The first expedition cruise ship in its class delivers you to the heart of the icy frontiers, a privilege reserved for the very few
It’s not every day that a luxury small ship breaks a record. But that’s exactly what Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot did on February 27, 2022, when it brought our guests to 78˚44.3’ South. That’s the closest geographic latitude to the South Pole that any polar expedition ship of its kind has ever reached. And we could not be prouder. You can be sure that bubbly flowed and glasses were raised to commemorate the milestone. The moment did, after all, echo another historic event. Back on December 14, 1911, the famed expedition led by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen stepped ashore from these very same metallic-blue waters of the Bay of Whales – surrounded by ice shelves rising hundreds of feet – to begin their long journey to the South Pole.
Of course, Amundsen lacked the luxuries of Le Commandant Charcot. And he certainly could not have imagined another innovation about our revolutionary vessel: It’s the first hybrid-electric deep polar exploration ship powered by liquefied natural gas. Free of fumes and particulate emissions, it’s been “clean-ship” certified – as green as luxury vessels get. Little wonder it took us six years to build this incredible vessel.
Setting navigational records … protecting the natural environment with breakthrough technology. This is only the beginning of how Le Commandant Charcot is redefining luxury polar cruising. As we look ahead, we have our eye on uncovering the mysteries of the North and South Poles.
Where Intimacy and Luxury Converge
This luxury expedition ship was inspired by the icy regions it explores. Every inch was conceived to magnify the polar environment, bringing the drama and magnificence of your destination inside. With intentionally set sight lines, vast windows, expansive observation areas, an uninterrupted promenade deck and a private balcony or terrace in every cabin, the gleaming white landscapes around you are ever-visible.
Throughout, refined elegance, simplicity and off-white and neutral tones mirror the starkly beautiful, wide-open serenity of the poles. As for outdoor spaces, stepping out to inhale the pure, chilly polar air has never been so inviting, with ample al fresco temptations to keep you warm. The “hot spring” feel of our Blue Lagoon pools, warming benches along the promenade deck and a giant firepit help you indulge in these great outdoors. (Not incidentally, all are heated using an efficient energy recovery system.)
Speaking of indulgence, luxurious spaces provide soothing respites and chances to pamper yourself. Choose a fine cigar and scotch in the Cigar Lounge. Retreat to the spa for an invigorating sauna and snow-room treatment. Relax by the indoor pool as polar landscapes drift by outside panoramic windows. Savor lunch in the outdoor Braséro, the magnificent blues of sea and sky serving as your expansive dining room. And bathe in the natural light pouring into the atrium from its immense skylight as breathtaking artwork and soothing music surround you. What’s more, every meal is an elegant delight, prepared at the first Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea, where a medley of culinary masterworks is artfully created to please all your senses.
Explore the Polar Caps in Our Laboratory at Sea
With its unique and thrilling polar cruise itineraries and its second-to-none amenities, Le Commandant Charcot is a cruising privilege reserved for the very few. And there’s something else that sets it apart: the onboard open-air laboratories that invite you to contribute to the polar research that is shaping our understanding of these largely unexplored ecosystems.
Researchers have uncovered just a fraction of the knowledge hidden in and around the poles. Scientific expeditions to these extreme environments pose their challenges: under-equipped vessels can’t reach deep into the white wilderness while financial and logistical issues often prevent important research. That’s where the scientific programs aboard
Our visionary expedition ship is one of the only French icebreakers to collect data from an onboard research facility, in both wet and dry labs. The labs are staffed by resident scientists who study polar glaciers, marine biology, chemistry, the atmosphere and more using sonars, beacon-buoys, a salinometer, a corer and a drone. Onboard naturalist guides assist them and keep our guests up to date on the latest findings.
And here’s the real beauty of having a cutting-edge laboratory on board: Our citizen science workshops. These hands-on excursions give you the opportunity to collect data that help us understand the polar caps. Past guest contributions have supported the Happywhale program for marine mammal identification and contributed to NASA’s cloud observation studies.
It's a win-win. Polar researchers and their worldwide colleagues gain important insight into these little-understood regions, while guests like you experience firsthand what it’s like to live the life of a field researcher. To say nothing of the countless ways your environment back home benefits by having an eco-ambassador and one-time field researcher treading more lightly.
We invite you to experience the luxuries of Le Commandant Charcot firsthand, and contribute to important scientific polar research.