Ponant wants to whisk you away on a 12-night North Pole adventure.
Previously offering longer journeys to the 90 degrees north latitude, the northern most point on Earth, the French cruise ship operator is now offering a slightly shorter itinerary (in response to demand in the U.S. market) for you to experience a true polar expedition. Of course, you’ll be taking it all in aboard the world’s only luxury icebreaker, the 492-foot Le Commandant Charcot (which we hopped aboard a few years back.)
Your trek through the ice-laden Arctic Ocean will being in Longyearbyen, a town of just 2,500 people that has become quite the travel hot spot in Svalbard, thanks to its extreme-yet-sublime landscape. From there, you’ll hop aboard Le Commandant Charcot, en route to the Geographic North Pole, one of the most inaccessible places on Earth. On the way, you’ll see some rather specular sights: massive glaciers and fjords; polar bears, seals, and whales; and, weather-permitting, the dazzling glow of the Northern Lights. On land, you can explore the Arctic via kayak, snowshoe, and polar plunging.
Polar bears, seals, and whales are just some of the wildlife you’ll encounter on the journey.
Ponant/Benjamin Hardman
And when you need a break from the wondrous landscape, Le Commandant Charcot will be a welcome retreat. The 492-footer’s staterooms and suites take inspiration from Nordic design cues, offering up a minimalist interior with artwork to match. You can enjoy the glass-enclosed observation lounge onboard as well as a Blue Lagoon deck with heated seating and a luxe spa, which includes a snow room, a sauna, and an indoor pool. As for your food, you’ll be able to dine at the only Alain Ducasse restaurant at sea, Nuna. And the accommodations all have private balconies or terraces, if you want to enjoy the stunning views from right outside your door.
“Over the past 15 months, we’ve worked closely with our deployment team to thoughtfully design a 12-night itinerary that will appeal to this market,” Samuel Chamberlin, CEO of Ponant, said in a statement. “With Le Commandant Charcot, we’ve created a ship that not only pushes the boundaries of polar navigation but also serves as a platform for scientific research, environmental stewardship, and cultural exchange. Coupled with our French flair for hospitality, this is purposeful exploration at its finest—providing today’s time-strapped travelers with the rare opportunity for transformative discovery.”
You won’t be able to embark on the new 12-night journey until 2027, though. There are plenty of departure dates for the taking, though: July 27, August 8, August 20, and September 1. All the expeditions include roundtrip airfare from Paris to Longyearbyen, as well as transfers. For more details, head to Ponant’s website.
