PONANT EXPLORATIONS ' luxury icebreaker is about to reach a new milestone. In an unprecedented feat, Le Commandant Charcot will undertake a complete circumnavigation of the White Continent between January and March 2028, departing from Ushuaia.
Le Commandant Charcot will travel through remote and unexplored regions and sail along nearly 18,000 kilometers of coastline across the frozen continent, larger than Europe. Circumnavigating Antarctica is the very essence of polar exploration.
Designed specifically for expeditions in extreme environments, Le Commandant Charcot features a PC2 polar hull, enabling it to navigate polar regions while minimizing its environmental impact thanks to its hybrid electric engine powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Sailing under the Blue, White, Red flag, it adheres to the highest maritime safety and environmental standards. Its experienced crew is specially trained for ice navigation.
Le Commandant Charcot will set sail in January 2028 from Ushuaia, Argentina, heading west to Hobart, Tasmania, in 30 days. After a two-day stopover, it will set sail again for its point of origin, this time following the eastern coast of Antarctica for 34 days. This unprecedented itinerary has been designed by Captains Etienne Garcia and Patrick Marchesseau. Their experience navigating through ice at the highest latitudes, acquired while commanding ships in the PONANT EXPLORATIONS fleet, has made this new nautical dream a reality. They will jointly command Le Commandant Charcot during this exclusive voyage.
Captain Étienne Garcia commented: “The spirit of PONANT EXPLORATIONS is based on those moments of shared awe when witnessing the immense forces of nature in action. As one of the creators of this project and someone directly involved in it, I feel deeply committed to guiding guests in discovering the secrets of this new maritime route. It is a privilege to help them experience how we humbly relate to the elements—the wind, the sea, the ice—getting as close as possible to the wonders of the natural world.”
This unique, adventure-filled journey will bridge the past and the future. It will revive the legacy of the great polar explorers, those legendary figures who braved the frozen expanses. Inspired by the pioneering spirit of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot, guests will travel back in time and discover the remains of forgotten camps, silent witnesses to these incredible expeditions.
Captain Patrick Marchesseau said: “After sailing the Ross Sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot, I had the privilege of following in the footsteps of explorers Ross, Shackleton, and Amundsen, who made history at the South Pole. I was captivated by the majesty of these polar landscapes, as well as the incredible human adventures etched into them. Today, we want guests to experience the thrill of exploration through an extraordinary circumnavigation of Antarctica.”
Le Commandant Charcot is a comfortable and fully self-contained support base for all polar expeditions: Zodiac boat trips, snowshoeing excursions, kayaking, and, of course, the challenge of polar diving! It features two laboratories, one dry and one wet, equipped to collect and analyze water, ice, and air samples. A new SIMS antenna continuously measures ice thickness. Sales for this exclusive voyage are scheduled to begin in December 2025.
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
