Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
20% Ponant Bonus
19 m²
2
Ancient Cities of the Mediterranean
Athens - Valletta
Dates:
22/10/2026
to
29/10/2026
days
nights on board
In partnership with Connaissance des Arts and with the exceptional presence of Guy Boyer, editorial director of Connaissance des Arts, and Christelle Téa, artist-draughtsman.
Between Greece and Italy, set off aboard Le Dumont d’Urville for a cruise discovering two civilisations that have left traces of their intertwined presence in the Mediterranean. During an extraordinary eight-day odyssey, you will hear accounts of the history and secrets of the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, discover the theatre of Epidaurus, considered one of the masterpieces of Greek architecture, during a stopover in Nafplio, explore Lecce, nicknamed “the Florence of the South”, from Gallipoli, or dive into Sicilian baroque architecture with a visit to the village of Noto from Syracuse. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).
The legendary Peloponnese will plunge you into the country’s tumultuous and glorious past. Nafplio is an opportunity to discover the mythical sites of Epidaurus and Mycenae, respectively a ancient theatre and a pre-Hellenic city, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Monemvasia, a gem breathing poetry and revealing its Venetian and Byzantine architecture, commingles with the hustle and bustle and charm of Gythio, which was a former seaport of Sparta then a Roman naval base.
Next Corfu, the most famous Ionian island, will reveal the hidden treasures of its Greco-Byzantine and Venetian architectural heritage. It is the northernmost island in the Ionia Sea, both mountainous and woody, and its fascinating landscapes have inspired painters and writers such as Goethe, Alfred Sisley and Lawrence Durrell.
It will now be time to set sail towards Italy. Its ancient archaeological sites, Renaissance palaces, citrus perfumes and internationally recognised cuisine, will welcome you for a few days of unforgettable visits. In Puglia, Gallipoli, meaning “beautiful town” in Greek, reveals its Hellenic origins and offers up its singular atmosphere, where life is good. In Syracuse, the Sicilian soul unfolds across the island of Ortygia - the oldest part of the city -, a maze of small streets dotted with churches, palaces, ancient remnants, sheltering a majestic cathedral in its very heart.
Your cruise will come to an end in Valletta, capital of the island of Malta and former stronghold of the Knights of the Order of Malta.
Ref : EU221026
Your itinerary
In partnership with Connaissance des Arts and with the exceptional presence of Guy Boyer, editorial director of Connaissance des Arts, and Christelle Téa, artist-draughtsman. A cruise between Greece and...
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LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
LE BORÉAL
L'AUSTRAL
L'AUSTRAL
05/11/2025 to the 23/11/2025
LE CHAMPLAIN
03/12/2025 to the 13/12/2025
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
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Services provided
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Diptyque Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
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Guy Boyer
Guy Boyer was born in 1958 in Avignon. After a BTS in Tourism at the Tourism High School in Nice, he obtained a diploma as a lecturer from the Fund for Historic Monuments and Sites. He also holds a master's degree in art history from the University of Paris I Sorbonne on the entrances to the Avignon legation from the Renaissance to the 18th century. Editor-in-chief of Beaux-Arts Magazine until 1996, he then directed the editorial staff of L'Œil magazine from 1997 to 2001. Since 2002, he has been Editorial Director of Connaissance des Arts and launched the quarterly Connaissance des Arts Photo in 2005. He regularly participates in a radio programme on Radio Classique and is actively involved in the development of the Connaissance des Arts company.
Language spoken: French
Photo credit: CDA Bernard Saint-Genès
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Connaissance des Arts
From archaeology to contemporary creation, from the art of gardens to photography, from design to architecture, Connaissance des Arts is the reference magazine for arts of all eras.
Created in 1952, Connaissance des Arts was the first arts magazine to specialise in antiques, decoration and artefacts, combining in-depth articles and colour reproductions. Some 65 years later, readers continue to discover the art of yesterday and today, with the same passion, through the regard of the best journalists and experts and the magazine's editor, Guy Boyer.
The editorial line of the magazine, which is deliberately very open, allows it to address all forms of art and to discover young talents and the latest trends alongside reporting on established artists. Exhibitions, auctions, fairs and shows: Each month, Connaissance des Arts also offers its readers news about the art market in all its diverse forms.
Launched in 2016, the new formula of Connaissance des Arts offers an enlightened journey to the heart of art world news, while allowing readers to deepen their knowledge with new sections, exclusive and brand-new reports and an invitation to travel with the section "itinéraire".
Connaissance des Arts is also more than 600 special editions covering areas as varied as major exhibitions, museum collections, castles and the arts professions.
Combining intellectual rigour and accessibility, specialist texts and more generalist approaches, Connaissance des Arts is undoubtedly, for the wealth of subjects it covers and its capacity to feed the curiosity of its readers, the best monthly magazine for art lovers.
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Highlights
- In partnership with Connaissance des Arts and with the exceptional presence of Guy Boyer, editorial director of Connaissance des Arts, and Christelle Téa, artist-draughtsman.
- A cruise between Greece and Italy, to discover some of the most beautiful sites on the Mediterranean shores.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Valletta, Syracuse, the Mycenae ruins and the Epidaurus theatre from Nafplion, the Acropolis in Athens.
- Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise thanks to the selection made by our destination experts.
- Port of call in Gallipoli to immerse yourself in the gentle way of life of the Puglia region and discover the ancient history of this former Greek city.
- Sicily with the call at Syracuse.
*Pre-bookings open around two months before the start of the cruise; requests are processed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability.
Ports of Call & Excursions
22 October 2026 - Athens
Embarkation 22/10/2026 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 22/10/2026 at 18:00
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.
23 October 2026 - Nafplion
Arrival 23/10/2026 early morning
Departure 23/10/2026 evening
The engaging town of Nafplion is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Do not be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. Some of the must-see visits are the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.
24 October 2026 - Monemvasia
Arrival 24/10/2026 early morning
Departure 24/10/2026 evening
The jewel of the southern Peloponnese, Monemvasia is the romantic refuge for Athenians. Given the poetic nickname of the “stone ship”, this majestic peninsula is home to an incredible fortified medieval village, lying at the foot of its abrupt cliffs, which seems to have been cast by the gods from the Aegean Sea. Contemplate the horizon from its ramparts, a veritable walkway defying the azure waters, and stroll through its vaulted narrow streets with their thousand shades of ochre. At the crossroads of western and eastern influences and the maritime routes of the continent, Crete and the Cyclades, Monemvasia has preserved in this magical decor the treasures of Venetian and Byzantine architecture.
25 October 2026 - Gythio
Arrival 25/10/2026 early morning
Departure 25/10/2026 midday
Located in the south of the Peloponnese, on the Mani Peninsula, Gytheio was the main port and naval base of ancient Sparta, located around fifty kilometres inland. In Roman times, the port experienced significant expansion thanks to trading in imperial dye; in fact, the region had an abundance of murex, the rock snails from which this dye, loved by the Romans, was extracted. The town is nestled against Mount Koumaros and dominated by a citadel. Take a stroll and fall under the charm of the calm that reigns over the stairways bordered by small neoclassic houses with steps overrun with wild flowers.
26 October 2026 - Corfu
Arrival 26/10/2026 midday
Departure 26/10/2026 evening
Named after the island, Corfu is the most famous city in the Ionian islands. Protected by citadel fortifications, its old city, designated UNESCO World Heritage, displays unusual Greco-Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Above the water stands Saint George’s church, looking uncannily like a classical temple. The picturesque Pontikonisi, a stone’s throw from the southern point of the town, is the legendary island where Odysseus landed.
27 October 2026 - Gallipoli
Arrival 27/10/2026 early morning
Departure 27/10/2026 late afternoon
Gallipoli, which comes from the Greek kalle polis, meaning beautiful town, is very aptly named. Located on the heel of the boot, the town known as “the pearl of Puglia” has many attractions. The whiteness of its façades recalls its Greek origins while its architecture echoes its multiple influences. Its old town, perched on a limestone island, concentrates the cultural heritage of this city with a thousand faces, alternately a Roman colony, then Byzantine, the property of the Popes, Norman, under the rule of Taranto… By itself, it tells the story of the different civilisations of the Mediterranean Sea.
28 October 2026 - Syracuse, Sicily
Arrival 28/10/2026 midday
Departure 28/10/2026 evening
Its undulating rocky coastline, the endless sandy beaches, the menacing form of Mount Etna which surveys its island like a patriarch, the flowery gardens on the hillside... Sicily lays out its varied landscapes like a shopkeeper displays his wares. Described by Cicero as “the most beautiful city in the world”, Syracuse was one of the most prestigious cities in Sicily and at her height was even a rival for Athens. A central city of Ancient Greece, it was home to a succession of civilisations, each of which has left their mark. The blend of Arabic, Roman, Norman, Byzantine and Spanish cultures makes Syracuse a town that is extraordinarily rich in fragrances, colours and flavours.
29 October 2026 - Valletta
Arrival 29/10/2026 early morning
Disembarkation 29/10/2026 at 08:00
The whole of the Maltese capital Valletta is UNESCO World Heritage listed and occupies a peninsula in the north-east of the island. From the fountain of Tritons to Saint-Elme fort, there are as many majestic streets as there are narrow staircase vennels to explore. The painted loggia and carved corbels on the tall houses will accompany you in your explorations, and you’ll rarely be bothered by traffic. You can visit the Grandmasters palace decorated with coats of arms and frescoes. Saint-John’s cathedral and the ramparts which have guarded the city since the 16th century are also among the most emblematic sites of the city. Arranged in terraces, the Barrakka Gardens will punctuate your promenade with a green and floral experience.
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
Art & Museums
The Louvre, custodian of humanity’s most beautiful treasures, the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts, the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac which shines a spotlight on the cultures of four continents, or the famous auction house Christie’s do us the honour of sharing their knowledge and expertise during itineraries designed together. During lectures, private visits or informal conversations on board, lovers of art and culture will have the privilege of rubbing shoulders with eminent specialists in the civilisations visited.