The Geographic North Pole ~ Cruise Norway

With the presence of Sue Flood, British Photo Ambassador and polar specialist and Producer of “A Boy Among Polar Bears” and “Polar Bears on Thin Ice”.

Head for 90 degrees North! Since the 16th century, the greatest expeditions have constantly tried to reach the North Pole. This mythical geographic point inspires and attracts as much as it fascinates dreamers and conquerors seeking out the other side of the world.

What if Le Commandant Charcot achieved this absolute pinnacle adventure by enabling you, perhaps, to tread on this virtually unattainable point?

Following in the wake of Frederick Cook, Robert Edwin Peary or Roald Amundsen, who were among the many who fought to achieve this elusive goal, you will be part of the chosen few ones to attempt the odyssey, 700 km (435 miles) from any land.

From Spitsbergen, you will head towards the north to sail the waters at the edges of the Earth, towards landscapes that change constantly according to the ice and the plays of light. Nature reigns supreme here, sheltering exceptional wildlife that you will perhaps be lucky enough to see as your journey progresses: polar bears, seals or even whales! Your exploration of this silent world, frozen by the cold, will continue as you attempt to reach the Grail of all polar explorers: the North Pole!

Swept by the winds and the currents, the ice floe is constantly drifting and the Captain of your ship will manoeuvre carefully and with great humility in an attempt to reach 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

Day 8 | Geographic North Pole

Day 14 | Spitsbergen

Day 15 | Spitsbergen

Day 16 | Longyearbyen

Ships

Le Commandant Charcot

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.

What's included

An All-Inclusive Offer (Excluding Spirit of Ponant)

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 included (a selection of champagnes, wines and spirits, beers, cocktails, water, soft drinks, hot beverages)
24-hour room service
Butler service for certain suites*
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

*Excluding premium à la carte beverages.

*Butler service is available for the following suites:
PONANT Explorers: Owner’s Suites, Grand Deluxe Suites, Privilege Suites, and Prestige Suites on Deck 6;