Le Commandant Charcot
Antarctica and the polar regions (Ponant)
Location
The deepest polar reach
Le Commandant Charcot is a PC2 icebreaker that reaches places few ships can: the Geographic North Pole in the Arctic season, and the Weddell Sea, Ross Sea and Peter I Island in Antarctica.
Transfer
Charter flights to embarkation
Polar voyages include charter flights and transfers to the embarkation port; details are confirmed by itinerary.
Villas
123 all-balcony staterooms
123 all-balcony cabins across six categories, from the 20-square-metre Prestige Stateroom to the Owner's Suite at 115 square metres with a 186-square-metre terrace and hot tub; upper suites add a butler.
Best For
Who it suits
Travellers who want the deepest, rarest polar reach with French understated luxury, fine dining and an onboard science programme.
Board Basis
Largely all-inclusive
Fares include excursions, dining and most beverages and gratuities; top suites add a butler and further perks, confirmed by fare.
About the Resort
The world's first luxury polar icebreaker
Le Commandant Charcot is the world's first luxury hybrid-electric LNG polar icebreaker — a PC2 hull that is the only passenger ship to reach the Geographic North Pole and the deepest Antarctic, the Weddell and Ross Seas and Peter I Island. Around 200 guests sail Antarctica across 123 all-balcony staterooms in French understated luxury, with Alain Ducasse gastronomic dining, indoor and outdoor pools, a winter-garden conservatory, a spa with a sauna and a snow room, and onboard science labs running citizen-science programmes. The Owner's Suite reaches 115 square metres with a 186-square-metre terrace and hot tub. Icebreaker access few vessels can match, under the Ponant flag.
Accommodation
All-balcony staterooms and suites
123 all-balcony cabins across six categories.
Entry
Prestige Stateroom
Sleeps two. A roughly 20-square-metre stateroom with a private balcony, French bath products and a minibar.
Private balconyFrench design
Upper
Privilege Suite
Sleeps two. A larger suite with a balneo bathtub and butler service.
Balneo bathButler service
Family
Duplex Suite
Sleeps four. A two-level suite aft with a terrace and butler service.
Two levelsAft terrace
Top
Owner's Suite
Sleeps up to six. A 115-square-metre suite with a 186-square-metre terrace, hot tub, fireplace, dining for six and a telescope.
115 square metres186-square-metre terrace
Food & Drink
Dining
Alain Ducasse gastronomic dining and a grill.
Signature
Alain Ducasse restaurant
Gastronomic French dining at sea.
Grill
Nuna
A relaxed grill and buffet.
Lounges
Panoramic bars
With a winter-garden conservatory.
Wellbeing
The spa, with a snow room
A spa with a gym, sauna and a snow room, plus indoor and outdoor pools and a winter-garden conservatory — wellness designed for the polar setting.
A sauna and snow room
Polar wellness.
Indoor and outdoor pools
Heated.
A winter-garden conservatory
Panoramic.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
The North Pole, the deepest Antarctic and the science behind it.
The Geographic North Pole
Reached in the Arctic season.
The deepest Antarctic
Weddell and Ross Seas, Peter I Island.
Onboard science labs
With citizen-science programmes.
Zodiac landings
Among penguins and ice.
Alain Ducasse dining
Gastronomic, at sea.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By air
Charter flights to embarkation
Included on polar voyages.
By sea
Through pack ice
A PC2 icebreaker hull.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Le Commandant Charcot. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- Largely all-inclusive; perks vary by fare.
Science onboard
- Labs and citizen-science programmes.
Polar seasons
- North Pole in the Arctic summer; Antarctica in the austral summer.
Operator
- Sails under the Ponant flag.
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Dates, party size, villa preference and budget.
Destination
Dates & party
Date flexibility
Adults
2
Children
0
Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
Villa preference
Flights
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