Everything you need to know about Ponant Explorations' luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot

19 May 2025by Charlotte Cullinan

PARTNER CONTENT

Travellers can follow in the footsteps of the great polar explorers and head to the remotest parts of the world with Ponant Explorations’ Le Commandant Charcot.

Charlotte Cullinan

Content writer

Ponant Explorations' Le Commandant Charcot. Credit: Studio Ponant/Olivier Blaud

When designing Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant Explorations set out to create a vessel that could venture further afield, to places where “few others dare to go”. The ship is capable of sailing to some of the planet’s most inaccessible regions, helmed by seasoned captains with extensive expertise in ice navigation.

In the Arctic, its destinations include the North Pole, and it is one of the few passenger vessels in the world capable of reaching 90° North Greenland. Its programme also includes a trans-arctic between two of the four north poles, and Antarctica, including the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula.

Facilities and excursions

Onboard guests enjoy an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, conservatory, panoramic restaurant, Main Lounge, Observation Lounge and lobby. Each shared space has been designed to convey discreet French-style luxury, with a focus on natural light and open spaces, which let the extraordinary polar landscapes take centre stage.

When they leave the ship, customers are immersed in polar experiences such as kayaking, snowshoeing, polar plunges, zodiac excursions and dog sledding, which vary by the cruise and itinerary.

Ponant Explorations' guests can visit Hanusse Bay in Antarctica. Credit: Studio Ponant/Olivier Blaud

Suites and staterooms

Carrying up to 245 guests, Le Commandant Charcot boasts 123 suites and staterooms, each boasting a private balcony or terrace, meaning your customers will feel as though they are sailing on a private yacht.

The aft of decks six and seven feature four 94-square-meter, split-level suites with private terraces and Jacuzzis.

On deck eight, the 115-square-metre Suite de l’Armateur (Shipowner’s Suite) offers panoramic views through expansive sliding glass doors that open onto a 186-square-metre private terrace.

Culinary excellence

This is also the only vessel to feature a gastronomic restaurant curated by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, meaning your clients can have an exquisite dining experience in the heart of the polar regions. The menu features healthy, refined and elegant dishes, while a second restaurant and a grill also serve wholesome, gourmet fare.

Environmental stewardship

This hybrid-electric polar exploration vessel is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), meaning it excels in safe and low-impact polar navigation.

Le Commandant Charcot is the world’s first passenger ship with a Polar Class 2 (PC2) ice-strengthened hull, allowing it to navigate drifting sea ice and reach the most remote and isolated regions, when conditions permit.

Protecting polar ecosystems and coastal sea ice remains a top priority for the team, who focus on more responsible exploration, which they believe hinges on “expertise, innovation, humility before nature, collaboration with local communities and a commitment to minimal environmental impact.”

Ponant takes guests to the Kuummiit settlement in south-eastern Greenland. Credit: Studio Ponant/Violette Vauchelle

Top itineraries

For the 2026/27 winter season, Le Commandant Charcot returns to the Arctic. With 16 departures available between October 2026 to March 2027, here are some of the itineraries to tempt your clients with, allowing them to feel the thrill of the first explorers:

Polar Nights: From the North Cape to Spitsbergen
This 11-day voyage takes explorers above the Arctic Circle during the long polar night. Passengers will explore fjords and glaciers, visit the North Cape, meet local communities, and will have the possibility to observe whales, seals and seabirds, and search for the Northern Lights.

Polar Lights: From North Cape to the Lofoten Islands
Travelling along Norway’s wild northern coast, travellers will witness the start of the Northern Lights season, immersing themselves in dramatic landscapes and enjoying authentic encounters with the Sami people on this nine-day sailing.

Autumn Splendours: From Lofoten to the Norwegian Fjords
This 14-day voyage takes in the pristine Lofoten archipelago and majestic fjords. Guests will explore Scandinavian architecture, from Bergen's Hanseatic heritage to Alesund's Art Nouveau charm.

The Gulf of Bothnia, at the Gateway to the Arctic

Between Sweden and Finland, under the glow of the polar night, travellers will enjoy snowshoeing and visiting a reindeer farm in Oulu, along with trips to historic towns like Unesco-listed Rauma, on this nine-day sailing.

From the North Sea to the Baltic
This 11-day journey spans five countries and three capitals, with an overnight mooring opposite Stockholm’s Old Town. Guests will enjoy inspiring landscapes and vibrant Nordic culture.

Baltic Bliss & Winter Wonders
Over 10 days guests will celebrate local traditions as Baltic cities light up for the holiday season. They’ll visit Scandinavian and Baltic towns with rich heritages, with time for music, cultural events and gourmet treats.

The St Lawrence River in the Heart of the Boreal Winter
This 15-day unique winter itinerary round-trip from Quebec to the icebound La Baie Fjord (Saguenay), features untouched landscapes and warm welcomes from the Innu and Mi'kmaq peoples.

From the St Lawrence to Greenland, the Last Moments of Winter
From Canada’s snowy boreal forests to Greenland’s ice-filled fjords, guests will discover a magical transition from winter to spring, highlighted by cultural exchanges with the Mikmaq and Inuit, on this 15-day sailing.

And coming up in 2028...

Le Commandant Charcot to complete a full circumnavigation of Antarctica in 2028 – A world first for her category

Between January and March 2028, Ponant Explorations’ luxury icebreaker will embark on a full circumnavigation of the White Continent, charting a course across nearly 18,000 kilometres of Antarctic coastline – which is larger than Europe.

Le Commandant Charcot will depart Ushuaia (Argentina) westward for Hobart (Tasmania). After a brief stopover, the ship will sail eastward back to Ushuaia via Antarctica’s eastern coast over 34 days.