Cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot

Le Commandant Charcot can accommodate a maximum of 245 guests. The 123 staterooms and suites, all with balconies, are spread across three decks. 

Le Commandant Charcot is the first and only polar exploration ship with hybrid electric/liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion. This hybrid propulsion system helps limit the environmental impact while meeting the highest maritime safety standards. Her PC2 ice class hull enables to operate in extreme ice conditions. Scientific research into polar ecosystems is conducted using the ship’s two onboard laboratories. 

The polar exploration ship Le Commandant Charcot sails in regions inaccessible to conventional cruise ships. Her PC2 ice class hull enables her to navigate multi-year ice and make her way through the pack ice. The Captain and First Officer are specially trained in ice navigation. Every year, several cruises set course for the geographic North Pole (90° North latitude). In Greenland, the ship reaches remote Inuit villages as the Arctic winter draws to a close, as well as the unexplored pack ice of the north-east, home to polar bears. In Antarctica, Le Commandant Charcot sails in the Weddell Sea and Bellingshausen Sea and along the Larsen Ice Shelves in search of emperor penguins. 

Designed to sail in the most inaccessible regions of the planet, Le Commandant Charcot has achieved several world firsts. 

• First French ship to reach the geographic North Pole (90° North latitude) in September 2021; she has been taking guests there every year since July 2022, 

• First ship in the world to reach the southernmost navigable latitude: 78°44.3’S, in the Ross Sea, in February 2022, 

• First passenger ship to venture into Pine Island Bay, at the south-eastern end of the Amundsen Sea, during the first-ever half-circumnavigation of the Atlantic, in February 2023. At more than 14,400 km, this was one of the longest expedition voyages ever undertaken, both in distance and duration, 

• First cruise ship to navigate the McClure Strait at the mouth of the Beaufort Sea in Canada's Northwest Territories, in September 2022, 

• First cruise ship to navigate the St Lawrence River in the heart of the northern winter, in 2025, 

• First cruise ship scheduled to offer an exclusive 60-day circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent, in 2028. 

Le Commandant Charcot is also one of the few expedition ships designed as a platform for scientific research, with two onboard laboratories capable of accommodating researchers. Through PONANT Science, PONANT EXPLORATIONS supports observation programmes in the most remote polar regions, generating data collections and numerous scientific publications. 

Guests aboard Le Commandant Charcot can enjoy the following facilities: 

• two restaurants, including the only Alain Ducasse fine-dining restaurant at sea, 

• three bars, 

• a large lounge, a Cigar Lounge and an observation lounge with library, 

• an indoor pool and the Blue Lagoon, a heated outdoor pool with views, 

• a wellness area with spa (sauna, snow cabin, massage rooms, hair salon and detox bar) and fitness room,  

• a boutique and photo studio. 

Whenever weather and sea and ice conditions permit, Zodiac excursions, sea-kayaking trips, landings on the pack ice, hikes on foot or on snowshoes, and even dog-sledding excursions are organised by the Expedition Leader, their team of naturalist guides, or local guides in the High North.  

Members of the expedition team give lectures on board about glaciology, marine mammals and the history of great explorations, sharing their knowledge of the polar environment with guests.  

The abundant polar wildlife — orcas, whales, seals, seabirds, polar bears in the Arctic and penguins in Antarctica — can be observed from the Zodiacs or the ship’s outdoor decks. 

More adventurous guests can even take on the challenge of a polar plunge without a wetsuit! 

Cruises aboard Le Commandant Charcot are ideal for travellers who enjoy a sense of adventure and the exclusivity of destinations that are extremely difficult to reach by other means. 

Children must be over eight years old to take part in these cruises; some staterooms are connecting, making them suitable for families.  

The ship’s high-end amenities make for a particularly comfortable stay, even in the most extreme regions.  

A doctor and nurse are available on board to deal with initial medical emergencies, and the ship is equipped with a medical facility for minor surgery. 

However, guests whose health requires special precautions should be aware of the remote nature of some of the regions visited and the lack of specialised medical facilities there. These guests are advised to consult their doctor before considering travelling.