Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT Are Adding 2027 Eclipse Sailings

Published on Nov 19, 2025, 7:52 pm CST

6 min read

Key points

Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT EXPLORATIONS will add 35 new small ship ocean cruise departures in 2027
Every 2027 Smithsonian Journeys PONANT cruise will feature two onboard experts, included excursions in each port, and airport transfers
Headline new itinerary A Solar Eclipse at Sea offers a July 30 to August 6 2027 voyage along the Iberian Peninsula timed to the August 2 total solar eclipse
Guests will watch the eclipse from within the band of totality in the Mediterranean while sailing aboard PONANTs Le Boreal
The ocean program complements a growing Smithsonian Journeys river cruise alliance with AmaWaterways that adds 42 river departures in 2027
Advisors should treat eclipse cabins and other marquee departures as limited inventory that will reward very early booking

Impact

More Expert Led Cruise Options: Travelers who prioritize learning and enrichment will have 35 additional ocean departures in 2027 that bundle small ship comfort with Smithsonian level lectures and discussions
New Eclipse At Sea Opportunity: The Iberian Peninsula voyage gives eclipse chasers and curious travelers a way to see the August 2 2027 total solar eclipse from within the band of totality on the Mediterranean
Stronger Small Ship Positioning: PONANT further cements its role in the high end educational cruise niche while Smithsonian Journeys expands its ocean footprint beyond land trips and river cruises
Advisor Product To Differentiate: Travel advisors can position these sailings as an alternative to mainstream mega ships for clients who want smaller ports, inclusive excursions, and scholarly context
Inventory And Pricing Pressure: High demand for eclipse travel and limited stateroom counts mean pricing is unlikely to soften and key categories may sell out long before 2027

Smithsonian Journeys is deepening its ocean cruise program with PONANT EXPLORATIONS, rolling out 35 new small ship departures in 2027 that pair the Smithsonian's educational focus with PONANT's French style expedition fleet. The expanded collection spans all seven continents and puts an eclipse themed voyage along the Iberian Peninsula at center stage for summer 2027.

What Smithsonian And PONANT Are Adding For 2027

According to a new collection announcement, Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT EXPLORATIONS will operate 35 additional ocean cruise departures in 2027, all on PONANT's modern small ships. The program leans into both brands' strengths, combining the Smithsonian's 179 year legacy of research and public education with PONANT's high crew to guest ratios, quiet luxury positioning, and access to smaller ports that larger ships skip.

Every departure in the collection is built around enrichment. Two Smithsonian Journeys experts sail on each voyage, leading formal lectures and informal conversations that unpack the culture, history, science, art, or natural environment of each region. Shore excursions are included in every port and are curated to complement the onboard programming rather than function as generic sightseeing. Airport transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days are bundled into the pricing, which positions the cruises as an all inclusive alternative at the upper end of the small ship market.

Itineraries for 2027 stretch across the Americas and Caribbean, Antarctica, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and African coasts, Asia, and Oceania, giving repeat Smithsonian Journeys travelers a clear path to cover multiple regions without leaving the ecosystem.

Eclipse Cruise Along The Iberian Peninsula

The headline addition is "A Solar Eclipse at Sea: Voyage Along the Iberian Peninsula," a new eight day sailing timed to the August 2, 2027 total solar eclipse. Operating July 30 to August 6, 2027, the cruise travels roundtrip from Lisbon aboard PONANT's 264 guest Le Boréal, tracing Portugal and Spain's southern shores from the Algarve to the Costa del Sol and back.

Guests visit coastal cities and towns such as Lagos, Cádiz, Marbella, and Figueira da Foz, with options that range from wine tastings to kayaking, catamaran outings, and guided walks through historic districts. The eclipse itself is the emotional center of the trip. On August 2 the ship positions within the band of totality in the Mediterranean so guests can watch the sun disappear while the sea and the distant coasts of Iberia and North Africa fall into midday twilight.

The 2027 total solar eclipse is already being framed as one of the most significant astronomical events of the century, with a path of totality that crosses southern Spain, Gibraltar, and stretches across North Africa and the Middle East, and with maximum totality lasting more than six minutes near Luxor. For travelers who do not want to wrestle with land based crowds or complicated logistics, a ship based viewing point in the Mediterranean offers controlled conditions, built in safety briefings, and expert commentary before and after the event.

Senior geologist emeritus Jim Zimbelman, from the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, is already confirmed as one of the two onboard experts for the eclipse voyage. His presence signals that the program will lean heavily into the science of eclipses, planetary dynamics, and the geology of the regions the ship visits, rather than treating the eclipse as a simple photo opportunity.

Fares for A Solar Eclipse at Sea start at about 8,920 U.S. dollars per person, double occupancy, in entry level staterooms, with higher categories available at a premium. Given the limited capacity of a 264 guest vessel, the departure is likely to behave more like a charter or special event sailing than a typical Med cruise from a demand perspective.

How The Ocean Program Fits Into Smithsonian's Wider Travel Portfolio

The PONANT EXPLORATIONS alliance does not replace Smithsonian Journeys' other offerings, it sits on top of a growing matrix of land and water based products. The Smithsonian program already operates small group land journeys, cultural stays, active trips, private jet itineraries, and tailor made journeys for independent travelers.

On the water, Smithsonian Journeys has been building parallel river and ocean plays. In Europe, the organization is in the middle of a multi year expansion with river cruise line AmaWaterways, which will operate a co branded Smithsonian Journeys program with two experts on every departure, Smithsonian curated excursions, and bundled transfers. That alliance will already deliver more than 40 river departures in 2027 across the Rhine, Danube, Douro, Seine, Rhône, and other major rivers, with itineraries from eight to fifteen days that mirror the same "learning plus luxury" positioning.

The result is that a loyal Smithsonian traveler can now mix a Spanish eclipse sailing on Le Boréal with a Douro wine cruise or a tulip time river sailing on AmaWaterways, all under a common enrichment umbrella. For advisors, this consistency makes it easier to cross sell within the portfolio once a client has bought into the basic concept of expert led travel.

What Travelers And Advisors Should Do Now

For travelers specifically interested in the August 2, 2027 eclipse, the Iberian Peninsula voyage is likely to be capacity constrained, because there are only a few hundred berths and the departure falls inside a global wave of eclipse related travel planning. Advisors should treat key cabin categories, especially balcony and suite products, as inventory that needs to be locked in early rather than as something that will remain available closer to sailing.

Beyond eclipse chasers, the broader 35 departure collection is best suited to guests who already lean toward small ship cruising, value included excursions, and want real time access to scholars and experts rather than pure entertainment. That profile often overlaps with clients who currently book higher end river cruises, combination land and cruise tours, or destination focused brands that already advertise enrichment as a differentiator.

Because each departure includes excursions in every port and airport transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days, advisors should quote total trip cost rather than leading with base cruise only fares when comparing value to mainstream lines that unbundle many of those elements. It is also worth flagging that the PONANT vessels are small enough to access ports and anchorages that are off limits to large ships, which can be a deciding factor for well traveled clients looking for new angles on familiar regions.

Finally, the continued expansion of AmaWaterways departures under the Smithsonian Journeys brand gives travelers who like the ocean experience an obvious next step onto Europe's rivers in 2026 and 2027, and vice versa. That cross pollination potential is part of what makes this announcement notable in a crowded premium cruise market.