Ponant Explorations and AmaWaterways have joined forces to host an exclusive series of trade events across Australia in collaboration with Smithsonian Journeys through the Smithsonian Voyages collection.
Titled “A Night at the Museum”, the bespoke events take place in some of Australia’s leading cultural institutions, offering travel advisors an atmospheric and highly relevant setting to discover these enriching ocean and river cruise experiences.
Designed exclusively for the travel trade, the events invite advisors to “step into a world of discovery” and explore how Smithsonian Journeys enhances their clients’ travel through expert-led, immersive itineraries across both brands.
The east coast roadshow includes:
- Melbourne: Tuesday 12 May 2026, ACMI – Swinburne Studio, Federation Square
- Sydney: Wednesday 13 May 2026, Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
- Brisbane: Thursday 14 May 2026, Queensland Museum Kurilpa, South Bank
Each event runs from 5:45pm to 7:45pm featuring a welcome reception, keynote speakers and an exclusive curated experience aligned with the spirit of Smithsonian Voyages.
An Auckland event is also set to be confirmed further extending the reach of the initiative across the region.
Pipeline of product
Importantly for travel advisors, Ponant Explorations and AmaWaterways currently offer a combined total of more than 121 Smithsonian voyages departures giving advisors a substantial pipeline of bookable product across both expedition and river cruising. Full details can be explored on the website or browsing through Explorations & Smithsonian Journeys’ latest brochure online.
“This collaboration brings together two leaders in culturally immersive travel to deliver something truly compelling for Australian travel advisors,” Ponant Explorations head of sales APAC Julie Rogers said. “Hosting these events within museum environments allows us to reflect the very essence of Smithsonian Voyages, where every journey is enriched by knowledge, storytelling and discovery.”
As an added incentive, attendees at each event go into the draw to win a Smithsonian Voyage with either AmaWaterways or PONANT Explorations, reinforcing both brands’ commitment to supporting and rewarding their trade partners. With demand growing for more meaningful, experience-led travel, the Smithsonian Voyages portfolio offers advisors a powerful point of difference combining luxury cruising with access to world-renowned experts, historians and cultural specialists.
Travel advisors are encouraged to register early via the official invitation link, as capacity is limited at each event. Full details and registration are available on the website.
