Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.
Exploring the most remote and inaccessible regions of our planet involves a considerable amount of responsibility: the responsibility of limiting the traces we leave behind. More than just a commitment, respecting the ecosystems is the fundamental condition for these unprecedented voyages in these regions to take place.
Le Commandant Charcot is paving the way in this respect. It is the first deep polar exploration cruise ship to be equipped with a hybrid liquefied natural gas (currently the cleanest energy available) propulsion system and a bank of high-capacity batteries.
This new propulsion system is also combined with the use of the latest available green technologies, resulting in an all-round approach designed with a single aim in mind: to minimise the impact of your polar odyssey on the planet and make a positive contribution to the peoples and lands visited and encountered.
Cruise ID: 34587
A Pioneering Ship
Designed for sailing in the planet's most inaccessible regions and helmed by experienced captains with expertise in navigating through ice, Le Commandant Charcot has already demonstrated its ability to go further and beyond; she goes where others do not venture.
The first ship in the world to reach the southernmost navigable latitude, in the Ross Sea, in February 2022.
In February 2023, Le Commandant Charcot became the first passenger ship to venture to Pine Island Bay, at the south-eastern tip of the Amundsen Sea, on the first-ever half-circumnavigation of Antarctica. One of the longest expedition voyages ever made, in terms of both distance and time, for which PONANT also holds the record (over 14,400 km covered).
The first cruise ship to pass through the McClure Strait, at the mouth of the Beaufort Sea in the Canadian Northwest Territories, in September 2022. This historic voyage gave our guests the chance to observe many polar bears.
North Pole
The first French vessel to reach the Geographic North Pole in September 2021. It took its first guests there in July 2022.
The first ever passenger ship to deliver supplies to the isolated villages of Greenland's northeast coast early in the season. This project has now been extended over the long-term and will be widened to include other communities in western Greenland.
Bonuses for the staff is one of the customs of cruise ships and are left to your discretion. An anonymous envelope is left in your stateroom at the end of your cruise. You can leave it at reception in a box provided. This sum is generally in the range of €10-12 per day per passenger. It is then divided between the members of the crew.
Date | Time | Price * | Booking |
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17 March 2026 | €13,366 | Call us to book |
* Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.
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Day 1 Cape Town, South Africa
Sometimes referred to as the Mother City, Cape Town is the most famous port in South Africa and is influenced by many different cultures, including Dutch, British and Malay. The port was founded in 1652 by Dutch explorer Jan Van Riebeeck, and evidence of Dutch colonial rule remains throughout the region. The port is located on one of the world's most important trade routes, and is mainly a container port and handler of fresh fruit. Fishing is another vital industry, with large Asian fishing fleets using Cape Town as a logistical repair base for much of the year. The region is famous for its natural beauty, with the imposing Table Mountain and Lions Head, as well as the many nature reserves and botanical gardens such as Kirstenbosch which boasts an extensive range of indigenous plant life, including proteas and ferns. Cape Town's weather is mercurial, and can change from beautiful sunshine to dramatic thunderstorms within a short period. A local adage is that in Cape Town you can experience four seasons in one day.
Days 2-20 Cruising
Day 21 Brest, France
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