The first French cruise ship line Companie du Ponant, conceived in 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers, has always been at the forefront of new and often courageous cruise-ship innovation. And with the launch in 2021 of Le Commandant Charcot, named after French polar scientist Jean-Baptiste Charcot, PONANT has further cemented its reputation as an expedition pioneer in the modern field of polar exploration.
Le Commandant Charcot is a technical masterpiece.
The world’s only luxury icebreaker can make it all the way to the North Pole as well as into the far reaches of the Antarctic. This Polar Class 2-rated icebreaking vessel is the first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by liquified natural gas, capable of barreling its way through 10 feet of ice. Significantly, it manages all this with the utmost regard for the delicate ecosystems it sails through.
Onboard amenities are an unexpected luxury.
In the realm of ice-filled polar extremes, it’s a welcome surprise to find the onboard environment of Le Commandant Charcot one of total opulence. No indulgence has been left unconsidered or unexamined.
The ship’s 245 guests find Le Commandant Charcot an extremely nice place to return to after a day on the ice or tundra, comfortable with sumptuous all-balcony suites and staterooms. The relaxation areas are great for gathering to chat about the day’s events. Onboard lectures also draw scientific discovery from the environment outside into the ship lounges, the various experts onboard more than pleased to share their passion for marine biology, ornithology, geology, history and anthropology.
The soothing spa features an indoor pool and Detox Bar, and a sauna and Snow Room, while The Blue Lagoon is an outdoor hot tub at the ship’s stern. More relaxation comes via the superb French cuisine, with a menu created by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse – prepare yourself for the caviar and lobster. Little quirks and perks like the cigar lounge and wine cellar are the crowning stroke of splendor.
Enjoy adventure-filled time off-ship.
On land, Le Commandant Charcot’s programs gets the adrenaline pumping. On select Greenland itineraries, guests can venture forth – accompanied by Greenlandic guides – on a Nordic skiing polar trek and overnight camping trip, acquainting themselves with total polar nature. On other High Arctic itineraries, local guides and huskies whisk you across the snowy landscape with a magical dog sledding experience. If you are looking for more water-based activities, nothing gets you closer to the surface of the water than kayaking. The polar regions as seen from the tip of a kayak are unimaginably beautiful – and the paddling exploration certainly helps build an appetite. Zodiac expeditions reveal an equally as intimate connection to the landscape, as you cruise the waters witnessing wildlife and glacial calving. Ice fishing is another peaceful pastime, an excursion with tremendous ancestral heft. As well, naturalist guides zero in on the finer points of polar life with hiking and snowshoeing forays to historical sites, natural anomalies and wildlife refuges, with the help of people who have been maintaining their Indigenous traditions for more than a millennium.
The time for a PONANT expedition is now.
Be it cathedral-like icebergs, vast ice shelves, glacial blankets, penguins or polar bears, the extremes of the polar regions are limitless and exceedingly beautiful. Sailing on Le Commandant Charcot is the experience of a lifetime, one that is profound on so many levels – an untamed thrill as well as a study in luxury. Book passage with PONANT through your Tully Luxury Travel Designer today.
