Heading for 90 degrees North! Set off from Spitsbergen to sail to the edges of the Earth and reach the North Pole, the Holy Grail of adventurers in search of “the end of the world”. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a technological cocoon designed for exploration, you will encounter a wild and silent world that evolves according to the ice and the plays of light of the Northern Lights. During your crossing, you will probably be lucky enough to observe spectacular fauna - polar bears, seals or whales - before, perhaps, walking on the ground of this territory frozen by the cold, the northernmost point of our planet.

Find out more about the world of Le Commandant Charcot here!

We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation, mainly in the fjords, will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the coastal ice must be preserved, we will take this into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing programme, outings, activities and observation of fauna cannot be guaranteed and are subject to weather and ice conditions. The experiences are unique and vary from day to day and for each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the AECO.

Highlights

Sail through pack ice and ice floes aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a polar exploration vessel, in search of the Geographic North Pole, just like the great explorers.

Discover the landscapes (ice compression ridges, mountains, deep valleys, vertiginous walls of ice, glaciers in Svalbard) and the wildlife (opportunities to glimpse or observe polar bears, seabirds, cetaceans, etc.).

Activities : opportunities for outings and shore visits in a rubber dinghy; landings on the ice; kayaking; hiking or snowshoeing; polar plunging.

Itinerary

day 1 | Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen’s airport can be used all-year round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center, where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around Longyearbyen and even in town.

day 2 | Spitsbergen

The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning “pointed mountains” in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.

day 6-7 | Geographic North Pole

Defined by a 90° North latitude, the Geographic North Pole lies on the Earth’s rotational axis, at the intersection of all meridians. Plunged into darkness for six months of the year, then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site, permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, has fascinated generations of explorers. So far, only a very few people have ever reached it: an exploit which is now accessible to you aboard Le Commandant Charcot.

day 11 | Ny-Ålesund

Ny-Ålesund is a small town in Oscar II Land on the island of Spitsbergen in Svalbard, Norway. It is situated on the Brøgger peninsula and on the shore of the bay of Kongsfjorden. The company town is owned and operated by Kings Bay, which provides facilities for permanent research institutes from ten countries.

day 12 | Spitsbergen

day 13 | Longyearbyen

Ships

Le Commandant Charcot

The Le Commandant Charcot is Ponant’s revolutionary luxury expedition cruise ship and a true luxury icebreaker.

With 123 staterooms and suites, the vessel features elegant French design and extensive amenities, including spas, multiple lounges, and fine dining. It is capable of reaching the geographic North Pole and the most remote Antarctic areas, redefining polar cruising with a perfect blend of comfort and environmental consciousness. A focus on immersive experiences with naturalists and scientists ensures an unparalleled journey.The ship pioneers sustainable polar exploration, being the first deep polar exploration cruise ship equipped with a hybrid propulsion system combining Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), one of the cleanest currently available energies, and a bank of high-capacity batteries. This all-round approach, combined with the latest green technologies, reflects Ponant’s fundamental responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of your polar odyssey, ensuring respect for the ecosystems and the local peoples and lands encountered.

Contact Cruise Norway for expert polar advice and the best prices.

What's included

An All-Inclusive Offer

INCLUDED SERVICES ON ALL OUR CRUISES

Full board from arrival to departure day
High-end gastronomy in all restaurants
All beverages in restaurants, bars, and minibars. All drinks are included² (a selection of champagnes, wines and spirits, beers, cocktails, water, soft drinks, hot beverages)
24-hour room service
Butler service for certain suites³
Unlimited internet access onboard
Evening events, shows, and other entertainment
Access to the fitness area and hammam or sauna, depending on the ship
All port and security charges

²Excluding premium à la carte beverages.

³Butler service is available for the following suites:
Le Boréal, L'Austral, Le Soléal and Le Lyrial: All suites on Deck 6;
PONANT Explorers: Owner’s Suites, Grand Deluxe Suites, Privilege Suites, and Prestige Suites on Deck 6;