This New 10-Night Luxury Cruise Spotlights Mexico's Baja California Peninsula
Ponant wants to help you see Mexico in a whole new way.
The French cruise line has just announced it will be taking seafarers to Baja California in the winter of 2027. The new 10-night itinerary, aptly named Exploration in the Heart of Baja California, aims to spotlight the best of this ecologically rich region.
More from Robb Report
Bethenny Frankel Sold Her Her Historic Greenwich Estate in a Clandestine $7.8 Million Deal
The Architects Behind the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakesh Designed This $6.7 Million London Flat
This Ultra-Limited Bourbon Is an Ode to One of Kentucky's Most Legendary Distilleries
Throughout the first three months of 2027, the 430-foot Le Bellot will carry out four round-trip journeys around the famous peninsula. Departing from Cano San Lucas, the upscale cruise ship will take up to 184 guests on each adventure. All 92 staterooms and suites onboard the liner feature private balconies or terraces. Seafarers can also expect Ponant's signature French touch and attentive service.
Developed over three years with the help of local communities, the curated itineraries will spotlight natural wonders, including the coral reefs and marine animals that abound in the UNESCO-designated Gulf of California. Guests may see gray, blue, and humpback whales or a bottlenose dolphin, for instance. Shore landings will also allow travelers to explore coastal towns like Loreto.
'From awe-inspiring wildlife encounters with whales and sea lions to the rugged beauty of desert canyons and the charm of small coastal towns, our new Baja California itinerary is shaped by respect—both for the environment and the local communities who helped bring it to life,' Samuel Chamberlain, CEO of Ponant Explorations Group, said in a statement.
One voyage will be operated in partnership with frequent Ponant collaborator Smithsonian Journeys. Departing on February 10, 2027, this trip includes an onboard lecture series that will provide seafarers with insight into the region's history, culture, environment, and wildlife. Two Smithsonian Journeys experts will be on hand to answer any burning questions and provide valuable intel about each destination. Designed to suit both leisure and adventure travelers, the itinerary includes optional snorkeling, scuba diving, and canyon hiking. It also offers a curated excursion and/or activity at each port of call. To top it off, Ponant says guests will be able to partake in 'a high-impact whale experience that no other cruise line operates.'
Given the proximity of Baja California to the U.S., Ponant's new itinerary is a great choice for stateside travelers looking for a quick and easy escape.
Departures for the 2027 Baja California itinerary include: January 31, February 10, February 20, and March 2. Contact Ponant for more information.
Best of Robb Report
The Ultimate Miami Spa Guide: 15 Luxurious Places to Treat Yourself
The 7 Most Insanely Luxurious Spas in the World, From Tokyo to Iceland
17 Reasons the Caribbean Should Be at the Top of Your Travel Itinerary
Click here to read the full article.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Explore Champagne, France: Top Attractions, Vineyards And Travel Tips
Champagne region in France at sunrise. getty "I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not." Coco Chanel If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Champagne region in north east France and its beautiful villages, vineyards and Champagne houses, this is the year to do so. July 4, 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary since Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars became a UNESCO World Heritage site. And there will be major festivities on the day including a big party in Champillon, in the heart of the historic hillsides, that will include a picnic, music, dance and birthday cake. Festivities will continue throughout the month to celebrate the world's most prestigious sparkling wine. On July 14, 2025 on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay there'll be a picnic, toast and party with fireworks. July 19th will feature a picnic concert of the Flâneries Musicales at the Parc de Champagne, in Reims. Champagne vineyards Comite Champagne is unique to the Champagne region and is a protected appellation (AOC); recognised in more than 130 countries worldwide (although not, surprisingly in the United States). It is so highly prized that a special committee controls every aspect of the sparkling drink from how many grapes are grown in the region and when they'll be harvested, to the number of bottles that are to be sold each year. Since 1941, the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne) has promoted the common interests of Champagne houses and growers and ensured the wine has retained its prized status globally. The Comité records all transactions, track the movement, manage the reserve and protect the appellation against counterfeit products. Champagne grand cru sparkling wine production in bottles in rows in dark underground cellars, Reims, Champagne, France getty But Champagne is not just simply prized and enjoyed thanks to the efforts of the Comité but because of the unique qualities of the actual product itself, created every year by over 16,000 winegrowers from grapes harvested by hand by 120,000 pickers. The cool climate and unique terroir (chalk soil) where the three main grape varieties are grown (Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Meunier) contribute to the wine's unique flavors. Champagne has long been associated with special occasions, joyful moments, success and positivity. As Charles Dickens said: 'Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life.' View of the Avenue de Champagne, Épernay, France getty The wine of Kings and the King of wines The Champagne vineyards date back to Roman times when they were planted in the 5th century (or possibly even earlier). From 816 to 1825, France's royalty was crowned in Champagne's Reims Cathedral, where Champagne was the prized drink of coronation banquets and it was customary to gift these wines to any royalty visiting the region. This has included British royals since the 17th century when King Charles II first enjoyed the sparkling wine while Queen Victoria was the first British monarch to issue royal warrants to Champagne producers. So Champagne came to be known as the wine of coronations and referred to as "the wine of Kings and the King of wines.' Champagne's revered reputation was so firmly established by the twentieth century that even Winston Churchill famously said to motivate his troops, "Remember gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne." Today, the UK is Champagne's second biggest export market (after the United States) in volume and in value. And although the wine became the drink of Royalty, in Champagne today, you'll find it in most households throughout the region. In fact, Champagne makers will tell you that in the region, Champagne is 'vin de pays' — nothing pretentious, easy drinking and not just for special occasions. Reims,France - Storage of bottles of champagne getty Champagne houses, Cooperatives and Growers to Visit There are 16,200 winegrowers in Champagne, 130 Cooperatives and 370 Champagne houses that produced 271.4 million bottles of Champagne in 2024. Many are open to visit. The Avenue de Champagne in Epernay is a great place to start. Many of the well known Champagne Houses including Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët and Pol Roger are located here and offer tastings and tours and of course, the option to buy bottles. Also, there's an excellent shop, Trésors de Champagne, that offers a wide selection of Champagnes, starting as low as 18 euros a bottle, some of which you can try by the glass. After experiencing Champagne Avenue, venture out to some of the houses and growers including these five that will give you a good range of Champagne styles from large and medium houses to small, independent growers. Champagne Pommery was founded in Reims in 1836 by Monsieurs Alexandre Louis Pommery and Narcisse Greno. Initially, the company focused on wool production before moving into Champagne. But it was the genius of Madame Louise Pommery who not only created the first vintage "brut" Champagne in 1874 but greatly expanded the business with production increasing from 300,000 bottles to 3 million. Today, the house sells around six million bottles annually and stores 25 million in reserve in its cellars. It has an impressive visitor offering with extensive tours in 18 kilometers of Roman cellars, various tasting packages and a lovely Art Nouveau villa to visit. And since 2003, Pommery has had ambitious annual art exhibitions in the cellars. Champagne Besseraat de Bellefon, founded in 1843 in Epernay, is a medium size house, producing 700,000 bottles a year. They use the Meunier grape, the only indigenous grape to Champagne and using a unique process and less sugar results in a unique taste and bubbles that are 30 percent finer than other Champagnes. The house has a shop and you can stay on site in one of three lovely suites. Champagne Vincent d'Astrée, launched in 1956 in Pierry, is a cooperative of five families buying from 170 growers. It has a lovely tasting room and offers a cellar tour where you can see the world's largest Champagne flute (160 bottles are required to fill it). It's a boutique operation headed by a female winemaker and produces 50,000 bottles a year consisting of 4 vintage and 4 non-vintage. Champagne Jacquart in Reims opened in 1964 and today has a stellar signature collection (all aged at least 3 years) ranging in price from 38 to 130 euros. You can buy these from their shop and try the wines by the glass on their charming terrace, including the priciest Alpha 2014, just released this summer. Christian Muller is a small grower in Mailly Champagne that produces 20 -25,000 bottles a year of 4 different Champagnes, all excellent. Their stunning new terrace above their shop overlooks their own vineyards and is an idyllic spot for a tasting. Where to Stay and Eat in Champagne Notre-Dame de Reims, Listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO getty A good base for a visit to the region is Hotel Margaux, a new 4-star property in Epernay with 27 elegant rooms and suites. Unsurprisingly, visitors are spoiled for choice of excellent restaurants. Table Kobus in Epernay is a fantastic bistro with four prix fixe options with French classics like Foie Gras and duck magret. For an upscale dining experience, La Brasserie Le Jardin is in the beautiful grounds of Le Domaine les Crayeres in Reims. Chef Christophe Moret offers a seasonal, local menu a la carte or prix fixe. And while in Reims, be sure to visit the magnificent Cathédrale de Reims. Rotisserie Henri IV in Ay offers a casual outdoor dining experience with daily specials like roast chicken and various salads. Top tips for the perfect Champagne serve Tasting of brut and demi-sec white champagne sparkling wine from special flute glasses getty The recommended serving temperature is between 8 and 10°C. To chill a bottle of Champagne, place in an ice bucket filled half with water and half with ice, 30 minutes before serving. Or chill at the bottom of the fridge a few hours before opening. When opening a bottle of Champagne, start by removing the wire cage and its foil cap. Keep a firm grip on the cork and be sure not to point the bottle at anyone. Next, still keeping a firm hold on the cork, hold the bottle by the body and rotate it gently, removing the cork from the neck without letting it escape. When serving, do not hold the person's glass when pouring. As glamorous as it looks, the coupe is not the best glass for Champagne. Choose a fairly tall and tulip-shaped – bulbous at the bottom glass to give the bubbles enough room to develop but which tapers at the top to fully concentrate the aromas.

Travel Weekly
a day ago
- Travel Weekly
From solar eclipses to Mississippi cruises, Smithsonian Journeys unveils new trips
Smithsonian Journeys has unveiled new itineraries for 2026 and 2027, featuring land-based tours, special solar eclipse trips and small-ship cruises, including on the Mississippi River. The tour operator is expanding its tour collection, including to the Balkans and Greece. Smithsonian Journeys is also leaning into the astrotourism trend with itineraries dedicated to observing the skies and will offer a river cruise in the U.S. The brand will debut "Baltics Past and Present: A Journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia," an 18-day itinerary launching in May that takes travelers to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. There, travelers will explore historic sites, visit castles and see World Heritage-listed towns. The "Greek Odyssey: Athens to Corfu" itinerary will bring travelers across Greece in 14 days, where they will visit the birthplace of democracy, the island of Corfu and places like Delphi, known for being an ancient sanctuary in Greece. Other new itineraries are to Switzerland and the American West. Tapping into the astrotourism trend, Smithsonian Journeys will offer two itineraries next year dedicated to celestial wonders after seeing a spike in interest in solar eclipse tours. The brand will offer "Solar Eclipse Over Spain -- Basque Country to León," an eight-day itinerary with one departure date beginning Aug. 8, where travelers will witness the total solar eclipse in northern Spain. Visitors will also explore Madrid and World Heritage sites. This itinerary is already proving to be one of the most popular with travelers, the tour operator said. "Chile Earth and Sky: A Stargazing Journey from Santiago to the Atacama Desert" will offer two departure dates next year and one departure date in 2027. The 12-day itinerary dives into astronomy in northern Chile, including trips to observatories. Smithsonian Journeys will launch two new small-ship cruises, one next year and one in 2027. Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant will offer a joint expedition cruise to the Baja Peninsula next year. Photo Credit: Smithsonian Journeys "Cruising the Mississippi: A Springtime Voyage from Memphis to New Orleans" will take passengers on a nine-day trip of the Mississippi River on the American Splendor paddlewheeler. Passengers will visit Southern cities, battlefields and plantations. The "Baja and the Sea of Cortez" itinerary is a joint offering between Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant Exploration. The 2027 expedition cruise on Pnant's Le Bellot will last 11 days, bringing passengers to the Baja Peninsula, where they will watch grey whales, snorkel with sea lions and hike dunes. The tour operator also revealed its top 10 journeys for 2026, which "reflect an appetite for discovery," the brand said. These popular itineraries are to Japan, Italy, Egypt, Central Asia, Spain, Turkiye, Switzerland, Greece and France.

Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Disney Cruise Line raises key onboard fees
Although Disney Cruise Line vacations are known to be a pricier type of cruise, the cruise line recently made a popular move to help make the upfront cost of booking a Disney cruise more manageable for families. Slashing its required booking deposit in half, Disney Cruise Line reduced the standard deposit amount due at the time of booking from 20% to 10% of the cruise fare (before taxes, fees, and port expenses). Related: Disney cruiser shares genius money-saving hack any cruiser can use Coupled with flexible cruise payment options, the new deposit policy makes it easier for Disney cruise passengers to pay for their cruise over time and avoid paying a large lump sum at once. Many Disney Cruise Line passengers book their cruises 15-18 months in advance in order to secure the best price, and the most desirable ship, itinerary, and stateroom type, so making smaller cruise payments in installments over time often works well for them. But while booking a Disney cruise just got more affordable upfront, some experiences on Disney cruise ships are now getting more expensive. Disney Cruise Line is increasing the prices for its adult-exclusive specialty dining restaurants, which include Palo, Remy, and Enchanté. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. When dining at Palo, Remy, or Enchanté on a Disney cruise, passengers skip their regularly scheduled, rotational main dining restaurant that's included with their cruise fare, opting for one of these premium dining experiences available for an extra charge. These elegant adult dining experiences come with a pretty hefty price tag, and now passengers will pay even more to enjoy the popular add-on meals during their Disney cruise vacation. The cruise line is beginning to roll out new enhancements to these specialty dining experiences that will bring with them price increases of $5 to $10 per person, according to Disney Cruise Line Blog, an unofficial Disney Cruise Line news blog. Related: Savvy Disney vacationers use this service to save big on trips At Palo and Palo Steakhouse restaurants across the fleet, which serve Italian cuisine in an intimate setting, prices for brunch and prix fixe dinner options will increase by $5 to $55 per person. Prices for adults-only dining experiences at Remy, a French fine dining restaurant on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, will rise by $5 to $10 per person. The cost for the Remy Champagne Brunch will go up by $5 to $85, the Remy Dessert Experience will increase by $5 to $70, and the prix fixe Remy Dinner will rise by $10 to $145. Additionally, prices for Enchanté, the gourmet French restaurant inspired by "Beauty and the Beast," which is featured on the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and upcoming Disney Destiny cruise ship, will rise by $10. The standard price for Enchanté Lunch and Enchanté Dinner will increase to $145 per person. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. The new pricing for adult-exclusive dining has already rolled out to the Disney Wish and Treasure. Prices for the Disney Dream's dining experiences will increase on June 26, followed by the Disney Magic on June 27, and the Disney Wonder on June 30 (with the exception of Australia/New Zealand sailings). Passengers sailing on the Disney Fantasy will not see specialty dining prices rise just yet. The new pricing will take effect on the Disney Fantasy on Nov. 16 with its first cruise from Port Canaveral after returning from Europe. Related: 3 Disney Cruise Line tips and tricks you probably don't know If you haven't already booked specialty dining reservations for your Disney cruise and are sailing on one of the ships that hasn't yet introduced the new pricing, you can avoid the additional cost by making your reservation prior to the price change. Passengers who already had their reservations booked for a future cruise prior to the price change will not be charged the higher prices. Disney Cruise Line will honor the original booking price in these cases. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved