The crew are bilingual in French and English. All signage and announcements made are in French and English. On certain cruises, crew members also speak other languages.

Sustainable development is enshrined in the company's articles of association and has been at the heart of the PONANT project since its inception. Founded over thirty years ago by committed sailors, the company was born out of a desire to share a passion for the oceans and the treasures of the Earth. This responsibility commits Ponant to a respectful dialogue with the environment and the populations they meet and to investing in many fields related to the preservation and development of the natural and cultural heritage of the polar and oceanic regions. Call our experts to find out more about Ponant’s commitments in terms of sustainable development and the PONANT Foundation.

Ponant advises passengers to wear casual and elegant outfits at their convenience, and more formal attire for the Captain's Dinner. On an expedition cruise, be sure to bring practical clothes as well as comfortable shoes suitable for traveling in Zodiacs and disembarking on beaches or mud flats. On tropical expeditions be sure to bring a hat, sunglasses and long sleeved/legged clothing. For cruises in the Arctic and Antarctic, you will be given a polar parka in your size and suitable boots will be available for use when ashore.

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available on all of Ponant’s ships, in both the staterooms and the communal areas. One or several computers are at your disposal in the recreation centers. Please note that the Wi-Fi connection may be discontinued depending on the navigation area and landscapes that may block the vessel from satellite coverage, especially at high latitudes (no connection possible beyond 80° North or South), or for technical reasons beyond control.

Children under one year of age shall not be authorized to embark on the ships. For children aged between 1 and 8 years old, an authorization to board the ship must be made in writing to PONANT. Subject to agreement, a liability waiver must be completed and returned to the company to validate the registration.

On classic cruises ("yachting"), children are accepted from the age of one, with a maximum of 5 children between 1 and 6 years old on board.

On "expedition" cruises, children are accepted from 6 years old (except cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot) and must be fully independent during all the outside activities organized and during disembarkation in rubber boats, be sufficiently tall to sit on the inflatable sides of the boats, and old enough to understand, and immediately respond to the orders given by the persons in charge. As a result, children's participation in any activity in an inflatable boat shall be subject to the agreement of the Captain and of the Expedition Head, depending on the sea conditions, and the difficulty of disembarking at each location visited. The ships do not carry Parka’s in children’s sizes. Parents must arrange to bring a suitable Parka for children. In all cases, children and young people under the age of 18 are at all times on board or on land under the full and total responsibility of their parents or carers. For all "expedition" cruises on board Le Commandant Charcot, children are accepted from 8 years old only.

Children aged 4 years or more can be welcomed in the Kid's Club when the service is offered on select sailings.

The currency on board is the Euro, but the US Dollar is also accepted.