In keeping with the principle devised by Alain Duault, this cruise will bring together great international pianists, each of whom will perform a one-hour recital before a joint final encore concert during the last evening. This 13th edition is an unmissable event for piano fans!


Between the sumptuous scenery and exceptional towns such as Valencia, a city with a remarkable architectural heritage, you will fall under the charm of this multicultural region. In the heart of the Spanish and Moroccan shores, whose lush valleys and historic cities create an exceptional setting, you will sail along the Strait of Gibraltar. This unique escapade will lead you towards island pearls such as Palma de Mallorca, the jewel of the Balearic Islands. Breathtaking landscapes and vibrant towns await you, on an immersive journey through the musical and creative soul of these destinations.


Highlights


• A series of exclusive recitals performed by the world's top pianists offering the acoustic and human proximity that only the intimacy of a PONANT ship is able to create.

• Scholarly discussions and musical analysis sessions led by Alain Duault, to unravel the masterpieces of piano literature.

• Cross the mythical Strait of Gibraltar, the only maritime passage connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

A historical and festive town, Málaga is located in Andalusia, on the Costa del Sol. Between the marina and the beaches, the seaside promenade of La Farola offers an ideal setting for strolling and relaxing. Set slightly further back, the Malagueta bullring is one of the emblematic sites of the city. From the hill overlooking the old town, one can see Gibralfaro castle and the Alcazaba, two fortified ensembles rising out from the cypresses and maritime pines. To visit Pablo Picasso’s birthplace, you will go first to the courtly plaza de la Merced. A few streets back from here, you can explore the museum dedicated to the artist, in the Buenavista palace.

Nestling in the Bay of Tangier, this bewitching Moroccan city lies at the northwestern tip of the country, along the famous Strait of Gibraltar. Following in the footsteps of the writers and artists inspired and seduced by the city’s climate and setting, you’ll love its rich landscapes and multicultural charm. You’ll instantly understand as soon as you set foot in the heart of the Medina. An architectural masterpiece, the Kasbah is your gateway to the Sultan’s Palace and its gardens. If you prefer beaches to museums, you can relax just a few minutes from the city on the beautiful sweep of sand bathed by the Atlantic Ocean.

An autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast, Melilla and its citadel sit on the edge of Cape Three Forks, between Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea, offering breathtaking views of this blue expanse. A perfect blend of history and modernity, the city boasts charming cobbled streets, imposing ramparts and a number of historic sites that are well worth a visit, including the Baluarte de la Concepción and the Hospital del Rey. In contrast to these vestiges of the city's military past, the Art Nouveau curves of the Palacio de la Asamblea, Casa Melul, the Reconquista building and Plaza Menéndez Pelayo reflect the influence of Gaudi's student Enrique Nieto, who lived here, and the great Catalan Modernist period. After Barcelona, Melilla has the largest number of buildings in this style.

Surrounded by hills, the natural site of the Bay of Carthagena presided over the fate of this former fortress which has been home to the greatest European civilisations. Today, these Phoenician, Roman, Carthaginian, Moorish and Christian influences form a rich architectural heritage. Its Roman theatre is one of the most significant and best conserved in Spain. You will also be able to cross the landscapes of vines and citrus groves stretching endlessly towards Murcia, to visit this dynamic regional capital.

The emblematic island of the Balearics, “the white island” was a haven for European artistic bohemians from the 1930s and a paradise for hippies in search of authenticity in the 1960s. It has been a giant nightclub for gilded youth since the 1990s. Behind this fiesta economy, Ibiza has managed to preserve the charms of its wild coves and its villages of white fincas with flat roofs that inspired Le Corbusier. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its exemplary marine and coastal ecosystems but also thanks to the architectural vestiges of this former stronghold of the Mediterranean economy, from the Phoenicians up to the Renaissance.

Palma de Mallorca will reveal its many treasures: idyllic coves, majestic limestone cliffs that plunge into the clear sapphire- and turquoise-coloured waters of the Mediterranean, and vast plains planted with almond trees, olive trees and vineyards. When your ship calls at the capital of the Balearic Islands, take a walk to discover its emblematic monuments, such as its famous cathedral, and amble through its old streets. Here, like a painting, the island’s historical heritage forms a backdrop to the lively and warm cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Mediterranean.  

You will be welcomed by the colourful houses of Mahon, its narrow streets and pretty squares that appear as you stroll around this richly contrasting city. Mahon reveals its different neighbourhoods, alternating between monuments, villas and white buildings. Discover the Santa Maria church, a building of neo-gothic inspiration, rebuilt in the 18th Century. It is worth a visit to see its monumental organ with more than 3,000 pipes and four keyboards. Around the Carmen church you will find a local market, full of stands selling avarcas, typical Menorcan sandals originally made by peasants. Let yourself fall under the spell of this Mediterranean treasure.

Valencia - the city of Art and Sciences. Two hearts beat in this Spanish city: one is modern, avantgarde and almost futuristic; the other is more provincial, more traditional and nostalgic. Valencia has the temperament of a great Mediterranean city whose wide avenues form a border around the old town. The city has an abundance of architectural styles that coexist harmoniously, but above all it resolutely embraces the 21st Century with the futuristic structures of its Agora congress centre and City of Arts and Sciences, emerging from a crystal blue pool.

Tarragona is situated on the Costa Dorada, in the south of Spain’s Catalonia region. Known as Tarraco in Roman times, the city boasts very important archaeological and architectural vestiges that are magnificently well preserved. These earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. Do not miss this opportunity to visit the Roman amphitheatre, which is located on a beautiful natural site by the sea and is exceptionally well preserved. A stroll through the streets of the old medieval town to the cathedral, which was completed in the 14th century, is a wonderful way to end your visit to this welcoming city.

Itineraries are subject to change. 

Deluxe Stateroom

$10,740 AUD pp
Deluxe Stateroom
Area : 19 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² Private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Prestige Stateroom Deck 4

$11,270 AUD pp
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
Area : 19 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi 2 cabins of 27 5 m² with a private balcony of 6 m² for people with reduced mobility.

Prestige Stateroom Deck 5

$11,810 AUD pp
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
Area : 19 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi 2 cabins of 27 5 m² with a private balcony of 6 m² for people with reduced mobility.

Prestige Stateroom Deck 6

$12,450 AUD pp
Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
Area : 19 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 4m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi 2 cabins of 27 5 m² with a private balcony of 6 m² for people with reduced mobility.

Deluxe Suite Deck 3

$19,790 AUD pp
Deluxe Suite Deck 3
Area : 27 m² Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin 6m² Private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Deluxe Suite Deck 4

$19,790 AUD pp
Deluxe Suite Deck 4
Area : 27 m² Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin 6m² Private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Deluxe Suite Deck 5

$19,790 AUD pp
Deluxe Suite Deck 5
Area : 27 m² Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin 6m² Private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Deluxe Suite Deck 6

$19,790 AUD pp
Deluxe Suite Deck 6
Area : 27 m² Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin 6m² Private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Prestige Suite Deck 5

$21,930 AUD pp
Prestige Suite Deck 5
Area : 38 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 8m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Prestige Suite Deck 6

$22,450 AUD pp
Prestige Suite Deck 6
Area : 38 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 8m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Privilege Suite Deck 5

$23,520 AUD pp
Privilege Suite Deck 5
Area : 32 m² Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin 8m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Bathtub Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Privilege Suite Deck 6

$23,520 AUD pp
Privilege Suite Deck 6
Area : 32 m² Capacity :up to 3 passengers per cabin 8m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Bathtub Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Grand Deluxe Suite

$28,310 AUD pp
Grand Deluxe Suite
Area : 45 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 30m² private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Bathtub Minibar Flat screen Satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand Safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Owner's Suite

$37,380 AUD pp
Owner's Suite
Area : 45 m² Capacity :up to 2 passengers per cabin 30m2 private balcony Individually-controlled air-conditioning King-size bed or twin beds Shower Minibar Flat screen satellite TV Desk with stationery Ipod(TM) players Video on demand safe Hairdryer Bath robes Satellite direct line telephone 110/220 volts outlet French bath products 24hr room service Internet access wifi.

Vessel Type: Luxury

Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins

Built: 2017/2018

Le Bougainville is the third ship in the PONANT Explorers series, designed to merge elegant French style with advanced expedition technology. Carrying up to 184 guests across 92 luxurious staterooms and suites, it offers an intimate atmosphere with a focus on comfort and open connection to the sea. The ship’s sleek design invites light and space, featuring expansive lounges, panoramic decks, a swimming pool, theatre, and wellness facilities that create a relaxed yet sophisticated onboard experience.

True to the French spirit of exploration, Le Bougainville celebrates both discovery and refinement. Guests can savour world-class cuisine in elegant dining venues, enjoy a quiet moment in the ship’s stylish lounges, or embark on Zodiac excursions directly from the marina platform. Equipped with the latest environmental technologies, the vessel embodies responsible luxury travel—offering guests the chance to explore the world’s most extraordinary destinations in style and harmony with nature.

Cabin layout for Le Bougainville

Special Offers on 13th Piano Festival at Sea

Online prices reflect the current brochure fare savings of up to 30%. Prices may change based on demand. Terms and conditions apply. This special offer is subject to availability. Please contact us for more details. 

Inclusions


• Accommodation in stateroom
• The full meal plan
• The Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar
• Free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day*
• Activities offered during expedition cruises
• Access to all the common areas on board our sister ships and Ponant Explorers: fitness room, steam room, hair salon, swimming pool (sea water, heated), solarium, lounges, theater, boutique & leisure area

Exclusions


• Flights other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Travel insurance
• Passport and visa costs if applicable
• Premium beverages package (Can be purchased on board)
• Optional Excursions where applicable
• Spa treatments on board
• Pre and post cruise accommodation unless otherwise stated
• Transfers unless specified
• Gratuities
Portugal and Spain Luxury ExpeditionLuxury Expedition
9 Days from
$1,194 AUD per day

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NZ Freephone
0800 945 3327

AUS Freephone
1800 107 715

to help you make your reservation

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