Give or treat yourself to a cruise: The gift of an unforgettable trip

Because, when you want to please yourself or yourself, you have to know how to choose the unique gift, which is sure to please and which will remain an unforgettable memory. And offering or treating yourself to a cruise trip is ideal for marking unique occasions or important events.

That's why, for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary, my sister and I decided to give them a cruise for their wedding anniversary.

Making our parents happy during an exceptional trip on a luxury cruise was definitely the best gift we could give them.

Yes, but here it is: Which destination, which type of cruise and which company, which cruise line to choose?

These are the questions we had to ask ourselves to choose the perfect cruise ! But as we'll see below, the answers differ depending on whether you're giving a cruise as a gift or treating yourself…

Offer a cruise

Just like me for a wedding anniversary or to celebrate an important event, you can choose to offer a cruise. But be careful, we do not offer people we love and value any cruise or the first promotion you find on the Internet. So here are some tips if you have to choose and book a cruise to really please a couple of friends, your parents, your children ...

Offer a cruise - Which destination?

To choose a destination that is close but offers a change of scenery, is culturally rich but affordable, has varied and enchanting landscapes, and enjoys a favorable climate all year round, I chose the Mediterranean .

Furthermore, the Mediterranean Sea has been the cradle of many great civilizations that have shaped history (Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, etc.) and left behind an exceptional architectural and cultural heritage throughout the Mediterranean basin. A Mediterranean cruise offers the opportunity to discover many of these diverse and historical sites (Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Sicily, etc.).

And finally, in terms of stopovers, the Mediterranean offers a maximum of possibilities of visits: Ajaccio, Alexandria, Alicante, Brindisi, Cadiz, Almeria, Amalfi, Antalya, Antibes, Aqaba, Athens, Bandol, Barcelona, Bastia, Bilbao, Naples , Bodrum, Bonifacio, the Cyclades, Calvi, Capri, Catania, Rome, Elba, Ephesus, etc ...

Offer a cruise - What type of cruise?

Mediterranean cruise offers abound in tour operator catalogues and on the Internet , but they all seem identical (same itineraries, same activities, same visits and excursions…).

No, I had no desire to offer a Costa or MSC-type cruise which, in my opinion, all have flaws (mass tourism, pollution, exploitation of on-board staff, etc.)!

I preferred to choose a different style of cruise: Discover the Mediterranean aboard a Ponant cruise ship

In fact, to find the ideal cruise to offer, here are the main qualities that it had to fulfill:

A cruise that allows you to travel, see beautiful landscapes, make cultural discoveries while leaving time to relax and enjoy a certain luxury and pleasures of the Mediterranean ...
A cruise on a human scale that emphasizes meeting and exchanging with the populations, which allows you to discover cultures and traditions in a different way ...
A cruise with an original itinerary that goes off the beaten track.
A cruise with unusual stopovers, carefully selected for their tourist interest and so that the travel experience is rich and intense.

Choose a cruise - Why Ponant?

For its catalog and its services

First of all, the cruises offered by Ponant, and in particular the thematic cruises, perfectly match my cruising style and my travel quality requirements (see above);
Their ships are on a human scale and offer a privileged atmosphere;
They provide top-of-the-range service;
They offer original excursions.

For its values and respect for the environment

But what also made the difference was Ponant's commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism . Through concrete actions (respect for the communities visited, for ecosystems, abandonment of heavy fuel oil, environmental impact studies, limitation of the average speed of ships, etc.), Ponant is doing everything to minimize the ecological footprint of its cruises.

Moreover, Ponant has been recognized as the most environmentally friendly maritime cruise company by the NGO NABU (a benchmark institution for ecology in Europe).

At the same time, they created the PONANT Foundation, the objective of which is to preserve the oceans and poles and to promote exchanges between peoples (support for innovative initiatives carried out by researchers, NGOs, start-ups or companies for the preservation oceans…).

Treat yourself to the cruise of your life

If, like me, you want to experience a unique cruise that will be the cruise of your life or for a honeymoon , then of course you will not have to choose the same type of cruise.

Indeed, even if I were to choose Ponant for an exceptional cruise, I would not go to the Mediterranean but I would choose one of the most beautiful destinations in the world!

mediterranean france © PONANT Philip Plisson 2

Cruise of a lifetime - What destination?

For a cruise in an idyllic setting or in a confidential environment, the Seychelles , Alaska , Antarctica or French Polynesia (Tahiti, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas) are exceptional travel destinations.

What can be said about the Solomon Islands , the Vanuatu archipelago or Papua New Guinea, which transport travelers to the heart of incredible tropical landscapes, along paradisiacal beaches or immersed in wild mangroves…

Whether as a wedding gift, a self-organized honeymoon , or simply for the trip of a lifetime , a cruise to these distant lands represents a unique and unforgettable experience in a lifetime.