The crunch of ice beneath the hull breaks the Arctic silence. A massive ivory-colored form moves gracefully across the frozen landscape—a polar bear, hunting. Above, the aurora borealis paints the sky in ethereal swaths of green and purple. This isn’t just another luxury cruise; this is an expedition to the edge of the world aboard Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, where the legacy of great polar explorers meets French sophistication in perfect harmony.
A New Era of Polar Exploration
As the world’s first and only luxury icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot doesn’t just push boundaries—she shatters them, quite literally. While other ships must turn back when faced with thick polar ice, this remarkable vessel forges ahead through ice up to eight-to 10-feet thick, powered by a 34-megawatt plant that makes her one of the most powerful passenger ships ever to safely venture into these waters. Her reinforced hull and advanced safety systems, including dual engine rooms and backup battery systems, allow for up to four months of autonomous operation in the world’s most remote regions.
The international cruise industry has taken notice. Among its many recognitions, Le Commandant Charcot has garnered prestigious accolades including a place on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List 2023 as one of the ‘Best Cruise Ships in the World,’ Cruise Critic’s ‘Best of the Arctic’ Editor’s Choice Award 2023 and 2024, and recognition in Time’s ‘World’s Greatest Places.’
The vessel was also named one of ‘10 Favorite Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2023’ in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, as well as ‘Best Antarctic Cruise’ by Porthole Cruise and Travel magazine’s 2023 Reader’s Choice Awards. In her debut year, Le Commandant Charcot was awarded ‘Cruise Ship of the Year’ in the 15th edition of the Seatrade Cruise Awards, 2021.
Condé Nast Traveler puts it this way: “Launched in 2021, Le Commandant Charcot is the industry’s first-ever purpose-built Class II icebreaker for commercial passengers. This allows the 245-guest vessel to smash through eight-to 10-feet thick ice and explore the Earth’s extreme latitudes (including its northernmost point) that other ships cannot access.
The travel magazine continues, “Outside of its eco-credentials and engineering feats, the ship is a thoroughly luxurious experience—an Alain Ducasse-branded culinary program; all balcony-equipped staterooms and suites; a first-rate spa complex.”
Robb Report adds, “Visiting the North Pole seemed about as likely for me as walking on the moon. It wasn’t even on my bucket list. Then came Le Commandant Charcot, which was named after France’s most beloved polar explorer and reportedly cost about $430 million to build…These days, if you’re an American tourist, the only way to reach…the geographic North Pole, is aboard a six-star hotel mated to a massive, 492-foot ice-breaking hull.”
Today’s sophisticated travelers seek more than just the traditional trappings of elegance—they crave transformative experiences and meaningful adventures. Le Commandant Charcot caters to this discerning audience of culture-seekers and experience collectors, from Baby Boomers and Gen X to an expanding base of Millennial travelers. The ship’s intimate capacity of just 245 guests, served by 215 crew members, ensures a level of personalized attention and an exclusive atmosphere that appeals to those who value both luxury and authentic exploration.
Accommodations
The ship’s 123 suites and staterooms serve as private sanctuaries, each designed to maintain a connection with the spectacular surroundings through private terraces and panoramic views. The Prestige Suites and Owner’s Suite offer the ultimate in polar comfort, with expansive living spaces and premium locations aboard the ship. For families and groups, connecting room options provide comfortable configurations while maintaining privacy. The ship’s layout includes dedicated VIP areas and exclusive spaces, perfect for special celebrations or corporate incentive groups.
Owner’s Suite
The 1,237-square-feet Owner’s Suite includes a living/dining area with steam fireplace and bar, dining for eight. There’s a separate bedroom, walk-in dressing room, oversize bathroom with separate shower and soaking tub with an ocean view.
The 2,002-square-feet wrap around deck includes al fresco dining, loungers, and a hot tub.
Duplex Suites
The 1,011-square-feet Duplex Suites offer a 280-square-feet terrace with hot tub. There’s a living/dining area with in-suite dining for six. The upstairs bedroom includes an oversized bathroom with separate tub and shower, plus a walk-in dressing room. Best of all are the spectacular panoramic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Privilege Suites
The 516-square feet Privilege Suites include a 140-square-feet balcony, living/dining area separated from the bedroom, and master bathroom with separate shower, tub, and walk-in closet.
Dining
Dining aboard Le Commandant Charcot is an experience unto itself, anchored by the only Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea. Here, French haute cuisine meets polar adventure, with menus that celebrate both tradition and innovation.
The main restaurant offers sophisticated dining with stunning views, while a second, more casual venue provides a relaxed atmosphere. Multiple bars, including an elegant cigar lounge, offer carefully curated wine lists and craft cocktails, creating perfect spaces for recounting the day’s adventures.
Nuna
Elegant and refinement are all part and parcel of the à la carte dining experience it has to offer at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The ship’s second bridge is located at the back of the restaurant: behind its large windows, where patrons have a front row seat to observe the crew during their operations.
Sila
In a more relaxed atmosphere, Sila is located at deck 9 and will welcome you for your breakfasts, buffet lunches and themed dinners.
Inneq
At the open-air bar, you can enjoy a varied and refined range of international sweet and savory dishes throughout the day (11am-6pm), as well as a permanent menu.
Wellness
The ship’s spa and wellness facilities redefine relaxation in polar waters. The world-class spa features floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the passing icescape during treatments. A comprehensive fitness center caters to active guests, while the indoor pool provides a unique perspective on the polar environment through its glass ceiling. The wellness journey continues with hot and cold therapies in Sauna and Snow rooms, a wide choice of fitness, yoga, Pilates, water aerobics and more. Personal training is also available. Capping the experience, a Juice Bar serves rejuvenating tinctures and detox cocktails.
Entertainment and Enrichment
Days aboard Le Commandant Charcot blend adventure with intellectual stimulation. The ship’s theater hosts expert-led lectures and scientific presentations, while the onboard science labs offer hands-on participation in real research projects. Photo Ambassadors stand ready to help capture the perfect shot, while naturalists and guides on every voyage provide nuanced insight into the surrounding landscape and wildlife. Several itineraries feature world-renowned experts from the prestigious Explorers Club who share their expertise through informal discussions and organized presentations.
Live entertainment, music, and art exhibitions provide cultural enrichment, while the observation lounges offer perfect vantage points for wildlife watching and northern lights viewing. For those seeking active pursuits, the ship offers a range of onboard activities and fitness classes adapted to polar conditions.
Experiences
The true essence of polar exploration comes alive through immersive experiences that engage all the senses. Guests can embark on exhilarating dog-sledding adventures during the Boreal winter, glide across pristine snowfields while skijoring in Finland, or trek through Svalbard on snowshoes. For the truly adventurous, overnight Nordic ski expeditions in Greenland offer an authentic taste of polar exploration, while sea kayaking brings you eye-level with curious seals and breaching whales. Ice fishing provides a peaceful moment of connection with ancient traditions, and the brave can join the prestigious polar plunge club, taking an invigorating dip in the Arctic or Antarctic waters.
Onboard
While adventure beckons beyond the ship’s PC2 polar-class hull, Le Commandant Charcot offers extraordinary comforts that perfectly complement the day’s explorations. The Blue Lagoon, an outdoor heated pool maintained at a balmy 27-37°C (80-98°F), provides a surreal experience of warm relaxation surrounded by ice and snow.
Adjacent to the pool, the Inneq Bar (meaning ‘fire’ in Inuit) welcomes guests with heated chairs and warming drinks, creating an ambiance unlike anywhere else on Earth. The ship’s connection to human creativity is celebrated in an onboard museum featuring some 300 works by more than 40 artists from around the world, offering a cultural journey alongside the physical one.
Landmark Journeys
Le Commandant Charcot’s itineraries read like an explorer’s dream journal. The ship is the first French passenger vessel to reach both the geographic North Pole and the legendary North Pole of Inaccessibility, the first to sail the McClure Strait (part of the Northwest Passage) and adventure into Pine Island Bay in the Amundsen Sea, and the first to achieve both polar extremes within six months. Key itineraries include:
• The Geographic North Pole: A legendary journey through the heart of the ice floe to 90° North
• Antarctic Expeditions: Exploring the Peninsula, including rarely-accessed areas like the Weddell Sea
• Greenland and Svalbard: Adventures among fjords, glaciers, and remote settlements
• The St. Lawrence in Boreal Winter: An exclusive winter experience in Quebec’s dramatic landscape
All-inclusive journeys range from 5 to 29 nights, with most expeditions lasting 12 to16 nights, offering flexible options for various schedules and interests.
Celebrations
Le Commandant Charcot excels at hosting special occasions and group events. Whether it’s a milestone birthday, anniversary celebration, or corporate incentive trip, the ship’s facilities and crew can create bespoke experiences. Dedicated group coordinators ensure seamless execution of special events, while the ship’s various venues—from intimate dining rooms to the theater—can be adapted for private functions.
A More Eco-Friendly Sailing
Le Commandant Charcot – the very first luxury hybrid electric polar exploration ship powered by liquified natural gas – is the epitome of a more responsible and sustainable sailing. In particularly sensitive areas, she can switch to battery power, allowing for silent operation that minimizes impact on wildlife while maximizing observation opportunities.
Ponant’s commitment to a more sustainable future includes an objective to decarbonize towards net zero by 2050. That goal is being advanced with cutting-edge technologies from recycled and controlled energy consumption and drinking water produced directly on board to unloading shipboard glass, plastics, and metal via specialist portside companies and elimination of single-use plastic.
As the sun sets behind cathedral-like icebergs and the sky erupts in a display of polar lights, guests gather to share stories of the day’s adventures. Some speak of the profound silence encountered during a snowshoe trek across ancient ice, others of the thrill of spotting their first whale breach. All agree that this is more than a cruise—it is an expedition that changes how they see the world.
Le Commandant Charcot represents a new era in polar exploration, one where adventure and indulgence are not mutually exclusive, where environmental responsibility is paramount, and where the spirit of the great explorers lives on in every voyage. She invites a new generation of explorers to venture beyond the known, deep within the polar circles and into the ice, all while wrapped in exceptional comfort and elevated sophistication.
For those seeking to follow in the footsteps of Shackleton, Amundsen, and Peary while enjoying the height of modern luxury, Le Commandant Charcot offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore Earth’s final frontiers.
VIP Contact
Visit: us.ponant.com or call +1.844.656.3786
