Ponant vs Scenic Eclipse: which is better for an expedition cruise?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 9 November 2026
No score and no verdict of ours: what Ponant and Scenic each publish on their own websites, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.
Ponant vs Scenic Eclipse: which is better for an expedition cruise?
Neither is better for everyone: Ponant sails a fleet of expedition ships and prices 7 nights in Svalbard, 3 to 10 July 2027, from €9,720 per person, while Scenic takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse with what it says is a butler for every guest and prices Antarctica in Depth for the 2028 to 2029 season from £16,573.
What is each line?
Ponant sells expedition and other ocean cruises on its own fleet as PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP, which also takes in PONANT YACHTING, PAUL GAUGUIN CROISIÈRES and, since 2025, Aqua Expeditions. Source
Scenic sells all-inclusive ocean voyages on its own Scenic Discovery Yachts, which Scenic Group says it designs, builds and operates through its shipbuilding division MKM Yachts, alongside river cruises and land journeys. Source
Which ships does each line sail?
Ponant sails Le Commandant Charcot, the PONANT Explorers (Le Bellot, Le Bougainville, Le Lapérouse, Le Champlain, Le Dumont d'Urville and Le Jacques Cartier) and the sisterships Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial; its group's other brands sail Le Ponant, Spirit of Ponant and Paul Gauguin. Source
Scenic sails Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, with Scenic Ikon set to launch in 2028. Source
How many guests are on board?
Scenic takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with what it calls an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio. Source
Ponant does not publish this on the pages read.
Where does each line sail?
Ponant sells named voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross Sea, South Georgia and the Falklands, Svalbard, Greenland, Norway, the Chilean fjords, the Kimberley and Indonesia. Source
Scenic sells named voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falklands, the Ross Sea, East Greenland and Iceland, the Canadian Arctic, the Norwegian fjords, Scotland, the Chilean fjords, the Kimberley, Indonesia and the Mediterranean. Source
What ice class are the ships?
Scenic says its Scenic Discovery Yachts are built to Polar Class 6 standards for operations in polar waters. Source
Ponant does not publish this on the pages read.
Who leads the landings?
Ponant sends a team of about ten naturalist guides and experts on every expedition cruise, double that on Le Commandant Charcot, covering history, marine biology, geology, marine and land mammals and ornithology. Source
Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
What can you do off the ship?
Ponant includes sea kayaking (from age 16), snowshoeing (17), hiking (10) and the polar plunge (16) on Le Commandant Charcot, with limited places; diving and kayak outings are paid extras on some cruises. Source
Scenic includes Zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling, though kayaks, paddleboards and e-bikes are not available in all locations; experiences on its two helicopters and submersible cost extra. Source
What does a voyage cost?
Ponant prices Fjords et glaciers du Spitzberg, 7 nights on Le Lyrial round trip from Longyearbyen, 3 to 10 July 2027, from 9,720 € per person, double occupancy. Source
Scenic prices Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season, from £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin. Source
What does the fare include?
Ponant's fares include the cabin, full board, an open bar (premium spirits excepted), free wifi, port taxes and one activity per call except on Paul Gauguin; polar cruises add a parka to keep and loaned boots, while visas, paid excursions, spa treatments and premium drinks are extra. Source
Scenic's fares include return flights from UK airports on Flexi and Best Available fares, a butler for every guest, all-day premium drinks, up to 10 dining experiences, Zodiac and kayak outings, shore excursions, an expedition parka, all tipping, transfers and taxes and Starlink Wi-Fi; helicopter and submersible experiences, spa treatments and a few rare wines and spirits are extra. Source
What do solo travellers pay?
Ponant applies a single supplement automatically but waives it on a choice of cruises each season, marked 'Voyageur Solo 0%', giving a double cabin for one at no extra price. Source
Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
Is your money protected?
Scenic protects flight-inclusive holidays under ATOL Number 9294 when indicated at booking; it says its ABTA membership gives financial protection on package holidays. Source
Ponant does not publish this on the pages read.
What insurance do you need?
Scenic recommends, rather than requires, travel insurance covering medical or repatriation needs; it names no minimum cover. Source
Ponant does not publish this on the pages read.
Can children come?
Ponant accepts no children under 6 on expedition cruises and none under 8 on Le Commandant Charcot; its Kid Explorers club, run with the Maud Fontenoy Foundation, sails on Mediterranean cruises. Source
Scenic takes adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse. Source
When is each not the fit?
The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.
- Ponant: not the fit if you want helicopter flights: the helicopter on Le Commandant Charcot is used only for navigation and safety. Source
How do their reviews compare?
Their figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.
- Ponant: Google (whole company): 4.8 out of 5 from 699 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.6 out of 5 from 644 reviews, newest 7 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
The lines at a glance
One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.
Ponant
- Best for
- Polar expeditions with French-style service
- What it sells
- Runs expedition cruises on its own fleet, including Le Commandant Charcot, the PONANT Explorers and Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial, from Antarctica and the Arctic to the Kimberley.
- Why choose them
- Le Commandant Charcot is a hybrid electric ship running on LNG, which it says cuts CO2 by 25%, nitrogen oxides by 85% and fine particles by 95%. Google (whole company): 4.8 out of 5 from 699 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.6 out of 5 from 644 reviews, newest 7 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a departure with the single supplement waived, marked 'Voyageur Solo 0%', for a double cabin to yourself at no extra price.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children under 6, who are not accepted on expedition cruises (under 8 on Le Commandant Charcot).
- Published price
- From 9,720 € per person, double occupancy, Fjords et glaciers du Spitzberg, 7 nights on Le Lyrial round trip from Longyearbyen, 3 to 10 July 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- ponant.com
Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive polar yachts with helicopters
- What it sells
- Sells all-inclusive ocean voyages on its Scenic Discovery Yachts, Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Chilean fjords, the Kimberley and Indonesia, plus river cruises on its Scenic Space-Ships.
- Why choose them
- Scenic Eclipse takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio.
- Ask for
- Ask for the fare on select voyages that includes a 30-minute helicopter flightseeing experience in Antarctica.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children: Scenic Eclipse sails with adult-only guests.
- Published price
- From £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin, Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season. Read 9 November 2026.
- Money protection
- ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member.
Which other lines sell the same voyages?
The lines that sell voyages to the same regions are compared on What are the best alternatives to Ponant in 2026?
Ponant vs Scenic Eclipse: the questions people ask
How many guests are on board with Ponant and Scenic?
Scenic takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests on Scenic Eclipse, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with what it calls an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio. Ponant does not publish this on the pages read.
How much does a voyage cost with Ponant and Scenic?
Ponant prices Fjords et glaciers du Spitzberg, 7 nights on Le Lyrial round trip from Longyearbyen, 3 to 10 July 2027, from 9,720 € per person, double occupancy. Scenic prices Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season, from £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin.
What does the fare include with Ponant and Scenic?
Ponant's fares include the cabin, full board, an open bar (premium spirits excepted), free wifi, port taxes and one activity per call except on Paul Gauguin; polar cruises add a parka to keep and loaned boots, while visas, paid excursions, spa treatments and premium drinks are extra. Scenic's fares include return flights from UK airports on Flexi and Best Available fares, a butler for every guest, all-day premium drinks, up to 10 dining experiences, Zodiac and kayak outings, shore excursions, an expedition parka, all tipping, transfers and taxes and Starlink Wi-Fi; helicopter and submersible experiences, spa treatments and a few rare wines and spirits are extra.
Is there a single supplement with Ponant and Scenic?
Ponant applies a single supplement automatically but waives it on a choice of cruises each season, marked 'Voyageur Solo 0%', giving a double cabin for one at no extra price. Scenic does not publish this on the pages read.
How do I compare prices like for like?
Ask for a written quote for the same dates and the same cabin type, with every inclusion listed: flights, hotel nights, drinks, gratuities, kayaking or camping and the parka. The price lines above give what each line publishes and on what basis.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Each card links the line's own website; ask for a written quote that lists what the fare includes.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Every line on this page links the page of the line's own website it was read from, read 9 November 2026.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each line published on its own website, read on 9 November 2026, with links to the pages read. Google and Trustpilot figures are shown where the listing carries the line's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel expedition cruise lines table. Lines are set out in the order the question names them. No score and no verdict. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.