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The Emperor Penguins of Bellingshausen Sea
Ushuaia - Ushuaia
Dates:
12/11/2022
to
27/11/2022
Other available dates
16
days
days
14
nights on board
nights on board
Starting from*
£19,490
25% Ponant Bonus
Polar Expedition 
Overnight in Santiago + flight Santiago/Ushuaia + transfers + flight Ushuaia/Santiago
Beyond Peter I Island and Charcot Island, this exceptional cruise will take you into the heart of the Bellingshausen Sea.
Named in honour of the Russian admiral and explorer who discovered Antarctica in 1820, this sea in the Southern Ocean, covered by ice floe most of the time, is hard to reach and practically unexplored.
But the reward lives up to the challenge: emperor penguins, a unique species endemic to the Antarctic and almost never observed, live here. This animal, elegant and majestic, is the promise of emotional encounters.
In this season, as winter gradually gives way to the austral spring, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the world’s largest birds wandering the ice floes on the horizon, or emancipated juveniles learning to swim as the southern summer approaches.
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the coastal ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing schedule and any landings, activities and wildlife encounters are subject to weather and ice conditions. These experiences are unique and vary with 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 IAATO.
Ref : UUXU45 - O131122
Your itinerary
A unique opportunity to contemplate emperor penguins at the end of the austral winter. Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables. Lectures and information sessions hosted by our...
See detailed itinerary
Your trip in detail
Choose your stateroom
Choose your stateroom
Complete your trip
Complete your trip
Included in your cruise
For more peace of mind, PONANT organizes your trip before or after the cruise. This package is included in the price of your cruise.
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Lisbon - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE
LE DUMONT-D'URVILLE
8 nights on board
Dates:
11/04/2022 to the 19/04/2022
11/04/2022 to the 19/04/2022
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands - Málaga
LE LYRIAL
LE LYRIAL
11 nights on board
Dates:
17/04/2022 to the 28/04/2022
17/04/2022 to the 28/04/2022
- New
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen - Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
FLIGHT PARIS/LONGYEARBYEN + TRANSFERS + FLIGHT LONGYEARBYEN/PARIS
8 nights on board
Dates:
15/06/2022 to the 23/06/2022
15/06/2022 to the 23/06/2022
Ushuaia - Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
LE BOREAL
Night in Buenos Aires + flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia + visit + flight Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
10 nights on board
Dates
Departure
Arrival
Ships
Cruise code
Ponant Bonus
Prices from
08/12/2021 to 19/12/2021
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
UUVI45 - A091221
5% Ponant Bonus
£9,420
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
03/01/2022 to 14/01/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
UUVJ45 - A040122
15% Ponant Bonus
£8,600
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
Fully booked
09/01/2022 to 20/01/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
UUVZ45 - B100122
£9,830
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
20/01/2022 to 31/01/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE LYRIAL
UUFQ45 - Y210122
20% Ponant Bonus
£8,190
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Fully booked
Deluxe Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Fully booked
Privilège Suite
Suite Grand Deluxe
Grand Privilege Suite
Fully booked
Owner's Suite
09/02/2022 to 20/02/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE LYRIAL
UUFS45 - Y100222
20% Ponant Bonus
£8,190
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Fully booked
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Privilège Suite
Suite Grand Deluxe
Grand Privilege Suite
Fully booked
Owner's Suite
10/02/2022 to 21/02/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
UUVM45 - A110222
20% Ponant Bonus
£8,190
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
19/02/2022 to 02/03/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE LYRIAL
UUFT45 - Y200222
£9,830
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Fully booked
Deluxe Stateroom
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Fully booked
Deluxe Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Privilège Suite
Suite Grand Deluxe
Grand Privilege Suite
Fully booked
Owner's Suite
20/02/2022 to 03/03/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
UUXT45 - A210222
30% Ponant Bonus
£7,380
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
10/12/2022 to 21/12/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
UUWO45 - A111222
10% Ponant Bonus
£9,010
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
16/12/2022 to 27/12/2022
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
UUWR45 - B171222
25% Ponant Bonus
£7,790
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
26/12/2022 to 06/01/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
UUGI45 - B271222
20% Ponant Bonus
£8,910
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
09/01/2023 to 20/01/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
UUWZ45 - AU100123
20% Ponant Bonus
£8,210
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Fully booked
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
15/01/2023 to 26/01/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
UUXF45 - BO160123
15% Ponant Bonus
£8,620
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
25/01/2023 to 05/02/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
UUXG45 - BO260123
5% Ponant Bonus
£9,440
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Fully booked
Deluxe Stateroom
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
01/02/2023 to 11/02/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE LYRIAL
UUXI45 - LY010223
£9,850
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Fully booked
Deluxe Stateroom
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Fully booked
Privilège Suite
Suite Grand Deluxe
Grand Privilege Suite
Owner's Suite
04/02/2023 to 15/02/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
UUXH45 - BO050223
20% Ponant Bonus
£8,210
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Fully booked
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
10/02/2023 to 21/02/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE LYRIAL
UUXJ45 - LY110223
25% Ponant Bonus
£7,800
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Privilège Suite
Suite Grand Deluxe
Grand Privilege Suite
Owner's Suite
14/02/2023 to 25/02/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
LE BOREAL
UUGL45 - BO150223
25% Ponant Bonus
£8,330
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
22/02/2023 to 05/03/2023
Ushuaia
Ushuaia
L'AUSTRAL
UUXC45 - AU230223
25% Ponant Bonus
£7,800
Emblematic Antarctica
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
Cairns - Honiara, Guadalcanal Island
LE SOLEAL
LE SOLEAL
Transfer + flight Honiara/Brisbane
10 nights on board
Dates
Departure
Arrival
Ships
Cruise code
Ponant Bonus
Prices from
11/10/2022 to 21/10/2022
Cairns
Honiara, Guadalcanal Island
LE SOLEAL
CH135 - S111022
£5,840
Ancient Cultures of Papua New Guinea
Superior Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom
Prestige Deck 4
Prestige Deck 5
Prestige Deck 6
Deluxe Suite
Prestige Deck 5 Suite
Prestige Deck 6 Suite
Owner's Suite
*Price is per person, double occupancy, is based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of cabin to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Dates
Departure
Arrival
Ships
Cruise code
Ponant Bonus
Prices from
29/10/2022 to 13/11/2022
Punta Arenas
Ushuaia
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
PU0545 - O301022
30% Ponant Bonus
£18,610
The Emperor Penguins of Bellingshausen Sea
Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
Prestige Stateroom Deck 7
Prestige Stateroom Deck 8
Deluxe Suite Deck 6
Deluxe Suite Deck 7
Deluxe Suite Deck 8
Prestige Suite Deck 7
Prestige Suite Deck 8
Grand Prestige Suite Deck 6
Privilege Suite Deck 8
Suite Duplex
Owner's Suite
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Overnight in Santiago + flight Santiago/Ushuaia + transfers + flight Ushuaia/Santiago
For your serenity, PONANT has organised the following included programme for you, which starts the day prior to embarkation.
The day before embarkation – Santiago
Transfer from airport to PONANT selected hotel.
In order to organise your transfer, please inform your travel agent, 60 days before departure, your flight number as well as your arrival time and day.
Meet and greet at the hotel by our local representative. Check-in from late morning.
Lunch on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon.
Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
Embarkation Day – Santiago/Ushuaia
A light morning breakfast will be served before leaving for the airport for your Santiago/Ushuaia flight.
Transfer to the airport.
Flight Santiago/Ushuaia selected by PONANT in economy class.
Seats in business class may be available, please contact your travel agent.
Approximate flight duration: 3 hours
Meet and greet at Ushuaia airport (English-speaking assistance).
Transfer to Le Commandant-Charcot.
Embarkation.
– Cruise on board your ship –
Disembarkation Day – Ushuaia/Santiago
Disembarkation.
Meet and greet at the port (English-speaking assistance).
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of the flight Ushuaia/Santiago selected by PONANT in economy class.
Approximate flight duration: 3 hours
Seats in business class may be available, please contact your travel agent.
It is highly recommended to have an international inbound flight the day after PONANT selected flight.
Your programme includes:
- Transfer from airport upon flight arrival.
- 1-night accommodation in a 5* hotel the night before embarkation.
Your hotel will be confirmed few weeks before your cruise. - Early check-in available from late morning.
- Hospitality desk at the hotel in Santiago.
- Return flight Santiago/Ushuaia/Santiago selected by PONANT, in economy class.
Seats in business class may be available, please contact your travel agent. - Meals as mentioned in the programme and beverage package.
- Transfers as mentioned in the programme.
Your programme does not include:
- Tips for the local guide.
- Personal expenses.
- Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
- The local currency is the Chilean Peso. You will be able to make most of your purchases in USD (in small denominations) or by credit card, accepted in most hotels, shopping centres and boutiques. You will also be able to retrieve Pesos from the ATM’s.
- Summer season in Santiago: temperatures may be very hot, but often between 68 °F (20 °C) and 95 °F (35 °C).
- Summer season in Ushuaia: temperatures vary between 41 °F (5 °C) and 65 °F (15 °C)
- We recommend you wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
- If case PONANT has not received your full flight details, services start at the hotel in time for check-in.
Programme is subject to change.
To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Services provided
- Private balcony for all our cabins and suites
- Terrace for the Duplex suites and the Owner's suite
- Butler service and priority boarding : Owner’s Suite, Duplex Suites, Privilege Suites and Grand Prestige Suites
- Individually-controlled airconditioning
- Stateroom layout: king-size bed, or twin beds, communicating staterooms available, children welcome
- Minibar - 24hr room service
- Satellite TV channels (availability dependent on navigation); selection of videos on demand
- Bose™ Bluetooth speaker
- Safe
- Selection of Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products.
- Dressing table, bath robes, Hairdryer
- Direct line telephone
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Internet access Wifi : Satellite reception (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
Choose your stateroom category
Packing Checklist
Expedition programmes include activities such as Zodiac® outings and landings (sometimes with "wet landing"), moderate walks to more active hikes, all accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides.
Ports of call, visited sites, outings and landings will depend on weather conditions, position of ice, winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change of plans at any time. The Captain and the Expedition Leader may at any time cancel or stop any activity, or even modify the itinerary. The final itinerary will be confirmed by the Captain, who will take into account the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. His decision will be based on advice from experts and authorities.
Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience in remote areas: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is extremely expensive. Without adequate medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe to full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully, be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive, especially if you are insured by your credit card. PONANT offers an insurance contract with extensive guarantees, please contact us for more information.
Clothing tips:
- A PONANT polar water-resistant parka is offered on board for all departures with an expedition programme (no children sizes, in case of consecutive cruises, only one complimentary parka).
- Half calf rubber boots with non-slip soles, which will allow you to go ashore in 20 cm of cold water, keeping your feet dry for walks and visits on steep paths. Boot rental will be offered onboard (for adults only) on Expedition cruises.
- Comfortable trousers: classic Winter trousers, warm cotton tracksuit, wool leggings
- Waterproof and windproof over-trousers – MANDATORY
- Winter trousers with waterproof over trousers are the ideal combination: water-resistance and comfort of trousers are essential
- Pullover, sweat-shirt or fleece jacket
- Woollen or thermolactyl Thermal underwear
- A warm hat, woollen ear muffs or fleece ear muffs, fleece or woollen neck warmer (avoid scarves that do not stay in place)- MANDATORY
- Wool or silk glove liners, water-resistant and supple gloves
- Thick warm socks (ideally woollen)
Accessories:
- Small waterproof backpack (to protect your camera from water).
- Binoculars (strongly recommended for wildlife viewing).
- Highly protective sunglasses.
- Walking poles (highly recommended).
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
Depending on the itinerary and the program of your cruise, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
Advice
INSULATED BASE LAYER:
- Wool or thermolactyl technical underwear
- Polar or technical jacket
- Polar sweater or sweatshirt
- Silk or wool glove liners
- Wool leggings
- Warm hiking socks
WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER:
- Waterproof over-trousers - Mandatory
- Waterproof parka - Offered on board (not available in children’s sizes)
- A warm woollen hat covering your ears
- Polar or woollen neck warmer
- Waterproof technical gloves
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen
- Lip protection balm
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
ACCESSORIES:
- Highly protective sunglasses
- Binoculars
- Walking poles
- Small waterproof backpack
- Swimsuit (for the spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
PONANT activities
Polar water activities
Experience the unrivalled sensations of immersion in cold water. Whether you take a polar plunge in a swimsuit or a dip in a dry-suit* that allows you to float, you will enjoy a unique experience in an exceptional setting, surrounded by ice. Feel intense thrills and enjoy the energy boost you get as your body warms back up after the swim!
*with limited places available
Kayaking - Le Commandant Charcot
Glide on the clear waters or between the ice floes and get as close as possible to the immaculate nature of the poles. Supervised by licenced expert guides, you will try your hand in a kayak, a boat that has been favoured by the Inuits for at least 4,000 years. The kayak was initially used for hunting and fishing; for you, it will be a means of making the very most of your adventure on the White Continent or in the Far North.*
*with limited places available
Participative science
Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with the most modern oceanographic equipment and all the facilities necessary to accompany a scientific team in its research. Guided by our naturalists and the team of scientists, you will thus have the opportunity to make a direct contribution to the global scientific effort. Helping scientists by taking part in a turbidity study using a Secchi disk, counting wildlife, studying the state of the pack ice or taking water samples: thanks to simple protocols, you’ll be able to discover part of the scientific adventure in the polar regions and contribute to improving the knowledge of biodiversity, marine mammals or glaciology and better understand Climate/Ecosystem/Man interactions.
Outings in hovercraft
Following the example of Le Commandant Charcot, designed to sail to the edge of the poles, hovercraft, which work as well on land as they do on sea, will take you to the most hard-to-reach places. Their unique propulsion system will ensure that you can explore the ice floe in total safety. They will drop you in the heart of the austral or boreal vastness, in the deafening silence specific to this extreme environment, and let you live out a dream of absolute escape.
Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables
Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a fleet of 14 zodiacs expedition dinghies will be used for outings and shore visits throughout the cruise. Getting closer to a glacier calving huge icebergs, setting foot on a sheet of ice floe, observing bears, seals, sea lions and penguins up close: so many unforgettable moments that very few people will ever have the chance of experiencing in these regions that are hostile to man and home to unique wildlife.
Hiking or snowshoeing
During each shore landing, depending on the ecological resilience of the biome encountered, we will propose hikes at different levels, in the company of your experienced naturalist guides: from a simple stroll along the coast to walks lasting several hours to reach particular viewpoints or historical sites. When the itineraries allow it, you’ll put on snowshoes* to set off, like the explorers of old, to discover areas that have barely known Man.
*with limited places available
Highlights
- A unique opportunity to contemplate emperor penguins at the end of the austral winter.
- Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables.
- Lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides.
- Approach two islands beyond the Antarctic Polar Circle.
- Hiking opportunity.
- Landscapes: glaciers, icebergs, thick ice floes, ice shelves.
- Wildlife: emperor penguins, humpback whales, gentoo penguins, Weddell seals.
- Many activities: kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, polar plunge without suit, polar swim with drysuit, participative science. Discover all the activities in the “Ponant Activities” tab.
Ports of Call & Excursions
13 November 2022 Ushuaia
Embarkation 13/11/2022 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 13/11/2022 at 18:00
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
14 November 2022 Crossing the Drake Passage
Arrival 14/11/2022
Departure 14/11/2022
Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarise yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. From the ship’s bridge, you will experience exceptional sailing moments before joining the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.
15 November 2022 At sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot
Arrival 15/11/2022
Departure 15/11/2022
Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
16 November 2022 Crossing the Antarctic Circle
Arrival 16/11/2022
Departure 16/11/2022
Weather permitting, we'll cross the mythic line of the Antarctic Polar Circle, located along 66°33’ south of the Equator. This iconic area demarcates the point from which it is possible to view the midnight sun during the December solstice. Within this circle, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 consecutive hours at least once a year. Crossing this line, an experience known to few people, is sure to be an unforgettable highlight of your cruise through the polar regions.
17 November 2022 Expedition to Charcot Island
Arrival 17/11/2022
Departure 17/11/2022
When he discovered this island surrounded by sea ice in 1910 from aboard the Pourquoi Pas ? as he mapped Alexander Island, Jean-Baptiste Charcot had not be able to get less than 40 miles away from it. Situated in a zone that experiences frequent low-pressure systems and regular cloud cover, the island remains in many ways an enigma. It is entirely covered in ice and sheer cliffs, with the exception of the rocky outcrops extending over a dozen kilometres in the far north-west. The ice in the narrowest part of Wilkins Sound has been cracking in recent times, thus officially detaching this island from its neighbour, Alexander Island, lying 50 km away. Very few people have landed on this largely untouched island, whose waters attract numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns and skuas.
18 November 2022 At sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot
Arrival 18/11/2022
Departure 18/11/2022
Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
19 November 2022 Expedition to Peter I Island
Arrival 19/11/2022
Departure 19/11/2022
You will then head for the legendary Peter I Island. Located 450 km away from the Atlantic coast, it was discovered in 1821 by the Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, who named it in honour of the Russian tsar Peter the Great. In 1909, Captain Charcot sighted it for the first time from aboard the Pourquoi Pas ?, but was unable to land there: “In the parting mists, one or two miles away, an enormous black mass shrouded in clouds appears suddenly before us: it is Peter I Island.” Surrounded by pack ice and with about 95% of its surface covered by ice, this volcanic island, whose highest peak reaches 1,640 metres, is protected by ice cliffs some 40 metres tall, making any approach difficult.
20 November 2022 21 November 2022 English Coast - in search of emperor penguins
Arrival 20/11/2022
Departure 21/11/2022
Along the English Coast, head off in search of emperor penguin. Brave the magnificent, quasi-unexplored desert of ice to be among the lucky few to observe these majestic penguins and enjoy this rare and intense experience. Emperor penguins are the largest of all living penguin species and they are champions at adapting to the harsh Antarctic climate. They live inland, where they protect their eggs between their feet and their abdomen during winter, and cover long distances in search of food.
22 November 2022 Marguerite Bay
Arrival 22/11/2022
Departure 22/11/2022
The icebergs are each more majestic than the next and scattered around the deep and intense blue waters of Marguerite Bay, one of the most beautiful regions in the Antarctic. It is delimited in the north by the mountainous Adelaide Island, in the south by George VI Sound and Alexander Island, and in the east by the Fallières Coast. Charcot named it after his wife during his second expedition to the Antarctic between 1908 and 1910. In 1909, in the southern summer when the skies are at their clearest, he led an important scientific mission to map and study this region. The bay is home to a number of cetaceans and you may get the chance to observe leopard seals or Adelie penguins.
23 November 2022 Stonington Island
Arrival 23/11/2022
Departure 23/11/2022
In the northeastern part of Marguerite Bay, along Graham Land, you will discover the small island of Stonington. The island was a British research station from 1946 to 1950 and later from 1960 to 1975. Numerous expeditions setting off from this station on dog sledges enabled the mapping of a significant portion of the Antarctic Peninsula. The two-storey steel-framed buildings, whose vestiges are still visible, could accommodate 6 to 17 people. Equipment and facilities from that time can still be found there: the generator, the dog pens, radio equipment and weather instruments, the water reservoir and a storage space. The island is now an important breeding ground for Antarctic terns and south polar skuas.
23 November 2022 Pourquoi Pas Island
Arrival 23/11/2022
Departure 23/11/2022
Le Commandant Charcot will land on the coast of Pourquoi Pas Island, so named in the 1930s by John Riddoch Rymill in honour of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who discovered it from aboard his ship Le Pourquoi Pas ? during his second expedition to Antarctica between 1908 and 1910. This mountainous island, situated in the north of Marguerite Bay between Graham Land and Adelaide Island, is 28 km long and 14 km large. It is scattered with narrow fjords and snow-covered mountains. You will go to shore in a zodiac dinghy with your expedition team and you could get the chance to observe Adelie penguins going about their business on the island’s rocky shores.
24 November 2022 The Gullet
Arrival 24/11/2022
Departure 24/11/2022
The sumptuous landscapes of this narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land attract all visitors sailing towards Marguerite Bay. It is like an ice palace, its immaculate white walls reflected in the frozen mirror formed by the waters of the Southern Ocean, scattered with icebergs and gleaming blocks of ice. This passage was explored for the first time by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909, which sketched its position. It was then surveyed in 1936 by the British expedition under John Rymill. It is here in this magical setting that some of the first subaquatic images of the Antarctic were shot during Philippe Cousteau’s four-month expedition to Antarctica between 1972 and 1973.
24 November 2022 Detaille Island
Arrival 24/11/2022
Departure 24/11/2022
Detaille Island is a small island situated off the Loubet Coast in the Crystal Sound, a magnificent region surrounded by snow-covered peaks. A British research station was set up there in 1956, ahead of the International Geophysical Year 1957-58. Like the International Polar Years, organised for the first time in 1882-83, the purpose of this event was to take a coordinated approach to the geophysical research conducted by the different nations. With the island difficult to access, this station was shut down in 1959. The vestiges of the buildings and sledge dog pens that made it possible to map more than 4,000 miles around the island are now maintained by the United Kingdom Heritage Trust.
25 November 2022 26 November 2022 Crossing the Drake Passage
Arrival 25/11/2022
Departure 26/11/2022
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
27 November 2022 Ushuaia
Arrival 27/11/2022 early morning
Disembarkation 27/11/2022 at 08:00
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
Le Commandant Charcot
With Le Commandant Charcot, PONANT has imagined and envisaged the cruise voyage of tomorrow. The latest addition to the fleet will take you following in the footsteps of the great polar explorers in refined surroundings complete with the kind of luxury services never before offered in the farthest reaches of the southern and northern hemispheres.
The indoor swimming pool, the conservatory, the panoramic restaurant, the Blue Lagoon outdoor restaurant, the Main Lounge, the Observation Lounge, the lobby… Each of the common areas has been designed to both convey French-style discreet luxury and arouse wonder and amazement. The common thread running through all their designs is the desire to allow the light to penetrate and open everything up the extraordinary polar landscapes and scenery.
This very first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by LNG has been designed with the greatest attention to detail in terms of safety and respect for the environment.
Until 245 Guests
123 staterooms & suites
215 crew members
Spa
2 restaurants
Decks
Polar Expedition
Realise your dream of adventure in the polar regions ! From your ship’s deck, aboard a Zodiac® inflatable or from land, discover the icy vastness and the fauna of Antarctica (humpback whales, seals, penguins and more) or the Arctic's fjords, glaciers and icebergs in shifting colours, not to mention the polar bears, the variety of wildlife and the special moments shared with the locals. Our team of naturalist guides share their knowledge with you during varied lectures about the fauna, the flora, the history of great explorations, geology and climatology. Thanks to its conscientiousness and to the responsible approach that is its hallmark, PONANT has been a leader and expert in cruises to these destinations for more than 20 years.