Ponant Cruises
French luxury expedition line operating Le Commandant Charcot, the world's first luxury icebreaker, capable of reaching Antarctica's most remote regions including the Weddell Sea and Ross Sea.
Ponant is a French cruise line that has redefined luxury polar exploration with Le Commandant Charcot, the world's first hybrid-electric polar exploration vessel with Polar Class 2 (PC2) icebreaking capability. This vessel can reach parts of Antarctica that no other tourist ship can access.
The Ship: Le Commandant Charcot
Specifications
- Built: 2021
- Passengers: 245 (all-balcony staterooms)
- Length: 150 meters
- Propulsion: LNG hybrid-electric with Polar Class 2 icebreaking
- Ice capability: Can break through 2.5 meters of ice -- the most capable passenger vessel ever built
- Features: Underwater observation lounge (Blue Lagoon), two restaurants, spa, expedition equipment room, heated outdoor pool
What PC2 Means
Polar Class 2 certification means Le Commandant Charcot can navigate year-round in moderate multi-year ice conditions. For context, most Antarctic cruise ships are PC6 or PC7 and limited to first-year ice. This capability opens itineraries that are genuinely unique in the tourism industry.
Signature Itineraries
The Geographic South Pole via the Weddell Sea (16 days)
An extraordinary itinerary that penetrates deep into the Weddell Sea pack ice to reach Emperor penguin colonies, then offers optional charter flights to the Geographic South Pole.
Price range: $35,000 -- $110,000 per person
Ross Sea Odyssey (28-32 days)
A circumnavigation-scale voyage accessing the Ross Sea, McMurdo Sound, and the Ross Ice Shelf. Visits historic huts of Scott and Shackleton. One of the longest and most exclusive Antarctic itineraries available.
Price range: $42,000 -- $130,000 per person
Weddell Sea & Emperor Penguins (14 days)
Focused expedition to reach Emperor penguin colonies on the frozen Weddell Sea coast. Helicopter operations enable access to colonies on fast ice.
Price range: $28,000 -- $85,000 per person
Expedition Program
Ponant's expedition team includes naturalists, polar guides, and a dedicated photographer. The underwater observation lounge provides a unique below-waterline perspective on icebergs, marine life, and the underside of sea ice.
Booking Information
- Season: November through March
- Departure ports: Ushuaia (Argentina), Invercargill (New Zealand) for Ross Sea
- Minimum age: 6 years
- Dress code: Smart casual dining; expedition gear provided
- Included: All meals, open bar, expedition equipment, helicopter operations (select itineraries)