Antarctica: Ocean (Re)Imagined - with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

In alliance with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

This Antarctica voyage is designed in collaboration with scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the world’s leading ocean science non-profit organization, as a living expression of its scientific work. PONANT and WHOI invite guests to experience the Southern Ocean—a dynamic system shaping global climate, circulation, and life on Earth—as researchers do. Science unfolds in real time through briefings, deck-based observation, and conversation shaped by conditions, curiosity, and discovery. This voyage is specially tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world.

Antarctica is often described as remote, pristine, and untouched. But for ocean scientists, it is something else entirely. It is a driver of planetary systems—regulating climate, circulating heat, storing carbon, and sustaining life far beyond the polar regions. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day polar expedition voyage to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife.  

The start of your voyage will be marked by the crossing of the mythical Drake Passage, during which you will likely be escorted by several albatrosses and Cape petrels, the sentinels of these often-choppy waters.

Your ship will then reach the White Continent, realm of the unexpected. This extreme environment where nature reigns supreme will reveal to you its most beautiful secrets through numerous discoveries.

On this uninhabited land, which wasn’t explored until the 19^th century, your encounters with wildlife are sure to be one of the highlights of your experience. The Gentoo, Adélie, and Chinstrap penguins, Humpback whales, seals, and seabirds will provide you with cherished lifelong memories.

Each day, whether on land, aboard your ship, or during a Zodiac outing, you will be surrounded by a grandiose landscape ranging from icebergs to ice floe and ancient glaciers.

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by IAATO.