I was fortunate enough to be invited as a guest on Ponant’s L’Austral for Celebrating America’s 250th: An Exploration of History and Culture, from 6–13 October 2026, sailing from Halifax to Baltimore.
Lobster Rolls in Halifax
Eating a lobster roll in Halifax, their staple food, was a special moment. They also have a drink called a Caesar, which is similar to a Bloody Mary, but instead of tomato juice they use Clamato juice (a blend of tomato juice and clam broth).
Martin Luther King III on Board
Definitely a highlight was attending the lecture by Martin Luther King III. He is carrying on the message of unity and peace of his father and mother, and having him on board was very personal.
A sculpture in a Boston park, entitled “The Embrace”, is set where his parents met on their first date.
Other lectures on board, about the American Revolution and the history of architecture, were also interesting.
Sailing into New York
Sailing into New York City at dawn with the music of New York, New York on deck was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and I admit I was a little emotional. This great city was inviting us to come on in and soak it up, which we did!
Autumn on the East Coast
Another special moment was seeing the East Coast of Canada and the USA as the autumn season was starting. We were a little early, but it was lovely to see the colours of the leaves changing, and I can only imagine what it would look like a couple of weeks later.
Seeing the cities of Halifax, Boston, Newport, Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore from their ports as we arrived and departed provided a different aspect to the cities I had previously been to.
Life on Board L’Austral
L’Austral is a lovely ship with a luxe feel that carries up to 226 passengers. However, there are often fewer than this number due to the high number of single passengers on board.
Ponant are experts at offering fabulous solo rates that other cruise companies cannot come close to, and many passengers we met on board were on their fourth or fifth Ponant cruise. Ponant also offer discounts for past passengers.
I loved the feel of a small ship, where everything feels intimate and close. Being small did not mean lacking in facilities though. We enjoyed the spa for massages and hairdos and the gym for morning exercise classes. The pool was heated, so it was a great place to escape even on a cold day.
The Cabins
The cabins are very spacious and 95 per cent of them have balconies. They are very well equipped, and even having been confined to my cabin for a day with seasickness, I managed well. Having a balcony and allowing fresh air in is always good.
The Food
I expected the food to be typically French, however the menu had a very international feel, even with some Asian influence at times. The choice of à la carte or buffet gave us an option each day as to how we would dine, and the food was plentiful and delicious. On one occasion we had a seafood buffet lunch out on deck, which was very special.
Newport and the Gilded Age
The itinerary was well thought out and the local tours were particularly interesting. Visiting the Vanderbilt Mansion in Newport was incredible. Seeing the vast wealth of these people and their showcasing of it in their homes led to the title of “the gilded age”.
Newport is a lovely town in Rhode Island (which is not an island), where the homes are beautiful and well maintained on large estates. Walking along the waterfront and looking back at some of these mansions was a great experience.
The 9/11 Museum
We visited the 9/11 Museum in New York. Although I had been there before, it was just as interesting and sad this time, as there were many exhibits I had not seen previously. It’s definitely something to go back to, and also to reflect.
Four Nights in New York
At the end of our itinerary in Baltimore, we caught a train to New York for four nights. Staying downtown was a good decision, right in Little Italy and bordering Chinatown. Our hotel had wonderful skyline views, both from the balcony of our room and the rooftop.
We saw Harry Potter on Broadway, hired bicycles and rode around Central Park, and ice skated at the Rockefeller Centre. We did not miss out on the shops on Fifth Avenue either. The Louis Vuitton shop is incredible. New York is always exciting and I can’t wait to get back there.
