Adventure Travel Corner- 🍷 Polar Dreams & Polynesian Breezes: A Magical Evening with Ponant & Paul Gauguin
Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting a special dinner at Ottawa’s iconic Fairmont Château Laurier—a truly memorable evening with Ponant and Paul Gauguin Cruises.
Most advisors in attendance were invited to bring four clients. Me? I was fortunate enough to be allowed twelve wonderful guests at my table(s). (Sometimes it’s good to be special 😉)
Joining us were two amazing women I’ve personally sailed with:
– Erica Barbour, my trusted Business Development Manager with Ponant & Paul Gauguin
– Cindy Miller Hopkins, award-winning expedition photographer whose breathtaking work has appeared in National Geographic, Smithsonian, and onboard many Ponant voyages.
I had the privilege of traveling with both Erica and Cindy aboard the groundbreaking Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant’s revolutionary PC2 hybrid-electric polar exploration ship. (Here’s a picture of myself and my niece that Cindy took onboard our cruise.)
Le Commandant Charcot is more than a ship—it’s an engineering marvel. She’s the world’s first and only luxury icebreaker, able to reach places others can’t… including a full circumnavigation of Antarctica, which she’ll be doing again in 2028.
💡 Fun fact: The ship’s captain previously led the international naval response to the Somali pirate crisis before taking the helm of this remarkable vessel. (See this article: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/04/somali-pirates200904 )
🔗 Explore Le Commandant Charcot
While Ponant transports guests to the ends of the Earth, we also celebrated the warmer side of luxury cruising with Paul Gauguin Cruises. Their single-ship operation in the South Pacific is the ultimate blend of Tahitian warmth, small-ship elegance, and destination-focused cruising through French Polynesia, the Society Islands, and beyond.
🌟 Ongoing Offers You Should Know:
🍁 Paul Gauguin Cruises: 5% Savings for Canadian Residents
👤 No Single Supplement Voyages for Solo Travelers – on 100+ departures across both brands:
🔹 Ponant Explorations: View No Single Supplement Sailings
🔹 Paul Gauguin Cruises: Solo Traveler Savings
🛳 Browse Upcoming Departures:
🔗 Ponant Cruises – Departures through May 2026
🔗 Paul Gauguin Cruises – Departures through May 2026
✨ Why Consider Ponant?
🇫🇷 European-based, offering cultural depth and global sophistication
🌎 460+ itineraries across all 7 continents, including Canadian sailings
🚢 13 intimate ships, ranging from 12 to 254 guests—including the iconic Le Commandant Charcot
🥐 French flair: refined gastronomy, fine wines, and attentive service
🌐 All-inclusive luxury: meals, open bar, gratuities, zodiac outings, enrichment lectures, and more
🧭 Specialty departures: Smithsonian Journeys, Quintessential Collection
🌱 Leaders in sustainability: Learn about the Ponant Foundation
🤫 Pssst… Want Even More?
There’s a special Ponant offer available right now that I can’t post publicly.
If you’re even thinking about a Ponant expedition, reach out—I’d be happy to share the exclusive details with you privately.
Whether you’re longing to kayak beside glaciers or sip champagne in a Tahitian lagoon, I’d love to help you plan something extraordinary.
Let’s turn those dreams into plans.
Warmly,
Sheila
Founder, Lush Life Travel
Virtuoso Cruise Icon | Expedition & Small Ship Cruise Specialist