The Port of Baltimore welcomed Ponant Explorations’ L’Austral for the first time on October 13, 2026, according to Cruise Maryland.

Local authorities and ship officers hosted a special welcome ceremony onboard to commemorate the inaugural visit of the 260-passenger vessel.

During the event, Maryland Port Administration Interim Executive Director Samantha Biddle presented Captain Nicolas Jouslin de Noray with an engraved ship’s wheel.

The luxury vessel visited Baltimore as part of a special voyage celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

As reported by Cruise Industry News, the commemorative seven-night cruise started in Halifax before ending in Maryland.

The sailing was said to take a diverse approach to exploring U.S. history, honoring the cultural tapestry and contributions of all those who have shaped it.

Martin Luther King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, were onboard earlier in the journey to participate in discussions about American history, civil rights and the King family’s legacy.

Before arriving in Baltimore, L’Austral also visited other ports on the East Coast, including Boston, Newport, New York City and Philadelphia.

The expedition ship is now scheduled to offer itineraries in South America before kicking off its 2026-27 season in Antarctica.

After departing from Maryland with no guests, the vessel is scheduled to operate a trans-Canal cruise from Panama later this month. The ten-night itinerary will sail from Colón to Callao, a port located near Lima in Peru.

L’Austral will also operate other cruises to Chile and Argentina before arriving in Antarctica in late November.

In addition to regular visits by its homeporting ships from Royal Caribbean and Carnival, Baltimore will welcome the AIDAdiva for a transit call in late October.

Serving the German market, the AIDA Cruises vessel will visit Maryland as part of a 12-night itinerary to destinations in the United States and Canada.