The French travel philosophy to live by, particularly now

Some journeys are memorable for where they take you; others for how they make you feel while you’re there. At the moment, there’s a particular desire for travel that feels calming and grounded – where the usual challenges and complexities of transit give way to simplicity, ease and everything thoughtfully taken care of.

The French have long had a phrase for this: l’art de vivre is a way of moving through the world that celebrates beauty, pleasure and intention. It swaps urgency for curiosity and knows that elegance lives in the smallest of details.

Small-ship cruises are bringing that sensibility to the water. There’s a certain presence of mind that only ocean travel can offer. Set sail, and you’ll find the hotel check-ins, queues, and usual frictions of travel slip away. In their absence? The kind of ease that allows you, genuinely, to experience travel as an extension of the French art of living. Yacht-style itineraries, shaped by the access only small ships can offer, favour meaningful exploration over hurried transit.

Underpinning the boutique feel of these ships is their intimate scale; many limit their capacity to just a few hundred guests. This allows service to be warm, discreet and genuinely personal, while lounges, restaurants and decks retain the serene, boutique atmosphere of a private retreat rather than a floating resort.

Unhurried travel, closer to home

Shaped by the freedoms of small-ship travel, expedition itineraries exploring our Asia-Pacific region allow each destination to feel not simply visited, but genuinely experienced. Immersion in jaw-dropping environments – The Kimberley’s towering golden cliffs, vibrant coral systems of French Polynesia, Western Australia’s marine parks and UNESCO-listed natural sites of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands – is a highlight.

And so too is the genuine cultural depth, as encounters with the Indigenous heritage of places like Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, Vanuatu, or the rich coastal histories of countries including Indonesia and Japan, give the voyages an added layer of context.

Voyages with an onboard expedition team make for a particularly meaningful experience, offering the chance to discover a new corner of the world through naturalists, historians and local guides with genuine expertise and passion. From oceanographers to marine biologists, archaeologists to sommeliers, their presence adds depth and richness to the day’s adventures.

Life at sea

Life on board is as much a part of the experience as the headline destinations. Ponant Explorations brings that sensibility to the water – for almost four decades, the luxury small-ship line has built its identity around a distinctly French approach to life on board, with a natural sociability shaped by the company’s commitment to the art of ‘soulful hosting’. Guests can linger over a long lunch, enjoy a drink on the outdoor deck or settle into a grand lounge or elegant observation space lined with books and surrounded by mesmerising sea views.

That sense of relaxed elegance is no accident, but part of a broader design language shaped by renowned architect and interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. Having studied at the legendary Beaux-Arts de Paris and with a background in luxury hotel design, Nuel’s signature brand of quiet luxury fuses classic Parisian sophistication with warmth and comfort. To furnish Ponant Explorations’ ‘sisterships’ – Le Soléal, Le Boréal, Le Lyrial and L’Austral – he worked with Ligne Roset furnishings, and a nautical palette of blues teamed with calming sandy neutrals.

A gastronomic adventure

Haute cuisine is central to l’art de vivre, and the culinary program includes a collaboration with world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse of Ducasse Paris. Under the expert guidance of Ducasse, the kitchen turns out impeccable French pastries for breakfast, delicately cooked seafood for lunch, and generous French cheeseboards to enjoy with sommelier-selected wines from both the old and new world. In addition to the French specialities, all ships offer grill-style restaurants serving alfresco lunches and themed dinners for a more relaxed dining experience, celebrating food from local regions in the daily menu. The team ensures local food is sourced and served to perfection, no matter where you are in the world. Think freshly caught Mahi Mahi in Tahiti, sashimi paired with Japanese whiskey as you sail from Osaka, and famous Margaret River wines to go with premium oysters sourced in Western Australia.

In the end, l’art de vivre is all about details like these, a reminder that the most memorable journeys are often the ones that invite us to slow down, look closer and take pleasure in the moment – and can be found closer than you think.

From haute cuisine to genuine hospitality, Ponant Explorations blends the French touch with the discovery of new horizons. To discover l’art de vivre for yourself, learn more at au.ponant.com.