Cruise
A Dream Voyage on the Adriatic: Ponant’s Le Bougainville and Its Enchanting Ports of Call
Article and photography by Nathalie Clark and Pierre Houle
On board Le Bougainville, the latest addition to Ponant’s fleet of expedition yachts, travel becomes a true art of living. There are journeys that pile up like postcards—and others that etch themselves into memory forever. The cruise “From Malta to the Shores of the Adriatic” belongs firmly to the latter.
Bewitching Stops and Adriatic Wonders
This was a waking dream, suspended between sea and sky. We set sail from Valletta, the luminous capital of Malta, before reaching Taormina, a Sicilian balcony gazing at Mount Etna’s majestic silhouette. From there, the ship charted a course toward Otranto, the white sentinel of the Adriatic and gateway to Montenegro’s dramatic fjords.
A cascade of Croatian marvels followed—Tivat, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Trogir, and Rab—before the journey culminated in the watery labyrinth of Venice, fabulous and forever romantic.
Nine days aboard Le Bougainville felt like a feast for the senses. This floating jewel of refinement, with just 92 cabins, offers rare privileges for travelers seeking intimacy, personalized service, exquisite cuisine, and unforgettable discoveries at every stop. Each morning unfolded like a new postcard at the porthole: a secluded fjord, a turquoise cove, an island awakening from slumber, or a panorama that left us breathless.
Cabins, with their clean lines, blond wood, and soft lighting, exude a discreet kind of luxury—quiet, unostentatious, and deeply comforting.
A Soothing, Refined Atmosphere
Life on board is unhurried, almost hushed. A glass of champagne on the forward deck, a piano recital, or a DJ set as the sun dipped below the horizon—every detail seemed designed to make time stand still. The crew, attentive yet unobtrusive, often anticipated our wishes before we even voiced them.
Beneath the waterline lies the Blue Eye, a futuristic lounge bathed in soft blue light, where one can glimpse marine life drifting past when the ship is at anchor. Thanks to its small size, Le Bougainville also makes landfall by Zodiac in places where large liners never drop anchor—far from the crowds, closer to what matters.
Highlights of Our Journey
Taormina – A Unique Sicilian Panorama
Our first stop was Taormina, a hilltop town on Sicily’s eastern coast. We chose the excursion devoted to its celebrated ancient theater, a historic jewel perched high above the Ionian Sea. Dating back to the 3rd century BC, this Greco-Roman amphitheater, with seating for more than 5,000 spectators, commands a breathtaking panorama of Mount Etna and the surrounding bay.
To this day, it serves as a stage for concerts, operas, and film festivals, carrying forward its artistic legacy across the centuries. Its architecture, blending Greek foundations with Roman touches, bears witness to the passage of great Mediterranean civilizations. Wandering through its ruins, one can almost hear the fervor of ancient crowds gathering for plays or gladiatorial contests. This iconic landmark remains among the most visited sites in Sicily, embodying the enduring dialogue between history, culture, and natural beauty.
Montenegro – Between Adriatic Waters and Rugged Peaks
Among the grandest landscapes we encountered was the Bay of Kotor, in Montenegro’s Balkan heartland. Often likened to a Mediterranean fjord, its deep waters carve through steep mountainsides, dotted with medieval towns that seem frozen in time.
During our stop, a cable car ride from Tivat treated us to an unforgettable spectacle. As the cabin rose, the shimmering Adriatic unfolded beneath us, scattered with tiny islands and framed by dramatic peaks. The higher we climbed, the more the scenery revealed its grandeur: rolling green hills gave way to rugged summits, while the old town of Kotor glimmered in the distance.
The ascent carried us to more than 1,300 meters above sea level, where sea and mountains seemed to merge into one vast panorama—an excursion devoted to marveling at nature in all its oversized glory.
Dubrovnik – Croatia’s Mediterranean Jewel
Oyster lovers, here’s a rare treat: tasting them the moment they leave the sea. During our stopover in Dubrovnik, we ventured to Mali Ston, Croatia’s oyster capital. A small boat carried us out to a producer’s floating platform, where we sampled oysters plucked straight from the water, alongside mussels cooked à la Buzara—steeped in white wine, garlic, and olive oil—while learning about the centuries-old art of cultivation.
This oyster-farming tradition, inherited from the Romans and practiced here for more than 700 years, yields plump, briny oysters with a flavor unlike any other—an unforgettable experience for any aficionado. Nestled in a sheltered bay encircled by mountains, Mali Ston’s waters are rich in minerals and plankton, creating the perfect conditions for aquaculture.
The village itself, linked to neighboring Ston by a striking medieval wall, charms visitors with its authenticity and quiet allure. Our guide explained that Mali Ston’s oysters rank among the finest in Europe, coveted by top chefs across the continent. To crown the experience, we savored this feast against a breathtaking backdrop of turquoise waters and rolling green hills. A gourmet excursion where heritage, gastronomy, and natural beauty came together in perfect harmony.
Trogir – A Historic Pearl on Croatia’s Coast
Trogir was love at first sight on our Adriatic voyage. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this jewel of the Dalmatian coast enchants with its cobbled alleys, Romanesque churches, and Venetian palaces. Along the seafront promenade, shaded by palm trees and lined with lively cafés, the town exudes an irresistible Mediterranean elegance.
It was the perfect place to wander and browse at leisure, to slip into the rhythm of its charming streets—no schedules, no itinerary, just the simple joy of letting time stretch and soften by the sea.
Venice – The Floating City of Dreams
Our journey ended in Venice, eternally romantic. We wandered across Piazza San Marco before indulging in a candlelit dinner along the Grand Canal, watching the palazzi glow at nightfall. But the true highlight was a gondola ride, gliding silently through the canals as the city slipped into a glittering, magical night.
The Magic of Le Bougainville
Traveling aboard Le Bougainville is an invitation to rediscover wonder, from the first embarkation to the final farewell. Every port held its own spell, every moment its own beauty. Between breathtaking landscapes and enthralling excursions, Ponant delivered an experience destined to stay with us forever.
And as a parting gift, we watched sunsets so sublime they seemed to set sea and sky alight. You disembark changed somehow—lighter in spirit, eyes fixed on the horizon, with a burning desire to embark on another Ponant voyage.
