Le Commandant Charcot Marks Five Years of Polar Cruising
Two Gulf of Bothnia sailings this winter will feature Old Rauma, Gammelstad Church Town and the High Coast archipelago.
Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot has completed five years of polar expedition cruising since its delivery on August 2, 2021. The vessel began its current Arctic deployment in April 2026 after repositioning from Antarctica and is scheduled to remain in northern waters through early 2027.
Built by Fincantieri subsidiary VARD, the ship was designed as the cruise industry’s first luxury icebreaker. Its icebreaking hull takes it into areas beyond the reach of conventional expedition vessels, including the Weddell Sea.
The current program covers Svalbard, Greenland, the geographic North Pole and the Canadian Arctic. Winter operations will extend to the Baltic, Scandinavia and the St. Lawrence River.
Earlier this year, the vessel underwent its five-year drydock survey at Damen. Work included applying a new underwater hull coating and overhauling safety equipment and expedition gear. Ponant’s anniversary announcement carried no executive comment.
Built for polar ice
The 31,283-gross-ton ship accommodates a maximum of 245 passengers and carries approximately 215 crew. Its Polar Class 2 rating covers year-round operation in moderate multi-year ice conditions and sets structural and machinery requirements for its hull, propulsion, steering and essential auxiliary systems.
Polar voyages remain subject to the IMO Polar Code, the vessel’s certificate limitations, its approved operational assessment, and flag-state and classification-society requirements.
Le Commandant Charcot uses hybrid-electric propulsion with engines capable of running on LNG or low-sulphur marine gas oil. High-capacity batteries support hybrid operation and power stability, while two Azipod units drive the ship. The ship also carries de-icing systems and specialized lifeboats.
From inaugural expeditions to winter cruising
The ship’s maiden-season itineraries included the North Pole, eastern Greenland and the Northwest Passage. Its subsequent Antarctic program offered voyages to Peter I Island, the Ross Sea and Charcot Island.
In early 2025, the vessel sailed its first Arctic winter season, with 12-night cruises to the St. Lawrence River and the Canadian Arctic.
The coming winter schedule includes two Gulf of Bothnia sailings, whose itineraries feature UNESCO World Heritage sites including Old Rauma, Gammelstad Church Town and the High Coast archipelago.
See current Le Commandant Charcot fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
