Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
20% Ponant Bonus
215 ft²
2
Transarctic, the Quest for the Two North Poles
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen - Nome, Alaska
Dates:
9/5/2025
to
9/25/2025
days
nights on board
FLIGHT PARIS/LONGYEARBYEN + TRANSFERS + FLIGHT NOME/SEATLLE
Through PONANT’s alliance with The Explorers Club, this voyage will feature Glaciologist Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña. Ulyana is the head of science communication at the University of Colorado Boulder's Climate Adaptation Science Center and a National Fellow of The Explorers Club. With a PhD in geological sciences specializing in glaciology, her research focuses on supraglacial lakes, Himalayan glacier floods, and the effects of pollution on snow and ice at high altitudes. A recipient of National Science Foundation and National Geographic grants, Ulyana also founded "Science in the Wild," a citizen science initiative with expeditions to Nepal, Baffin Island, Kilimanjaro, and the Andes. In 2016, she served as mission commander for NASA's HERA 30-day isolation experiment, simulating an asteroid mission.
Equipped with specialized laboratories onboard Le Commandant Charcot, Explorers Club Science Grantees will provide invaluable firsthand knowledge, delving into their ongoing research.
With featured guests Laurence de La Ferrière, renowned French adventurer and Cindy Miller Hopkins, American Photo Ambassador.
In 1926, when Umberto Nobile crossed the Arctic via the North Pole, aboard the Norge airship that he designed himself, he became the first man in the world to undertake this crossing. It was an exploit that many would subsequently attempt to repeat. For, behind the idea of exploring our planet’s last latitudes, there lies the prospect of raising our spirit, of matching our thirst for the unknown with our deep desire to gain a greater understanding of the world in which we live.
Le Commandant Charcot, a ship of scientific opportunity, follows in the tradition of Nobile, a pioneer and a tireless architect of polar discovery, in order to discover some of the Arctic’s secrets during a dedicated research mission at the highest point of the north.
The ship, the latest addition to the company’s fleet, shaped for polar exploration, is preparing to sail, transpolar maritime route, that is inaccessible to traditional ships. From the legendary Bering Strait, a link between the East and the West, to the ice-covered land of Svalbard, Le Commandant Charcot will carve out a path through the ice floes, exploring the ice of the Beaufort Sea, and use open water leads to attempt to reach the elusive Magnetic and Geographic North Poles.
Like a pioneer, you will cross these ice-covered landscapes of the Arctic by sea. During your exploration, you will discover the research projects that are part of the scientific mission taking place on board. This is a unique opportunity to clarify your knowledge alongside a multi-disciplinary team of around twenty researchers on board, to understand their investigations and closely follow their work. Also accompanied by our expert naturalists, you will discover unique ecosystems while sharpening your perception of the polar world and comprehending the stakes of their transformation. Use this journey to grant yourself an initiatory immersion: the rare occasion to take part in an adventure that is making a contribution to scientific research.
Taking an all-new route means pledging to enter an unexplored world with respect, taking the time to observe and understand, as a conscious witness, the unfolding show. With your senses awakened, with the ice floe as your travel companion, you will move through an ever-changing environment, its hypnotic panoramas of raw beauty sculpted by sea winds and plays on light. In the heart of the drifting ice, you will savour the constantly renewed poetry of the elements.
Find out more about the world of Le Commandant Charcot here!
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation, mainly in the fjords, will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the fast ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing programme, outings, activities and observation of fauna cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions. The experiences are unique and vary from day to day and for each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the AECO.
Ref : LN0745 - CC050925
Your itinerary
Through PONANT’s alliance with The Explorers Club, this voyage will feature Glaciologist Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña. With featured guests Laurence de La Ferrière, renowned French adventurer and Cindy...
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Included in your cruise
For more peace of mind, PONANT organizes your trip before or after the cruise. This package is included in the price of your cruise.
Additional services
For more peace of mind, PONANT selects stays and flights then takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
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3/3/2025 to the 3/21/2025
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L'AUSTRAL
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
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Services provided
- Concierge Service: tailor-made and fully customisable services, from your reservation until you return from your trip
- Glazed private balcony for all our staterooms and suites
- Terrace for the Duplex suites and the Owner's suite
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- 3 ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña
Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña, PhD, is the head of science communication for the University of Colorado Boulder's Climate Adaptation Science Center. She's a national fellow of The Explorers Club and holds a PhD in geological sciences, with a specialization in glaciology. Her research has covered the growth of supraglacial lakes and flooding on Himalayan glaciers, as well as the impacts of pollution and soot falling on snow and ice in high latitudes and altitudes. Ulyana has been the recipient of National Science Foundation and National Geographic grants for her research. By the time she turned 23, she had traveled to and worked on all 7 continents. Ulyana started Science in the Wild, her own citizen science initiative that has traveled to Nepal, Baffin Island, Kilimanjaro, and the Andes. Her husband, Ricardo, and her are climbing Colorado's 100 highest peaks, the 50 US state highpoints, and the global 7 summits as part of their Summits, Songs and Science project, to bring awareness to the importance of fitness, culture, and scientific thinking in modern society. They both feature in a new documentary The Andes Tragedy: 50 Years Later, alongside Eduardo Strauch, one of the 16 survivors of Flight 571, which crashed in the Andes in 1972. In 2016, Ulyana was chosen as mission commander for the NASA Johnson Space Center's HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) 30-day isolation experiment, simulating a long-duration mission to an asteroid. She was named one of 120 semifinalists out of 18,354 applicants for NASA's 2017 astronaut class.
Language spoke: English
Photo credit: Isabelle Groc
Laurence de la Ferriere
Explorer, mountaineer and speaker, after climbing several 8000 meters peaks without oxygen in Himalaya, including the southern summit of Everest (8770m), Kangchenjunga and Nanga Parbat, Laurence de la Ferrière is dedicated to polar exploration with the crossing of Greenland, Spitzbergen, Siberia, then Antarctica. Today, Laurence is the first French person to have reached the South Pole and the only woman in the world to have completely crossed the Antarctic continent alone.
2008/2010, under the aegis of the Ministry of Research and the French Overseas Ministry, she heads the French base of Dumont-d'Urville in Terre Adélie. Representing the state and the laws in the territory, guarantor and responsible for safety and scientific programs, this mission is a major turning point in her sports career.
2019/2020, as part of an educational partnership, accompanied by scientists, she leads a sailing expedition in the Antarctic Peninsula. An investigation at the heart of the scientific bases of a dozen countries, which contributes to the knowledge of the situation of the great white continent, in contact with several thousand schools. The environmental dimension becomes the focal point. Originally a mathematician and musician, she financed her expeditions by giving lectures.
Based on her experience as a polar explorer, Laurence’s stories allow her to illustrate and debate with intensity and truth around the values of our society. Officer of the Legion d’Honneur, Knight of the National Order of Merit and Gold Medal of Youth and Sport. She is the author of several books including Seule dans le vent des glaces, and Alpissima published by Robert Laffont and Antarctique, Au coeur du continent blanc published by Gallimard. Several films have been made including Alone in Antarctica and The hidden life in Antarctica.
Spoken language: French
Photo credit: © ARR
This cruise include activities such as zodiac outings and landings (sometimes with "wet landing"), moderate walks to more active hikes, all accompanied naturalist guides.
Ports of call, visited sites, outings and landings will depend on weather conditions, position of ice, winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change of plans at any time. The Captain and the Expedition Leader may at any time cancel or stop any activity, or even modify the itinerary. The final itinerary will be confirmed by the Captain, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. His decision will be based on advice from experts and authorities.
Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience in remote areas: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is extremely expensive. Without adequate medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe to full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully, be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive, especially if you are insured by your credit card. PONANT offers an insurance contract with extensive guarantees, please contact us for more information.
Clothing tips:
- A PONANT polar water-resistant parka is offered on board (no children sizes, in case of consecutive cruises, only one complimentary parka).
- Half calf rubber boots with non-slip soles, which will allow you to go ashore in 20 cm of cold water, keeping your feet dry for walks and visits on steep paths. Boot rental will be offered onboard (for adults only).
- Comfortable trousers: classic Winter trousers, warm cotton tracksuit, wool leggings
- Waterproof and windproof over-trousers – MANDATORY
- Winter trousers with waterproof over trousers are the ideal combination: water-resistance and comfort of trousers are essential
- Pullover, sweat-shirt or fleece jacket
- Woollen or thermolactyl Thermal underwear
- A warm hat, woollen ear muffs or fleece ear muffs, fleece or woollen neck warmer (avoid scarves that do not stay in place)- MANDATORY
- Wool or silk glove liners, water-resistant and supple gloves
- Thick warm socks (ideally woollen)
Accessories:
- Small waterproof backpack (to protect your camera from water).
- Binoculars (strongly recommended for wildlife viewing).
- Highly protective sunglasses.
- Walking poles (highly recommended).
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
INSULATED BASE LAYER:
- Wool or thermolactyl technical underwear
- Polar or technical jacket
- Polar sweater or sweatshirt
- Silk or wool glove liners
- Wool leggings
- Warm hiking socks
WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER:
- Waterproof over-trousers - Mandatory
- Waterproof parka - Offered on board (not available in children’s sizes)
- Windbreaker – Mandatory
- A warm woollen hat covering your ears
- Polar or woollen neck warmer
- Waterproof technical gloves
- Hiking shoes
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen
- Lip protection balm
- Mosquito repellent, anti-itch balm and mosquito head net (Greenland)
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
ACCESSORIES:
- Highly protective sunglasses
- Binoculars
- Walking poles
- Small waterproof backpack
- Swimsuit (for the spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
PONANT activities
Polar plunge
Let yourself be seduced by the unrivalled sensations of being surrounded by cold water. Weather and ice conditions willing, you will have opportunities to undertake a unique experience during a polar plunge wearing just your swimming costume, in the middle of the ice. You will be be filled with intense emotions and will fully appreciate the energy boost when warming up after the swim!*
*with limited places available
Kayaking - Le Commandant Charcot
You will make the most of the sailing opportunities and weather and ice conditions to glide along on the clear waters or between the ice floes and get as close as possible to the immaculate nature of the poles. Supervised by licenced expert guides, you will try your hand in a kayak- a craft favoured by the Inuits for at least 4,000 years. The kayak was initially used for hunting and fishing; for you, it will be a means of making the most of your adventure on the White Continent or in the Far North.*
*with limited places available
Hiking or snowshoeing
During shore landings, depending on the ecological resilience of the biome, we will propose hikes at different levels, in the company of your experienced naturalist guides. From a simple stroll along the coast to walks lasting several hours to reach particular viewpoints or historical sites, you will make the most of the opportunities provided by the weather and ice conditions. When the itineraries allow, you’ll put on snowshoes* to set off like the explorers of old and discover areas that have barely known Man.
*with limited places available
The Explorers Club
The Explorers Club was founded in New York City in 1904 by a group of the world's leading explorers of the time. It is a multidisciplinary, not-for-profit organization dedicated to scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space. It supports science research and education and has over 3,500 members around the world. Explorers linked to the greatest discoveries, such as Neil Armstrong, Jane Goodall, Edmund Hillary or Roald Amundsen, are among its eminent members. During this expedition, a member of The Explorers Club will share their knowledge with you during lectures and will provide deeper context for your surroundings while on board and during shore landings. You'll have the chance to engage with one of these agents of change throughout your journey.
Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña
Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña, PhD, is the head of science communication for the University of Colorado Boulder's Climate Adaptation Science Center. She's a national fellow of The Explorers Club and holds a PhD in geological sciences, with a specialization in glaciology. Her research has covered the growth of supraglacial lakes and flooding on Himalayan glaciers, as well as the impacts of pollution and soot falling on snow and ice in high latitudes and altitudes. Ulyana has been the recipient of National Science Foundation and National Geographic grants for her research. By the time she turned 23, she had traveled to and worked on all 7 continents. Ulyana started Science in the Wild, her own citizen science initiative that has traveled to Nepal, Baffin Island, Kilimanjaro, and the Andes. Her husband, Ricardo, and her are climbing Colorado's 100 highest peaks, the 50 US state highpoints, and the global 7 summits as part of their Summits, Songs and Science project, to bring awareness to the importance of fitness, culture, and scientific thinking in modern society. They both feature in a new documentary The Andes Tragedy: 50 Years Later, alongside Eduardo Strauch, one of the 16 survivors of Flight 571, which crashed in the Andes in 1972. In 2016, Ulyana was chosen as mission commander for the NASA Johnson Space Center's HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) 30-day isolation experiment, simulating a long-duration mission to an asteroid. She was named one of 120 semifinalists out of 18,354 applicants for NASA's 2017 astronaut class.
Language spoke: English
Photo credit: Isabelle Groc
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Highlights
- Through PONANT’s alliance with The Explorers Club, this voyage will feature Glaciologist Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña.
- With featured guests Laurence de La Ferrière, renowned French adventurer and Cindy Miller Hopkins, American Photo Ambassador.
- Be among the first people in the world to undertake a transarctic crossing and set off in search of the Geographic North Pole, following in the wake of the pioneers of polar exploration, like Umberto Nobile.
- Discover the research work of an on-board international scientific mission during lectures and round tables.
- Attempt to reach the Magnetic North Pole.
- Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a polar exploration vessel opening to the exterior, take time to immerse yourself in unique moments of exploration and observation, in the silence and respect of fragile landscapes and biodiversity.
- At this time of the year and depending on the opportunities provided by the weather conditions, the possibility of observing the phenomenon of the Northern Lights near the Bering Strait.
- Enjoy the unique experience of sailing through the heart of the ice floe and discover the endless variety of forms and states of the ice.
- Exploration of Svalbard, from Europe’s largest ice cap on Nordaustlandet (North East Land) in the Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve, the second-largest protected area in Norway.
- The landscapes: alpine reliefs, icy shores, ice floes. In Svalbard: mountains patterned with multi-coloured strata, fjords, jagged mountains, glaciers, icebergs, ice floes, sheer cliffs, polar ice cap, wild tundra.
- The wildlife: polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, whales, sea birds.
- Brand-new activities*: kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, polar plunge.
*Subject to weather and ice conditions and to sailing opportunities
Ports of Call & Excursions
September 5, 2025 - Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
Embarkation 9/5/2025 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Departure 9/5/2025 at 6:00 PM
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.
September 6, 2025 - Isfjorden
Arrival 9/6/2025
Departure 9/6/2025
The vast Isfjorden is one of the main fjords in Svalbard. These different branches reach the heart of the island of Spitsbergen. Located deep inside the Billejforden, the Nordenskiöld Glacier with its front of ice, nearly 5 km wide, is one of the most spectacular in the Svalbard Archipelago. You will perhaps have the opportunity to discover the ghost town of Pyramiden. Constructed at the foot of a mountain in the form of a pyramid, this former mining town, founded by Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century before being sold a few years later to the Soviet Union, and abandoned in 1998, has conserved all the buildings from its glory days, when it lived off coal mining.
September 7, 2025 - Hornsund
Arrival 9/7/2025
Departure 9/7/2025
Nestling between millennial glaciers and carved mountains, and considered to be “the crown of Arctic Norway”, Spitsbergen is a place that never sees the night. Your ship will take you closer to this fascinating archipelago and, more particularly, the Hornsund fjord. Considered to be Svalbard’s southernmost fjord, it is especially reputed to be its most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, 8 great glaciers slowly make their way down to the sea before giving way to the many icebergs elegantly drifting along its cold and mysterious waters.
September 8, 2025 - Soraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve
Arrival 9/8/2025
Departure 9/8/2025
The Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve is the second largest protected area in Norway. Established in 1973, this nature conservation area stretching over more than 21,000 km2 will offer you stunning panoramas including coastal landscapes, rocky islets, mountain plateaux, vast tundra plains, and ice floes. With a little luck, you will be able to observe a wide variety of seabirds, given the site is listed as an Important Bird Area, as well as cetaceans, Svalbard reindeer, or even Arctic foxes. Among other things, Edgeoya Island is renowned for providing shelter to a number of polar bears during the breeding season.
September 9, 2025 - Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait
Arrival 9/9/2025
Departure 9/9/2025
Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait, in the heart of the Arctic Ocean, between the Norwegian islands of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet promises an unforgettable experience. This territory of the Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve offers breathtaking panoramas, with magnificent basalt formations and the ice cap stretching as far as the eye can see, diving into the sea. The shore line cut by the fjords moving inland composes a magical landscape in which icebergs float here and there, the result of the calving of the surrounding glaciers. This place, today a popular spot to observe the seabirds nesting in the enormous cliffs, polar bears and walruses, was once intrinsically linked to the history of the whalers who frequented the region from the 17th century. Indeed, it was one of them, Thijmen Jacobsz Hinlopen, then director of a Dutch whaling company, who gave the strait its name. Later on, Russian trappers, European explorers, scientists and even mountaineers roamed this region, as hostile as it is sublime.
September 10, 2025 - Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve
Arrival 9/10/2025
Departure 9/10/2025
The Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve has been protecting the northernmost and coldest part of the archipelago, Nordaustlandet (North East Land), since 1973. This vast polar desert covered by two ice caps is the second largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. Protected by the Gulf Stream, the fjords and cliffs in the west and north are home to large colonies of birds and walruses. The landscapes in the colder east and south are dominated by imposing glaciers that calve majestic icebergs in the vast Hinlopen Strait. Large colonies of thick-billed murres have taken up residence on the sheer cliffs*. You may even get the chance to see a bear or an Arctic fox roaming in the vicinity.
*depending on nesting and migration period
September 11, 2025 September 13, 2025 - Navigating through the sea ice
Arrival 9/11/2025
Departure 9/13/2025
Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.
September 14, 2025 - Magnetic North Pole
Arrival 9/14/2025
Departure 9/14/2025
The convergence point for the field lines of the Earth's magnetic field, the Magnetic North Pole attracts the magnetic needle of the compass. While the Geographic North Pole is the Earth’s northernmost fixed point, marking the intersection of the Globe's rotation axis with the Earth’s surface, the Magnetic North Pole moves over time. In fact, it is linked to the Earth's magnetic field which originates in the Earth's outer core, which is made up of molten metal and is subject to convection movements. Localised for the first time in 1831, in the Canadian Arctic, it has since moved towards Siberia and thus become closer to the Geographic North Pole. Set off in search of the Magnetic North Pole, try to get closer to it and, if luck allows it, attempt to reach it!
September 15, 2025 - Exploring sea ice in Beaufort Sea
Arrival 9/15/2025
Departure 9/15/2025
Bordering the north coasts of Alaska and Canada, the Beaufort Sea was feared for centuries because of its extreme climatic conditions. Covered for most of the year with a thick layer of ice, and unexplored until 1914, this part of the Arctic Ocean, named in honour of the British Admiral Francis Beaufort, will reveal its magnificent icy landscapes to you. With a bit of luck, maybe you will cross the path of some polar bears, since the region is renowned for sheltering the Lord of the Arctic.
September 16, 2025 - Geographic North Pole
Arrival 9/16/2025
Departure 9/16/2025
Defined by a 90° North latitude, the Geographic North Pole lies on the Earth’s rotational axis, at the intersection of all meridians. Plunged into darkness for six months of the year, then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site, permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, has fascinated generations of explorers. So far, only a very few people have ever reached it: an exploit which is now accessible to you aboard Le Commandant Charcot.
September 17, 2025 September 24, 2025 - Exploring sea ice in Beaufort Sea
Arrival 9/17/2025
Departure 9/24/2025
Bordering the north coasts of Alaska and Canada, the Beaufort Sea was feared for centuries because of its extreme climatic conditions. Covered for most of the year with a thick layer of ice, and unexplored until 1914, this part of the Arctic Ocean, named in honour of the British Admiral Francis Beaufort, will reveal its magnificent icy landscapes to you. With a bit of luck, maybe you will cross the path of some polar bears, since the region is renowned for sheltering the Lord of the Arctic.
September 25, 2025 - Nome, Alaska
Arrival 9/25/2025
Disembarkation 9/25/2025 at 8:00 AM
Located along the Bering Strait at the westernmost point of Alaska, Nome offers the rustic charm of a former gold-mining town, set in the middle of magnificent wilderness. As you weave in and out of the brightly coloured houses, you will discover the pioneering legacy that still marks local traditions. Fishing, reindeer rearing, sledge-racing... People here live from their manual labour. The surrounding plains provide stunning vantage points for observing Arctic fauna.
Le Commandant Charcot
With Le Commandant Charcot, PONANT has imagined and envisaged the cruise voyage of tomorrow. The latest addition to the fleet will take you following in the footsteps of the great polar explorers in refined surroundings complete with the kind of luxury services never before offered in the farthest reaches of the southern and northern hemispheres.
The indoor swimming pool, the conservatory, the panoramic restaurant, the Blue Lagoon outdoor restaurant, the Main Lounge, the Observation Lounge, the lobby… Each of the common areas has been designed to both convey French-style discreet luxury and arouse wonder and amazement. The common thread running through all their designs is the desire to allow the light to penetrate and open everything up the extraordinary polar landscapes and scenery.
This very first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by LNG has been designed with the greatest attention to detail in terms of safety and respect for the environment.
Decks
FLIGHT PARIS/LONGYEARBYEN + TRANSFERS + FLIGHT NOME/SEATLLE
For your serenity, PONANT selects a flight and organises the transfer between the airport and the port (and vice-versa). This package is included in your cruise fare.
Embarkation day - Paris/Longyearbyen
Flight Paris/Longyearbyen selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 4 h 30.
We highly recommend you arrive in Paris the day before this flight.
We suggest you to be at the check-in counter 2 hours before departure.
Meet & greet at the airport by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the pier for embarkation.
- Cruise aboard your cruise ship -
This programme includes:
- Flight Paris/Longyearbyen selected by PONANT in economy class.
- Transfer mentioned in the programme.
- English-speaking assistance.
This programme does not include:
- Personal expenses.
- Any other service not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
- Flight included in the programme is as of today, operated in economy class, on a European airline.
- Flights in business class are available, please contact your travel agent.
- Due to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
- For passengers in transit in Paris, we recommend staying one night in Paris before this flight.
- Programme and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice.
Disembarkation Day - Nome/Seattle
Disembarkation.
Meet and greet at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Nome/Seattle selected by PONANT.
Flight Nome/Seattle selected by PONANT.
Approximate flight duration: 5 h 00.
We highly recommend you stay one night in Seattle after this flight.
This programme includes:
- Flight Nome/Seattle selected by PONANT in economy class.
- The transfer mentioned in the programme.
- English-speaking assistance.
This programme does not include:
- Personal expenses.
- Any other service not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
- The flight included in the programme is as of today, operated in economy class, on a European airline.
- Due to limited local transportation resources, waiting might be generated.
- For passengers in transit in Seattle, we recommend staying one night in Seattle after this flight.
- Programme and flight schedule are subject to change without prior notice.
The Explorers Club
PONANT and The Explorers Club are coming together in the name of driving deeper discovery and promoting scientific enrichment among the next generation of explorers. The weeks-long expeditions will whisk travelers to the world’s most remote parts, these journeys are enriched by the participation of expert members of The Explorers Club. They will share their experiences with you during on-board conferences and will invite you to participate in their research by offering activities on board, at sea or out of the ship. These new explorers will fascinate you with their tales.
Polar Expedition
Make your dreams of adventure come true, explore the boundaries of the world, and discover wild and legendary territories. The icy immensity of Antarctica, the constantly changing glaciers and icebergs of the North Pole, the mysterious mists of the North European coastlines, the most remote fjords on the planet… Every destination unveils unrivalled landscapes, home to increasingly varied fauna. Our team of naturalist-guides will share their knowledge with you during varied lectures about the history of the great explorations, geology and climatology, the fauna and flora, and will invite you to share special moments with the local populations.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
COMFORT PACKAGE: NIGHT IN PARIS CDG AIRPORT + TRANSFER HOTEL/AIRPORT
For your serenity, PONANT selects for you an ideally located hotel and organises your transfer to the airport.
Day 1 - Roissy CDG
Check-in in Pullman Roissy CDG hotel, from 4:00 pm.
The rest of the day and the evening are at leisure.
Dinner is at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - PONANT selected flight for embarkation
Breakfast is at leisure.
Group transfer from the hotel to the airport terminal, in time for check-in of flight selected by PONANT.
Your hotel:
The Pullman Roissy CDG hotel is a four stars property located in Roissy. Located at 2 minutes walking from Roissypole, RER and CDGVal station, you will easily be able to join it.
Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
This programme includes:
- 1-night accomodation in Deluxe Room at the Pullman Roissy CDG 4* local standards (or similar).
- Transfer mentionned in the programme.
- A soft welcome drink, upon arrival at the hotel.
This programme does not include:
- Dinner of day 1.
- Breakfast of day 2.
- Tips and gratuities.
- All personal expenses (meals and drinks, sightseeing, etc.)
- Early check-in, late check-out and other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
- Official hotel check-in time is 4:00 p.m
- Official hotel check-out time is 12:00 a.m.
- Early check-in or late check-out might be available depending on availability and on a supplement basis.
- Departure time of the hotel will be communicated by our representative.
- This programme is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Contact of your hotel:
Hôtel Pullman Roissy CDG 4*
3 Bis Rue de la Haye
93290 Roissy-en-France
Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : $290
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.PARISIAN ESCAPADE (2 NIGHTS)
Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Enjoy an exclusive stay at Le Meurice in Paris, prior your cruise onboard Le Commandant Charcot.
Day 1 - Paris
Meet at Paris airport in the arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).
You will be transferred to the hotel Le Meurice – Dorchester Collection.
Check-in your room.
Diner is at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Days 2 – Paris
Breakfast at the hotel.
Days are at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 – Paris
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check-out from your room.
You will be transferred from your hotel to Paris airport terminal, in time for check-in of flight selected by PONANT prior your cruise onboard Le Commandant Charcot
Your hotel:
Discover the luxury and elegance of Le Meurice hotel, an iconic establishment nestled in the heart of Paris. Immerse yourself in a refined ambiance while staying in sumptuous rooms, featuring exquisite furnishings for optimal comfort. Indulge in exceptional cuisine at the Michelin-starred restaurant, where talented chefs create delicious dishes. Located near renowned sites such as the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries Gardens, Le Meurice is the perfect place to explore the vibrant city. Enjoy a moment of relaxation in its exclusive spa, where the therapists will provide you with high-quality treatments for a soothing experience. From your first steps in relaxed and luxurious atmosphere of the lobby to the cosy design of your room, you will spend an outstanding stay there.
Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
Your programme includes:
- 2-night accommodation in Superior room at Le Meurice 5* palace, breakfast included.
- Transfers as mentioned in the programme.
- Your programme does not include:
- Personal expenses.
- Meals and visits during your stay.
- Optional activities.
- Early check-in.
- Visa if necessary.
- Tips for the driver and local guide.
- Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
- It is imperative that the details of your arrival flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.
- Official check-in at 3: 00 pm.
- To enhance your stay, tailored options will be presented to you at a later stage.
Contact of your hotel:
Le Meurice – Dorchester Collection
28 Rue de Rivoli,
75001 Paris
FRANCE
Telephone number: +33 1 44 58 10 10
Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : $2,250
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.OVERNIGHT IN SEATTLE (1 NIGHT)
Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Day 1 – Alaska/Seattle
Meet and greet upon arrival of the flight Nome/Seattle selected by PONANT by our local representative.
You will be transferred to the historic hotel Fairmont Olympic 4*.
Check-in your room.
Diner will be served at the restaurant of the hotel.
Overnight.
Day 2 - Seattle
Breakfast.
You will then be transferred to the airport in time for check-in for the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).
Your hotel:
Built in 1924, the recently renovated Fairmont Olympic 5* Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was renovated in early 2021. Ideally located in downtown Seattle, it offers nearly a century of luxury service standards, while melding classic elegance with mid-century modern room décor. The hotel offers two restaurants, an indoor pool, a hot tub and a fitness centre.
Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
Your programme includes:
-
1-night accommodation in Junior Suite at the Fairmont Olympic 4*, (or similar), breakfast included.
-
Transfers as mentioned in the programme.
-
The services of a local English-speaking guide.
-
A hospitality desk at the hotel on your day of arrival and departure.
Your programme does not include:
-
Tips for the driver and local guide.
-
Personal expenses.
-
Visa if necessary.
-
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
-
Early check-in and late check-out.
Please note:
-
It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.
-
Official hotel check-out time is 11:00 a.m.
-
Early check-in or late check-out might be available depending on availability and on a supplement basis.
Contact of your hotel:
Fairmont Olympic
411 University Street
Seattle, WA 98101, USA
Telephone: +1 206 621 1700
To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : $1,060
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.