To provide you with the best possible experience, the PONANT website uses cookies. Its use means that you accept it. For more information, please refer to our personal data management policy. Learn more.
Le Commandant Charcot
Le Commandant-Charcot, the very first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by liquefied natural gas, and the latest addition to the PONANT fleet, has now made it possible to operate polar expedition cruises of a kind never before undertaken.
Until 270 Guests
135 staterooms & suites
190 crew members
Spa
2 restaurants
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.
In detail
Technical Specificity
5 Star Expeditions
From the coniferous forests of the North to the glaciers of Antarctica, from the banks of the Amazon River to the idyllic beaches of New Caledonia, from the ancient traditions of the Inuits to the millennium-old cultures of Vanuatu, discover remote corners of the earth and ways of life on board a modern, luxurious ship.
Luxury amenities…
An expedition with PONANT guarantees the best conditions of day to day comfort for you in some of the most remote places on the planet. The comfort of your ship and your cabin, personalised and attentive service, refined gastronomy... the unique atmosphere which we go to great lengths to preserve in order to stay true to our philosophy, creating that privileged feeling of being aboard one’s own private yacht. In the heart of the ice or the distant archipelagos of Oceania, our luxury amenities will make your expedition voyage an unforgettable experience.
Our expedition cruises... in the heart of extreme lands
Whether in the Polar Regions or along the Amazon River, the size of our ships and their shallow draught mean you can arrive as close as possible to these hard-to-access areas. This proximity o ers the privileged discovery of preserved sites. Our expedition teams are always on the lookout for the unexpected and the surprises inherent to these itineraries, and our flexibility enables us to adapt to these. A genuine philosophy of exploration travel.
Zodiac® shore visits and outings
During Expedition voyages, our fleet of Zodiac® make landing ashore in remote, seldom visited destinations safe and enjoyable, and enable guests to get as close as possible to ice, coral reefs, waterfalls and fauna. Our Zodiac® are designed to accommodate small groups of 10 passengers. They are easy to step on to from the marina platform at the rear of your ship. Our inclusive Zodiac® and shore excursions are unforgettable experiences, whether you are landing on a deserted beach in the Maluku islands of Indonesia, interacting with remote tribes of Papua New Guinea, or discovering the splendour of Antarctic glaciers.
Our expedition cruisesExperts
Specialists of extreme regions, these passionate and fascinating professionals will bring cultural, environmental and historical dimensions to all your outings and will be sure to keep you informed about nearby flora and fauna, local cultures and natural phenomena. As recognised professionals, a er scouting missions in the field, they organise safe outings and shore visits, taking advantage of the opportunities that arise during any expedition. Aboard the ship the pleasure continues, with a series of cultural, scientific or historical presentations.
To make sure you have a safe trip, all our captains and crew are trained on glacier navigation.
All-inclusive Expeditions
Once aboard, enjoy the adventure in total peace of mind. Everything is included: Zodiac® outings and shore visits, excursions, lectures, parkas and boot hire for polar expeditions.
During some cruises and ports of calls, optional paying excursions are offered to visit sites that can be reached only with a local infrastructure.
The common areas of Le Commandant Charcot
Le Commandant Charcot has spaces that have never been seen before in the PONANT fleet, designed and fitted out to serve all your needs and requirements whilst at the same time preserving the privacy of each passenger. They were designed by two world-renowned French architectural firms: the Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel and Wilmotte & Associés, whose design brief was to create a real connection with the surrounding landscapes. Names derived from Inuit culture to designate natural elements have been attributed to some of them as a reminder of our deep attachment to this fascinating culture.
Expeditions and conferences rooms - Deck 3
- Two dedicated expedition boarding and disembarking rooms to port and starboard.
- A conference room (Ilua - to be inside, to understand) : 30 seats
Reception - Deck 5
- A 270 m² (2,906 ft²) reception space
- The expeditions desk
- The onboard administrative services
- The sales office run by our reception and voyages manager
- The photo area : « Studio Ponant »
The theatre
Kita (let’s go) - Deck 5
- Capacity for 270 persons
- Cutting edge audio and lighting technology
- LED stage background wall enabling the projection of ultra-high resolution media
The main lounge - Deck 5
- A 313 m² (3,369 ft²) main lounge
- A 24 m² (258 ft²) cigar lounge
- A tea room and bar with a programme of live music on certain evenings
Promenade Deck - Deck 5
An uninterrupted outdoor promenade deck. This means you can walk around the entire ship and get to the bow, unlike most passenger ships.
Boutique
Illu (the igloo, the house) - Deck 5
- A range of jewellery
- A range of ready-to-wear clothing and special outdoor items suitable for the polar adventure: Moncler, The North Face, Garmin, Swarovski Optik, Vuarnet, Feelfree
- Bespoke tips and advice from experts about how to get the most out of the onboard experience and the shore excursions
- A multilingual range of publications covering each different destination: informational guides, gorgeous photographic books, novels and adventure stories, a special range for children, etc.
- Unique souvenirs so you can share the magic of the Charcot experience with others
- A range of accessories for the home
- French- and European-made products and items
The pool deck - Deck 9
- A heated indoor swimming pool with a superb skylight thanks to its large glass roof
- A sunroom with large external-facing windows
- A Detox bar with sofas and armchairs
- Blue Lagoon pools, an outdoor heated lagoon with a temperature that ranges from 27 to 37° C using recycled energy from the ship
- A giant firepit (Inneq - le feu), so you can enjoy the polar landscapes in complete comfort
- An outdoor bar (Blue Lagoon bar) where you can enjoy a varied and refined range of sweet and savoury food throughout the day (11:00-18:00)
The Observation Lounge
Anori (the wind) - Deck 9
- A bar and a 262 m² (2820 ft²) observation lounge
- Library, reading area, live entertainment on certain evenings
Wellness Lounge
Nuan (wellness / happiness) - Deck 9
- 430 m² dedicated to wellness
- Spa Biologique Recherche : 3 massage and beauty cubicles (including one double cubicle with sea view), a nail salon, 2 lounges with sea view to to wait or relax after a session
- A hair salon with Davines products
- A Sauna (Ikuma - the burning heat)
- A Snow Room (Siku - the ice) a fun and invigorating snow bath you can try out after leaving the sauna
- Gym with with sea view and TECHNOGYM machines (elliptical trainers, Kinesis®, 3 treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machine…) a dedicated coach
- A heated indoor swimming pool (Imaq - sea water) with countercurrent swimming and a superb skylight thanks to its large glass roof
- A sunroom with large external-facing windows
- A Detox bar with sofas and armchairs
The restaurants onboard Le Commandant Charcot
An essential component of French culture, gastronomy naturally has a place of honour onboard this deep polar exploration vessel.
Gastronomic Restaurant
Nuna (the earth) - Deck 5
On deck 5, you will find a 484 m² gourmet restaurant that can accommodate all of our passengers in a single service. Elegance and refinement will be at the rendezvous of your breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The ship's second bridge is located at the back of the restaurant: behind its large windows, you will have a front row seat to observe the crew during their operations.
- French and international cuisine
- Fine wine cellar
Blue Lagoon Restaurant
Sila (the sky, outside) - Deck 9
In a more relaxed atmosphere, a 320 m² restaurant located at deck 9 will welcome you for your breakfasts, buffet lunches and themed dinners.
- Indoor capacity: 142
- Outdoor capacity: 62
Exceptional suites and staterooms
On board, there are 135 suites and staterooms, ranging in size from20 to 115 m², providing warm, understated settings that look out onto the outside world. Each has a private balcony or terrace, the Le Commandant Charcot is fully in keeping with the PONANT philosophy: to provide a rare and exceptional ambiance for every passenger welcomed onboard and reinforce the feeling and sense of sailing on a private yacht.
At the rear of decks 6 and 7 are four stunning 94 m² (1,011 ft²) split-level suites equipped with private terraces and jacuzzis.
The 115 m² (1,237 ft²) Suite de l’Armateur (Shipowner's Suite) on deck 8 features wide sliding glass doors offering stunning panoramic views and opening out onto a 180 m² (1,937 ft²) private terrace.
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)
Your stateroom category
Le Commandant Charcot in pictures
See the whole gallery
See the whole gallery
Discover Le Commandant Charcot
- VIDEO
Reaching the absolute aboard Le Commandant Charcot
A polar odyssey through the ice of the Arctic and Antarctica
Discover Le Commandant Charcot
Where will you travel next aboard :
Le Commandant Charcot ?
Your account
Log in to your My Ponant account
Don't have a My Ponant account?
- View your bookings
- See your options
- Edit your preferences
Create your account
Are you a travel agent?
Access your pro spaceChange my password
Create your account
To create an account, please fill in the form below