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Antarctic Polar Circle Cruises

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Anyone who dreams of the White Continent has the ultimate goal of crossing the Antarctic Circle , following in the footsteps of the greatest explorers of the poles. The legendary invisible line is an integral part of the dream of an Antarctic getaway . When you reach 66°33' latitude, you're in a new world that only a lucky few will experience.

All about cruises Antarctic Polar Circle

The Emperor Penguins of Weddell Sea

In the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot

Unexplored Antarctica between Two Continents

Unexplored East Antarctica & French Southern Lands

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Highlights - Antarctic Circle

Seeing the legendary yet invisible line of the Antarctic Circle . is a dream come true. Here are five things you should know about it before your Antarctic cruise.

L'Essentiel du cercle polaire Antarctique

Explore Antarctic Circle

Encounter with the sentinel of Antarctica: the emperor penguin

Zoom on the Weddell Sea

66°33’49,978’’

This is the latitude of the parallel of the Antarctic Circle . It marks out and covers just about the entire Antarctic continent. However, it cuts off the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, Enderby Land and Wilkes Land.

British navigator James Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time in January 1773. The explorer even went down to 71°10' latitude south. However, he didn't get close enough to the coasts of the White Continent. He concludes that the Terra Australis was nothing more than a legend. It wasn't until 1819 and 1820 that three explorers claimed discovery of the White Continent : Russian Captain Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, British Captain Edward Bransfield and American sealer Nathaniel Palmer. However, there's no evidence that they set foot on the ice floe.

The Antarctic Treaty

The Antarctic Circle is covered by the Antarctic Treaty. This protects all territories south of the 60th parallel . It prevents any territorial claims and prohibits nuclear tests on these lands, as well as any military presence or radioactive waste disposal.

The midnight sun

During the December solstice , the sun shines for 24 consecutive hours. This is when we can observe the midnight sun. On the contrary, during the June solstice, we witness the polar night. Darkness reigns for 24 hours.

Dans notre imaginaire, les Grands Lacs américains ouvrent à des espaces infinis. De fait, les vastes forêts de conifères se patinent de teintes dorées lors de l’été indien, les immenses lacs se découpent en îles verdoyantes et en baies aux eaux turquoise, les rivières se décuplent en cascades… Avant de partir sur ces terres de légendes, voici quelques informations utiles .

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• Sailing along Shackleton Ice Shelf (Antarctica)
• The Gullet (Antarctica)
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The most epic cruise ever? What it's like traveling to the North Pole on a luxury icebreaker

Editor's Note

Our luxurious French expedition ship, Le Commandant Charcot, shudders as it plows through a thick slab of snow-covered ice.

Down below, under the mighty vessel's specially sloped bow, a 6-feet-thick sheet of "glace," as our French captain likes to call it, is cracking and sliding to the side, creating an opening that lets us glide forward.

But from my perch in the ship's elegant observation lounge, five decks above, all I can see is the white of the snow all around. It feels as if we're bumping across the top of a cloud.

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Le Commandant Charcot, the toughest expedition cruise vessel ever built, is taking me somewhere few humans have ever gone: the North Pole. And despite a few shudders, it's doing it with relative ease.

Unveiled in 2021, the 245-passenger vessel — named after a famed French polar explorer — is made for the ice like no other.

It is a true icebreaker of the sort that only governments have built until now — a vessel capable of traveling to the most remote, ice-filled parts of the polar regions, including the North Pole.

But it's also a very upscale polar vessel, with all the trappings of luxury cruise ships that operate in warmer climes. As I sit in the warmth and safety of the cozy observation lounge, writing this, I am sipping a cafe latte from French-made Pillivuyt china and nibbling on handmade croissants. Really, it feels like a dream.

But then comes another shudder to shake me out of my stupor. This is no dream.

The North Pole is only 150 miles away.

A rare voyage

As recently as 1977, no human had arrived at the North Pole by surface ship. That was the year the Russian nuclear icebreaker Arktika, with a working crew, became the first vessel to reach the world's northernmost spot, a triumph at the time.

Since then, 18 more vessels, all icebreakers and almost all government-owned, have made the journey at least once, some multiple times.

But even today, a ship-based trip to the North Pole is a rare occurrence — particularly in cases where paying passengers are involved.

In recent decades, expedition travel companies have periodically chartered space on some of Russia's working icebreakers to take adventure-minded travelers to the top of the world. But only in small numbers. And never in the style of Le Commandant Charcot.

Operated by Ponant Cruises, a French company specializing in high-end expedition-style cruises, Le Commandant Charcot is the first purpose-built expedition cruise ship capable of reaching the North Pole.

In other words, it's the first vessel designed for the comfort of tourists that offers such trips.

The journey north

Our sailing to the North Pole, just the eighth that Le Commandant Charcot has operated with paying passengers, begins in Longyearbyen, the northernmost settlement of any size in the world.

Located on the western end of the Norway-controlled Svalbard archipelago, high above the Arctic Circle, the town of 2,500 people is also one of the northernmost points in the world reachable by airplane — in our case, a chartered flight from Paris organized by Ponant — and an Arctic destination in its own right. It's famous for its northern lights and polar bears.

Alas, we don't stay long in Longyearbyen. After a quick buffet lunch in the town's banquet hall and a visit to its small museum, the 199 tourists who have signed up for this trip — an international contingent that skews heavily to wealthy Chinese and Taiwanese travelers but also includes 45 Americans, Brits and Australians — are herded to tender boats for a quick transfer to Le Commandant Charcot, which is waiting for us just offshore. Within hours, we are on our way north.

Just 819 miles from the North Pole, Longyearbyen is not far from the polar ice cap that covers the top of the planet. Twenty-four hours after departing the town, we leave open water behind and begin pushing into it.

When I was young, looking at maps of the world, I would see the giant white mass at the top representing the north polar ice cap and assume it was just like it looked on the map: One big solid sheet of ice. You were either on it or you weren't.

But it turns out that's not the way the north polar ice cap works. There is no defined edge.

As we discover on our way north, the massive sheet of ice that covers a wide swath of the Arctic Ocean isn't one big sheet at all, but a countless number of floating sheets of ice of all shapes and sizes jammed up together — tightly in some places, more loosely in others.

As our captain, Patrick Marchesseau, explains in a briefing for passengers, winds and currents constantly move the ice around, driving it into a thick pack in some areas and loosening it in others.

In many areas across the polar ice cap, these winds and currents create "leads," open lines of water through which vessels such as Le Commandant Charcot can pass without having to break ice. There are also bigger pockets of open water called polynyas.

Marchesseau aims for such water openings, not because Le Commandant Charcot can't handle plowing straight through hard ice, but because it's faster and more energy efficient to avoid doing so.

"The best way to travel through the ice is to avoid the ice," he and his officers often quip to passengers.

As a result of Marchesseau's search for leads, our journey to the North Pole isn't a straight line north from Svalbard — the most direct route as the bird flies. Instead, we head northeastward from the archipelago, cutting at an angle through an area of the ice cap where satellite images show more openings.

The roundabout route takes us eastward above Russia's Franz Josef Land before we turn true north toward the pole.

Experiencing the ice

For three days, we plow our way northward across what increasingly resembles a Rothko painting made with variations of white and gray. While the sun appears at times, the skies are mostly densely cloud-covered, resulting in a grayish-white field that fills the top of the horizon all the way down to a whiter field of snow-topped ice — the latter in turn punctured by darker gray channels of open water.

To my surprise, the ice never gets completely solid, even deep into the polar ice cap. The officers on the ship's bridge (which is open to passengers) talk about it in terms of ratios. The ice today is an "8 out of 10," they'll say, or a "9 out of 10," meaning that about 80% or 90% of the surface of the water is covered by ice.

Even as we near the North Pole, we rarely come across stretches of ice that are a "10 out of 10."

As we learn during lectures given by climate scientists and other experts on board, this is partly due to the increasing melting of the Arctic ice cap during the warmer summer months caused by the planet's warming in recent decades. Average temperatures in the Arctic have risen significantly — and thus made journeys like this easier.

But channels of open water, or leads, have long been found across the polar ice cap in the warmest months when the ice melts back. Early Arctic explorers, we learn, would use them to navigate the polar regions. They would look for "water sky" as they traveled north — the dark reflection of open water on the clouds in the distance.

They would also look for "ice blink" — a glow on the horizon caused by the reflection of snow-topped ice on the clouds.

The idea for those in ships was to strike out toward the first and avoid the latter to make a polar passage easier.

Despite all the modern equipment on the bridge of Le Commandant Charcot, Marchesseau tells me that he and his officers still read the clouds ahead to find the best path forward through the ice.

Traveling through the Arctic, particularly on a journey as far north as the North Pole, still is as much art as science.

It's also mesmerizing. For three days, Le Commandant Charcot's passengers spend hours gazing out over the ever-changing floes of ice, which stretch as far as the eye can see in every direction.

It is an otherwordly landscape, both magnificent and terrifying in its emptiness — a part of the world so removed from our normal experience that it might as well be the moon.

Arriving at the North Pole

All around Le Commandant Charcot are digital screens that show the vessel's latitude and other live data from the bridge. As the number gets closer to 90 degrees north — the top of the world — the excitement on the ship grows.

Each degree of latitude represents 60 nautical miles, and as we plow through the last degree of distance, Marchesseau begins counting down the gap in regular updates from the bridge: 30 miles to go, 20, 10, 5.

For the last couple of miles, he calls everyone to the bow of the ship, where the moody theme song from "Interstellar" blasts from loudspeakers — a nod to the great distance we have come. From there, we can see him up in the bridge, maneuvering us forward at a crawl as he watches his instruments.

At first, he overshoots the pole by a few hundred feet, tipping over the top of the world toward Siberia. Then he reverses and overshoots again, this time by just dozens of feet. Pushing forward again, he finally hits it on the nose. He blows the ship's ear-splitting horn, and a cheer echoes across the ice.

We are there. The North Pole. The point where all longitude lines in the world converge. A place where even time is indeterminate, as it's in every time zone at once.

What follows is a decktop celebration with a level of French flair that only could be done on Le Commandant Charcot. It includes Champagne and caviar arriving via the giant lift typically reserved for the ship's helicopter, which is stored one deck below.

Marchesseau then drives the ship firmly into the ice, and within a couple of hours, after a quick dinner, we are disembarking through a side door to take our first steps off the vessel.

We giddily take pictures next to a sign labeled "North Pole" that our expedition guides have brought along for the occasion. We walk a perimeter marked off around the vessel, protected by rifle-carrying lookouts scanning the horizon for polar bears. (The rifles are only to be used as a last resort.) We make snow angels in the ground and sip hot chocolate at a warming station the crew sets up on the ice.

But, amazingly enough, it's just an appetizer for what proves for many to be the day's biggest excitement: the spotting of a polar bear.

It happens just minutes after we return to the ship, and the bear saunters right up to the vessel, clearly curious.

Two hundred cameras fire in unison.

A day at the North Pole

The next day is set aside for a longer exploration of our surroundings.

Emerging from Le Commandant Charcot in the morning, we discover that the ship's expedition guides have laid out snowshoes, cross-country skis and sleds near the ship's door for romping around the ice.

A mailbox also has appeared, from which we can "mail" letters marked to say they came from the North Pole. Plus, the North Pole sign is back, drawing a never-ending stream of selfie-takers, along with two more signs marking the distance to various points around the world.

At one level, it's like a North Pole-themed carnival attraction. It's a little cheesy, for sure. But maybe it's just right for this Instagram age; even on an epic, perhaps life-changing trip, you must come back with photos, or it doesn't count.

Like many of the passengers on board, I give the snowshoes a try, strapping them on and playing polar explorer in a "hike" around a relatively narrow perimeter line that our expedition guides have set up around the ship — really just a short walk.

Related: I just snowshoed at the North Pole — here's how you can, too

The sighting of the polar bear the night before, coupled with low visibility, has the guides skittish about letting us wander too far from the vessel. But our playing field is large enough to give me a taste of this icy and barren outpost far from anything.

And, yes, I get the selfie.

But I also try to soak it all in, the enormity of what I am experiencing.

As I walk, I push myself to take in the scene with all my senses: the sound of the snow crunching under my feet, the sting of the Arctic air on my face, the white-on-white vista where the clouds meet the snow.

That I am here at all seems impossible. When I was born in 1969, this spot on the map was still considered the exclusive realm of only the most adventurous explorers. In fact, the first confirmed arrival at the North Pole by an expedition team on foot — the British Trans-Arctic Expedition team — didn't take place until the year I was born.

In contrast to the handful of days it takes us to reach the North Pole and return to civilization, it took that expedition, led by Sir Wally Herbert, 476 days to get to the pole and back.

Yet here I was, a tourist with no explorer bonafides, tromping around the North Pole, having arrived in warmth and comfort in mere days on a modern and luxurious cruise vessel— albeit a tough one.

Around the world

Our visit to the North Pole is, alas, over almost as soon as it begins. We spend just one night lodged in the ice at the top of the world. Twenty-four hours after we arrive, we are gliding back south.

That is, only after our mischievous captain, Marchesseau, takes us on one final adventure — a "trip around the world."

Returning the ship to the exact spot of the North Pole (which has moved several miles during the day, as polar ice is always drifting), he drives us in a large circle, hitting every latitude line and time zone in just shy of 12 minutes.

It is, he jokes, the fastest trip around the world ever.

Luxury in the Arctic

As we return south through the ice toward Svalbard, passengers settle back into our luxurious surroundings aboard Le Commandant Charcot.

Unlike any other vessel that has traveled across the polar ice cap, it has all the elements of the most elegant hotels on land: spacious suites, stylish lounges, fine dining and a spa.

Le Commandant's main restaurant, Nuna, notably has a menu designed by Alain Ducasse, the famed French chef.

There also are more crew members on the vessel (201) than passengers, something that is almost unheard of in the world of cruising. As a result, the service is high-level.

As you might expect for such a high-end vessel, Le Commandant Charcot also has a price point that might shock some.

Fifteen-night sailings to the North Pole on the ship start at a sky-high $46,450 per person, based on double occupancy. (That is, it'll cost you $92,900 or more per couple for a cabin.)

While a princely sum, for sure, such a fare is not all that unusual for an icebreaker trip to the North Pole. Even the expedition travel companies that chartered spartan Russian icebreakers for such voyages in the past charged $35,000 per person or more.

Icebreakers, it turns out, are extremely expensive to build, and Ponant needs to recoup its cost. Part of what you're paying for is where this ship can get you.

Among the indulgences of Le Commandant Charcot is a contingent of 18 expedition guides, or nearly one for every 10 passengers. They are experts in ornithology, geology, biology and more; some are kayak and hiking guides. As we sail through the ice, they offer daily lectures on what we see around us, from the polar bear to the cracking ice.

It turns out that Le Commandant Charcot isn't just a floating luxury hotel for the Arctic; it's a continuing education classroom at sea, too.

This is, for sure, all a bit incongruous: luxury and learning in one of the world's harshest places.

As one of the lecturers points out, not many years ago, people were dying trying to reach this place where we now travel with such comfort and ease.

A final taste of the ice

After departing the North Pole, Le Commandant Charcot spends nearly three days working its way back south through the ice to Svalbard. But the trip isn't over.

Ponant had built a large number of days into its initial North Pole sailings as it wasn't sure just how fast Le Commandant Charcot would be able to travel through the ice. It turned out to be more days than needed.

With days to spare, Marchesseau points the vessel toward some of the most remote parts of glacier-covered Svalbard for exploring, including far-flung Kvitoya island, where passengers ogle polar bears along the shore from the safety of Zodiac boats, and the northeastern coast of Spitsbergen, where they land by Zodiac to walk the edge of the giant Vaigatbreen glacier.

Three days of impromptu Svalbard exploring also brings walrus spotting at ice-covered Wahlbergoya island and an epic morning of kayaking and zodiac cruising along calving Lilliehookbreen glacier on Spitsbergen's west coast. After a day sailing westward across the Greenland Sea, there's also an afternoon stop for hiking and kayaking along the mountainous and glacier-covered coast of Greenland before the trip ends in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Together, the visits to Svalbard and Greenland offer an ice experience different from our days weaving through the north polar ice cap.

Still, for me and the other passengers on board, it's all secondary. On this trip, we stood at the top of the world — and nothing else could ever compare.

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Polar Voyages with Ponant

“The poles are more than just mere destinations, they govern our existence”

 – Captain Patrick Marchesseau & Captain Etienne Garcia

The polar regions are incredible areas of our planet that have the ability to create huge feelings of awe and wonder for all that visit, leaving an everlasting mark upon each individual. However, visits to the polar regions have far more meaning than simply to observe the amazing wildlife and landscapes.

High latitude areas of the planet such as the Arctic and Antarctica undergo the consequences of climate change far sooner and far more intensely than other areas of the planet; because of this, constant observations are required for us to better understand these effects and how they impact our fragile ecosystems.

Since the inception of polar tourism in the 1930s, visits to these areas have played a huge role in the understanding and protection of the polar regions and has proven to be a crucial element of research. Due to the inaccessibility of the polar regions, the implementation of permanent research facilities poses great logistical, material and financial challenges – this is where polar tourism with Ponant can relieve these challenges. The regular rotation of expedition ships allows scientific projects to be rolled out across different areas and provides an opportunity for scientists to collect long- term targeted data.

Ponant have been involved with this effort from the beginning by taking scientists and naturalist guides onboard the ships to showcase their expertise and share their experience with passengers. A journey to the polar regions should be a memorable and fascinating voyage that leaves you with a deep connection to the area – in other words, it makes you an ambassador for these precious areas. One way that Ponant has helped travelers to the polar regions become ambassadors is onboard Le Commandant Charcot , the latest ship in the Ponant fleet. This deep polar exploration cruise ship features onboard research facilities including wet and dry labs, sonars and beacon-buoys allowing scientists to gain vital data for research.

Travelers to the polar regions have the opportunity to get involved with the research onboard, these are known as citizen science workshops and are organized by the scientists and naturalist guides on the ship. These workshops allow passengers to collect data that is then used and published by researchers in areas such as phytoplankton sampling, cloud observation for NASA and marine mammal identification.

A fascinating example of this is Happy Whale , a forum where travellers can upload photographs of whales and they are identified and shared among the Happy Whale community. Taking part in these amazing opportunities allows you to gain knowledge and understanding surrounding the scientific approaches used in research and provides you with a firsthand experience of the daily life of a researcher.

Everyone who goes on a polar cruise returns as an ambassador for the regions with a deep understanding of the need to protect these fragile areas.

Obviously, a journey to these amazing places would not be complete without the opportunity to explore and observe the wildlife and landscapes that make these destinations the truly incredible places that they are, but why not enhance your journey by taking part in the citizen science projects available and be a part of the much needed research while onboard.

Find out more about Ponant here.

Want to experience this? Give the Panache Cruises team a call on 0161 513 8200   and they'd be happy to help!

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The Arctic Cruises

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Kangerlussuaq, Grundarfjörður, Longyearbyen, Kivitoo… If there are any town and village names that truly evoke the Far North , it's those of Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Canada.

The scenery in this part of the world is simply spectacular. Icebergs, sea ice and volcanic mountain landscapes extend as far as the eye can see. And amidst it all roams the polar bear, king of the Arctic, in complete peace and tranquillity. To take an Arctic cruise is to allow yourself to be transported to a world where man is simply a spectator and nature reigns supreme.

All about cruises The Arctic

Norway, between the Scandinavian peninsula and the High Arctic

From Scotland to Spitsbergen

Northeast Greenland's unexplored sea ice

Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen

Alaska, nature on a grand scale

Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice – with Smithsonian Journeys

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Our cruises The Arctic

Northwest passage, spitsbergen, russian arctic, canadian arctic, northeast passage, reasons to discover the arctic.

It is said to be mythical, or at least as much as its opposite, the Antarctic. Only rarely do we get to know its most isolated regions. That is what makes it so appealing And yet, the Arctic includes eight countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Iceland) and many more marvels to discover. Here are three reasons to go to the Arctic.

Must-dos — the Arctic

A cruise in the Arctic is a golden opportunity to combine a dream of adventure with unique encounters, in a grandiose setting. From Greenland to Spitsbergen, from the Arctic Canada to Iceland, these are the must-dos in the Far North.

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3 reasons to discover the Arctic

To meet the local communities

Spread over Greenland, Alaska and Canada, the Inuit have been perpetuating their traditions for more than 4,000 years. In the frozen vastness of the Far North, their ancestral way of life deserves our greatest respect. Their lives are organised around the level of the tides and the condition of the ice floe while their activities are focused on hunting and fishing. They are skilled craftsmen producing veritable works of art by sculpting walrus or narwhal tusks and working the furs and skins of marine mammals. Mindful of passing on their heritage, the Inuit welcome travellers with kindness, happily sharing their customs, traditional dancing and music.

To discover grandiose nature

In the heart of the ice of the Far North and the primary forests of Alaska, the Arctic unveils its majestic landscapes. Colossal icebergs drift in deafening silence, glaciers alternate with the ice floe, impressive geysers and volcanos reach towards the sky, and the lakes, rivers and conifer forests stretch as far as the eye can see… All are home to exceptional fauna. In the waters of Spitsbergen or Baffin Bay, humpback whales, finbacks, narwhals, orcas and seals put on a breathtaking show. On land, we observe polar bears, walruses, musk oxen, Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer with emotion. In the air, countless bird species, including Arctic terns, puffins, sea eagles, gannets and bald eagles share the horizon.

To follow in the footsteps of the great explorers

Historically, the Arctic has attracted intrepid explorers in search of adventure. From the territory of Ultima Thule, the mythical kingdom of the Vikings, to the North Pole, men have surpassed themselves. They defied the elements and pushed all the boundaries. We still talk today of the exploits of James Cook, who sailed the coasts of Alaska in 1778, Roald Amundsen, the first man to traverse the Northwest Passage in 1905, and Paul-Emile Victor. The latter set off for the first time in 1934 with the famous Jean-Baptiste Charcot, heading for Greenland. In 1936, he crossed it from the west to the east, on dog sleds! He then spent 14 months alone with an Inuit family in Kangerlussuaq. His account served to bring to light these populations and their traditions, little-known in Europe until then.

Watching whales in Greenland

While its name comes from the Icelandic, Groenland, meaning “green land”, it is above all an island at “the end of the world” , where grandiose nature offers up unique shows. Among these, the dance of the marine mammals in the icy waters procures a rare emotion. Eight species of whales can be found here at various periods of the year. Humpback whales, blue whales and other finbacks share this wild habitat with orcas, seals and narwhals.

Following the tracks of the polar bears in Spitsbergen

Above the 78th parallel north, Spitsbergen also appears like a land at the end of the world. The last island before the North Pole , Spitsbergen unveils craggy coastlines that melt into a sea of ice. In the heart of these white landscapes and these preserved places, the polar bear is known as a great predator and reigns supreme over the ice floe . The population of polar bears in the Arctic is estimated at 20,000 animals. The reindeer and the Arctic fox are the only two other land mammals to share its territory.

Admiring the Kirkjufell Volcano in Iceland

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is on the west coast of Iceland, around 170 km from Reykjavik. It is home to the small town of Grundarfjörður in a panorama dominated by the Kirkjufell Volcano . Surrounded by water, it is a perfect representation of the Icelandic landscape. Streams criss-cross the landscape while waterfalls give it a touch of mystery. The lava flow accumulated at its summit, dating back several million years, lends the site an almost surreal aura .

Visiting the Aleutian Islands

These islands form a string of volcanic confetti over almost 2,000 kilometres, between the United States and Russia. Located south-west of Alaska, the Aleutian Islands symbolize an extraordinary end of the world: they represent the emerged part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Here, every island is a volcano crowned with ice; the landscapes composed of tundra, and carpeted with wild flowers and lichens, stretch as far as the eye can see. In these preserved surroundings, the wild fauna is exceptionally varied: it is common to observe whales and orcas, while more than 200 bird species have been recorded there.

Traversing the Northwest Passage like a real explorer

The hypothesis of a waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, via the north of Canada, was formulated as early as 1497. A number of sailors sent from Europe or North America attempted to find this passage… After many tragedies and exploits, the Norwegian Roald Amundsen was ultimately the first to succeed in 1906. Set off to follow the footsteps of these explorers, well beyond the polar circle , for a truly unique experience. The passage is only accessible during the short Arctic summer. For the rest of the year, ice prevents any navigation.

Discovering the Sea of Okhotsk

Nicknamed “the hunters’ sea”, the Sea of Okhotsk is considered to have the most abundant fish population in the world, and was highly prized by whalers from the United States in the 19th century. Sailors didn’t hesitate to embark on three-year voyages via Cape Horn in the hope of capturing precious whales to sell their oil to the highest bidder. Today, grey whales prosper peacefully, just like the rest of the rich fauna to be found here: ribbon seals, numerous bird species, Steller’s sea eagles, brown bears, sea lions, seals have wonderful surprises in store for you in this remote part of the Russian Far East.

Sailing in Baffin Bay

Between the western coast of Greenland and the east of Arctic Canada, Baffin Bay is one of the most secret seas on the planet. The North Magnetic Pole is found here, between expanses of icy waters, icebergs, glaciers and gigantic fjords. As if to add to the magic of this fabulous setting, the wild fauna offers a grandiose show. Humpback whales, polar bears, walruses and migratory birds have taken up residence here. To sail Baffin Bay is to find an original beauty that very few places on earth have conserved.

• 14th July Glacier, Spitzbergen (Svalbard)
• 14th July Glacier, Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
• Aappilattoq (Augpilatok) (Greenland)
• Akpatok Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Akulleq (Greenland)
• Akureyri (Iceland)
• Alert Bay (Canada)
• Alesund (Norway)
• Alkefjellet Cliff, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Alta (Norway)
• Ammassalik Region (Greenland)
• At sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot
• At sea along Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Baffin Bay exploration
• Banks Island (Canada)
• Battle Harbour (Canada)
• Beechey Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Belfast, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)
• Bellot Strait (Canada)
• Bellsund, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Bergen (Norway)
• Blosseville Coast (Greenland)
• Boltodden, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Bronnoysund (Norway)
• Callanish, Outer Hebrides (United Kingdom)
• Cap-aux-Meules, Magdalen Islands (Canada)
• Cape Farvel Passage (Greenland)
• Cape York (Greenland)
• College Fjord, Alaska
• Coningham Bay, Nunavut (Canada)
• Corner Brook (Canada)
• Crossing Belle Isle Strait (Canada)
• Crossing the Bering Strait
• Devon Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Disko Bay (Greenland)
• Djúpivogur (Iceland)
• EastFjords (Iceland)
• Edinburgh Island, Nunavut (Canada)
• Elfin Cove, Alaska (United States)
• Endicott Arm, Alaska (United States)
• Evighedsfjorden (Greenland)
• Exploration of Ammassalik Region (Greenland)
• Exploration of Ittoqqortoormiit Region (Greenland)
• Exploration of North-East Greenland (Greenland)
• Exploring sea ice in Beaufort Sea
• Exploring sea ice of Northwest Passage
• Exploring the Blosseville Coast (Greenland)
• Eysturoy Island, Faroe Islands (Faroe Islands)
• Fort William (United Kingdom)
• Fury Beach, Nunavut (Canada)
• Gaspé (Canada)
• Geographic North Pole
• Gjesvaer (Norway)
• Gjoa Haven, Nunavut (Canada)
• Glasgow, Scotland (United Kingdom)
• Gnalodden, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Grinnell Glacier, Nunavut (Canada)
• Grundarfjördur (Iceland)
• Grímsey (Iceland)
• Haines, Alaska (United States)
• Hammerfest (Norway)
• Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar (Iceland)
• Holman (Ulukhaktok)  (Canada)
• Honningsvag (Norway)
• Hornsund (Norway)
• Hornvika (Norway)
• Hvalso (Greenland)
• Icy Arm Fjord (Canada)
• Idabukta, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Igaliku (Greenland)
• Ikka Fjord (Greenland)
• Inside passage
• Iona, Hebrides (United Kingdom)
• Isabella Bay, Ninginganiq National Wildlife Area (Canada)
• Isafjördur (Iceland)
• Isbukta, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Isfjorden (Norway)
• Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands (United Kingdom)
• Itilleq (Greenland)
• Ittoqqortoormiit Region (Greenland)
• Ivigtut (Greenland)
• Jan Mayen Island, Svalbard (Norway)
• Jesse Harbour (Canada)
• Kake, Alaska (United States)
• Kangerlussuaq (Greenland)
• King Frederick VI Coast (Greenland)
• King Island, Alaska (United States)
• King Point, Yukon (Canada)
• Kirkwall, Orkney (United Kingdom)
• Kongsfjorden (King Bay), Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Kuannit Coast (Greenland)
• Kujalleq Glacier (Greenland)
• Kullorsuaq (Greenland)
• L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland (Canada)
• La Baie (Saguenay) (Canada)
• Lakselv (Norway)
• Lerwick, Shetland Islands (United Kingdom)
• Liefdefjorden (Norway)
• Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Magnetic North Pole
• Melville Bay (Greenland)
• Metlakatla, Alaska (United States)
• Miquelon Island, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)
• Misty Fjords, Alaska (United States)
• Monaco Glacier, Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
• Montreal (Canada)
• Mousa Broch, Shetland Islands (United Kingdom)
• Nachvak Fjord, Torngat Mountains National Park (Canada)
• Nain (Canada)
• Nanortalik (Greenland)
• Narsalik (Greenland)
• Narsaq (Greenland)
• Narsaq Fjord (Greenland)
• Navigating through the sea ice
• Newfoundland (Canada)
• Nome, Alaska (United States)
• Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norway)
• Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park (Norway)
• North Arm fjord, Nunavut (Canada)
• Nuuk (Greenland)
• Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Oban, Scotland (United Kingdom)
• Orpit (Greenland)
• Paul-Émile Victor Base Camp, Eqi Glacier (Greenland)
• Petersburg, Alaska (United States)
• Point Adolphus, Alaska (United States)
• Pond Inlet, Nunavut (Canada)
• Prins Christian Sund (Greenland)
• Qaqortoq (Greenland)
• Qeqertarsuaq (Greenland)
• Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut (Canada)
• Québec (Canada)
• Raudfjorden, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Reine, Lofoten (Norway)
• Reinoya Island (Norway)
• Reykjavík (Iceland)
• Rigolet (Canada)
• Sailing River Saint Lawrence and going through its locks (Canada)
• Sailing Saguenay River (Canada)
• Sailing Saint Lawrence Gulf (Canada)
• Sailing along Bjornoya (Bear Island) (Norway)
• Sailing along Faroe Islands Coasts
• Sailing around Surtsey Island (Iceland)
• Sailing in Beaufort Sea
• Sailing in Porsangerfjorden (Norway)
• Sailing in Trollfjorden (Norway)
• Sailing in the Geiranger Fjord (Norway)
• Sailing in the Hardangerfjord (Norway)
• Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait (Norway)
• Sailing in the Johnstone Strait
• Sailing in the Lancaster Sound (Canada)
• Sailing in the Prince William Sound
• Sailing on Loch Linnhe (United Kingdom)
• Sailing through the Denmark Strait
• Sailing toward the ice floes
• Saint Pierre Island, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)
• Saint-John's, Newfoundland (Canada)
• Sam Ford Fjord, Nunavut (Canada)
• Savissivik (Greenland)
• Scoresby Sound (Greenland)
• Sept-Îles (Canada)
• Sermilik Fjord (Greenland)
• Seward, Alaska (United States)
• Signehamna, Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
• Sisimiut (Greenland)
• Sitka, Alaska (United States)
• Skagway, Alaska (United States)
• Skarsvag (Norway)
• Skjoldungen (Greenland)
• Smeerenburg, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Smoking Hills (Canada)
• Smola (Norway)
• Soraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norway)
• Stornoway, Hebrides (United Kingdom)
• Storoya, Svalbard (Svalbard)
• Streymoy Island, Faroe Islands (Faroe Islands)
• Suduroy Island, Faroe Islands (Faroe Islands)
• Tadoussac (Canada)
• Tasermiut Fjord (Greenland)
• Tasiilaq (Greenland)
• Texas Bar, Liefdefjorden (Norway)
• Thule Region (Greenland)
• Toronto (Canada)
• Tromso (Norway)
• Tsaa Fjord, Icy Bay, Alaska (United States)
• Uummannaq (Greenland)
• Vancouver (Canada)
• Wahlbergoya (Norway)

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Home Trends Inspiration Blogs 4 Ways To Enjoy A Polar Cruise With Ponant

4 Ways to Enjoy a Polar Cruise With PONANT

By Tully Luxury Travel | 05-24-2023 |

Cruise Antarctica

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W ith 12 ships operating under the French flag, PONANT has a spirited flair for luxury sailing, mixing ingenuity with true grit. The first French cruise ship, the three-masted yacht Le Ponant , launched in 1991. Since then, the cruise line has grown by leaps and bounds, all the way to the 2021 launch of Le Commandant Charcot , the world's only luxury icebreaker and the first ship to feature a Polar Class 2 icebreaking hull – second only to research and military vessels. With a similar design to ships in the PONANT Explorer series, Le Commandant Charcot is larger and more powerful, equipped with a hybrid propulsion system that uses electricity and liquefied natural gas. And she is eager to see you sailing to the top or bottom of the world – and back, of course.

Check the geographic North Pole off your list.

According to a recent article published in Robb Report, the Le Commandant Charcot is a "six-star hotel mated to a massive, 492-foot ice-breaking hull, making it the only passenger ship capable of reaching 90 degrees North latitude, otherwise known as the geographic North Pole."

We agree wholeheartedly. Six unique PONANT cruises head to the North Pole, from 15 to 20 days, leaving from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, or Nome, Alaska. This is a silent, frozen world of breathtaking beauty, displaying many different forms of ice and an endless show of light and landscape. Le Commandant Charcot is your luxury home base, complete with 123 luxury suites, a spa and indoor pool, a 279-seat theater, a cigar and cognac room, and Nuna restaurant, headed up by a Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse.

Sail well across the legendary Antarctic Circle.

It’s a distinction very few people can claim – Le Commandant Charcot dips below the Antarctic Circle on four voyages. Le Commandant Charcot is the only passenger ship that is able to cruise along the coast below the Antarctic peninsula due to its PC-2 icebreaker hull. Antartica is a dream world unto its own, a glistening, otherworldly realm of icebergs and glaciers, penguins and whales. PONANT's Unexplored Antarctica – Between Two Continents itinerary in particular is especially exciting, following in the footsteps of the great explorers with an unrivaled half-circumnavigation of Antarctica all the way to New Zealand. Cross the world’s southernmost seas, explore remote islands, witness extraordinary wildlife and be part of the history of the conquest of the South Pole.

Take a polar ski-trek across northern Greenland.

Complete immersion in the far north can be yours when you explore the Land of the People in full Midnight Sun on a two-day, one-night Nordic skiing polar trek across the icy expanse of northeast Greenland. Offered on four PONANT cruises in the company of an Inuit guide, scouted in cooperation with the local populations, this adventure is mind-blowingly unique, a taste of true exploration – just like the early peoples and the visiting explorers. Guests leave the ship and explore the destination fully, connecting with the local people and their culture.

Dive deep with new Smithsonian Journeys.

PONANT has partnered with Smithsonian Journeys, the travel arm of the Smithsonian Institution, to create themed sailing itineraries anchored to local cultures. These 36 different voyages – onboard ten different PONANT ships – reveal the history, cuisine, language, environment and wildlife of destinations throughout the globe, with world-class experts lending a real understanding of each location. This is why each Smithsonian Journeys departure has two Smithsonian Journeys experts onboard to offer lectures and engage with guests.

Your Tully Luxury Travel Designer can help you select the perfect PONANT cruise. Get in touch today to find out how easy it is to sink into the storied rarity of French luxury cruising – et bon voyage.

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Luxury Cruises

Un new art of travel with PONANT

Discerning travellers seeking exclusive and moving experiences, spectacular landscapes and authentic encounters are invited to set sail on a luxury cruise with PONANT, where the joys of sailing are combined with exploration, contemplation and relaxation. A PONANT cruise promises adventures with a personal touch, guided by an experienced and passionate crew.

Full steam ahead for the Far North:a luxury cruise in the Arctic

Set off to discover the Arctic , the fascinating and challenging region of the first polar explorers, aboard our high-end ships , where everything is focused on luxury, comfort, refinement and intimacy. Outside, a myriad of fjords, sea ice, icebergs and glaciers – the favoured realms of whales, walruses, reindeer and polar bears – are just waiting to be admired.

Head to the largest desert in the world: a luxury cruise in Antarctica

Set off on an adventure to the vast expanses of the White Continent, following in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen and Jean-Baptiste Charcot. A land of adventure and science , Antarctica is encircled by the vast Southern Ocean and preserves countless fascinating and mysterious natural wonders. Subglacial streams and lakes, thousand-year-old volcanoes and mountains, windswept dry valleys, and more: these breathtaking polar landscapes are home to incredible wildlife, which includes petrels and albatrosses, Adélie, gentoo and Emperor penguins, leopard seals, whales and dolphins.

Explore the wonderlands of the Med: a luxury cruise in the Mediterranean

Revisit the Mediterranean and its incredible historical and natural treasures. Stimulate your senses by sampling the culinary delights of unspoilt regions and enjoy the quality of a luxury ship designed for travelling in the sun , with large windows, an underwater lounge, a heated seawater pool and relaxing spa treatments.

Raise awareness, preserve and respect

PONANT also works with international NGOs via its foundation to preserve ecosystems worldwide.

And it fully complies with international standards and best practices in polar environments to guarantee that these sensitive ecosystems are preserved.

These commitments are set out in PONANT’s ethics charter, which it is eager to share with its passengers in an effort to raise awareness.  

Photo credits: ©StudioPONANT / Ophelie Bleunven/ Gwenvaël Engel; ©PONANT / Julien Fabro

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24 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The World's Most Luxurious Cruises

Posted: May 15, 2024 | Last updated: May 15, 2024

Sumptuous escapes at sea

Some Oceania Cruises suites have walk-in closets and grand pianos

No expense has been spared when it comes to suite decor on luxury ships. For ultimate opulence, opt for the Owner’s suites which you’ll find on Oceania Cruises ' ships. These cover 1,991 square feet, have two walk-in closets and entrance foyers with a grand piano and a mahogany bar. A 15-day Svalbard & Arctic Passage cruise with accommodation in the Grand Owner’s suite costs from $23,044 per person.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer had a big design budget

We’re increasingly seeing bigger budgets for ships’ decor. Huge amounts of cash are being splashed on sprucing up interiors, and one example of this decadence is Regent Seven Seas Cruises ' Seven Seas Explorer, which has 473 Swedish-designed chandeliers, 45,876 square feet of marble, Versace-designed dinnerware, crystal glasses from Eastern Europe and a $12 million art collection which includes several Picassos.

Orient Express is set to launch a seriously luxurious ship

After launching the world’s most luxurious train 140 years ago, Orient Express will launch an opulent ship to match. Orient Express Silenseas, which will take to the waves in 2026, will have 54 suites (including a 15,231-square-foot Presidential Suite), two swimming pools, two restaurants and a speakeasy bar. Oh, and a recording studio. Prices are to be confirmed (but will inevitably be eye-watering).

Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend offers themed suites

Sail on Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend and you can book a suite inspired by exotic destinations and hotels. We recommend the suite inspired by the Sea Island resort in Georgia. Expect ocean-inspired colourways and plenty of sea-glass green. A Treasures of the Greek Isles cruise with Windstar starts from $3,745 per person.

There are butlers onboard with a Silversea cruise

Book a sailing with  Silversea  and you’re guaranteed your own butler. They'll be on hand to help with everything from the unpacking of luggage to the opening of the Champagne bottles. They’re not just any butlers, either – they’ve undertaken a 108-point training programme created for the cruise line by the London-based School for Butlers. An 11-day Mediterranean Cruise in 2024 costs from $8,092 per person.

You can go beneath the ocean's surface with Scenic Cruises

An abundance of onboard kit means that luxury ships don’t just help passengers get to the world’s most remote places – they help them get below the waves and into the skies too. Take Scenic Cruises – their Scenic Eclipse ship recently became the first vessel to offer both helicopter flights and submarine dives in the Canadian Arctic. An Antarctica in Depth cruise costs from $16,310 per person.

Seven Seas Grandeur has in-suite spas

Love a session in the spa but value your personal space? Book Regent Seven Seas Cruises ’ Regent Suite, which you’ll find on Seven Seas Grandeur, due to launch in November 2023. Highlights include the two enormous bedrooms and the whirlpool bath on the balcony, although the pièce de resistance is the suite’s very own spa retreat.

You can sleep under the stars with the SeaDream Yacht Club

Set sail on one of SeaDream Yacht Club ’s yacht-style vessels and you’ll be able to spend a night under the stars. At night, staff transform the upper deck’s huge Balinese day beds by adding luxurious bed linens and fluffy pillows, allowing you to drift off to the sound of the ocean. Expect to pay around $3,700 for a seven-day cruise.

SeaDream Yacht Club has one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios at sea

Some cruise lines offer boats on boats

Zodiacs – small, fast boats carried on ships – make it easy to explore different landscapes, whether it’s the frozen tundra or the Galapagos’ wildlife-dotted islands. Special mentions go to Quark , which uses environmentally friendly four-stroke engine zodiacs; Silversea , famous for its expert-led zodiac excursions, and AE Expeditions – the line’s new expedition ship Sylvia Earle has 15 zodiacs. A seven-day Spitsbergen sailing with Quark costs from $5,547.

Aurora Expeditions and AE Expeditions ships have science laboratories onboard

If peering at distant shorelines through binoculars doesn’t cut it, sign up for a sailing with Aurora Expeditions or AE Expeditions . AE Expeditions ships have tech-filled laboratories and lecture theaters, making it easy to gain new perspectives on the destinations in question. Guests can contribute to a wide range of research projects, including ones relating to micro-plastics and sea life. A 15-day Svalbard In Depth sailing starts from $12,137 per person.

You can have your very own Dom Perignon Experience on Oceania Cruises’ Vista ship

Is spaciousness a priority? Consider Oceania Cruises . Their newest ship Vista (which set sail in May 2023) is tipped as having the largest entry-level staterooms at sea (280 square feet, if you were wondering). We’re equally excited about the Dom Perignon Experience – during this six-course extravaganza you’ll sip Dom Perignon Champagnes chosen to suit the various dishes. A 10-day Bangkok to Singapore cruise starts from $5,335 per person.

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Flora has a stargazing platform

Celebrity Cruises ’ Celebrity Flora, which has space for just 100 passengers and is based permanently in the Galapagos Islands, is a pint-sized ship that can effortlessly access the areas other vessels can’t reach. But our favorite feature is the stargazing platform. Head here for stargazing sessions led by the ship’s onboard astronomer. You’ll pay from $7,796 for a Galapagos Inner Loop sailing on Celebrity Flora.

The naming ceremonies are often spectacular

Simply swinging a bottle against the side of a ship is so passé. In January 2023 Viking christened new luxury ship Viking Neptune. The ship’s godmother Nicole Stott (a retired NASA astronaut) used a traditional Viking broad ax to cut the rope, which sent a bottle of fizz smashing into the ship. A 13-day Mediterranean Odyssey cruise with Viking costs $5,911.

Your Abercrombie & Kent guide might be a famous explorer

Abercrombie & Kent Luxury Expedition Cruises – previously known as Crystal Cruises – are famous for their onboard experts. The cruise line’s expedition leaders include explorer James McClintock, recipient of the Antarctica Service Medal, and former Royal Marine Commando Russ Manning, who served as base commander in the South Orkneys and earned the Polar Medal. A 14-night Arctic Cruise Adventure with Abercrombie & Kent costs from $17,922.

You no longer have to wear a ball gown to dinner

You can ride on a magic carpet with Celebrity Cruises

Okay, not the type ridden by Aladdin. We’re talking about Celebrity Cruises’ Magic Carpet – a cantilevered platform which appears to float in thin air, and which glides up and down the side of Celebrity Edge, one of the cruise line’s most luxurious ships. Depending on what level it stops at, the Magic Carpet can become a restaurant, bar or nightclub, although the one constant is breathtaking views.

There are luxury ships you can live on

Dread disembarkation day? Why not simply stay onboard? No, we’re not suggesting claiming squatters’ rights at the end of your cruise, but splashing out on a cabin on  The World , described by its owners as a luxury private residence at sea. There are 165 residences available for purchase and the ship sails around the planet – in 2023 it will visit South Asia, the Middle East, the Iberian Peninsula, Greenland, South America and Antarctica. Some residents live on the ship full-time, while others visit throughout the year, and residences start at around $1.2m.

Luxury cruise lines can be fully all-inclusive too

You can feast on cuisine prepared by Michelin-starred chefs

You can learn firsthand about the Polar regions

Luxury cruise lines are going all out to provide fascinating insights into the explorers who first mapped these regions. In 2024, Scenic will launch several East Antarctic cruises focusing on the routes taken by explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. If you sail through the Arctic on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot (the world’s only luxury ice breaker), a team of 23 polar experts will help you gain a whole new perspective on these remote regions.

There’s designer decor on Oceania Cruises’ Vista ship

SeaDream Yacht Club offer a ‘Champagne & Caviar Splash’

You need to book well in advance

If you’re planning on a bucket list-worthy sailing on one of the more luxurious ships, you’ll need to bag your spot early on. Take  Azamara’s World Voyage , a 155-night, 37-country sailing which takes place in 2024 and is currently sold out (there’s a waiting list of passengers hoping for cancellations). Luckily, spots on the 2025 World Voyage are still available – if you’ve got a minimum of $42,622 to spare.

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The small-ship cruise line breaking the ice on luxury polar expeditions

Kayaking Storo Island, Greenland. Photography by by Daniel Ernst

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Remote and spectacular, Antarctica and the Arctic are unexpectedly addictive destinations.

We have come a long way from the primitive conditions of basic food, unremitting cold and constant exertion that Sir Ernest Shackleton endured in the name of exploration a century ago. On his expeditions to Antarctica, it was all about rugged endurance, on a true polar odyssey in the name of discovery. The concept of sailing there in total comfort, all needs and desires met, served gastronomic delights with an open bar offering French champagne, would have blown his mind.

On top of that, add in spa and salon treatments, world-class cuisine curated by renowned French chef Alain Ducasse, accompanied by perfectly matched wine, along with industry-leading destination experts and expedition guides, plus Wi-Fi and a programme of lectures and entertainment, and that is how PONANT delivers. The company’s small, high-end ships, with a maximum of 264 guests and a dedicated crew of up to 145, ensure a luxurious onboard experience in the most elemental of surroundings.

Whether you’re eager to meet the many penguin species of Antarctica, sight the elusive polar bear in the Arctic, or just experience this uniquely frozen environment, this is the way to go. The company’s intimate vessel size enables outdoor adventures such as kayaking, hiking and up-close wildlife encounters. Antarctica is now, thanks to PONANT, more accessible than ever, with a range of luxury expeditions available departing from Ushuaia at the base of South America, and, even closer to home, from Dunedin, New Zealand.

Cruises visiting rugged South Georgia will get a vivid taster of the glories that lie ahead. Its spectacular glaciers, mountains and iconic wildlife are upstaged only by Antarctica itself: immense colonies of penguins, swooping albatrosses, dozing fur seals, whales breaching the icy sea, and an incredible range of icebergs, all colours, shapes, and sizes. All this can be observed from the comfort of your private balcony as you enjoy an inclusive room service breakfast; or be encountered more personally on an expert-led zodiac excursion.

Sailing from Dunedin, PONANT’s route into the Ross Sea offers the chance to visit a very special building: Shackleton’s hut at Cape Royds in McMurdo Sound. Built in 1908 for his Nimrod expedition, it has been restored to its original condition, and inside it looks as it did when Shackleton and his team of 14 men abandoned their attempt to be first to reach the South Pole. Cans and bottles of food still sit on the shelves, an uneaten meal is on the table and Shackleton’s jacket hangs on the wall. It’s a direct link with a vivid piece of history, and one that few people get to experience.

At the other end of the world, PONANT also enables easy exploration of a region which, while still ruggedly challenging, is more habitable. The region’s iconic inhabitants — polar bears, Arctic foxes, minke and blue whales, walruses, and many species of birds — add life to a spectacular scenery of fjords, mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, and black beaches.

PONANT offers a variety of cruise itineraries. They include that Instagram favourite, the outrageously picturesque Lofoten Islands, with their high peaks, soaring bridges and brightly painted villages clustered around harbours full of bobbing fishing boats. Racks of cod dry in the air, and red barns contrast with orange kelp along the shore and white sheep on green pasture, against a backdrop of sharp, black peaks. Norway has its colourful coastal cities with interesting museums, a lively history and welcoming cafes serving good flat whites. Beyond lie the majestic fjords, soaring cliffs and glaciers of Svalbard, and the iconic globe at towering North Cape, well inside the Arctic Circle.

Iceland offers both boiling and frozen water, plus cute hairy horses, puffins and thundering waterfalls of breath-taking height, width, and volume. Its volcanoes regularly make the news, but it has immense glaciers too, and its own iceberg-clinking lake, with a nearby black beach scattered with diamond-like chunks of ice. On the outskirts of Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, you’ll have the opportunity to travel the Golden Circle, consisting of three spectacular sights: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Geysir Geothermal Area.

PONANT will take you from the vast icesheets of Greenland to the Neolithic culture of Orkney and Viking-influenced Shetland Islands – there’s a wide variety of environments to explore. Multiple experiences can be had, and much knowledge acquired on daily excursions led by expert guides, which are included in the cruises. Hikes over both tundra and glaciers, plus kayak and zodiac outings are on offer, as well as introductions to the customs and traditions of the unique cultures that have developed in these remote environments. You will even have the opportunity to go whale watching in search of humpback, minke, and sei whales!

Both Antarctica and the Arctic are very far away and can take some effort to reach, so for explorers wishing to make the most of what they fully expect to be a one-off experience, PONANT’s Grand Voyages allow for a combination of back-to-back itineraries. This enables a deep delve into these remote regions and the chance to experience the ultimate polar adventure. Even better, there is a 10 per cent saving offered on the second and subsequent voyage booked*. Most of the company’s Polar Adventures also include pre- and post-voyage arrangements: from land transfers and pre-embarkation hotel stays, or transfer flights between cities. The aim is to ensure a seamless experience from start to finish.

Whether you embark on a journey to the North or South poles, PONANT ships ensure your voyage is one of unparalleled comfort. Characterised by sleek shapes, refined interiors, and an ambiance reminiscent of a private yacht, each vessel offers an intimate experience with a maximum of just 132 staterooms and suites, all boasting ocean views. Most cabins also feature balconies, providing the perfect spot to enjoy room service if desired. The experienced and expert crew ensure personalised service throughout your voyage, including a butler service for added comfort in select suite categories. For a limited time, PONANT is offering up to $2500 flight credit per person on a selection of Antarctica and Arctic 2025/26 luxury expedition itineraries (conditions apply).

Whichever route is chosen, three things are certain: PONANT supplies comfort and expertise throughout the cruise; the polar experience will be vivid, richly rewarding, and unforgettable; and, as most adventurers are delighted to discover, one visit will definitely not be enough.

See au.ponant.com for details and offers or call 0800 767 018 to take advantage of exclusive polar savings today. Email [email protected] for more information or talk to your preferred travel agent today.

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• Your luxury cruise with PONANT
• Africa, Middle East & Indian Ocean
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Where would you like to travel with PONANT?

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• Gastronomy & Wine
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• Polar Flight Credit 2025

Book your Arctic or Antarctica adventure and receive up to $2,500 flight credit!^

Luxury polar expeditions.

Our polar expeditions blend adventure with luxury, taking you to the Earth's most remote and awe-inspiring areas. Onboard modern, small ships, you will encounter unique wildlife such as penguins, whales, and polar bears, guided by experts who provide insights into the natural history and ecosystems. Committed to sustainable travel, our voyages offer you both inspiring experiences and contribute to environmental preservation, ensuring a profound connection with nature and a memorable journey in comfort.

Your polar adventure awaits 

Almost 12,500 miles separate the Arctic from the Antarctic, two “ends of the world” lying at opposite extremes of the planet. No matter which you choose, with PONANT you will experience it up close, and in the relaxed and refined luxury that we are famous for.   

Welcome Onboard!

Our luxury polar sailings include daily shore excursions, onboard lectures, talks and performances from a wide range of regional experts and artists, all gastronomic meals & open bar*, 24h room service, unlimited Wi-Fi, and butler service for suite guests.

Book soon for up to $2,500 flight credit

There has never been a better time to book your next polar adventure. Simply book your flights and expedition with PONANT to receive up to $2,500 in flight credit per person, on selected itineraries. Don't hesitate as this offer ends on 30 June 2024.^

Why choose us for your polar expedition?

Enjoy your polar expedition in a superbly luxurious environment with generously sized spaces, restaurants, open bar*, gym, spa, lounges and more.

What to expect on our polar expeditions

Travelling with PONANT means travelling with the world leader in luxury polar expeditions. 

Polar flight credit.

UP TO $2,500pp

on selected voyages, when you book your flight with us^

PONANT Bonus

SAVE UP TO 30%

when you book your voyage early*

Polar Grand Voyages

GET 10% OFF

on your second or third voyage (excludes flight credit) #

NEW! Going the extra mile with PONANT Plus...

Let PONANT take care of all your pre and post-voyage arrangements effortlessly. From land transfers and hotel accommodations to flights and more, we've got you covered every step of the way, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

For more information, please consult your travel agent or your PONANT consultant for a personalised quote when enquiring about your cruise. Request a Quote

- ANTARCTICA -

Get up to $2,500pp Flight Credit on these incredible expeditions^

Emblematic Antarctica

Ushuaia - Ushuaia

12 Nights 2 March 2025 | 21, 23 Nov 2025 Aboard L'Austral & Le Boréal

From $18,240 per person in a Deluxe Stateroom with balcony* Includes: ✓ 1-night accommodation in Buenos Aires^ ✓ Return flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia^ ✓ Airport transfers in Buenos Aires & Ushuaia^

BONUS $2,500PP FLIGHT CREDIT on select departures^

Scott & Shackleton's Ross Sea

Dunedin - Dunedin

21 Nights 16 February 2025 Aboard Le Soléal

From $24,180 per person in a Deluxe Stateroom with balcony* Sail from New Zealand on this unique expedition in the footsteps of some of the greatest polar explorers!

The Great Austral Loop

17 Nights Valid on 9 dep. in 2025/26 Aboard Le Lyrial & Le Boréal

From $28,540 per person in a Deluxe Stateroom with balcony* Includes: ✓ 1-night accommodation in Buenos Aires^ ✓ Return flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia^ ✓ Airport transfers in Buenos Aires & Ushuaia^

Get up to $1,500pp Flight Credit on these incredible expeditions^

Fjords & Glaciers of Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen - Spitsbergen

7 Nights Multiple departures June & July 2025 Aboard Le Lyrial & Le Boréal

From $14,850 per person in a Deluxe Stateroom with balcony* Includes: ✓ Return flight Paris/Longyearbyen^ ✓ Airport transfers in Longyearbyen^

BONUS $1,500PP FLIGHT CREDIT on select departures^

Expedition to the edge of the ice sheet

Reykjavík - Kangerlussuaq

13 Nights 8 August 2025 Aboard Le Lyrial

From $16,890 per person in a Deluxe Stateroom with balcony* Includes: ✓ One-way flight Kangerlussuaq to Paris^ ✓ Airport transfer in Kangerlussuaq^

Baffin Bay Secrets

Kangerlussuaq - Kangerlussuaq

13 Nights 20 July 2025 Aboard Le Boréal

From $25,670 per person in a Deluxe Stateroom with balcony* Includes: ✓ Return flight Paris/Kangerlussuaq^ ✓ Airport transfers in Kangerlussuaq^

Unparalleled luxury polar adventures like no other

Our guests say it best!

"Ponant’s attention to detail is again evidenced by its dedication to guests safety, if you have any concerns about this be re-assured nothing is left to chance, safety is an absolute priority. I cannot overstate my experience it was superb, nothing was left to chance, no detail overlooked, every interaction with crew was positive…so please contemplate no more. I will be travelling again to Antarctica and I will be travelling with PONANT"

Le Soléal Antarctica

"We have just returned from a cruise expedition to Greenland. We are absolutely delighted with our stay on board. Pure pleasure. Everything was absolutely perfect, truly faultless. Some friends had recommended PONANT to us and pointed out that Captain Garcia was an exceptional man, he did not let down his reputation, far from it. As for what we discovered in Greenland, it is spectacular, unforgettable. Next time will be Alaska."

Le Boréal The Arctic

"I had the wonderful opportunity of discovering the Antarctic on board Le Lyrial . The true luxury of this Expedition cruise is the comfort of a real and genuine intimately sized five-star hotel. The comfort of the cabins, the gastronomy, and the attentive service provided by all the staff contribute to the experience. You also have to add the professionalism of the naturlist guides. Always in complete safety, thanks to PONANT!"

Le Lyrial Antarctica

 Award winning ships and expeditions

Le Commandant Charcot

Explore aboard the world's first PC2 hybrid-electric LNG powered luxury icebreaker. You will enjoy luxurious comfort on itineraries that will take you further than ever before.

What to expect on your polar adventure with PONANT 

Whether you choose to explore Antarctica or the Arctic, you are sure to experience some magical moments. Here are 5 incredible moments which await.    

Mingle within a penguin colony in South Georgia

Once a major whaling station, South Georgia is now home to numerous seabirds, including a large colony of king penguins. At Salisbury Plain, visitors can experience the unique spectacle of over 250,000 penguins moving freely and indifferently around the few humans who visit. It's a truly unique and touching moment.

Follow the tracks of the polar bears in Spitsbergen

Above the 78th parallel north, Spitsbergen feels like a land at the world's edge. As the last island before the North Pole, it features craggy coastlines leading into icy seas. Dominating these stark, white landscapes, the polar bear reigns as the primary predator, with an estimated 20,000 in the Arctic. Only the reindeer and Arctic fox share its icy domain.

POLAR EXPEDITIONS

True immersive polar experiences with daily excursions

Join the fortunate few to explore these untouched environments. Led by expert naturalist guides, experience close encounters with native wildlife, including penguins and seals, and admire spectacular ice formations. Each shore landing, from visiting research stations to photographing vast landscapes, offers a unique adventure that elevates the luxury cruise experience.

OUR POLAR FLEET

Travel in relaxed luxury aboard your home away from home    

Aboard our modern, eco-friendly fleet, experience the comfort and intimacy of a private yacht with our bespoke, attentive service. Our ships feature thoughtfully designed spaces for relaxation and enjoyment, enhancing your journey. Our experienced staff works tirelessly to provide first-class, intuitive service, ensuring comfort and catering to your every need, whether in your stateroom, lounges, or dining areas.

Many of our Polar itineraries include connecting flights from either Buenos Aires or Paris* 

Most of our polar expeditions include convenient connecting flights from Buenos Aires for Antarctica and Paris for the Arctic, providing a seamless start to your adventure. This streamlined travel maximizes comfort and allows you to focus on the journey, ensuring every aspect meets our high standards of excellence. *conditions apply.

Going the extra mile with PONANT Plus

Let PONANT take care of all your pre and post-voyage arrangements effortlessly. From land transfers and hotel accommodations to embarkation, disembarkation, flights, and more, we've got you covered every step of the way, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

Services we offer:

• Domestic and international flights
• Land transfers
• Hotel accommodation
• Pre and post-voyage tours

PONANT PLUS offers extensive added value to your chosen exploration, ensuring you will embark with ease and return rejuvenated.

For more information, please consult your travel agent or your PONANT consultant for a personalised quote.

Get 10% Off the 2nd or 3rd leg of the following back-to-back Polar Grand Voyages! #

Ultimate Antarctica

Valparaiso - Ushuaia

31 Nights Departing 28 October 2025 Aboard L'Austral Combines two expeditions: The best of Chilean Fjords The Great Austral Loop

GET 10% OFF THE SECOND VOYAGE #

Scotland to Iceland

Glascow - Reykjavík

17 Nights Departing 11 July 2025 Aboard Le Bellot Combines two expeditions: Wild lands of Scotland, Faroe Islands & Iceland Iceland Voyage: Land of Fire and Ice

Scottish Isles, Fjords & Polar Bears

Glascow - Spitsbergen

20 Nights Departing 25 May 2025 Aboard Le Lyrial Combines two expeditions: From Scotland to Spitsbergen Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen

Norwegian Fjords and Scandinavian Cities

Tromso - Stockholm

19 Nights Departing 5 April 2025 Aboard Le Champlain Combines two expeditions: Ancient traditions & Norwegian Fjords Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea

Ultimate Arctic

24 Nights Departing 29 May 2025 Aboard Le Boréal Combines three expeditions: Atlantic to the North Sea, heritage & landscapes Coastal Wonders of the Norwegian Coast and Midnight Sun Fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen

GET 10% OFF THE SECOND & THIRD VOYAGE #

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• Africa, Middle East & Indian Ocean
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• A more sustainable tourism
• PONANT Foundation
• Certifications and distinctions

Where would you like to travel with PONANT?

Which period?

What are you looking for?

• Gastronomy & Wine
• Art & Museums

Summer 2024: Boarding Now!

Travelling in search of echoes from the past. Recharging your batteries in an idyllic little cove. Or sailing in the wake of great polar explorers. Everyone has their own idea of happiness! PONANT is offering you a range of itineraries for Summer 2024 . Whether you seek authenticity, exclusivity or serenity, you will find an itinerary to suit your whishes.

Are you seeking the thrill of exploration?

Aboard Le Commandant Charcot , the world's only luxury icebreaker , let yourself be charmed by the sumptuous ice-covered landscapes of the Arctic, and come to know a people whose traditions go back thousands of years. To shed light on the uniqueness of these polar regions, each voyage is accompanied by expert guests .

Far from the busy routes, PONANT also invites you to explore the fjords and glaciers of Spitsbergen , monumental icebergs of the Baffin Sea , and Greenland 's friendly local communities.

Passionate about culture ?

The Greek islands captivate, seduce, enchant. PONANT has imagined itineraries rich in natural reserves and archaeological treasures . On board L’Austral and Le Bougainville , sail through time on an epic journey and discover the Peloponnese , the Cyclades , and the Dodecanese . Along the Maltese coast , the Italian or Corsican shores discover the culture, heritage, and natural beauties of the Mediterranean .

On a quest for exclusivity ?

Le Ponant , the first sailboat to join the great Relais & Châteaux family, offers an intimate and exclusive travel experience, combining high-end refinement and the authenticity of cruising under sail . In the Mediterranean , enjoy all the charm of niche islands , strolling through fishing villages and breathe in the heady scent of fig trees as you approach the shores of the Cyclades and Croatia .