PONANT, the leader in expedition cruising, will debut Le Commandant Charcot in November 2021 for its inaugural Antarctica season with six new itineraries. Itineraries will range from 11- to 24-nights and start at $13,970 per person.
Nearly a century after the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, the White Continent remains largely undiscovered today. For the first time, PONANT’s guests will be able to discover these remote parts, such as The Ross Sea, which has one of the continent’s most extreme weather patterns, and Peter I Island, where fewer people have visited than have set foot on the moon. Following its inaugural season in Antarctica, Le Commandant Charcot will head north to the Arctic for the 2022 summer season and include departures to the true geographic North Pole.
Le Commandant Charcot is designed to feel more like a yacht, versus a traditional cruise ship. The 123 staterooms and suites accommodate up to 245 passengers. With two restaurants onboard, tailor-made gourmet cuisine will be prepared by French chefs taking its inspiration from the destinations and ports of call. Menus are crafted by Alain Ducasse. Complimentary French wine is paired with all meals and an open bar format is offered on all itineraries. In addition, PONANT serves Veuve Clicquot Champagne as well as Ladurée macarons through exclusive partnerships. There will also be a wellness area in partnership with Biologique Recherche with amenities like a snow room – chilled to 14 degrees Fahrenheit with fresh powder snow. The ship will also feature an indoor swimming pool and heated blue lagoon baths.
In addition to the many hikes and Zodiac excursions already offered by PONANT, expeditions aboard Le Commandant Charcot will offer a range of new activities, including outings in hovercraft, kayaks, and tethered hot-air balloon rides. Guests will also be offered the chance to go diving in polar waters. The ship will also serve as a floating research center with an onboard laboratory, allowing passengers to participate in the research and experiments during sailings. Under the supervision of the team of naturalist guides and the on-board scientists, guests will be able to help set up a research station on an ice floe; deploying an Argos transmitter, a satellite-based system which collects and shares environmental data.
PONANT has been committed to responsible tourism for more than 30 years, and Le Commandant-Charcot is among the most environmentally friendly ships in the sea, powered exclusively by battery and LNG (liquefied natural gas) – the cleanest fuel on the market. When in battery mode, the ship will be able to sail for up to eight hours at a time without producing any emissions and with a very low noise level so it does not disrupt the aquatic life.
Highlighted Antarctica itineraries include:
Created in 1988, by officers of the French Merchant Navy, PONANT has created a new style of cruising, under the French flag, through a unique conception of sea travel and a commitment to promoting sustainable and responsible tourism. Accessing exceptional territories aboard yachts featuring refined design, on which the art of living and excellent cuisine takes pride of place: such is the promise of a unique and authentic PONANT voyage. For more information, visit us.ponant.com.
PHOTO CREDIT PONANT-Nicolas Dubreuil