2026 Solar Eclipse Cruise:

Totality in The Mediterranean  

with Sarah Rugheimer

FRANCE & SPAIN

Great Music Masters of Italy: Verdi and Italian Opera

with Robert Greenberg

ITALY

ENGLAND & FRANCE

D-Day: Courage, Conflict, and History in England and France  with Ed Lengel

Great Music Masters of Vienna: The Romantics

with Robert Greenberg

Enchanted England: Folklore, Fairy Tales, and Wonder

with Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman

Revisiting World War 1 in France

with Keith Huxen

Exploring Cuba: From Trinidad 

to Havana

with Joyce Salisbury

Great British Mysteries: Conan Doyle, Christie, and More

with Maureen Corrigan

ENGLAND

ENGLAND

FRANCE

CUBA

AUSTRIA

Travel with Insight, Explore with Passion

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Ludivine_Tes

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Mayreau Island

Spotted Eagle Ray

Fort Shirley

Pristine Snorkeling

Port Elizabeth

The Acropolis

Starting at $7,100 per person

This cruise through the Caribbean’s Windward Islands in the company of Professor Richard Bell, Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, is an opportunity to combine serious study of the colonial history of the Caribbean with time at leisure to enjoy the natural beauty, sun and surf for which the islands are famous. Beginning on St. Lucia, sailing south through St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then turning north to Guadeloupe and Dominica, you will explore a series of fortresses and battlements that tell the story of the struggle between Britain and France for control of these islands during the 17th and 18th centuries. You will learn about the sugar and coffee plantations that made them worth fighting over. And you will also have days devoted to swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on beaches and reefs among the most beautiful in the Western Hemisphere.


with Richard Bell

Images of key Greek Sites
Icon of a Spartan Helmet

Caribbean Crossroads: Rival Empires in Paradise


DEPARTURE DATE AND PRICING

January 8–15, 2028

Starting at $7,795 Per Person

March 2–10, 2027

Starting at $7,100 Per Person

Highlights

Stand in the ruins of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and imagine the excitement of ancient athletes competing in honor of Zeus, king of the gods.


Discover the stunning mosaics of Hosios Loukas, a hidden Byzantine monastery, where centuries of devotion are etched in golden tiles, revealing Greece’s transition from antiquity to medieval splendor.

Immerse yourself in the myth and majesty of the Acropolis and explore the Parthenon and its surrounding temples with Professor Cyrino, uncovering the divine power of Athena and the artistic mastery that shaped classical Greece.


Travel in the footsteps of Agamemnon as you walk through the Lion Gate of Mycenae and visit the Tomb of Agamemnon, learning how Homer’s epics immortalized the kings and warriors of this ancient civilization.


Explore the sacred center of Delphi as you ascend the slopes of Mount Parnassus to the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle once delivered cryptic prophecies that shaped the course of Greek and Mediterranean history.

Highlights

Stand in the ruins of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and imagine the excitement of ancient athletes competing in honor of Zeus, king of the gods.


Discover the stunning mosaics of Hosios Loukas, a hidden Byzantine monastery, where centuries of devotion are etched in golden tiles, revealing Greece’s transition from antiquity to medieval splendor.

Immerse yourself in the myth and majesty of the Acropolis and explore the Parthenon and its surrounding temples with Professor Cyrino, uncovering the divine power of Athena and the artistic mastery that shaped classical Greece.


Travel in the footsteps of Agamemnon as you walk through the Lion Gate of Mycenae and visit the Tomb of Agamemnon, learning how Homer’s epics immortalized the kings and warriors of this ancient civilization.


Explore the sacred center of Delphi as you ascend the slopes of Mount Parnassus to the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle once delivered cryptic prophecies that shaped the course of Greek and Mediterranean history.

Highlights

Hike in Portobelo’s rainforest and explore its UNESCO-listed colonial forts, learning how ecology, empire, and piracy intersected at this vital hub of Spain’s treasure fleets.


Meet the Emberá people of Darién National Park, gaining insight into how indigenous traditions, crafts, and lifeways have endured amid one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.


Discover Ecocentro Calathea, a conservation garden showcasing southern Costa Rica’s remarkable biodiversity through native plants, medicinal species, and vibrant birdlife near Piedras Blancas National Park.


Travel alongside your expert for a uniquely immersive journey, connecting rainforests, reefs, and volcanic landscapes with the evolutionary forces, biodiversity, and human-environment relationships that define Central America.


Enjoy onboard lectures in our state-of-the-art theatre by Professor Scott Solomon about the wide diversity of places and environments in this region of the world both natural and man-made.


Transit the Panama Canal, a modern engineering wonder, with expert commentary that places its construction and operation in the broader story of human innovation and global trade.

Enjoy the charms of small ports and fishing villages on St. Lucia, Bequia, and Guadeloupe.

Experience the islands’ unique flora and fauna throughout the voyage, but especially along the Indian River on Dominica.

Travel alongside your expert on a deeply contextual voyage through the Windward Islands, examining how imperial rivalry, plantation economies, and maritime strategy shaped the Caribbean world of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Learn about the role of these islands in the long battle between France and Britain for control of these resource-rich islands as you explore the remains of military installations at Vieux Fort, Pigeon Island, Les Saintes, and Cabrits.

Discover the legacy of plantation culture at the Morne Coubaril Estate near Soufrière on St. Lucia.


Highlights

Dr. Richard Bell is a professor of history at the University of Maryland, College Park. He received his PhD in History from Harvard University. His research interests focus on American history between 1750 and 1877. Professor Bell is a passionate believer in the educational value of travel, and especially throughout the Caribbean, where he believes you can truly see and experience both the history and cultural legacy of the region and its peoples. His most recent book is The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, in which he repositions the Revolution at the center of an international web, this narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central America, and Australia. Professor Bell's previous book is Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home, which won the NEH Public Scholar Award. He has created three Great Courses: America's Long Struggle Against Slavery, Ordinary Americans in the Revolution. His third, on the Declaration of Independence, releases in 2026.

Richard Bell

Journey Expert

Richard Bell

Monica S. Cyrino
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St. Lucia

Image of Athens Greece

Arrive at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, where you will be met and transferred to the Harbor Club St. Lucia (or similar) for overnight. This evening, join fellow travelers and The Great Courses Journeys Expert for a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner will be at your leisure.


      Included Meal: Reception

      Accommodations: Harbor Club St. Lucia, Curio Collection by Hilton

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Barracks at Morne Fortune

Today, you and your local guide and Great Courses Journeys Expert focus on a theme that will recur more than once during this voyage: the centuries-long struggle among colonial powers for control of the Windward Islands. As you visit the remains of two 19th-century military installations—the coastal defenses at Upper La Roc Battery and the hilltop barracks at Morne Fortune—your expert local guide will tell the story of the enduring conflict between the French and British for control of St. Lucia as a gateway to the wider Caribbean.


You will also enjoy sweeping views of the harbor and coastline from these vantage points and have lunch at a restaurant with scenic views of the emblematic Pitons and Soufrière before returning to Vieux Fort to embark Le Bougainville.


      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ashore, Dinner

      Accommodations: Le Bougainville

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Bequia Island

Spend a leisurely afternoon discovering the charm of Bequia, beginning with a guided walk along Port Elizabeth’s picturesque waterfront, where pastel-painted shops, wooden jetties, and fishing boats create an iconic Caribbean scene. Your local guide will share insights into Bequia’s maritime traditions and boat-building heritage, and you will visit the Bequia Heritage Museum, with exhibits highlighting the island’s Indigenous culture, whaling history, and proud tradition of model boat-building.

 
Your ship remains at anchor until late in the evening, providing ample time to browse Port Elizabeth’s boutiques, sample local treats, or simply sit by the water and enjoy the gentle rhythms of island life.


      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodations: Le Bougainville

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Mayreau Island Beach

Spend the entire day ashore on Mayreau Island, exploring this tight-knit community that retains a strong connection to traditional Carribean culture. The ship’s staff will come ashore with you to prepare and serve a barbecue buffet. A local steel band will provide the perfect musical backdrop to a delightful day of swimming and snorkeling—or doing nothing more than soaking up the ambience of this tropical paradise.


      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodations: Le Bougainville

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Green Iguana

A second day devoted to the beaches of St. Vincent and the Grenadines finds you on Tobago Cays, where you will want to keep a lookout for the rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity, including pelicans, terns, iguanas, and a remarkable array of sea turtles. Activities include swimming, snorkeling, and diving along one of the largest remaining pristine coral reef groups in the Windward Islands.


      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodations: Le Bougainville

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Fort Rodney

Your morning on Pigeon Island begins with a presentation from an expert local guide on St. Lucia's Amerindian roots and its military importance during the British-French rivalry in the Caribbean, followed by a tour of Fort Rodney and a performance of traditional music and dance.

Enjoy lunch aboard ship as you sail south to Soufrière for an afternoon excursion to the Morne Coubaril Estate, a former sugar plantation. Here you will learn about St. Lucia's history as a major producer of sugar, coffee, and cocoa from the early 17th century until the middle of the 18th, when the British abolition of slavery collapsed the plantation economy that had been built on enslaved labor from Africa.

      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodations: Le Bougainville

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Fort Napoléon

Your discovery of Les Saintes begins with a tour of Fort Napoléon, located on a promontory above the bay. As you tour the ramparts, museum rooms, and gardens, your local guide will explain the fort’s strategic importance in colonial naval history as it passed between French and British control during the Seven Years' War, the American Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars.
Returning to town, walk through narrow lanes lined with Creole cottages, pastel façades, and red-tiled roofs that reflect the island’s blend of French and Caribbean architecture, and enjoy time at leisure to explore the shops andcafés that line the waterfront.

      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodations: Le Bougainville

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Indian River

A full day exploration of Dominica begins at Cabrits National Park for a tour of Fort Shirley, a well-preserved 18th-century British garrison that was the island's main military base during the French-British rivalry. It has splendid views over Prince Rupert Bay and the town of Portsmouth.

After a lunch of local cuisine, enjoy a cruise aboard a local boat up the Indian River, which flows through the lowlands around Portsmouth and is home to an unusual variety of flora and fauna, including herons, kingfishers, and iguanas. The river is now also famous as the setting for a number of scenes in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and you will likely hear stories about the filming as you sample the owner's special rum punch at the renowned Bush Bar.


      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ashore, Dinner 

      Accommodations: Le Bougainville

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After breakfast aboard, disembark and transfer to the Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, for flights homeward.


      Included Meal: Breakfast


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Day 10 – Denmark's Skagen Artists’ Colony

Temple of Poseidon

From the 1870s to the early 20th century, the tiny Danish fishing village of Skagen— much like the French Riviera at roughly the same time—became a magnet for northern European artists drawn to its rugged coastline and luminous light. These artists, later known as the Skagen Painters, achieved international recognition and created some of Denmark’s most celebrated works.

 
Explore their legacy on a guided tour that includes the Skagens Museum, founded in 1908 by the artists themselves; Ancher’s Hus, the preserved home of painters Michael and Anna Ancher; Brøndums Hotel, where artists exchanged ideas and critiqued each other’s work; and Drachmanns Hus, the home of poet, author, and painter Holger Drachmann.

      Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

      Accommodations: Le Champlain

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Day 11 – Copenhagen | Disembark

After breakfast aboard, disembark and transfer to Copenhagen International Airport (CPH) for flights homeward.


      Included Meals: Breakfast

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After breakfast aboard, disembark and transfer to the Humberto Delgado Airport, is (LIS), in Lisbon, Portugal, for flights homeward.


      Included Meals: Breakfast

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PONANT- Tamar Sarkissian

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PONANT- Mike Louagie

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PONANT- Nick Rains

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PONANT- Nicolas Matheus

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PONANT- Elie-VANNIER

Studio PONANT

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Studio PONANT

Cabin and Deck Pricing

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Studio PONANT

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PONANT- Nicolas Matheus

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Studio PONANT

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Studio PONANT

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Studio PONANT

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Download a ship guide

Download a deck plan

Your Ship: Le Bougainville

The five-star Le Bougainville, part of the PONANT Explorers expedition yacht series, features 92 cabins accommodating 184 guests. Designed with advanced eco-friendly technology, its “Clean Ship” certification highlights energy efficiency and marine protection. Compact yet luxurious, it navigates shallow bays and sensitive environments while offering safe, comfortable voyages with custom stabilizers. (7 nights)

Harbor Club St. Lucia, Curio Collection by Hilton
Vieux Fort, St. Lucia
The Harbor Club St. Lucia, Curio Collection by Hilton is a stylish Caribbean resort on Rodney Bay, the west coast of Saint Lucia, blending laid-back island charm with upscale comforts. Set on a marina, it offers 115 nautically inspired rooms and suites with marina or mountain views. Guests enjoy multiple pools, diverse dining options, a spa, fitness center, and easy access to beaches and local attractions. (1 night)


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January 8–15, 2028

Starting at $7,795 Per Person

March 2–10, 2027

Starting at $7,100 Per Person

Questions? Call 

1-855-476-5080

Caribbean Crossroads: Rival Empires in Paradise

Sign up to receive the latest trip updates and instant access to a digital version of our full-color 2026–2027 travel catalog. You will also have the option to share your mailing address and we’ll send a printed copy of our next catalog to your door.

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Request your copy of our full color travel catalog

Highlights

Uncover the dynastic ambitions and historical significance of monuments like Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat.


Experience the stony landscape of the Agafay Desert on a camel trek, culminating in a breathtaking sunset over the High Atlas Mountains.

Admire the Islamic architecture in Marrakesh, from the grand Koutoubia Mosque and intricate Bahia Palace to the serene beauty of the Ben Youssef Madrasa.


Discover the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest continuously operating university, and engage in a discussion on its profound influence on global scholarship.


Wander through the labyrinthine alleyways of the UNESCO-listed Medina in Fes, where vibrant stalls overflow with textiles, spices, and artisanal crafts.

Caribbean Crossroads: Rival Empires in Paradise

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