PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP Introduces Sister Brand Status Match

PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP is making it easier for cruisers who have tried one of its brands to try the others without losing any of their loyalty status benefits through a new status match initiative.

The status match brings both of the company’s loyalty programs – PONANT Yacht Club (PONANT, Paul Gauguin, and PONANT Yachting) and Circolo Aqua (Aqua Expeditions) – under one framework, giving guests access to reciprocal benefits on a sister brand they might never have sailed before.

For Circolo Aqua members, this means access to tier-matched privileges when booking with PONANT brands, including additional onboard credits of up to 50 euros per person (approximately $55 USD), priority services, and dedicated support from the PONANT Reservations team. Circolo Aqua members will enjoy these benefits from their first sailing with PONANT, maintaining their status tier across future voyages. 

Circolo Aqua Members will be matched to their respective PONANT Yacht Club tiers as follows: 

• Navigator → Major
• Explorer → Admiral
• Legend → Grand Admiral 

To enjoy these benefits when sailing with PONANT EXPLORATIONS Group, advisors must identify their clients as Circolo Aqua members and provide their Circolo Aqua status when making a booking, a dedicated team will assist in applying the respective status match.  

PONANT Yacht Club Members will be matched to their respective Circolo Aqua tiers as follows: 

• Major → Navigator
• Admiral, Grand Admiral → Explorer
• Commodore → Legend 

Depending on the matched tier, guests will receive the allocated Circolo Aqua loyalty benefits accordingly. In addition, guests will also receive $50 of onboard credits on their first sailing.

To enjoy these benefits on an Aqua Expeditions cruise, guests (or their travel advisors on their behalf) must first obtain their Circolo Status equivalence by contacting the Aqua Expeditions team via the contact form. Once guests have achieved their Circolo Aqua status, they will earn Miles on eligible bookings, calculated based on the applicable earn rate and their share of the booking value. Accumulated Miles will allow guests to reach higher status levels and unlock additional benefits.