems and indigenous cultures.
Across the three brands, nearly 20 departures are planned for 2026 and 2027, featuring names such as filmmaker John Heminway and mountaineer Peter Hillary. Each line maintains its identity: Ponant anchoring the polar and high-science voyages, Aqua offering intimate riverine and coastal journeys, and Paul Gauguin deepening its cultural and environmental storytelling in the South Pacific.
Rather than an add-on lecture series, Explorers Club involvement is being woven directly into itineraries and brand narratives. The consistency of this approach across different geographies creates a portfolio-wide statement: Meaningful content and access to authority figures are central to the guest experience, not secondary.
