Following its January 2025 acquisition of Aqua Expeditions, PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP has confirmed it will bring its brands under a single guest-experience strategy with the introduction of a comprehensive Status Match initiative across all loyalty programs.
While PONANT EXPLORATIONS, Paul Gauguin Cruises and PONANT Yachting have shared a unified loyalty program, the PONANT Yacht Club, Aqua Expeditions has its own program, Circolo Aqua, which launched in September 2025.
With the new initiative, the Group aims to streamline membership recognition and create what it describes as a harmonised, cross-brand loyalty framework “offering guests enhanced recognition and benefits across the Group’s brands.”
“Uniting our loyalty programs under one framework ensures our guests are recognised and rewarded seamlessly across all PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP brands,” Deb Corbett, CEO Asia Pacific, said. “This Status Match initiative strengthens the value we offer our most loyal travellers and reflects our commitment to providing an elevated and consistent guest experience.”
As part of the announcement, Aqua Expeditions confirmed that its Circolo Aqua members will now gain access to PONANT Yacht Club benefits through tier-matched status. Now, Circolo Aqua members will receive “additional onboard credits of up to EUR 50 per person, priority services and dedicated support from the PONANT Reservations team,” with benefits available from their first sailing with PONANT.
Tier matching will align Circolo Aqua members as follows: Navigator → Major, Explorer → Admiral, and Legend → Grand Admiral. Members need only identify their existing status when booking, after which the reservations team will apply the respective status match.
The initiative also works in reverse, with PONANT Yacht Club members gaining access to Circolo Aqua status levels. Matches will apply as follows: Major → Navigator, Admiral, Grand Admiral → Explorer, and Commodore → Legend. Depending on the tier, guests will receive Circolo Aqua loyalty benefits, as well as US$50 of onboard credits on their first sailing.
