Ponant vs Silversea

Please Note: There may be additional inclusions and privileges for select stateroom and suite guests or select loyalty member tiers. Activities and entertainment vary by ship, itinerary and departure and are a guide only.

Who has the right itinerary for me?

Ponant and Silversea offer a broad range of itineraries around the globe. They each deliver small ship luxury cruises in mainstream destinations such as Western Europe and the Mediterranean, Japan, Central America and the Caribbean (among others). They both also specialise in luxury expeditions to more remote destinations, such as the Polar regions.

In Antarctica and the Arctic, Ponant will boast their Polar Class 2 Icebreaker Le Commandant-Charcot from May 2021. This innovative vessel will have the capability to break through ice to reach the Geographic North Pole. While itineraries are designed to use existing channels in the ice to avoid forced passage in this pristine wilderness, Le Commandant-Charcot is powerful enough to navigate its way through dense sea ice if necessary. Reaching the Geographic North Pole is a feat not possible in Ponant’s other vessels or any Silversea ship (or any other luxury expedition line), making these unique itineraries in the market.

For guests looking to cruise from Australia, Ponant has a collection of expeditions along the Kimberley Coast while Silversea has both Kimberley Coast expeditions as well as classic small ship cruises that set sail from Australia to Asia and New Zealand. Additionally, Silversea has expedition sailings around the Galapagos, a region Ponant does not cover.

Depending where guests are cruising, and the style of itinerary they are on, they can expect a different onboard and onshore experience. There is great emphasis put on the destinations visited on every voyage, so onboard programming will reflect this when cruising with either line. On classic cruises guests can enjoy destination inspired film screenings and lectures, while on expedition cruises specialists such as naturalists and scientists will join the line up. Ponant has a selection of itineraries that run in collaboration with National Geographic, where two experts from the National Geographic team (a photographer and a specialist from another field) will also join the existing Ponant expedition team.

When visiting well established ports on classic cruise itineraries, guests can look forward to excursions that showcase the local culture, history, cuisine, and iconic sights. Expedition cruises offer more active explorations, from nature hikes to kayak adventures and Zodiac cruises.

Who has the right excursion program for me?

Ponant and Silversea run their excursion programs in a similar way. They include experiences on their expedition style itineraries where ports are lacking the infrastructure for independent exploration, such as Zodiac cruises in Antarctica. There are also additional optional shore excursions for purchase on some expedition itineraries, depending on the port of call.

On classic cruises where there is easy access to ports, guests can opt to explore independently or take advantage of the range of onshore experiences available for purchase with each line. These may last a few hours, or a few days, with both Ponant and Silversea offering multi-day excursions to delve deeper and linger longer in some regions. Silversea also prides themselves on their longer stays in port, with late night departures and overnights in a considerable number of destinations.

To facilitate expedition style excursions in remote destinations, Ponant and Silversea have specially designed ships complete with Zodiac fleets. Ponant’s icebreaker, Le Commandant-Charcot, has some particularly unique features and facilities. Equipped with a laboratory on board, guests on these voyages will get the chance to join excursions led by scientists as they undertake their research throughout the voyage. Thanks to its wide range of expedition equipment, guests can also choose from hovercraft, tethered hot air balloon, or snowmobile experiences (depending on the destination).

Which ships will suit me best?

The Ponant Fleet

Ponant has a fleet of 11 small ships which accommodate 184 – 270 guests. Most ships undertake both classic cruises and expedition sailings, and it is only the Le Commandant-Charcot Polar Explorer which sails primarily in the Arctic and Antarctic. The other vessels are classified as Ponant Sisterships (Le Lyrial, Le Soleal, L’Austral, and Le Boreal) and Ponant Explorers (Le Jacques Cartier, Le Bellot, Le Dumont d'Urville, Le Bougainville, Le Champlain and Le Laperouse), all of which are versatile enough to deliver a luxury small ship experience in traditional cruise destinations as well as expeditions sailings in both tropical and polar regions.

Guests will find the same elegant styling across the fleet, with a focus on maximising space and natural light. Ponant strives to replicate the feeling of being on a private yacht with a relaxed atmosphere on board. Cruising a la Française, there is a decidedly French influence on each ship, from the bath products to the gastronomy. Guests can enjoy macarons for afternoon tea and Veuve Clicquot champagne served at gala dinners. Lectures are hosted for guests in both English and French and announcements are bilingual.

Every ship in the Ponant fleet is equipped with two complimentary restaurants, a theatre to host performances, lectures and film screenings, a fitness centre, pool, spa and salon. There are comfortable lounges to unwind in, with the Ponant Explorers boasting the standout Blue Eye Lounge. This space is inspired by the life of the sea and sits below the waterline with glass panels to showcase the underwater world. Guests can enjoy a drink, watch marine animals play beside the ship, and soak up the sounds and vibrations of the ocean in the multi-sensory Body Listening sofas.

Le Commandant-Charcot also has some unique spaces not found on the other Ponant ships. Those interested in science can spend time in the research laboratory, while there is no better place to take in the views of the polar landscapes than from The Blue Lagoon outdoor area complete with a heated swimming pool and a large fire pit.

The Silversea Fleet

Silversea has dedicated ships for their expeditions. The two smallest vessels (Silver Origin and Silver Galapagos) accommodate 100 guests apiece, Silver Explorer welcomes 144 passengers, and Silver Cloud and Silver Wind welcome just over 250 guests.

On each expedition ship guests will find two complimentary restaurants, a fitness centre, salon and spa, and a lounge area to host presentations, lectures, film screenings and expedition briefings. Facilities vary across the fleet, and the larger ships are equipped with more venues including a shopping boutique, the Connoisseur’s Corner with a selection of cognacs and cigars for purchase, and a pool deck on Silver Cloud and Silver Wind. Silver Cloud and Silver Wind also have two additional dining venues including Italian fare at La Terrazza and La Dame where multi-course dining experiences are paired with fine wines (fees apply).

Silver Wind operates both expedition and classic cruises, while the remainder of Silversea’s classic luxury fleet are considerably larger and cruise through more mainstream holiday destinations. These six ships welcome roughly 400 – 600 passengers aboard to enjoy the elegant décor, refined touches, and ample amenities. Guests can enjoy musical revues, theatre performances and feature films in the dedicated entertainment venue, be pampered in the spa, or mingle in the lounges on board. There is also a casino on board Silversea’s classic fleet which you won’t find on Silversea expedition ships, or the Ponant fleet.

There are more dining venues to choose from on the classic fleet, with between four and eight options depending on the ship. Most dining is offered complimentary, however, there is one for-fee dining venue (La Dame) on every ship and a surcharge will also apply for the Seishin Restaurant and Kaiseki Restaurant on select classic ships.

The ambiance on board Silversea is more formal than on Ponant cruises, with the full white glove experience and butler service for every suite (only offered to select Ponant suite classes).

Which provides better value for me – Ponant or Silversea?

Both Ponant and Silversea are marketed as all-inclusive lines. Guests can enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, onboard dining (except a couple of for-fee restaurants on Silversea’s classic ships), and Wi-Fi included. On expedition itineraries shore excursions are also included, however, on classic style cruises these will incur additional costs on each line.

One notable difference between the inclusions of Ponant and Silversea is their gratuities policy. Silversea includes all gratuities in the cruise fare (except those payable for onboard spa treatments). Ponant does not include any gratuities in the cruise price, and these are not compulsory. When cruising with Ponant, gratuities are completely up to guest discretion. It is general practice on a Ponant cruise to find an envelope in your stateroom at the end of your cruise, and you can leave it along with your tip at the box at reception should you choose. Tipping is customary, and Ponant guide that this is usually in the realm of €10-12 per day per passenger.

When weighing up which line is the best value for you, it is important to consider the offers available at the time of booking along with the benefits offered by each line. Special deals with Silversea can include an early booking discount, fly deals, or bonus excursions included on select classic cruises. Ponant offers may also include excursions on a collection of classic itineraries, and they have some generous savings for single passengers with a considerable number of cruises charging no solo supplement. The Ponant Bonus sees cruise fares released with a 30% discount, and there is limited availability at that sale rate. As more people book on any given sailing, the fares increase in tiers.

It’s recommended to book as early as possible to get the best value cruise fare, as well as to avoid missing out on your dream luxury small ship cruise.